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[princessdi]

Read for This Week's Study:

  1 Sam. 14:6–13, 24–46; 18; 19; 31:1–7; 2 Sam. 1:5–12; 2 Kings 6:8–17. 

Memory Text:

  “Jonathan said to his armor bearer, ‘Come on, let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few’” (1 Samuel 14:6, NET). 

 By all accounts, Jonathan should have been a spoiled, greedy, and selfish young man who believed that, as the child of privilege, everything was owed him. And why not? He was the oldest son of the first king of Israel. He was popular and well-loved by his people. He was an excellent public speaker and a top soldier and military leader. By the world’s standards, he had it all. He was born for “greatness.”
Heaven, though, uses a different measure for what’s great—and Jonathan, interestingly enough, was one of the few who was willing to turn his back on what the world sees as great and, instead, seek a different kind of “greatness”—God’s kind.

In the life of Jonathan, we learn to evaluate our lives through heaven’s eyes. What makes a life great? What makes it worthwhile? What are the important things in this world, and what aren’t?

Jonathan’s story helps answer these questions for us. It also tells us that, if we choose, we, too, can be great in the eyes of God—regardless of where we were born, who our parents are, and how much wealth and talent we have.

[princessdi]

I see there is no discussion as the Sabbath falls upon us.  I would like to encourage those who visit between sunset tonight and sunset tomorrow to consider and discuss the following question posed in this week's SS lesson.

Happy Sabbath Everyone!

Discussion Questions:      

How do we differentiate between faith and presumption? When and how do we go about asking for signs in order to know God’s will for us?
 
   Some cultures promote passiveness as a virtue, while others see it as something negative. Jonathan was willing to take second place. Is this the same as being passive? Should a Christian be passive? If so, when; if not, why not? 

   How can you explain to a non-Christian friend the benefits of being a Christian, if he or she sees that you, too, get sick, lose your job, or suffer the loss of loved ones? 

  Discuss the life of Jonathan in the light of Hebrews 11:32–40. What can you take away from those texts that perhaps could help you in situations that, at least from your perspective now, have dismal outcomes? 

  How does, for instance, a woman who had been sexually molested by her father show honor to him? 

  What are things that the world deems “great” that God doesn’t? What are things that God deems great that the world doesn’t? How can we know the difference between these two ideas of “greatness”?   

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