God’s Talking to Me? (Epiphany 2B Old Testament)

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Epiphany 2 Old Testament.

Text:  1 Samuel 3:1-10 for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, Lectionary Series B

OBJECTIVES

Participants will:

1. Remember that we are to listen to the Word of God.
2. Discover three specific ways the Word of God is a blessing for those who hear it.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Concordia Study Bible for the leader
Bibles

GROUP GUIDELINES

Divide into groups of two or three. Each participant should be encouraged to share, but please respect someone’s right to pass.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

In your pairs or small groups, share the following:

• The best thing that anyone has ever said to you.
• The worst thing that anyone has ever spoken to you.
• How did you react on those occasions?

LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD

Leader’s note: Read the Concordia Study Bible notes for chapter 3, verse 1, revealing the rarity of God’s direct revelations during the entire period of the Judges, approximately 325 years.

1. Choose a volunteer(s) to read 1 Samuel 3:1-10.
   Do any of feel as if God doesn’t really speak to us, or give us specific directions in life? Sometimes it may feel this way. God called Samuel directly ,and there are times when it would be awfully nice to hear God tell us what direction we should go in or how to handle certain situations. Let’s examine how our attitudes can be like Eli’s sons.
   Consider the attitude that is presented by Eli’s sons. The sons participated in the rituals of worship but they disrespected God and the intent of the rituals. God commanded these rituals in written law, just as we have God’s written Word in the Scriptures.
2. Choose a volunteer to read 1 Samuel 2:12-17.
3. What were they doing wrong? What was their attitude toward the rituals and God Himself? How do we treat God with dishonor? What do we do to disrespect the Lord and His Word?

REINFORCING WHAT HAS BEEN LEARNED

1. God does actually speak to us. What’s He saying? How is He saying it? How can I trust that He’ll guide me? To help answer these questions, look at the following blessings that God gives us.
2. Look up the following verses, which identify the various blessings of God’s Word. Just as Samuel was willing to listen to the Word of God, we should be willing to listen to God’s Word.
   1. Intentional Blessing #1 – I give you my Word.
      2 Timothy 3:14-17 (All Scripture is God-breathed)
   2. Intentional Blessing #2 – My Word is alive.
      Hebrews 4:12-13 (Living and active)
   3. Intentional Blessing #3 – My Word is with you always.
      John 1:14 (The Word became flesh)
      Matthew 28:20 (I’m with you always)

CLOSING

Each participant should reflect on how we are blessed by listening to God’s written Word and spoken Word. Conclude by making a list of prayer requests. Ask for a volunteer(s) to pray for the group using the list of prayer requests.

by Marty Hasz

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies 12, 1999.

Updated for youthESource in December 2014