Kernan Community Groups
Sermon Discussion Guide
September 20, 2026
Kings and Kingdoms: The Songs We Sing
1 Samuel 1:1–2:11
1 Samuel 1:1-2, 6-7
[1] There was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim of the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite. [2] He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
[6] And her rival used to provoke her grievously to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. [7] So it went on year by year. As often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.
1 Samuel 1:9-20
[9] After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. [10] She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. [11] And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
[12] As she continued praying before the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. [13] Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. [14] And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” [15] But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. [16] Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” [17] Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” [18] And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
[19] They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. [20] And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.”
1. Hannah’s Pain
Why was this emotional and relational pain almost unbearable for Hannah?
“God’s tendency is to make our total inability his starting point. Our hopelessness and our helplessness are no barrier to his work.” – Dale Ralph Davis
How has God used pain in your life to teach you something about himself?
How has God used pain in your life for good?
How can we come alongside those experiencing various forms of pain and heartache in the church?
2. Hannah’s Prayer
Do you find it easy or difficult to pray when you are in the middle of a crisis or emotional distress? Why?
“Hannah’s prayer was not a bargain in which she offered something to God to get what she wanted. Rather, what she wanted was a child to offer to the Lord. She wanted to play her role in God’s plan of salvation, and she was zealous to play a most meaningful role: to bear a lifelong Nazarite who would wholeheartedly serve the Lord.” – Richard Phillips
What does this say about Hannah’s faith and trust in the Lord?
Hannah had a really big view of God’s redemptive mission in this world and wanted to play her part, no matter the cost. What keeps us from surrendering more of our lives in service to God and participating in his mission for this world?
How can prayer change our hearts and the way we think about living the Christian life?
3. Hannah’s Song
F
1 Samuel 2:1-2, 7-8, 10
And Hannah prayed and said,
[1] “My heart exults in the Lord;
my horn is exalted in the Lord.
My mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in your salvation.
[2] “There is none holy like the Lord:
for there is none besides you;
there is no rock like our God.
[7] The Lord makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts.
[8] He raises up the poor from the dust;
he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
and on them he has set the world
[10] The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;
against them he will thunder in heaven.
The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;
he will give strength to his king
and exalt the horn of his anointed.”
Hannah believed in a big God and therefore had a big faith. She wanted God for himself, not for the blessings he may give. Why is it hard to love God himself more than the gifts and blessings he may give?
Why is the Giver of the gifts (God) better than the gifts themselves?
While on the cross, Jesus cried out the first few words of Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” In this moment, Jesus was abandoned by the greatest love he had ever known: the Father’s love. Why did this happen and what does it mean for us?
Romans 8:31-39
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
[37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That is our true song. How do these verses comfort you?
