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Meeting Guide #1 – Samuel
List of judges and timeline
List of the Judges
(Cut these up into names with the passage, descriptions and dates)
Shamgar 3:31, He killed 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. 1245-1230
Tola 10:1-2 From one of the leading clans of Issachar. 1119-1099
Jair 10:3-5 Distinguished himself during the days of Moses and Joshua. He had 30 sons who were itinerant judges. 1099-1069
Ibzan 12:8-10 Was a socially prominent man who had 30 sons and 30 daughters for whom he arranged marriages. Jewish tradition identifies him with Boaz of Bethlehem-Judah. 1070-1050
Elon 12:11-12 Was buried at Aijalon in Zebulun 1070-1060
Abdon 12:13-15. Son of Hillel was a man of wealth and prominence. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons 1060-1050
Othniel 3:7-11 Anephew of Caleb, delivered Israel from the Mesopotamians. 1367-1327 Ehud 3:12-30 Was left-handed and killed Eglon, king of Moab. 1309-1229
Jephthah 11:1--12:7 Was a harlot's son who defeated the Amorites. 1078-1072 Gideon 6:11-8:35 Led 300 Israelites to defeat the entire army of the Midianites. 1162-1122
Samson 13:1--16:31 Delivered Israel from the Philistines. Known for his great strength. 1072-1055 Deborah 4:1--5:31 Urged Barak to attack the mighty army of the Canaanites. 1209-1169 Samuel Focused on the establishment of that monarchy. The people demanded a king, similar to the kings of the surrounding nations. 1088-1008
NOTES FOR ADAPTING
FOR YOUNGER GROUPS…
You can adapt the election game by have less groups and a leader with each group for support. Spend less time on the meditation.
FOR OLDER GROUPS…
Make time, by shortening activities, for the young people to discuss times in which they have struggled with stepping back and having humility. Pray with them about this.
FOR UNCHURCHED YOUNG PEOPLE…
In the first activity spend time explaining the stories and why they are so important to Israel’s history. Remove the timeline.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO DEEPER…
Spend more time discussing the importance of the previous judges and how that fits into the context of Samuel’s story. Also explore what came next after Samuel stepped back, i.e. David was anointed.
Meeting Guide #2 - David
NOTES FOR ADAPTING
FOR YOUNGER GROUPS…
For key point one, change the focus to Goliath, and how he can represent things we struggle with/are afraid of (steer clear of talking about people). Examine how David responds to Goliath, this big, scary prospect and how God uses his past experiences to defeat the giant.
FOR OLDER GROUPS…
Discuss in more detail how damaging apathy can be to a person’s faith.
FOR UNCHURCHED PEOPLE… Go into the background of the passage to ensure they know what’s happening.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO DEEPER… Increase the challenge to two or three acts of kindness for the week.
Meeting Guide #3 – Saul
Promises of God
[Saul – a leader who was jealous]
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
The Grinch clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mGmEE20CR0
(This is only a short excerpt from the start of the film – it might be better to purchase the DVD to watch a fuller clip)
NOTES FOR ADAPTING
FOR YOUNGER GROUPS…
Choose either the video clip or the social media profile exercise, as it may be confusing to try to do both. You may want to watch a longer clip from The Grinch if you need to fill the time, or perhaps include a craft element into the making of the social media profiles.
FOR OLDER GROUPS…
You might want to use a different clip in the opening part. For example, you could choose the episode of Friends where Rachel is jealous of Ross’s new girlfriend Bonny – but only if you feel that this would be appropriate viewing for your group.
FOR UNCHURCHED GROUPS…
Spend more time on the social media profile exercise, focusing on whether or not they feel pressure to appear popular / perfect / cool online.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO DEEPER…
You could discuss the slightly problematic theological questions this passage raises about God’s blessing or the removal of God’s blessing. God anoints David and sends an evil spirit to torment Saul – why doesn’t he just bless Saul in the first place?
Meeting Guide #4 - Jonathan
NOTES FOR ADAPTING
FOR YOUNGER GROUPS...
The time allowed for the jelly babies activity may need to be shortened so that they don’t lose interest.
FOR OLDER GROUPS...
You may need to spend time helping the group to be open about situations that they are going through and modelling friendship and support in the time you have together.
FOR UNCHURCHED YOUNG PEOPLE...
Spend some more time unpacking when they have supported each other and how it made them feel before diving straight in to the passage and don’t make any assumptions to their knowledge of the background to this story.
FOR THOSE WANTING TO GO DEEPER...
Find passages in the Bible that look at supporting one another. Step back and ask ‘why does God ask this of us?’
