Discussion Questions

• How is repentance different from confession? Is there an area of your life where you might be confessing your sin but not fully repenting of it? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you.
• Since it is not enough to just turn away from sin, what does it look like to turn toward God?
• What reminders (Ebenezer stones) do you have in your life reminding you of God’s faithfulness and encouraging gratitude, worship and repentance?

Discussion Questions

• How do you respond to injustice? hopeless, helpless, enraged?
• What kind of court do you hold for the people around you? Who is your counsel?
• How can you rest in the finished work of the perfect son of Jesse this week knowing he is bringing and will bring perfect justice?

Discussion Questions

• Where do you most often see envy surfacing in your own life? How does it distort the way you see yourself and others?
• How can recognizing God’s sovereignty help free you when you feel overlooked or jealous of someone else’s success?
• What practical steps can you take this week to cultivate praise and gratitude instead of envy when others succeed?

Discussion Questions

• From our study in 1 Samuel so far, what does it mean to be “after God’s heart?”
• Jonathan surrendered his robe and weapons to David as the rightful king. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to King Jesus?
• What would it look like in your life this week to put aside rivalry or jealousy and instead to lovingly “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Eph 5:21)?

Discussion Questions

• How does the truth that God looks on your heart affect your life?
• What went wrong when you let appearance guide you wrongly about someone’s heart?
• What are two things you can do to cultivate a heart more after God’s heart?

Discussion Questions

• When you are under pressure, what usually comes out of your heart: fear, frustration, control, or trust in God?
• God’s timing often feels late. Can you think of a time when you felt God delayed, but looking back you saw His perfect timing?
• Saul was more concerned with people’s opinions than with God’s. In what areas of life are you tempted to value human approval over God’s approval?

Discussion Questions • • •

• What has this study of Ecclesiastes shown you about God, yourself and the world?
• How has the wisdom of Ecclesiastes brought greater delight and joy in your life? How has it brought you discomfort or pain?
• "God will bring every deed into judgment." What emotion does this evoke in you? How should this truth shape the way we live, even in hidden or ordinary moments?
• How does the rest of the Scripture, specifically the person of Jesus Christ, continue and complete the story of Ecclesiastes?