Everything but the notes of EJ-4.03

Everything but the notes of EJ-4.03

04 Community/EJ-4.03-1 Samuel-1.1-3.21.md

@@ -8,27 +8,55 @@ scripture: 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21
 ## Session Overview 
 
 ### Passage Preview
+The story of Samuel and Hannah is a rich treasure trove of insights into godly
+parenting. We see the blessing and value of children as Hannah earnestly seeks God’s provision for a child (1:10-12). Hannah exemplifies a godly parent in dedicating her son fully to God’s care and service (1:11). Her prayerful spirit, earnest piety, and faithful worship set the tone for Samuel’s upbringing. Samuel’s life in the temple emphasizes the important role the community of faith plays in the raising of children. Samuel was able to grow in his faith and service of God (2:11), despite the negligent Eli (2:22) and his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (2:12-17). The destructive and self-indulgent character of these ungodly priests is a direct contrast to the formation of Samuel’s godly character (2:21). Eli’s neglectful parenting is also in contrast to Hannah’s God-fearing, faithful, and engaged parenting (2:19). Samuel’s eventual call to God’s service as a prophet (3:1-19) highlights the great aim of parenting: raising children to maturity so that they can fully participate in God’s work in the world.
 
-**Key Idea**:  
+**Key Idea**:  Parenting is a most-blessed calling of discipleship where children can be raised into mature Christians and commissioned into God’s service.
 
 ### Core Objectives
 In the following session you will...
 
-- **establish** 
+- **establish** foundational beliefs about parenting
 - **compose** a translation of 1 Samuel 1:1-3:21 that is clear, accurate, natural, and church approved
-- **mature** 
+- **mature** in the Christian life of faith through the practice of the parental discipling of children
 - **develop** basic ministry skills with believers and unbelievers as you check your translation
 
 ### Narrative Summary
+There was a man named Elkanah, an Ephraimite, who had two wives: Peninnah, who had children, and Hannah, who was barren. Every year, Elkanah and his family would go to the tabernacle at Shiloh to worship and offer sacrifices. On one of these occasions, Hannah was deeply distressed because of her inability to conceive, and she wept and prayed to the Lord, vowing that if she were blessed with a son, she would dedicate him to God's service. Eli, the priest at the tabernacle, observed Hannah's prayers and saw her lips moving but heard no sound. Misunderstanding her, he thought she was drunk and reprimanded her. However, Hannah explained her situation, and Eli blessed her, saying, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant your petition." Hannah's spirits were lifted, and she ate and worshiped before returning home.  In due time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son, whom she named Samuel, meaning "heard by God." After Samuel was weaned, Hannah fulfilled her vow and brought him to the tabernacle to serve under Eli.
+
+Hannah expressed her gratitude to God through a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving. In this prayer, she praised God's power and sovereignty, rejoicing in the blessings she had received. Hannah left Samuel with Eli to minister to the Lord and learn to be a priest. Hannah and her family returned home.
+
+Meanwhile, Eli's own sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were corrupt and did not follow the Lord's ways. Eli confronted his sons, and rebuked them, but they did not repent or change their ways. God sent a prophet to Eli, warning him of the consequences his family would face because of their wickedness. The prophet foretold that Eli's descendants would die prematurely, and his priesthood would be passed on to a faithful priest who would serve faithfully.
+
+Samuel continued to grow in stature and favor with both God and people. He began to receive messages from God. One night, while lying down in the tabernacle, the Lord called Samuel by name. Thinking it was Eli, Samuel went to him, but Eli told him to go back and listen, recognizing that it was God calling him. The Lord called Samuel three times before revealing that He would bring judgment upon Eli's house because of the sins committed by his sons. The next morning, Samuel shared the revelation with Eli, who accepted God's judgment. 
+
+As Samuel grew, the Lord continued to appear to him and speak to him, establishing him as a prophet in Israel. The people recognized Samuel's credibility as a prophet because God was with him and all his prophecies came true.
 
 ### General Book Introduction
+The Book of 1 Samuel is about Samuel, Saul, and David. Samuel was the last of the judges over Israel. Saul was the first king of Israel. Much of the book is about how Saul became king, then how he later sinned against God and died. God chose David to be king after Saul. This book shows how God protected David when Saul tried to kill him.
 
 ### Passage Outline
+1. Hannah Prays for a Child (1:1–20)
+2. Hannah Dedicates Samuel to the Lord (1:21–28)
+3. Hannah's Sings a Song of Praise to the Lord (2:1–11)
+4. Eli's Sons Dishonor the Lord (2:12–21)
+5. Eli Insufficiently Rebukes his Sons (2:22–26)
+6. The Lord Rebukes and Rejects Eli's Household (2:27–36)
+7. The Lord Calls Samuel (3:1–21)
 
 ### Important Themes
 
-### Passage Translation
+**Prayer, Faith, and God's Faithfulness:** The theme of prayer and God's faithfulness is evident in Hannah's fervent supplication to God for a child (1 Samuel 1:10-11). Her prayer exemplifies the power of earnestly seeking God's intervention. Hannah's faith and trust in God are rewarded as He hears her prayer and blesses her with a son (1 Samuel 1:19-20). This theme highlights the importance of bringing our desires and concerns before God, trusting in His faithfulness to answer according to His will and timing.
 
+**God's Sovereignty and Providence:** The narrative emphasizes God's sovereignty and His providential care over His people. He is the One who opens and closes wombs, as seen in Hannah's previously barren state (1 Samuel 1:5-6). God's sovereign control is also evident in His choice of Samuel to become a prophet and play a significant role in Israel's history (1 Samuel 3:19-21). This theme reminds us of God's authority and wisdom in orchestrating events according to His purposes.
+
+**Consequences of Sin and God's Judgment:** The consequences of sin are illustrated through the actions of Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Their disrespect and corruption as priests incur God's judgment upon their family (1 Samuel 2:27-36). This theme serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the righteous judgment of God. It highlights the importance of living in obedience to God's commands and the consequences that come from turning away from His ways.
+
+**The Positive and Negative Effects of Parental Influence:** The narrative reveals Hannah's intentional parenting as she brings Samuel to the tabernacle to serve under Eli's guidance (1:24-28). This emphasizes the role of parents in guiding and training their children in the ways of God, seeking opportunities for them to grow spiritually and serve Him. In contrast, the sinful character (2:12) and actions (2:12-17) of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, illustrate the consequences of parental negligence (2:22-24). Such neglect can contribute to the spiritual immaturity of children. Spiritual immature children often grow up into spiritual immature adults. As seen from this narrative, the cost of parental negligence can be quite high.
+
+**Faithfulness and Entrusting Children to God:** Hannah's faithfulness in fulfilling her vow by giving Samuel to God's service (1 Samuel 1:27-28) highlights the theme of entrusting children to God. It encourages parents to recognize their children ultimately belong to God, and to trust His guidance and care over their lives. This narrative emphasizes the importance of cultivating a faith-filled perspective, acknowledging God's sovereignty in parenting, and seeking His wisdom and guidance in raising children.
+
+### Passage Translation
 1:1 There was a certain man of Ramathaim of the Zuphites, of the hill country of Ephraim; his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 This man went from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there. 4 When the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice each year, he always gave portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters. 5 But to Hannah he always gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although Yahweh had closed her womb. 6 Her rival provoked her severely in order to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed her womb. 7 So year after year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh with her family, her rival always provoked her. Therefore she used to weep and eat nothing. 8 Elkanah her husband always said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"
 
 9 On one of these occasions, Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the doorway to the temple of Yahweh. 10 She was deeply distressed; she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly. 11 She made a vow and said, "Yahweh of hosts, if you will look on the affliction of your servant and call me to mind, and do not forget your servant, but give your servant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head."
@@ -516,9 +544,21 @@ Retell this story in your own words (i.e., orally, dramatization, or written/cra
 ### Discourse Questions
 Use the following discourse questions to understand the meaning of the text. Pay attention to how the biblical passage itself addresses each question or theme.
 
+1. What kind of difficulty did Hannah endure in her barrenness? 1 Samuel 1:1–10
+2. How did Hannah go about asking the Lord for a child? 1 Samuel 1:9–20
+3. How did Hannah respond after God gave her a child? 1 Samuel 1:21–28
+4. What did Hannah pray after dedicating Samuel to the Lord? 1 Samuel 2:1–10
+5. How did Samuel’s upbringing in the temple compare and contrast with the character and conduct of Eli’s sons? 1 Samuel 2:11–36
+6. How did Samuel’s call to ministry come about? 1 Samuel 3:1–21
+
 ### Theological Questions
 Answer the following theology questions as a community. Discuss what truths this biblical passage teaches.
 
+1. **Faithful Parenting:** How should Christians approach the parenting task? How does Hannah’s approach to parenting lay foundations for Christian parenting? 1 Samuel 1:1–2:10
+2. **Parenting and the Community of Faith:** What role should the community of faith have in the raising of children? How do we see this emphasized in this story? 1 Samuel 2:11–36
+3. **Parental Challenges:** What are various challenges to parenting children in the faith? What are the challenges that Hannah and Samuel faced in this story? 1 Samuel 1:1–2:36
+4. **Missional Parenting:** What does it look like to raise children into a mature faith and prepare them for missional service? How did Samuel’s upbringing prepare him for God’s service? 1 Samuel 3:1–21
+
 ![[EJ-Movement-2-Drafting]]
 
 ## Personal Reflection: Following the Teaching of the Story
@@ -527,6 +567,13 @@ Answer the following theology questions as a community. Discuss what truths this
 ### Journal Reflection
 Prayerfully think about the following personal reflection questions. Write/Record your answers and/or discuss them as a group.
 
+1. What was your experience like growing up with your parents? How do you think they parented, well or poorly?
+2. What challenges are you facing as you raise your children (or are investing in other children)?
+3. In what ways is the story of Hannah and Samuel shaping your approach to parenting?
+4. How will you make the community of faith a crucial component of\your approach to parenting without shirking your responsibility as primary shepherd?
+5. What particular steps can you take to build solid foundations for parenting?
+
+
 ![[EJ-Movement-3-Checking]]
 
 ![[EJ-Movement-4]]