Home Group Discussion & Prayer Guide
Advent | Messiah in 1–2 Samuel | Hannah’s Christmas Connections
Primary Texts: 1 Samuel 1–2; Luke 1; Hebrews 9
1. Waiting, Pain, and Prayer
Hannah, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary, and Joseph all lived with deep longing while they waited for God to act.
Discussion:
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Where do you see yourself most in these stories of waiting—Hannah’s anguish (1 Sam 1:10), Zechariah’s long prayers (Luke 1:13), or Mary’s humble trust (Luke 1:38)?
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What does this teach us about how God invites his people to bring pain and longing to him?
Prayer:
Invite group members to silently name something they are waiting for and then pray together, asking God for patience, faith, and honesty in prayer.
2. Trusting God’s Word Before Circumstances Change
Hannah’s situation did not immediately change, but her posture did when she trusted God’s word (1 Sam 1:17–18).
Discussion:
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Why is it often harder to trust God’s promises before we see any visible change?
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How does Hannah’s response compare with Mary’s response to Gabriel’s word (Luke 1:38)?
Prayer:
Ask God to help the group walk “by faith and not by sight,” trusting his promises even when circumstances feel unchanged.
3. God’s Pattern: Answered Prayer That Prepares the Way for the King
God answers prayer with miraculous births—not merely to bless families, but to advance his redemptive plan (Samuel → David; John → Jesus).
Discussion:
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How does seeing God’s larger purpose reshape the way we understand unanswered or delayed prayers?
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What comforts or challenges you about the truth that God’s answers are often bigger than what we initially ask for?
Prayer:
Thank God that he is always at work, even when we don’t yet understand how our prayers fit into his greater purposes.
4. Devoted Sons and a Devoted Savior
Hannah, Elizabeth, and Mary each offered their sons back to God, ultimately pointing to Jesus, who “gave himself up for us” (Eph 5:2; Heb 9:28).
Discussion:
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What stands out to you about Hannah’s willingness to give Samuel fully to the Lord (1 Sam 1:27–28)?
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How does Jesus’ willing self-offering deepen your understanding of the gospel?
Prayer:
Praise Jesus for giving himself for our sins, and thank the Father for not sparing his own Son (Rom 8:32).
5. Advent Response: Waiting, Trusting, and Offering Ourselves
Advent looks backward to Christ’s first coming and forward to his return.
Discussion:
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In what practical ways can we respond like Hannah, Mary, and Joseph this Advent season—with trust, obedience, and devotion?
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What might it look like for you to offer your life more fully to God as an act of worship?
Prayer:
Close by praying, “Maranatha—come, Lord Jesus,” asking God to shape the group into people who wait expectantly, live faithfully, and offer themselves wholly to him.
