Chapel of the Cross Faith & Family

This interactive Bible time is a great way for your family to gather around God's Word and read, listen, watch, sing, and do activities together that help you learn more about God's great love for you in Jesus.

What makes someone a good leader?

For more than three hundred years, God had ruled His people in the Promised Land as a theocracy (rule of God), raising up judges from different tribes in times of need. Samuel was a faithful judge who led the people back to God in repentance. His sons, however, were corrupt. The people came to Samuel and demanded “a king to judge us like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5). Samuel felt rejected by their request and took it to God. God said it was He, not Samuel, the people were rejecting. They would get their king, but in the end, they would be sorry. God led Samuel to anoint Saul—a tall, handsome man—as Israel’s first king. Saul certainly looked the part, but would he be the great leader the people envisioned?

Dear God, thank You for all the leaders in our country. Help them do a good job. Thank You for Jesus, who is our King and Savior. Amen.

God is our true leader.

• Open your family Bible or a Children's Bible storybook and read this account together OR
• Read this account using an online Bible (Biblegateway.com) 1 Samuel 8:4–9:2; 10:17–27; 11:12–15
  OR
• Listen to the Bible account being read using the video below.
  

• What did the people ask Samuel for? What did God tell them?
• Who did God chose for Israel’s first king?
• Who is our King?
  

The people wanted a king. God told them a king would make life hard for them, but they wanted a king to rule over them anyway.

God gave them what they asked for, a king. He chose a man named Saul. For a time, Saul was a good and godly leader. But later, Saul stopped trusting in God.

Jesus is our heavenly King, who forgives our sins, loves us, and cares for us.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. Psalm 25:5

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for sending our King Jesus to give us all we need, especially eternal life through His death on the cross. Our King Jesus loves us more than any earthly ruler ever could—and that’s a love beyond compare. In Your name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

A portion of these Bible lesson materials are from the Enduring Faith Bible Curriculum from Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Find more resources to help your family draw closer to Christ at cph.org.

Click here for free devotional materials for children, families, and adults.

Chapel of the Cross--Lutheran exists to show the love of Jesus to North County and beyond, so that all may have a living relationship with Christ.

Our Core Values:

• Empowered by the cross of Christ
• People working together
• Opening the Word to all people
• Showing the love of Jesus
• Warm and supportive environment

Email: pastorlaesch@chapelofthecross.org
Website: http://www.chapelofthecross.org/
Location: 11645 Benham Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 741-3737
Facebook: facebook.com/ChapelSTL