Big Idea: Compromise, over a long period of time, will inevitably lead to a life you no longer recognize.

How did Saul fall from the throne of Israel to the dirt floor of a witch’s hut?

1. Saul feared man, not God.
   1 Samuel 28:5
   1 Samuel 15:24
   Proverbs 9:10
2. Saul didn’t fully obey God.
   1 Samuel 28:7
   1 Samuel 28:3
   Leviticus 19:31
   1 Samuel 15:22
3. Saul silenced the voice of God.
   1 Samuel 28:6, 14, 17-18
   1 Samuel 23:7

Because Saul silences those who spoke for God, God no longer spoke to Saul.

Is the foundation of your life built on Christ or on compromise?

• Do you seek human approval more than God’s direction?
• Does your obedience end when it becomes costly?
• Are you avoiding the people or the Scriptures that might convict you?

Following Jesus, over a long period of time, will inevitably lead to a life you no longer recognize.

Luke 19:10

Message Questions

We’re in a year-long journey through the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, tracing the rise, reign, and legacy of Israel’s most famous king. We’ll see the story of how God works through real people with real flaws to accomplish his purposes. This week we are in 1 Samuel 28, and the big idea is: Compromise, over a long period of time, will inevitably lead to a life you no longer recognize.

Use these questions to discuss the message from Sunday, focusing on how you can grow as an everyday follower of Jesus and how you can go accomplish what Jesus calls you to do.

1. Have someone read 1 Samuel 28:5 and 1 Samuel 15:24. Saul’s "heart pounded" when he saw the Philistine camp because he feared his enemies more than he feared God. How does the sermon’s idea that "the fear of man is the beginning of foolishness" play out in Saul’s life, and why is human approval often a more tempting foundation than God’s direction?
2. Have someone read 1 Samuel 28:3, 7 and Leviticus 19:31. Saul had previously removed mediums from the land, yet in a moment of desperation, he sought one out. How does this illustrate the big idea that compromise, over a long period of time, leads to a life you no longer recognize?
3. Have someone read 1 Samuel 28:6 and 1 Samuel 28:17-18. Because Saul had spent his life silencing those who spoke for God—from Samuel to the priests of Nob—the Lord no longer answered him. Why is it dangerous to "silence" the people or Scriptures that convict us, and how does this lead to the "confirmation bias" mentioned in the sermon?
4. Considering the image of the corroding foundation, what is one "small" compromise in your life that you have been tolerating, and how can you grow in costly obedience this week to ensure your life is built on Christ rather than compromise?
5. The sermon concludes by stating that following Jesus over a long period of time will also lead to a life you no longer recognize—but in a positive, transformative way. How can you go and share the hope of Luke 19:10 with someone this week who feels "lost" in their own compromises, pointing them back to the Savior who comes to seek and save?