Saul and Samuel: When You Need Someone To Tell You The Truth

Saul and Samuel        Saul and Jonathan        Saul and David 

LESSON # 1:  Discipleship:  When You Need Someone To Tell You The Truth
Other topics:   Samuel Points King Saul to God; Listen to God's Divine Intervention; The Barrier of Unbelief

Bible Verses:  1 Samuel 10:20-24;  1 Samuel 13:7-14; 1 Samuel 15:10-15; 20-23

Barriers are healthy especially when you are careening on the freeway of life at top speed.  These boundaries keep you safe.   But there are boundaries that hold us back that keep us moving forward to our top speed.   So if you feel like you running like a turtle, when you know God gave you rabbit legs, then this series is for you.   

King Saul was called by God to lead the children of Israel into independence and victory.   But Saul kept hitting walls that would have made him a great leader.   He also failed to realize the moments where he could have broken through the barrier to being a great King.   

In this series, we will discover the need for a spiritual mentor or leader that speaks the truth.   They help us walk within our boundary.  Even though God called Saul to be King, he was unable to stay within the boundary unless the prophet Samuel spoke to him.  There are three snapshot stories to observe these truths:  

  • Story: # 1: Samuel called Saul as king (1 Sam 10:20-24)
  • Story # 2:  Samuel warned Saul In His Impatience (1 Sam. 13:7-14)
  • Story # 3:  Samuel rejected Saul because of His disobedience (1 Sam. 15:10-15; 20-23)
In each of these stories, Prophet Samuel played a key role to keep King Saul in line with God's requirements.  Prophet Samuel is a truth teller.  In every disciple making relationships, we need spiritual guides who speaks the truth.  Here are five principles we learn from how Samuel kept King Saul in line with God.  



Principle # 1:  Spiritual Leaders see potential that none others see
  • Samuel revealed Saul as king even when the of children of Israel doubted him (1 Sam. 10:20-24)
  • Samuel also kept ministering to Saul despite his many failures.   
  • Discussion:  Romans 15:2; What do you think Barnabas saw on John Mark that he insisted to invest on him (Acts 15:37-41)?
Principle # 2:  Spiritual Leaders invest until they see a return 
  • Samuel never let go until God was done with his plan for King Saul.   Too many discipleship are short-term or superficial.  Spiritual parenting should be passionate and driven. 
  • Discussion:  Prov. 14:23; 3:27; 2 Tim. 2:2
Principle # 3:  Spiritual Leaders expose imperfections
  • The Prophet Samuel never sugar coated his approach to Saul's errors.   The greater the position, the greater the accountability.   
  • Discussion:  Eph. 5:11-12; John 7:24; James 5:20
Principle # 4:  Spiritual Leaders exercise discernment
  • Many times, people have excuses to why things happen.  Saul's excuse was his soldiers took the best sheep.  Second is that they intent to offer it to God anyway.   
  • Samuel exercised his discernment and knew that it is the heart that matters more than ever.   
  • 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Cor. 14:29; Rom. 12:32
Principle # 5:  Spiritual leaders correct rebellion 
  • Leaders don't just tell people what to do, they stay with them and lead like servants.  
  • To rebuke a disciple is not just to correct but journey with them to walk in the path of redemption  
  • Discussion:  Gal. 6:1; Matt. 18:15-17; 2 Thes. 3:15

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be submissive to people who cares about me.  Give me a spirit of humility that I may become like Christ.  Teach me to teach others so that I may pass on the good news about Christ and the life he offers.   Give me discernment and wisdom that I may receive the truth spoken or that I may speak the truth to someone.  In Jesus Name. Amen.  

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