Our sermon from 1 Samuel 17 from Sunday 29 October 2023
The Messiah who fights for God’s honour and his people
Dear Growth Group leaders
1 Samuel 15 Concerning obedience
Dear Growth Group leaders,
Good to be getting back into 1 Samuel for term 4.
Find attached some questions that I hope might be helpful in our groups. As always, feel free to do your own work and ask your own questions.
In relation to the questions, Pip and I recorded this 20 min chat:
On Sunday 15 Oct, I plan for us to meet again – 3pm at our home. Can you come?
See you at church.
in Christ, Mark
1 Samuel 12 Corrective Medicine
Dear GG leaders,
Following my earlier message on Friday, find a link to the (longish) chat Pip and I had about our study this week.
I’ll also reattach the unchanged questions file below.
The first 4 mins are about plans for GG through Sept for you to decide.
The conversation about 1 Sam 12 commences at 4:40.
Thanks for your hard work with our people.
in Christ, Mark
1 Samuel 9-11 God’s kingship over all and for us
Dear Growth Group leaders,
Good to have you join us for our leaders meeting last Sunday afternoon. From the reports, I’m glad to hear about your progress in 1 Samuel.
This week is a tough assignment with three chapters!
Here is the Word Dwell Richly recorded chat with Pip and I concerning the questions below.
In our questions below, I’ve provided some extra detail (as Ciaron requests) on page 2 for leaders.
I’ve also sought to find extra summarising / commentary-like help. St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London have produced some worthwhile material that gets at the central author’s purpose. I’ve included below a link to the whole lot, as well as a pdf of just the relevant section for this week.
From Paul Clark and Jamie Child at St. Helen’s Bishopsgate in London:
https://www.st-helens.org.uk/resources/study/57/
Your hard work in getting the Bible open with our people is producing obvious fruit. Keep up the good work.
in Christ, Mark
1 Samuel 7 When things go well with God
Dear Growth Group leaders,
Sorry I’ve been slow to get this to you this week.
Please find below some questions and a link to a rambling conversation about this with Pip.
Our next Growth Group leaders meeting is planned for this coming Sunday 13 Aug 3pm at our home. Are you able to attend?
Go well this week.
in Christ, Mark
1 Samuel 4:1-7:2 Who submits to whom?
Dear Growth Group leaders – including Annie and Don(!)
Thanks for your willingness to lead our people in opening God’s word.
Please find below the questions I’ve prepared for our groups next week, on the passage 1 Samuel 4:1 – 7:2.
Pip and I have had a 20 min conversation about these questions (to explain where I’m coming from, and enable you to put questions in your own words etc). Here it is:
If I can help you further, please let me know.
in Christ, Mark
Regarding the Lord
Dear Growth Group leaders
Thanks for your group reports. Hope you & your groups have made a positive start into 1 Samuel. We’re starting to get into the vivid details this week.
Find below the questions I’ve prepared. Even as I attach these, I can think of how this study might be taken in an equally valid yet slightly different direction. The point being: if you think you can come up with different / better questions – by all means do so!
Pip and I have talked through these questions:
Go well this week: may God’s word dwell richly among you!
in Christ, Mark
Our strength is all of God 1 Samuel 1:24-2:11
Dear Growth Group leaders,
Welcome back for Term 3 and to our new series in 1 Samuel.
I hope in the last fortnight you’ve had a chance to refresh in some way, such that you’re ready and raring to resuming meeting next week. For our part, our week in Kaikoura last week was marvelous – especially seeing the sun rise over the ocean and light up the snow capped ranges. Just beautiful.
Attached are the questions I’ve written for our groups next week.
Below is a link to a 20 min conversation introducing 1 Samuel as well as explaining the questions I’ve written for our groups. Hope this is helpful.
in Christ, Mark