Life group 1 – Courage to be Different
Israel Wants a King
1 Samuel 8–10
Big Idea
Courage often means choosing God's way when everyone else is choosing something different.
Question: When have you bought something, worn something, or done something simply because everyone else was doing it?
Read 1 Samuel 8:4–22.
Then 1 Samuel 10:17–27.
What Do You Notice?
Why did Israel want a king?
Were they asking for something sinful or something reasonable?
What warning did Samuel give?
Why do you think they ignored God's warning?
Israel's request wasn't really about having a king.
It revealed a deeper issue:
"We want to be like everyone else."
God had chosen Israel to be different.
Instead of trusting God as their King, they wanted what looked successful.
Often our greatest temptation isn't rebellion.
It's conformity.
Read Romans 12:2
How does Paul's instruction connect with Israel's story?
Discussion
1.Where do you feel the greatest pressure to fit in?
Work? University? Relationships? Social media? Family? Friend groups?
2.What does "being different" look like for a Christian today?
Is it mostly behaviour? Beliefs? Priorities? How we spend money? Dating? Forgiveness? Generosity?
3.Is there an area where you've slowly adopted the values of culture without noticing?
Examples: Success, Sex, Identity, Comfort, Wealth, Entertainment, Individualism
4.What's harder: Being rejected because you're following Jesus...or, Quietly compromising so you won't stand out?Why?
5.How do we know the difference between genuine conviction and simply being different for the sake of it?
Challenge This Week
Ask yourself every day:
"Am I making this decision because everyone else is doing it—or because Jesus is leading me?"
_____________________________________________
Israel Wants a King
1 Samuel 8–10
Big Idea
Courage often means choosing God's way when everyone else is choosing something different.
Question: When have you bought something, worn something, or done something simply because everyone else was doing it?
Read 1 Samuel 8:4–22.
Then 1 Samuel 10:17–27.
What Do You Notice?
Why did Israel want a king?
Were they asking for something sinful or something reasonable?
What warning did Samuel give?
Why do you think they ignored God's warning?
Israel's request wasn't really about having a king.
It revealed a deeper issue:
"We want to be like everyone else."
God had chosen Israel to be different.
Instead of trusting God as their King, they wanted what looked successful.
Often our greatest temptation isn't rebellion.
It's conformity.
Read Romans 12:2
How does Paul's instruction connect with Israel's story?
Discussion
1.Where do you feel the greatest pressure to fit in?
Work? University? Relationships? Social media? Family? Friend groups?
2.What does "being different" look like for a Christian today?
Is it mostly behaviour? Beliefs? Priorities? How we spend money? Dating? Forgiveness? Generosity?
3.Is there an area where you've slowly adopted the values of culture without noticing?
Examples: Success, Sex, Identity, Comfort, Wealth, Entertainment, Individualism
4.What's harder: Being rejected because you're following Jesus...or, Quietly compromising so you won't stand out?Why?
5.How do we know the difference between genuine conviction and simply being different for the sake of it?
Challenge This Week
Ask yourself every day:
"Am I making this decision because everyone else is doing it—or because Jesus is leading me?"
_____________________________________________
Life group 3 – Courageous Faith
David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17
You don't need giant faith.
You need a giant God.
What's something you've avoided because it felt too intimidating?
Read 1 Samuel 17
What did everyone else see?
What did David see?
What made David different?
Discussion
Everyone measured Goliath against themselves.
David measured Goliath against God.
Faith changes what we compare our problems to.
Challenge
Write down one giant.
Beside it, write ways God is bigger.
_____________________________________________
David and Goliath
1 Samuel 17
You don't need giant faith.
You need a giant God.
What's something you've avoided because it felt too intimidating?
Read 1 Samuel 17
What did everyone else see?
What did David see?
What made David different?
Discussion
Everyone measured Goliath against themselves.
David measured Goliath against God.
Faith changes what we compare our problems to.
- What "giants" do young adults commonly face?
- What giant are you personally facing right now?
- When life feels overwhelming, what do you instinctively trust?
- Yourself? Friends? Money? Planning? Avoidance? God?
- How has remembering God's past faithfulness helped you face present fear?
- What practical step of faith is God asking you to take this week?
Challenge
Write down one giant.
Beside it, write ways God is bigger.
_____________________________________________