Big Idea: God humbles the proud and honors the humble.

                        Judges 2:7, 21:25

Pride – Deciding for yourself what is right and wrong.

• God Defeats the Proud

  1 Samuel 4:3, 5; 4:10-11, 18 

  Israel’s Pride:

  • God has to go where we want him to go
  • God has to do what we tell him to do

• God Disgraces the Proud

  1 Samuel 5:1-4 

  The Philistine’s Pride – They tried to make a mockery of God
  
  Psalm 89:5-7 

  1 Samuel 5:11; 6:13Israel’s pride – Not treating God’s presence as sacred

• God Destroys the Proud1 Samuel 6:19; 7:2

  Do you truly long for God to be present and active in your life?

Humility is seen through...

• Repentance
  
  Repentance = Turning to God
  1 Samuel 7:3-4Repentance = Agreeing with God
  1 Samuel 7:5-6
• Dependence1 Samuel 7:7-8The Contrast:
  1 Samuel 4 – God has to help us! (Pride)
  1 Samuel 7 – God, please help us! (Humility)
  
  1 Samuel 7:10
• Remembrance1 Samuel 7:12

What is your “Ebenezer”?

Who is your “Ebenezer”?

                        1 Samuel 1:11; 7:15

Jesus is our true “Ebenezer”

                        Philippians 2:5-11

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 4:1b-7:17, and the big idea is: God humbles the proud and honors the humble.

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 4:1–11. What was Israel hoping the ark would do for them in battle? What does this reveal about their view of God? When are you tempted to treat God like a good luck charm instead of a holy and personal king?
2. Have someone read 1 Samuel 5:1–5. What stands out to you about the story of Dagon falling before the ark? How does this moment speak to God’s power over idols? What  “idols” or false sources of security might God be humbling in your life right now?
3. Have someone read 1 Samuel 6:19–7:2. Why were the people in Beth-shemesh struck down, and how did they respond? What does this show us about the importance of God’s holiness? How might we grow in reverence for God in our everyday lives?
4. Have someone read 1 Samuel 7:3–8. How do the people respond to Samuel’s call to return to the Lord? What does this teach us about genuine repentance? Where might God be inviting you to surrender something in your life right now?
5. Have someone read 1 Samuel 7:10–12. What does the stone called Ebenezer represent, and why is it significant? What would it look like to “raise an Ebenezer” in your own life—marking God’s faithfulness in a concrete way?
6. As you reflect on this story, where can you grow in your life to grow in humility—whether through repentance, dependence, or remembering God’s faithfulness? Which of those areas feels most challenging for you right now, and why?
7. How could you go encourage someone this week who feels distant from God—reminding them of his mercy and power to restore?