Middle 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 can listen to God even if no one shows me how.
Start Talking (Conversation Starter):
You’ve got to learn a brand-new skill without anyone (including ChatGPT or YouTube) to show you how. What skill would you pick and why?
Optional activity: Who’s That Talking?
Say, “We’re talking about Samuel this week — and he didn’t know when God was calling him because he’d never heard God’s voice before. Let’s see who can name these voices the fastest.”
Pull up some clips of celebrities talking or movies/shows. The fastest person in your group to guess who’s talking wins that round.
Some possible celebrities you could find on YouTube:
- Taylor Swift (music)
- Patrick Mahomes (NFL)
- Stephen Curry (NBA)
- LeBron James (NBA)
- MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) (YouTube)
- Zendaya (actress)
- Tom Holland (actor)
- Jenna Ortega (actress)
- Simone Biles (Olympic athlete)
- Dude Perfect (YouTube)
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.
What’s something new you’ve tried where you didn’t know what you were doing at first? How did you start to figure it out or get better at it?
Read 1 Samuel 3:1. Samuel grew up when people weren’t really hearing from God. That was what was normal for him even though it was different from how things used to be. What are some things in your life that feel “normal” because you see or hear them all the time? (e.g., inappropriate language, stuff on social media, violent movies, not reading your Bible, video games, inappropriate music, disrespecting your parents, etc.)
Which of those things might not match how God wants us to live?
Read 1 Samuel 3:2-10. Samuel didn’t know right away that God was calling him because he’d never heard God’s voice before. What stands out to you about how he responded? What are some ways we can learn to listen for God, even if no one is showing us how?
Like Samuel, we don’t always have people around us to show us how to listen and follow God. The good news is that God has given us His Word. How can spending time in the Bible help us recognize God’s voice in our lives?
👀🔎 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 for speaking to us. Help us hear Your voice through Your Word, our church, worship, and any other ways You want to talk to us. Give us wisdom so we can recognize Your voice and other voices that are influencing us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
Additional Questions
Who in your life helps you follow God? What do you do if they’re not around to ask?
We are called to listen to and obey God. Why do you think God calls us to do this? What happens when we just follow what we see?
“I can listen to God even if no one shows me how.” What is one way you can practice listening to God this week?