Devotion in a divided world A series in 1 Samuel A major theme of the Bible is the power of devotion in a divided world. When sin entered the world, it began to fragment everything. But God is on a mission to bring complete wholeness back into this world through His Son, Jesus Christ. One of the most memorable books of the Bible in the Old Testament is 1 Samuel. It’s the 9th book of the Bible, and it includes many popular historical accounts like David’s fight with Goliath. 1 Samuel is Biblical history in story-form. As you read the story, you begin to see that the key to flourishing in this world is learning how to be devoted to God in a divided world. Israel is divided again (1 Samuel 8:1-22) Worship God, not family Sin is always relational Everyone is a worshiper The stupidity of sin Learning the hard way Questions: Read 1 Samuel 8:1-4. Unlike Eli, Samuel was a good father, and yet his sons still turned away from the Lord. What does this teach us about the danger of finding our deepest hope in family rather than God? Everyone, whether they are religious or not, is a worshiper. What does it mean that everyone worships something? In verse 7 the Bible says that the people are not really rejecting Samuel, but instead, they are rejecting God. In verse 8, God says the people are abandoning Him. This is a strong, emotional word. All sin is relational, and God feels the betrayal of sin. How does this help us love God more and hate our sin more?