High School Week 1 (May 20): Samuel – I don’t follow what I see.
Series Overview – God’s Eyes Only
Every day, you’re making decisions — some big, some small, but all of them shaping what’s now and what’s next.
What you say yes to. What you ignore. Who you listen to. What you focus on.
And most of the time, those decisions are formed by what has your attention. Culture will tell you to trust what you see, what you feel, what you want, or what everyone else is doing. But scripture gives a different warning: “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)
So what does it look like to live differently — to do what’s right in God’s eyes?
In “God’s Eyes Only,” we’re going to look through the lenses of four judges — Samuel, Gideon, Samson, and Deborah — and examine how they responded when their faith was tested.
Samuel grew up without a clear model for following God, yet he chose to listen and respond to God’s voice instead of copying what he saw around him.
Gideon struggled with doubt and uncertainty, yet he decided to trust God enough to take a step before having all the answers.
Samson had strength and calling but repeatedly chose what he wanted in the moment — showing how what we want can pull us away from what’s best.
Deborah stood firm and trusted God’s voice even when it meant going against the crowd and facing resistance.
Each week, we’ll look at the tension they faced — what was right in their eyes versus what was right in God’s eyes — and how their choices shaped their lives.
But this isn’t just about their stories. It’s about yours. Because the direction of your life isn’t determined in one big moment. It’s shaped by the choices you make daily. What you give your attention to will either move you toward God’s purpose or away from it.
It’s time for an eye check — examining what’s right in our eyes and comparing it to what’s right in God’s eyes. So over the next few weeks, we’re not just asking, “What would I do?” We’re asking, “What is God asking of me, and will I respond?”
Let’s get started.
Series Verses:
“In those delays Israel had no king; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 (NKJV)
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)
Discussion Goal:
I choose to listen and respond to God’s voice.
Start Talking (Conversation Starter):
If you had to listen to the same celebrity talk for an entire 10-hour road trip, who would you pick — and who would you absolutely not pick?
Think It Through (and Talk It Out)
Leader Tip: Choose questions that resonate with your group’s age, experiences, and current understanding. There’s no pressure to cover all the questions — pick the ones that fit your group the best.
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Samuel didn’t have a clear model for hearing God’s voice — it wasn’t normal in his environment. What are the loudest voices shaping what feels “normal” in your life right now? How are those voices influencing the choices you make?
Samuel heard God, but he didn’t recognize His voice at first. What makes it difficult to recognize God’s voice with so many voices around you? ? (e.g., social media, opinions, expectations, etc.) How do you discern what’s worth listening to?
⬆️ Leader Tip: "Discern" is an important word to understand in the Bible. It means to carefully examine something, using wisdom and insight to look deep so you can make the best decisions. Someone who discerns doesn't just make a quick choice based on how they feel or what they think — they take into account what God's Word says and will also often take time to pray, reflect, and talk to people they trust before deciding what to do.
Samuel’s response was simple but intentional: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” What would it look like for you to live like that — not just hearing God, but actually responding?
👀🔎 Eye Check: Samuel listened and responded to God rather than just following what he saw around him. What’s the biggest thing you see around you that doesn’t line up with what God wants for you? Talk about it as a group, and encourage each other: Don’t follow what you see.
Pray: God, thank You that You still speak. In a world full of noise and opinions, help us learn to recognize Your voice. Give us the discipline to listen for You, the wisdom to discern what’s true, and the courage to respond and obey when You speak. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Additional Questions
Who in your life has helped you understand what it looks like to follow God? What do you do when you don’t have someone to look to? How do you figure out what God is saying?
We are called to listen to AND obey God, like Samuel did. Why do you think God calls us to do this? What happens when we just follow what we see?
You won’t always have someone showing you how to follow God. When you’re making decisions about your future, relationships, or values, how do you take ownership for your direction instead of just going along with what’s around you?
Even if no one shows you how, you can still listen to God. What’s one way you could practice listening to Him this week?