What makes for a scary boss? FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 1

What makes for a scary boss? FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 1

TAKE THE TRUE/FALSE QUIZ ON SAUL TRUE/FALSE Description 1. T or F Early in his reign Saul was admired and respected by the people. 2. T or F Saul didn t look much like royalty: he was short, ugly, and cross-eyed. 3. T or F Saul was the 9 th king of Israel 4. T or F Everyone in Saul s immediate family disliked and distrusted David. 5. T or F Saul became king when he was 30 and reigned over Israel 42 years. 6. T or F The LORD withdrew his favor from Saul and had Samuel the prophet anoint David as king. 7. T or F Saul was courageous in battle. He defeated the Ammonites, Philistines, Moabites, and Amalekites. 8. T or F Saul s fatal flaw was his refusal to depend on God. 9. T or F Saul was afflicted by hiccups that could only be cured by trips to the spa. 10. T or F After David killed Goliath, it was a song sung by Jewish girls in a victory parade that made Saul jealous. 11. T or F Instead of building up Israel, King Saul expended his time chasing stray donkeys through the hills. 12. T or F Saul s first fatal mistake was failing to completely destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions, as God had commanded. 13. T or F The night before a huge battle, Saul sought advice from a medium and told her to raise Samuel's spirit from the dead. 14. T or F Saul ruled in Gibeah which is about 3 miles from Jerusalem. 15. T or F Saul never experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 2

Match the crazy boss with the actions CRAZY BOSS Uncle Laban (Gen 29-30) King Herod (Acts 12) Nebuchadnezar (Dan 3 4) Rehoboam (1 Kings 12) King Saul (1 Sam 20) ACTIONS Daniel s boss made a 90 tall golden statue of himself. He was later struck with madness and was reduced to eating grass for 7 years. When Solomon died, this foolish young king doubled the burdens of the people, diving the kingdom. David eliminates a major opponent of Israel, and in gratitude his boss becomes jealous and tries to kill him three times. Jacob had to outsmart a wily boss who changed his wages eleven times, and swindled him out of his first wife. This tyrant killed his close family, slaughtered hundreds of innocent kids, and proclaimed himself a god. He was later eaten consumed by maggots Have you had to work with or under a difficult boss? What insights can you share? FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 3

1 Sam 19: 8-18 War broke out again and David went out to fight the Philistines. He beat them badly, and they ran for their lives. But then a black mood from God settled over Saul and took control of him. He was sitting at home, his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. Suddenly, Saul tried to skewer David with his spear, but David ducked. The spear stuck in the wall and David got away. It was night. Saul sent men to David s house to stake it out and then, first thing in the morning, to kill him. But Michal, David s wife, told him what was going on. Quickly now make your escape tonight. If not, you ll be dead by morning! She let him out of a window, and he made his escape. Then Michal took a dummy god and put it in the bed, placed a wig of goat s hair on its head, and threw a quilt over it. When Saul s men arrived to get David, she said, He s sick in bed. Saul sent his men back, ordering them, Bring him, bed and all, so I can kill him. When the men entered the room, all they found in the bed was the dummy god with its goat-hair wig! Saul stormed at Michal: How could you play tricks on me like this? You sided with my enemy, and now he s gotten away! Michal said, He threatened me. He said, Help me out of here or I ll kill you. David made good his escape and went to Samuel at Ramah and told him everything Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel withdrew to the privacy of Naioth. FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 4

When working with a crazy Boss Psalm 59 My God! Rescue me from my enemies, defend me from these mutineers. Rescue me from their dirty tricks, save me from their hit men. Desperadoes have ganged up on me, they re hiding in ambush for me. I did nothing to deserve this, GOD, crossed no one, wronged no one. All the same, they re after me, determined to get me. Wake up and see for yourself! You re GOD, GOD-of-Angel-Armies, Israel s God! Get on the job and take care of these pagans, don t be soft on these hard cases. They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. Then suddenly they re all at the gate, Snarling invective, drawn daggers in their teeth. They think they ll never get caught. But you, GOD, break out laughing; you treat the godless nations like jokes. Strong God, I m watching you do it, I can always count on you. God in dependable love shows up on Take the specific problems to God. Accurately define reality. Then, own 100% of your 50%. Make it a matter of personal, intentional prayer. See things from heaven s perspective, and if possible see the humor in things. Keep putting the problem in God s hands. Expect Him to act in his own time and way. FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 5

time, shows me my enemies in ruin. Don t make quick work of them, GOD, lest my people forget. Bring them down in slow motion, take them apart piece by piece. Let all their mean-mouthed arrogance catch up with them, Catch them out and bring them down every muttered curse every barefaced lie. Finish them off in fine style! Finish them off for good! Then all the world will see that God rules well in Jacob, everywhere that God s in charge. Ask God to reveal His purposes and timing. They return when the sun goes down, They howl like coyotes, ringing the city. They scavenge for bones, And bite the hand that feeds them. And me? I m singing your prowess, shouting at cockcrow your largesse, For you ve been a safe place for me, a good place to hide. Strong God, I m watching you do it, I can always count on you God, my dependable love. Don t let this define you. Claim in faith, the power and presence of God to overcome this trial. Why did David never try to get even with Saul? FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 6

Being a better boss 1. Treat your employees in the ways you expect them to treat you (Eph. 6:9) 2. Threats aren t a godly tactic to get employees to comply. (Eph. 6:9) 3. Be a servant, under God, for the good of others. (Matt. 20:25-28; Rom. 13:4, 6; 1 Pet. 5:2) 4. Be attentive to employee needs. (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:2) 5. Understand your own accountability. (Heb. 13:17) 6. Be fair in the wages you offer. Don t defraud people but do right by them. (Lev. 19:13; Mal. 3:5; Col. 4:1; James 5:4) 7. Get beyond obligations toward employees to truly caring and wanting to be there for them. (1 Pet. 5:2) 8. Keep everything you do above board. Get what you get honestly, with integrity. (1 Pet. 5:2) 9. Don t be controlling. (Matt. 20:25-26; 1 Pet. 5:3) 10. God entrusted your employees to your care. (1 Pet. 5:3) 11. Be a humble example. (1 Pet. 5:3,5) 12. Look for your reward from God. (1 Pet. 5:4) FCCH ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL PAUL EDWARDS 7