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Sermon Discussion Guide - 03/01/2026
Published February 28, 2026
Kings and Kingdoms:
When fear leads
Sermon Recap
In 1 Samuel 13 and 15, we watch Saul’s leadership unravel, not because he outright rejects God, but because fear turns his “Yes, Lord” into “Yes, Lord, but…”. Under pressure, Saul rushes God’s timing, edits God’s commands, and then tries to spiritualize partial obedience. The sermon’s big tension is still ours: What do I do when obedience has a cost, and waiting feels like losing?
Ice Breakers
- What’s the best way to calm you down when you’re stressed? Why?
- If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be and why?
- What’s a small decision you overthink way more than it deserves (what to eat, what to wear, a text reply, etc.)?
Discussion Questions
1. When was a time you rushed a decision because waiting made you feel anxious or out of control?
- Context: In 1 Samuel 13, Saul is told to wait for Samuel, but fear rises as the enemy closes in and his army scatters, so Saul forces the sacrifice without God’s appointed direction.
- Application: Where might God be asking you to wait right now, and what would it look like to wait without “forcing it” (even in spiritual-looking ways)?
2. Have you ever obeyed the “letter” of what someone asked, while ignoring the heart of it? What happened?
- Context: Saul treats God’s commands like a strategy instead of a relationship, checking boxes while still clinging to control. The sermon names the trap: worship becomes leverage instead of surrender.
- Application: If God isn’t after your technical compliance but your trust, what’s one area where you need to move from “spiritual checklist” to real surrender?
3. What’s one place you tend to add a “but” when you sense God nudging you (time, fear, comfort, money, image, etc.)?
- Context: The sermon highlights the difference between “Yes, Lord” and “Yes, Lord, but…,” showing how fear often disguises negotiation as obedience.
- Application: What is one specific “but” you need to name out loud, and what would a clean, simple “Yes, Lord” look like this week?
4. When was a time you talked yourself into something wrong because you had a “good reason”?
- Context: In 1 Samuel 15, Saul spares what God told him to destroy and then frames it as spiritual (“we kept it to sacrifice”). The sermon puts it bluntly: you can’t honor God by dishonoring him, and partial obedience is still disobedience.
- Application: Where might you be “editing” God’s direction right now, and what would full obedience require (even if it feels costly or inconvenient)?
5. What’s harder for you: admitting you were wrong, or letting people see that you were wrong? Why?
- Context: Saul eventually admits failure, but still tries to protect his image and control the narrative. The sermon contrasts regret (“I hate what this cost me”) with repentance (“I hate what this did to my relationship with God, so I’m turning”).
- Application: What’s one area you need to bring honestly to God, and what’s a next step you could take to move in a new direction?
Prayer
- Make sure to spend time in prayer as a group when you meet.
- Have group members share prayer requests, and pray for them.
- You could have one person pray for all the requests, or each member pray for one person.
- Keep a record of those requests and ask about them on a weekly basis.
Leader Tip
Treat this guide like a launchpad, not a checklist. Come prepared and prayed up, but don’t panic if you don’t “get through everything.” Follow the conversation where people are actually engaging, and use good follow-up questions to go deeper. Your job isn’t to be a Bible encyclopedia; it’s to shepherd people toward honesty, trust, and next steps with Jesus.