Honoring God

Open with prayer

Review Bible memorization verses:

Struggles from this past week, and/or areas of expected upcoming struggle.

Review: What are some things you’ve learned in your Bible reading this week?

Honoring God

1 Samuel 15:8-23

8 And he seized Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and they were not willing to devote them to destruction; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

10 Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying,

11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not established My words.” And Samuel became angry and cried out to Yahweh all night.

12 Then Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul; and it was told to Samuel, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal.”

13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of Yahweh! I have established the word of Yahweh.”

14 But Samuel said, “What then is this sound of the sheep in my ears and the sound of the oxen which I am hearing?”

15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and oxen, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God; but the rest we have devoted to destruction.”

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Wait, and let me tell you what Yahweh spoke to me last night.” And he said to him, “Speak!”

17 And Samuel said, “Is it not true, though you were little in your own eyes, you were made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Yahweh anointed you king over Israel,

18 and Yahweh sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’

19 “Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?”

20 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of Yahweh and went on the way on which Yahweh sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have devoted the Amalekites to destruction.

21 “But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”

22 And Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

23 “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you from being king.”

What is the key theme to this passage for us to consider in our session on honoring God?

I desire obedience rather than sacrifice.

What honors God versus what does not honor God?

What things are we misled into thinking are acceptable, but which actually dishonor God?

Example from the passage: vv9, 17, 20-21

· Honoring God in the workplace

Corinthian 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Ephesians 6:5–9

5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the integrity of your heart, as to Christ;

6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

7 serving with good will as to the Lord, and not to men,

8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

9 And masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Genesis 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Do we treat our jobs for man as jobs for the Lord? Do we consider our employers as image-bearers of God?

· Acknowledging How God sees us

The innocence of a baby – the joy of a newborn // versus the righteousness God seeks in us.

Genesis 16:13 Then she called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees”; for she said, “Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.

Jeremiah 12:3a But You, O Yahweh, You know me; You see me; And You test my heart’s attitude toward You.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of Yahweh is on those who fear Him, On those who wait for His lovingkindness, (NIV – unfailing love)

What are the differences between the innocence of a newborn and what God is able to find in us when we serve Him in righteousness and obedience?

· Honoring God as a matter of perspective

James 1:19–20 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

How should this verse affect the way we interact with those closest to us? (not just our co-workers, but our closest family members and friends)

· Consider Arguing – the camera behind me.

· Consider the conversation I have that I am embarrassed to be replayed for me to hear.

New Bible memory verse for the week:

Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is chosen by Yahweh over sacrifice.

Close with prayer