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!
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?
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