First of all, wow, how did I get this far behind. I just taught Chapter 15. I apologize for the delay. I have been crazy busy. Wait, aren't we all?? My agenda is to get one done per night to get caught up for sure. I could not make this session. Please feel free to add as necessary to any of these questions by adding a comment below...I will add to the session. If you participated in the Session at Michelle's House, please also add to-
Again, forgive... :-)
Week 8, Chapter 11: From Shepherd to King
Associated Scripture: 1 Samuel 16-18; 24; 31; 2 Samuel 6;
22; 1 Chronicles 17; Psalm 59
Discussion Questions:
1.
Why was David chosen to be the next king of
Israel? David was the youngest of his
brothers and therefore was the least likely to be chosen as King. Even David’s father was sure one of his
oldest would be offered-- We should
never assume we know God’s next choice for us.
We should instead pray for his wisdom and trust in what our future
holds.
2.
What obstacles did David face to become the king
he was anointed to be? I can think of
two at the moment. When David was chosen
as the next king, even his brothers would not accept it. They in turn were very jealous. The very brothers he loved so much now
instead loathed him. They did not value
the King he would become. Another would be
the obstacles between Saul and he. Saul
tried so many times to kill David from the jealousy of David’s reign and
popularity.
3.
How was David able to face a gain when so many
others gave way to fear? Wow, David had
faith in God. David was so very small
compared to the Giant. Yet, he knew his
faith would pull him through to win over the Giant and that exact faith is why
God gave him this power. I can think of
all the times, I have felt a problem weighing in on my shoulders but also found
that when I turned it over to the Lord, He would pull me through it. I do NOT think this is a coincidence.
4.
Why did David spare Saul when he had the chance
to be free of Saul’s attempts to kill him?
What would you have done? Amazing
story. Just when you think David finally
gets the opportunity to pay Saul forward for all the cruel things and attempts
to kill David—David chose to let him live.
He knew that God needed Saul to be King even though he also knew he
would be king next. He trusted in God’s
judgment and therefore spared his life.
I love the fact that even Saul knew David could have killed him if he
tried. What would you have done? This is personal but I think this question is
to target each of our own hearts in this way—just because you (or I) feel that
I must change a destiny because I feel it is right—I should do just as David
did and put my trust in the Lord. I
think we are so accustomed to wanting and answer now and not waiting—but the
bible is teaching me that I DO NOT KNOW all the answers because I am not
supposed to know them. I just need to
speak to the Lord in Dialogue. What does
that mean? It means, not only speak to
the Lord, but let him speak back.
5.
David had a single goal (that the God of Israel
would be glorified) because he had a single love (the God of Israel). What can you do to cultivate a heart like
David’s? I think I kind of answered this
above a little but really we need to have a one-on-one relationship with
God. If we can better our relationship
with Him, then we are glorifying God.
Video Discussion
1.)
In this
chapter of The Story, many different people think they have David figured
out. How did each of these people view
David when they looked at him?
a. His
father, Jesse: The smallest of his sons
and less mature of them all. Just a farm
boy who watched after sheep. The
youngest.
b. The
Prophet Samuel? Samuel thought the Lord
would choose Eliab due to his height and appearance. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider
his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people
look at. People look at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
c. His
Brother, Eliab?
d. King
Saul? He looked at his brother in
anger. He sees him a conceited
e. Goliath? He would not believe that this man would
attempt to fight him without armor and sticks.
He was offended by him.
2.)
God saw David quite differently from everyone
else. In light of this chapter how did
God see David? God saw David as a very
faithful man. He was beautiful in the
heart.
3.)
This chapter includes two powerful prayers of
David: one from Psalm 59 and another from 2 Samuel 22:1 7, 47; Psalm18. What do you learn about David’s heart from
these honest passionate cries to God?
David put all his faith in the Lord.
He constantly praises the Lord in his prayers and continues to tell the
Lord that He is his rock and his fortress.
He exalts the Lord from his heart and soul.
4.)
Randy said, “God put David through spiritual
boot camp to chisel him and refine him into the kind of man who truly trusted
God.” Tell about a time God send you to
spiritual boot camp (or has presently enrolled you). How did God use this time to refine,
strengthen, and grow you? Our group
feels we are constantly put into these situations so that we can grow. Will you turn to God in this turmoil? In all the instances we have turned to our
Savior Jesus Christ we are delivered from the pains, suffering, decisions,
etc.
5.)
David had to wait fourteen years between being
anointed and actually sitting on the throne.
Have you ever had a lengthy wait to receive something you felt God had
planned for your life? What kept you
hopeful during the wait? This is a
personal question but think of that time, think of what got you through that
wait…and then THANK God for the wait. It
wasn’t time yet. Mine wasn’t. But, eventually, I did get what I really
wanted and planned.
6.)
Reading the Story we discover that David had his
share of struggles and sins. But through
it all he was a man whose heart sought after God. What are the things that tend to distract
your heart and pull it away from God?
What can we do to keep our hearts focused on God and growing more in
love with him? This is another personal
question. There are so many distractions
these days. Facebook. Texting.
Work. The daily routine. For me, I finally had to work God in. Yeah, I was lazy. It takes energy and time to study God’s word—my
excuse. There are ways we can keep our
hearts focused on God. This study is one
example….but so is daily prayer. Even I
don’t remember to pray every night.
7.)
In this sessions DVD segment Randy made a
provocative statement: “God can use our
disobedient lives as effectively as he uses or obedient lives in the Lower
Story to work out his Upper Story plans.”
Do you agree with that statement?
Give and example from the Bible that supports what Randy says?
8.)
The Story recounts that many of God’s children
had long seasons of waiting (often in tough times and sometimes in a
desert). How can God use times of
waiting and challenging seasons of life to prepare us for greater things in our
future? Yes, if we wait for OUR time, we
will gain these greater things in life.
We all have had “waiting” periods and “challenging seasons of life.” And there are so many whether it be…wanting
to get pregnant, losing a loved one, quitting smoking, cutting ties with bad influences,
etc. They are there. How do we chose to deal with them?
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