Group Check-in

1. What was the best part of your week?
2. What was the most difficult part of your week?

What’s 1 Samuel 12 About?

Samuel’s farewell address in 1 Samuel 12 is more than a goodbye—it’s a call to remember. He recounts Israel’s history, highlighting God’s faithfulness and the people’s tendency to drift. They’ve just chosen Saul as king, and Samuel doesn’t hide his disappointment. But rather than scolding, he reminds them of God’s constant mercy.

He says, in essence, ‘You wanted a king—and you got one. But the king isn’t the point. God is.’ Samuel warns that if both the people and the king follow the Lord, all will go well. But if they turn away, consequences will follow. To validate his words, Samuel calls down thunder and rain in the middle of the dry season. The people are shaken. They cry out for mercy, suddenly aware of how serious their request was.

But Samuel ends on hope. He assures them that God will not abandon His people, because of His great name. And Samuel promises to keep praying for them, urging them to follow the Lord with all their hearts.

This chapter reminds us of two truths: We are more sinful than we realize, and God is more faithful than we deserve. He doesn’t leave us when we blow it. He calls us back. And like Samuel, we’re called to remember, repent, and return—to live in light of God’s mercy, not our mistakes.

Key Verse

“Do not be afraid… You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.” — 1 Samuel 12:20

SOAP for the Week

Passage: 1 Samuel 12:19–25

Ice-Breakers

1. What’s the most epic goodbye speech or scene you’ve ever seen in a movie?
2. What’s a mistake you made that ended up teaching you something valuable?
3. When have you experienced God’s mercy even after a poor decision?

Group Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Samuel chose to focus so much on remembering the past?
2. What does Samuel’s leadership teach us about grace and accountability?
3. How does God’s response to their request for a king demonstrate both justice and mercy?
4. Why is remembering God’s faithfulness so crucial to following Him?
5. What keeps us from turning back to God when we’ve messed up?
6. How can we practice living out of God’s mercy this week instead of our mistakes?

Practical Takeaway

God doesn’t leave us when we fail—He calls us back to Himself with mercy and grace. Repentance isn’t the end of the story; it’s the beginning of restoration.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness even when we forget You. Help us remember who You are and what You’ve done. Lead us to repentance that brings us closer to Your heart. Keep us walking in grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.