Bible Text: Psalm 75: 6-7; 1 Samuel 2:1-8
Before you Begin
- Get your Bible & notes, grab your coffee, hot chocolate or tea and get ready to dive into tonight’s bible study
- Take a photo of your group or yourself (if not in a group) as you study and share on Instagram with the hashtag #jhelkridge #inhomebiblestudy #elevation #inclementweather2025
- Request someone within the group to pray
Opening Icebreaker (5 minutes)
Activity: Step Up or Step Back
- Each person should share a time they received unexpected recognition or a promotion, whether at work, school, or in personal life.
- What emotions did you feel, and how did you respond to the change?
Opening Prayer
Begin the session with a short prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes of understanding, helping you see what God intend for you to see in His word today and to reveal His role in your personal growth and elevation.
Study Outline
1. Understanding Elevation (10 minutes)
- Read Psalm 75:6-7 aloud.
- Discuss:
- What does this passage teach us about the source of promotion and elevation?
- How does recognizing God as the judge shape our attitude toward success or failure?
2. God’s Sovereignty in Elevation (15 minutes)
- Read 1 Samuel 2:1-8 aloud.
- Discussion Questions:
- Who said the words recorded in the texts?
- To whom were the words in our text directed and why?
- Remember that the Bible is a book about God-discovery and His declared intent to make Himself known to us so what do these verses say about God?
- What do you learn about God’s character from these verses?
- How does Hannah’s prayer illustrate God’s role in exalting and humbling people?
- Why do you think God sometimes allows seasons of waiting or difficulty before elevation?
3. Our Response to God’s Elevation (15 minutes)
- Reflect on how to respond when God elevates you:
- What does the things said about God in those verses mean to you?
- Insert yourself into the text, how do you see yourself in relation to the text?
- How should the text change you and what should you do in response?
- Priority: How can you make God priority (make Him your first love) this year?
- Gratitude: How can we express gratitude like Hannah did?
- Humility: Why is humility important when God lifts us up?
- Faithfulness: How can you use your elevation to serve God and others?
Interactive Activity (5 minutes)
Title: Who Holds the Ladder?
- Get a visual of a ladder or draw one on a board.
- Discuss:
- Each rung represents a step in life (e.g., new grades at school, new job, promotion, spiritual growth).
- Each participant should share: Who you rely on to hold the ladder as you climb higher
- It is important to trust God to steady the ladder and guide the climb.
Closing Reflection (5 minutes)
- In what ways have you been seeking elevation apart from God?
- How can you realign your efforts to trust God’s timing and plan for your life?
- What is one practical step you can take this week to acknowledge God’s role in your journey?
Closing Prayer
Thank God for His sovereignty, acknowledge His role and seek His guidance in your personal elevation
