Leader Huddle Season 1 Wk. 8

Confronting and Confessing Sin in rGroup: 

It's not always fun and it is certainly never something that is easy, but it is 100% worth it. How do we confront sin and confess sin in an rGroup setting?

First, let's establish that it is necessary! If you want your group to succeed in growing closing together in community and closer to Christlikeness, then confessing sin together is necessary. That being said, there are some ways we can do it that help us. 

Using the story from this Sunday's sermon in 2 Samuel 12, here is the number 1 thing to do that will help us as group leaders do this: 

• GO FOR IT - don't shy away, be bold in confrontation of sin and confession of sin

Now, here are 3 ways to do it well in an rGroup setting:

1. If you are not an all ladies or men's group, then split up between girls and guys. When discussing sin, smaller is always better. This helps people not feel targeted. 
2. As leaders it is our job to lead. So, lead the way in confessing your own sin and confronting it in others.
3. Rely on God's Word. Read the Bible, pray the Bible, memorize the Bible. In 2 Sam. 12, the prophet Nathan went to David because God had told him. In the same way, we need to be familiar with God's Word so that we can know when He wants us to confess or confront. 

Life of David week 5

 Text Recap:

God wants us to love and respect other people, not just ourselves and not just Him. One way God makes sure that we really love each other, see God’s presence in each other, and listen to each other is by speaking to us through other people.  So whether we like it or not, we need to pay attention to what other people are telling us because they may have the message we need to hear.  The talks that Nathan (a prophet and spiritual advisor) has with David (an anointed king) gives us an idea of the way God speaks through friends and family. One of the most memorable examples is Nathan’s confrontation of David about his affair with Bathsheba and coverup-turned-murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband and one of David’s top men (2 Samuel 12).

Considering this story and thinking about times when friends have spoken truth to you (or your friends and family), here is a short list of clues to indicate that someone is speaking God’s truth:

1-    The messenger doesn’t have a personal agenda.  The point of the conversation is to help you see truth.

Nathan opens his conversation with David by telling a story about a rich man with lots of livestock taking and killing the only lamb of a poor man. Nathan provokes outrage in David about this situation. He then explains that David is this rich man, behaving badly and contrary to God’s intentions despite having been anointed king, given wealth, and protected from his arch-rival Saul.  The point of the conversation is not to score points with a rich man, manipulate him into acting a certain way, or extort money out of him. The purpose is to get David to see truth and begin the process of restoring his relationship with God.

2-    A nagging concern is addressed.

At the time of Nathan’s meeting, David may have put the past behind him.  At some point, surely, he struggled with the problem of getting another man’s wife pregnant. The affair and pregnancy bothered him enough to attempt to cover up the affair by bringing Uriah back from war and encouraging him to sleep with Bathsheba (Uriah’s wife), and then sending him to the battlefront to be killed after the first plan failed. At some point, David must have felt fear or regret even if he later pushed those emotions aside.  So, whether David was presently wrestling with the problems of adultery and murder, it’s likely that he did have some major concerns at some point. The message from Nathan deals with this struggle.

3-    The message is specific 

After getting David to understand and admit his wrongdoing, Nathan lets him know specifically what is going to happen next. The prophet explains that God has forgiven him; however, the contempt David has shown for God will result in the death of his child with Bathsheba.  Messages from God through other people don’t necessarily focus on condemnation. However, they typically deal with a specific concern, circumstance, or recommended course of action.

4-    The messenger has unusual insight about your situation.

As far as we know, Nathan has not had much contact with David in the year or so leading up to this confrontation. He doesn’t seem deeply involved in the day-to-day activities of the King and his family. Still, Nathan comprehends what has happened, senses David’s emotional and spiritual condition, and tells a story that both illuminates the problem and resonates with David.  When someone has a pulse on your situation, not only the facts but also the feelings, this person can guide you in confronting a problem and taking a step in a new direction.

Sometimes we get annoyed when someone complains to us, calls us out, or challenges us. It’s difficult to filter messages and easy to wish we were surrounded by a different, more compliant and supportive group of people. What’s tricky then is to know when we should be listening to our friends and when we should be developing a thicker skin. Nathan’s interaction with David and David’s response to Nathan gives us a guide for discerning truth.

 

Questions for Reflection:

1- Who do you take advice from in your life?  Do you seek after advice, or do these people come to you and offer it in response to what they are observing about you?

2- When you read the story that Nathan told David, how did you respond?  When we see wrongdoing and sin in the lives of others, we tend to get outraged and upset, demanding justice.  When the sin is in our own lives, we tend to have a different response.  What is the response, and why is it different?

3- Do you have a Nathan in your life?  A person that you trust, that you allow to speak the hard truths in love to you?  That you would humble yourself and listen to, no matter how hard it is to hear?  Are you a Nathan in someone else’s life?

4- Has the Holy Spirit ever prompted you to speak truth into someone’s life?  Were you obedient to the prompting?  If so, how did the person respond?  If you didn’t say anything to the person, what stopped you?

5- When someone confronts you with an issue in your life, what is your initial response?  Get defensive?  Cut them off?  Accuse them of their sin and ‘return the favor?’ Listen with humility?  Be open to what they have to say?  Dismiss it?

Application/Challenge:

1-    Learn how to deal with sin in your life immediately.  Don’t let it linger, grow, or become callous to it.

2-    Exercise humility in your life and welcome people that will speak truth to you, even when it hurts!  Seek this people out.

3-    Know what you are looking for in a friendship, so that your friends can help you become more like Jesus.

4-    There are 4 criteria for me in my close friendships, 4 roles that I want to play and allow my friends to play in my life:

a.     I want to KNOW them, and for them to KNOW me (the good, the bad, and the ugly!)

b.     I want to CHALLENGE them, and for them to CHALLENGE me (you need friends to push you to become the man/woman that God has called you to be)

c.     I want to CELEBRATE them, and allow them to CELEBRATE me (credibility, trust, and love are developed through these times, making it easier to receive the hard news when it is needed)

d.     I want to SERVE them, and allow them to SERVE me (allowing other people to serve you involves humility, and serving others creates an attitude of selflessness in your life)

 

Daily Bible Reading (Monday-Saturday):

This week, let’s read a few different passages that illustrate biblical friendship.

Monday- Genesis 2:18 and Proverbs 18:1. (Solitude in life can be dangerous) 

Tuesday- Gen. 5:24, 6:9; Ex. 33:11; Isa. 41:18; John 15:13-15 (Friendship is a theme throughout the whole Bible)

Wednesday- Proverbs 13:20; 16:28; 17:9; 19:6; 22:24-25; (Friendship is very practical)

Thursday- Proverbs 18:24; 19:4; 27:10 (Friendship is a covenant between 2 people)

Friday- Acts 2:42-47, 4:32-35; 3 John vs 15  (Friendship Develops Community in the Church)

Saturday- John 15:12-17; 1 John 1:3-4 (Friendship with God is our greatest joy)

 

5 Question Bible Study (to answer every day in response to the Daily Bible Reading):

a- What idea particularly strikes me from this text (note which verses it comes from).

b- What question does this text raise in my mind—and how would this text answer it? 

c- What about Jesus—his character and/or redemption—relates to this text?

d- What action must I take as a result of this text?  Be concrete and specific.

e- With whom will I share what I learned from this text?

 

SPEC for the Text

Sin to avoid

Promise to claim

Example to Follow

Command to Obey

 

“I Will” Statement…

-Based on this text, what is one specific, measurable thing you will do this week to live it out?

Leader Huddle Season 1 wk. 7

 

This is your mid-season reminder to be looking forward! Don't neglect the seasons of the future by not looking for future leaders now. 

As you meet over the coming weeks, how can you identify one or two people who could take a next step by being an Admin, Host, or Co-Leader in coming seasons?

• Look for someone who is consistently bought in
• Is there someone who doesn't answer every question, but when they do speak it's normally something thoughtful and insightful?
• Is there someone who serves really well? Maybe cleans up afterward while everyone else is talking, ensures each person has a place to seat, etc. 

Be thinking about these things this week as you try to have a future oriented mindset in your group! 

Above all, be praying about who God might want you to invest in and potentially ask to step up and join an rGroup lead team! You never truly know who He might be preparing to be a leader! 

Life of David Week 4

 Text Recap:

David is a study in contrasts. He was a man after God's own heart, but like us, he was capable of great sin.  Adultery, murder, deception—the list goes on and on.  From this story about David and Bathsheba, we also learn that God pursues us to forgive and restore (2 Samuel 11). It is a sad—but captivating—story, but the important question is this: "What can we learn from the story?"  This happens at the pinnacle of David’s career. He's a hero, he's powerful and rich—and then he gets another man’s wife pregnant. That is one of the biggest "uh-oh" moments in the Bible.  We have all done things that have come back to haunt us, so we have some sense of how David must have felt: that sickening, panicky feeling in the pit of your stomach.  Things only spiral down from there.

 

David was not where he was supposed to be, not doing what he was supposed to be doing. It was in the spring, when kings go out to battle, but David sent his armies out under others’ command.  He is supposed to be out on the battlefield leading and inspiring his troops, but David is being irresponsible. The same can be true for us.  When we are at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing something other than what we ought to be doing, we can get into a lot of trouble.  We get in trouble when we fail to fulfill our God-given purpose in being transformed into followers of Jesus Christ. When we take our eyes off of that purpose, God gets smaller in our eyes and the draw of the world presents a whole new set of purposes to live for.  When we take our eyes off of Jesus, we find ourselves wandering into trouble. That's what David did and that is where his trouble began.

 

When Bathsheba tells David that she is pregnant, David's world starts spinning out of control.  His response is to come up with a plan to fix the situation (2 Samuel 11:10-17).  In just one chapter of Scripture, a man after God's own heart broke all of these commandments!  He fell so fast, so far, and God was not pleased.  Yet, God is not going to leave David there.  He sends Nathan to David to confront him about his sin.  Nathan tells a story to set a trap, and when David responds, he springs the trap (2 Samuel 12:1-7).  All of us need a Nathan in our lives—someone whom we give permission to speak truth to us in love, even when it hurts. Who is that for you? Who have you given permission to speak to you and tell you when you have stepped out of bounds and to tell you about your blind spots?

 

Nathan is such an important figure in this story. His courage is amazing. He is going to the King of Israel, the most powerful man around, and is going to confront him with his sin.  We have to remember that David has already shown himself capable of killing an innocent man.  Would you have confronted David?  Nathan could have lost his life for doing this, but God told him to go, and he did.  Even though he knew that it might cost him something, he listened to God and did what He said.  However, Nathan knew that the goal is life-change, not mere confrontation.  To accomplish that, he spoke the truth in love.  As followers of Jesus, we not only need a Nathan in our lives, we need to be Nathan more often than we are to other Christians that we love.

 

Do you ever become discouraged because the good guys in the Bible often become the bad guys in the end?  That seems to happen a lot (David, Abraham, Moses). All of these people in the Bible start off as role models, and then they blow it.  That's disappointing because we have looked up to them. We see them as examples of what it means to please God.  However, these stories in the Bible are not so much about David and Moses and Abraham, as they are about God and what He is doing.  The story about David first teaches us something about ourselves so that then we can learn something about God.  David’s story teaches us that we are all capable of the worst.  You are thinking: "That David, what a terrible person!  I would never do something like that." Do we really think that we are better than David, Abraham, or Moses?  The Bible says, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

 

This story also teaches us that God relentlessly pursues us to forgiveness and restoration (2 Samuel 12:13).  God airs David's dirty laundry because He wants us to realize that we too are capable of such sin, and no matter how great our sin, He still loves us, and He still pursues us so that He can forgive and restore us.  Don’t get it twisted, though!  God is not saying, "Sin is no big deal."  No!  David's sin could only be forgiven because Jesus was punished for our sin.  David didn't have to die, because Jesus was going to!

 

David also gives us an example of how to confess our sin. When David was confronted with his sin—he confessed it to God (Psalm 51).  That is what we are called to do.  To confess means to agree with God about our sin, that it is wrong.  When we confess and repent, God forgives and cleanses us from our sins (Psalm 32:1-5).  There is nothing but joy and forgiveness and restoration on the other side of confession.  Praise God for that!

 

 

Questions for Reflection:

1- When you first heard the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba, what did you think was the moral of the story you were supposed to get?

2- If a neighbor or friend at work asked you, “What kind of stuff do they talk about at your church?”, how would you summarize the main points of this week’s text and sermon?  What key lessons can you take away from this text and apply to your life?  Try to explain it in plain language so that anyone could understand it.

3- Read 1 Corinthians 10:11-13.  For who’s sake (vs 11) was the story of David’s sin recorded in the Bible?

4- One truth that David’s story teaches us is that “If King David, a man after God’s own heart, is capable of these types of grievous sins, then so are we.”  What sins would you say, or at least think (1 Corinthians 10:12), “Oh, I’d never do that!”

5- How does 1 Corinthians 10:13 correct your thinking about temptation?  How does it comfort you in temptation?

6- David’s spiral into sin began with him neglecting his responsibilities (to lead his army into battle).  Share about a time when neglecting your responsibilities became the occasion for sin in your life.

7- In what situations does God seem small and temptation seem big in your life?

8- What verses, phrases, or truths can you remind yourself of in a situation like that to ensure you are thinking clearly and not falling into sin?

9- Who is the “Nathan” in your life?  Do you serve as Nathan in someone else’s life?

 

Application/Challenge:

1-    Don’t lose your focus on God’s purpose and calling, causing Him to get smaller and distractions to get bigger in your life.

2-    Build trustworthy relationships in your life to help you grow closer to Jesus.

3-    God pursues us to forgive and restore, so confess your sins and receive the restoration, forgiveness, and joy that He offers.

 

 

Daily Bible Reading (Monday-Saturday):

This week, let’s read a few different passages to help identify the areas of life that cause men and women to fall.  In this passage, David struggled with lust.  Which temptation do you struggle with the most?

Monday- Judges 14-15 (Sampson struggled with pride) 

Tuesday- Numbers 20:1-13 (Moses struggled with anger)

Wednesday- Acts 5 (Ananias and Sapphira struggled with greed and the love of money)

Thursday- Matthew 25:24-29 (Jesus warned of the results of laziness)

Friday- Psalm 127 (David warns about the risk of being a workaholic)

Saturday- John 21 (Peter struggled with burn-out in his life)

 

5 Question Bible Study (to answer every day in response to the Daily Bible Reading):

a- What idea particularly strikes me from this text (note which verses it comes from).

b- What question does this text raise in my mind—and how would this text answer it? 

c- What about Jesus—his character and/or redemption—relates to this text?

d- What action must I take as a result of this text?  Be concrete and specific.

e- With whom will I share what I learned from this text?

 

SPEC for the Text

Sin to avoid

Promise to claim

Example to Follow

Command to Obey

 

“I Will” Statement…

-Based on this text, what is one specific, measurable thing you will do this week to live it out?

 

Leader Huddle Season 1 Wk.6

 

I often want to lead my group into discovering truth and application of that truth for themselves and not relying on me to give it to them. This leads me to asking non-specific questions and then having to tolerate bad answers, correct wrong ones, and redirect conversation back toward the initial aim of the question.

One thing I have done to alleviate that is this: stating the truth/application/answer I want to discuss, then asking for their opinions on that statement. It may seem simple, but merely asking for opinions about a stated truth has helped my group tremendously! 

So when you're trying to help your group see a certain truth this week, state that truth and then ask what they think about it. This will help limit the amount of time you spend teaching/talking while also helping your group members discover how it is applicable for their life. 

Life of David Week 3

Sermon Summary:

In this message. we find David on the run as Saul seeks to end his life.  From this period in David’s life, we learn about the importance of trusting God when we find ourselves in a place we didn’t choose.  David had become a great military general. As a result of his military successes, he received the praise of the people.  That was fine until David began receiving more praise than King Saul (1 Samuel 18:8-9).  Saul was jealous, and not long thereafter, decided to end David’s life because he saw David as a potential threat to the throne.  David learned of Saul’s murderous plans and fled into the wilderness, where he spent the next ten years of his life.  The wilderness near Engedi is a very dry region with little food and water.  It was not a place that David wanted to live in, and yet he couldn’t leave because he was on the run.  However, David did have the freedom to choose how he would respond to others while in the wilderness. Let’s look at three examples. 

Responding to the Weak In 1 Samuel 22:2, we find David responding to “the weak” in a place called the cave of Adullam.  David was with 400 disgruntled, poor men who wanted him to lead them.  As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, a tragedy comes along.  We read about it in 1 Samuel chapter 30. While David and his men were out on a mission, the Amalekites came and destroyed their camp.  When David and his men returned, they discovered that their possessions had been stolen and their wives and children had been kidnapped.  The initial response of those whom David was leading was a bad response.  Rather than direct their anger towards the Amalekites, they directed it towards David.  They wanted to kill him.  There was no one to encourage him, so David strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).  David made a wise choice—he strengthened himself in the Lord and then he sought out his pastor for counsel, a man named Abiathar.  He suggested that they pray together and seek God’s guidance, and that’s exactly what they did!  By making that good choice, David discovered that God had a plan for restoration and recovery.  David rallied his men to go on a rescue mission. They defeated the Amalekites and rescued their wives and children and they retrieved the possessions that had been stolen from them.  In addition, the Amalekites had conquered other people and had taken the possessions and money.  David and his men brought all of that back to their camp at the Brook of Besor.  When they got back, David’s men wanted to keep the other people’s possessions, but David put his foot down as a leader and said, “That’s not right. We will not only return their families, we will also return their possessions.  Furthermore, they will get a rightful share of all of the spoils.”  While going through his own wilderness experience, David cared about those who had less than he did.  There is a tendency when we get in the wilderness to become self-centered, to throw a pity party for ourselves.  Yet, David shows us how to respond to the weak: with generosity. 

Responding to a Fool In 1 Samuel chapter 25, David relates to a fool. It is the story of Nabal and Abigail, his wife.  They were part of a Bedouin group in the wilderness to whom David and his men provided protection.  During the annual sheep-shearing festival, David and sent his men who had been providing protection to receive whatever Nabal and Abigail wanted to provide.  Nabal was rich, rude, and arrogant, and when David’s men came making their request, Nabal said to them, “How dare you expect anything from us?” and sent David’s men away.  When the message got back to David, he became furious and decided to go ride down the hill and wipe everyone out.  Abigail heard what was about to happen, gathered gifts of food and wine, and hurried off to intercept David and his men.  Abigail approached David with the gifts and accepted responsibility for her husband’s foolish actions herself.  She reasoned with David: “Yes, my husband was a fool, but we don’t need two fools.”  Abigail convinced David to turn around and no blood was shed that day.  Abigail was a peacemaker, someone who was willing to step in and speak words of wisdom and restraint with love.  In the NT, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.”  Abigail challenged David that day to be the best version of himself.  She asked David to forgive the fool, and he did. 

Responding to a Wicked Person The third kind of person that David encountered is found in 1 Samuel chapter 24.  Here, David confronts a wicked person.  As result of his irrational jealousy, Saul wanted to kill David.  David and his men found themselves hiding in a cave near Engedi.  Saul decided to enter one of these caves to find some relief from the heat and the sun.  He just happened to choose the cave where David and his men are hiding.  About that time, Saul had to use the bathroom.  He discarded his robe and David literally caught him with his pants down.  His men encouraged David to take the opportunity to kill Saul, but David chose not to do that.  Rather, he sneaked up and cut off the edge of Saul’s robe.  Saul finished his business and went back into the valley.  David came out of the cave and held up the fabric he has just cut off.  He yelled out, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you...for the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave,” (1 Samuel 24:9-10).  One of the reasons Saul was after David is because he was listening to people who were the opposite of peacemakers.  They were saying, “David is out to get you. You need to get David before he gets you.”  By his actions, David dispelled those lies.  David was willing to wait on God and not take vengeance into his own hands.  Many times, we are tempted, especially in our wilderness times, to take things into our own hands, to bring about our own justice.  Know this: when you do that, you are raising your hand against someone that God has placed in a position of authority over you. Unless they are asking you to do something that directly goes against something the Bible says you are to do or are not to do, then you are to live under their authority.  God will redeem that somehow—even though you don’t like it. 

You are not to return evil for evil but to give a blessing instead. 

    • To the weak, choose to be generous. 

    • To the fool, choose to forgive. 

    • To the wicked, choose to wait on God for justice.

David did not choose to be in the wilderness, but he did have a choice about how he would respond to those whom he would encounter while there.  How will you respond? 

 

Questions for Reflection:

1- God chose an unknown, insignificant shepherd boy to be Israel’s greatest king.  Tell about a time when you “served in obscurity.”  What was hard about that?  What was easy?  In what ways do you now see that God used what you did behind the scenes to prepare you for something more?

2- David’s character was revealed through his “wilderness responses.”  Tell about a time when you had a less-than-perfect response in the midst of adversity. What resulted from your response?

3- How might things have been different if you, like David, strengthened yourself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6).  How does a person strengthen themselves in the Lord?  Have you ever done that?  Share a story about it.

4- Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14. What 3 types of people does God identify?  Why should we have different responses to each?

5- There are 3 types of people and 3 types of responses, but there are 4 commands in the passage.  One response is common regardless of the sort of person we encounter.  What is it?  Why should we be patient towards all?

6- Who in the world right now qualifies as weak?  How can you help them?

7- Who in your world qualifies as faint-hearted?  How can you encourage them?

8- Who in your world qualifies as unruly?  How can you warn them?

9- How can you be patient with each of them?

 

Application/Challenge:

1-    Choose not to return evil for evil; instead, give a blessing.

2-    To the weak, choose to be generous.

3-    To the fool, choose to forgive.

4-    To the wicked, choose to wait on the Lord to accomplish justice.

5-    What is one small, concrete step of obedience you will put into practice this week?

 

 

Daily Bible Reading (Monday-Saturday):

This week, let’s learn about living for the Glory of God.  If God IS glorious, then how can we add anything to His glory?

Monday- Psalm 59:1-8

Tuesday- Psalm 59:9-15

Wednesday- Psalm 59:16-17

Thursday- Psalm 63:1-6

Friday- Psalm 63:7-11

Saturday- 2 Samuel 11:1 - 2 Samuel 12:15

 

5 Question Bible Study (to answer every day in response to the Daily Bible Reading):

a- What idea particularly strikes me from this text (note which verses it comes from).

b- What question does this text raise in my mind—and how would this text answer it? 

c- What about Jesus—his character and/or redemption—relates to this text?

d- What action must I take as a result of this text?  Be concrete and specific.

e- With whom will I share what I learned from this text?

 

SPEC for the Text

Sin to avoid

Promise to claim

Example to Follow

Command to Obey

 

“I Will” Statement…

-Based on this text, what is one specific, measurable thing you will do this week to live it out?

Leader Huddle Season 1 Wk. 5

 

 BIG NEWS if you haven't seen the video on social media yet, here you go! 

I am so expectant for how God is going to use Wes in his next step of obedience and in awe of God's providence to place me at North Campus. As for rGroups, not much will change. I will continue in the current role that I have with you leaders, except that new members will start to cycle through your campus pastor instead of directly through me. 

Let me know if you have any questions or comments regarding how rGroups will move forward!

Life Of David Week 2

Text Recap:

    In this passage we see the source of David's courage in facing the Philistine giant named Goliath. David's courage in the face of overwhelming odds challenges us to courageously defend God's honor in a deteriorating culture. These are not fairy tales. They really happened. These Bible stories weren't written just to inspire people; they were recorded because they are real historical events. We’ll see that the story of David and Goliath is not so much about who David is fighting, but rather what David is fighting for (1 Samuel 17). 

    It’s a classic face-off, with the good guys on one side and the bad guys on the other. It seems that neither side really wanted to fight, because this staring competition went on for forty days. But eventually, someone has to blink. The Philistines proposed a solution to this standoff: instead of thousands of people dying, let’s each send out one champion to fight on behalf of the entire army. The Philistine champion, Goliath, was over nine feet tall! His armor weighed 125 pounds. This is the guy who came out and taunted Israel's army day after day for forty days! 

    The battle was in the Valley of Elah. The Philistines knew that if they controlled the Valley, they would have easy access into the heart of the Israelite kingdom. The Valley of Elah was an important economic trade route. Controlling it allowed the flow of exports and imports, so protecting this area was critical to Israel's economy. The Philistines already controlled the two key cities which guarded the entrance to the Valley of Elah. A win here would put them in control of the entire valley—which was the key to maintaining Israel's security and way of life. There is a lot riding on how this battle between the Israeli's and the Philistines plays out. As important as these factors are, they are not the focus of the Biblical narrative. 

David was driven to challenge this Philistine champion for a different reason: Goliath had dishonored Israel's God.  That's one thing David would not tolerate. Six times in 1 Samuel 17 Goliath taunted God and his army (see v. 10, 25, 26 [twice], 36, 45).  Goliath’s defiance of Israel's God is what ticked David off!  

Here’s a question: Does it bug you when belief in God is ridiculed in our culture?  It sure bothered David. It was David's thought that God should be honored that led him to take on an opponent who, from a worldly perspective, he had no business facing.  The situation was actually worse than most people think.  The Philistines had iron weapons, which was advanced technology for that time.  Only King Saul and his son Jonathon had swords on their side.  No one else in the Israeli army had them (1 Samuel 13:19-20; 17:38-40).  Talk about an ill-equipped army! Goliath comes to the battle dressed like Iron Man—and David shows up with just a slingshot! 

The question is this: Where did David get the courage to fight someone like Goliath?  Saul was no help (see v. 33).  It all came down to David's view of God.  David had a big view of God.  David knew that God Himself was concerned about his glory and reputation. God was neither indifferent to Goliath's trash-talking nor intimidated by Goliath's size.  For David, God's power wasn't just something he had read about in the Scriptures. He had personally experienced it (1 Samuel 17:34-37). 

Sometimes, like David, we sense that God is calling us to take a stand for Him in a culture that mocks God and those who follow Him.  In those times, we face our own fears (our giants).  In those times, remember that you serve a big God—a God who has chosen you and equipped you to represent Him in the world. He has given you the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. That means that you're not just bringing your limited human resources into the battle. David realized this was a battle for God's honor and for the preservation of God's people. God loves to use the weak things of the world, the despised things, to shame and defeat the strong and arrogant. Don't ever underestimate what God can accomplish through someone whose heart is fully His. David didn't have the size, the experience, or the equipment to match Goliath, but he had one thing Goliath didn't have—God's help!  

There is “territory” that God is asking you to protect and defend.  Your purity is a territory that God wants you to protect.  If you are married, God wants you to protect your marriage.  God wants parents to protect the territory of their families.  Our culture will not help you raise kids who honor and serve God.  We need to defend and protect a biblical truth and morality.  Will you take a courageous stand and defend these territories that God has entrusted to you? We serve a big God. He loves to use the weak things and the despised things to shame the strong. He wants to use you. Will you let him? 

Questions for Reflection:

1- Who do you know personally that ridicules or scoffs at the things of God?  How does it play out?

2- Share about a time when you “stood up” for your faith or beliefs in God.  How did it go?  Did you stand alone, or did others join you too?  What was the outcome? 

3- When someone ridicules the things of God, what upsets you more: God’s reputation or yours?

4- The Philistines had so many perceived advantages over the Israelites.  How do you assess the culture in America today?  Who has the advantage—God or evil?

5- Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Make a list of the things which are CONTRASTED in this passage.  Who appears to be winning at the moment?  Are you ok with that?  Why or why not?

6- Read Hebrews 11:32-38.  Notice the CONSTRAST between the two groups: those in vs 32-35 and those in vs 36-38.  Notice the similarity between them (vs 39).  Are you ok with this?  Why or why not?

Application/Challenge:

1-    Choose to trust in God’s strength.

2-    Choose to defend the territory that God has entrusted to you: personal purity, marriage, family, biblical truth, morality, etc.

3-    What is one small, concrete step of obedience you will put into practice this week?

 

 

Daily Bible Reading (Monday-Saturday):

This week let’s talk about living for the Glory of God.  If God IS glorious, then how can we add anything to His glory?

Monday- 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Philippians 1:9-11

Tuesday- Joshua 7:19 and Revelation 16:9

Wednesday- John 14:13 and Exodus 33:18

Thursday- 1 Corinthians 16:18-20

Friday- Philippians 2:9-11

Saturday- 2 Samuel 20

 

5 Question Bible Study (to answer every day in response to the Daily Bible Reading):

a- What idea particularly strikes me from this text (note which verses it comes from)?

b- What question does this text raise in my mind—and how would this text answer it? 

c- What about Jesus—his character and/or redemption—relates to this text?

d- What action must I take as a result of this text?  Be concrete and specific.

e- With whom will I share what I learned from this text?

 

SPEC for the Text

Sin to avoid

Promise to claim

Example to Follow

Command to Obey

 

“I Will” Statement…

-Based on this text, what is one specific, measurable thing you will do this week to live it out?

Leader Huddle S1 Wk. 4

New Series this week means new content. Nathan has developed some in depth new rGroup content that will help you guys move forward in your faith and move your group forward as well!

Check out this introductory video:

3 things to know about the new content:

1. Sermon notes - moving past Sunday throughout the week
2. Study Questions - same thing, but different and deeper
3. SPEC Study - here's how to move forward after your rGroup 

Life of David Week 1

1. SERMON NOTES:

This week, we began a new series on the Story of David.  The series starts with David as a teenage shepherd boy.  In 1 Samuel 16:1, we see that God rejected Saul as King of Israel, and he instructed the prophet Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint the new King that He had chosen.  This King was to be selected from among Jesse’s sons.  Out of all Jesse’s manly sons, God appointed the youngest of the group, a little shepherd boy, to lead the nation of Israel (1 Samuel 16:12).  So why David?

David had a Heart for God.  Everyone else was looking at the outward appearance, but God was looking at David’s heart. That was the real test. To have a heart for God means that you have a heart that is sensitive to the things of God.  If you have a heart for God, He can use you mightily.  He is always on the lookout for people with that kind of a heart (2 Chronicles 16:9). What is God looking for? He is looking for men and women whose hearts are completely His. Not partially, but thoroughly. That means that there are no areas of your life that are off-limits to God.  Nothing has been swept under the rug. That means that when you sin, you own it. You turn from it. You care not only about your actions but about the motivations behind them. David was that kind of a man. 

David had a Vision from God.  Not only did David have a heart for God, but he was also given a vision from God. After Samuel anointed the young shepherd boy as king, David was different. Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. At that moment, David knew that God had singled him out for a particular purpose.  That knowledge informed and motivated everything he did moving forward. While God hasn’t chosen any of us to be kings or queens, he has chosen us to be the recipients of a great salvation. According to the Bible, the moment you placed your trust in Christ as your Savior, several important things happened: 

·       The same Holy Spirit who came mightily upon David came to live within you (Ephesians 1:13) 

·       You became a brand-new person with a new identity (2 Cor. 5:17) 

·       Your sins were forgiven (Colossians 2:13-14) 

·       You were reconciled to God (Romans 5:10) 

·       You became a member of God’s spiritual family (John 1:12) 

·       God gifted you to serve Him (1 Peter 4:10)
Just as God had a plan for David’s life, God has a plan for ours (Ephesians 2:10). The truth is, God chose you just as he chose David. People with a heart for God and a vision from God can do great things for God. 

David had Faith in God.  David was called upon to minister to King Saul. Saul sensed that God’s hand of blessing was no longer upon him and became discouraged and depressed. Someone in the King’s court heard about David’s skill as a musician and thought that the beautiful music he played might soothe the king’s spirit.  They were right. David gained favor in Saul’s eyes, and he moved from the pasture to the palace. Can you see how God worked behind the scenes in David’s life to prepare him for his ultimate role as Israel’s next king? During the time he was ministering to Saul, David watched and learned, observing the good things Saul did as well as the bad.  David faithfully remained in that role until God decided that it was time for Saul to go and David to reign. You, like David, can prepare for God’s future purposes for you by being faithful in what he sets before you today.  How can you do that?

·       If you sense he wants you to encourage someone today, do that. 

·       If you sense he wants you to share your faith story with someone, do that. 

·       If you sense he wants you to pray for someone, pray for them. 

·       If he prompts you to be generous to someone, be generous. 

·       If he leads you to serve someone inside or outside of the church, step up and serve wholeheartedly!

If you do that every day, God will open doors and he will use you in ways that you have never imagined (2 Chronicles 16:9). 

David modeled faithfulness, even early on in his life.  The story opens with David being faithful with his job as a shepherd in the field.  He was faithful, even when things didn’t change.  He stuck with it even though the familiar seemingly mundane aspects of life.  Finally, David was faithful when he was apparently forgotten.  David did not become King as soon as he was anointed.  It was almost 15 years after his anointing that he actually assumed the position of leadership as King.  Yet, he was faithful in the waiting!

 

2. STUDY QUESTIONS

1- Samuel 16:7 states: "man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Tell about a time when outward appearances deceived you or someone you know. 

2- How confident are you that next time you would—and could—"look at the heart"? Explain. 

3- Read 1 Samuel 13:13-14 and Acts 13:21-22. How do the Scriptures describe David? 

4- Clearly David was not sinless, so, what does—and doesn't—it mean to be a man "after God's heart"? In what ways does that describe you? Be specific. 

5- Read 2 Chronicles 16:9.  The word “strengthen” refers to both physical and spiritual strength.  God gives this assistance to those "whose heart is completely his." What sort of difficulties do you think arise from having a heart which is entirely God's?  What passages can you think of to support your answer? 

6- To who is 1 Peter 2:9a addressed? Does that include you? Let's see..."a chosen race"—read Ephesians 2:11-14 and 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14.  "A royal priesthood"— read Revelation 1:6 and Hebrews 13:15-16.  "A holy nation"—read Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7 cf. 1 Peter 1:16.  "A people for God's own possession"—read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

7- For what purpose has God chosen you? (1 Peter 2:9b)

8- To what degree are you fulfilling your purpose? 

Application/Challenge:

1-    Choose to be a person whose heart belongs entirely to God

2-    Choose to pursue God’s vision for your life.

3-    Trust in God’s strength

4-    Be faithful in what He’s placed before you today.

5-    What is one small, concrete step of obedience you will put into practice this week?

 

3. S.P.E.C. STUDY

 

Daily Bible Reading (Monday-Saturday):

This week, let’s learn about David’s heart for God.  Let’s start with the contrast between David and Saul.  As you study, look for examples of blame-shifting, rationalization, and out-right lying from King Saul.

Monday- 1 Samuel 15:1-7

Tuesday- 1 Samuel 15:7-13

Wednesday- 1 Samuel 15:13-21

Thursday- 1 Samuel 15:19-23

Friday- 1 Samuel 15:24-31, 35

Saturday- 1 Samuel 17:1-11, 31-47

 

5 Question Bible Study (to answer every day in response to the Daily Bible Reading):

a- What idea stands out to me from this text (note which verses it comes from).

b- What question does this text raise in my mind—and how would this text answer it? 

c- What about Jesus—his character and/or redemption—relates to this text?

d- What action must I take as a result of this text?  Be concrete and specific.

e- Who is someone I can share with what I learned from the text this week? 

 

SPEC for the Text

Sin to avoid

Promise to claim

Example to Follow

Command to Obey

 

“I Will” Statement…

-Based on this text, what is one specific, measurable thing you will do this week to live it out?