Faith

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1 Samuel: Lesson 33 — Share and Share Alike

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 33 (Share and Share Alike)
1 Samuel 30:1-31

The Text:

  1. Where do David and his men go?  What is this place to them?  What has happened while they were gone?  What “good news” detail is given?
     
  2. What is the initial response of David and his men?  What do the men want to do?  How does David deal with his great distress?  Who does David go to?  For what purpose?
     
  3. What answer does David get from the priest?  What happens at the Besor Ravine?  Who is found in a field by David and his men?  Why was he there?  What does he agree to do?  What condition does he set for doing this?
     
  4. What are the Amalekites doing when David and his men catch up with them?  What does David do?  How much of what was taken is recovered?  What else is taken?   
        
  5. What do some of the men want to do when David and the men who fought the Amalekites with him rejoin the rest of the group?  How are these men described?  What is David’s response to them?  What reasoning does he give?  What else did he do with some of the plunder that was taken from the Amalekites?

                   

The Application:

  1. How do you feel when you’ve been away and finally return home?  Do you ever worry that what you leave won’t be there when you return?  Do you tend to notice, or look for, the “silver-linings in the clouds”?     
     
  2. How would you feel if your family and possessions were taken from you?  Have you ever been blamed or held responsible for someone else’s loss when you weren’t the one who took their possession?  Who do you go to when you are distressed and need answers?  
         
  3. Have you ever had to drop out of a task you began because you physically couldn’t continue?  Have you ever continued with a task when others with you had to drop out?  How does either of those situations make you feel?     
          
  4. Are you a “finisher”?  Do you stay at something until it is done or do you quit when you have what you want out of it?  
     
  5. What things keep us from being willing to share?  What role does pride have?  How is our giving a reflection of our heart?

                    

Next week: 1 Samuel 31:1-13; 2 Samuel 1:1-15
The Mighty Have Fallen

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1 Samuel: Lesson 32 — Not Everyone Approves

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 32 (Not Everyone Approves)
1 Samuel 29:1-11

The Text:

  1. What are the Philistines and Israelites doing?  Where are they?  How are the Philistines described?  Where are David and his men?  What question is raised about them?
     
  2. How does Achish describe David?  Do the Philistine commanders agree with the assessment that Achish gives?  What is their concern?
     
  3. What is the reputation David has among the Philistines?  What message does Achish have to deliver to David?
     
  4. In what tone does Achish deliver his news to David?  What is his request in regard to David and the other Philistine rulers?   
     
  5. What questions does David ask of Achish?  How does Achish respond?  What do each of them do?

                  

The Application:

  1. Does it ever seem like you are constantly facing a battle of some kind?  How close is your enemy to you?  How does the size of your enemy compare to you?  When in the presence of the enemy, does anyone ever notice that you don’t fit in?     
     
  2. How do you treat those who seem to be your enemy?  Would they speak well of you?  Should they speak well of you?  What might the concerns of the Philistine commanders teach us about watching out for “wolves in sheep’s clothing” among the church?   
        
  3. Are those who are set against God concerned about the influence you may have on them?  Have you ever had to be a bearer of news that others decided but you don’t agree with?   
            
  4. Are there ways to do that graciously?  Are you a peacemaker?  What are some perceived positives and negatives of being a peacemaker?  Is it worth it?  
     
  5. Are there ways a person can “plead their case” without arguing or complaining?  What benefit do questions have over statements and complaints?  When you realize that something is beyond your control are you able to just drop it and move on?

                   

Next week: 1 Samuel 30:1-31
Share and Share Alike

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What’s Inside?

I’ve been working at cleaning and organizing the maintenance shop at camp with the help of my family — well, MJ has been  helping and Susan has patiently watched movies while we worked. 🙂  As we have pulled boxes, containers, and items off shelves and out of corners one question keeps coming up, “What’s inside?”! 

If you’ve ever sorted through years worth of things others have accumulated, you probably already know the secret to finding the answer to that age-old cleaning question, “What’s inside?” — you  have to look, open, or empty the container and see what comes out!  You quickly learn that the writing or label can say whatever it wants– that may, or may not, have anything to do with the actual contents.

That is kind of like life and people, isn’t it?  We can dress up the outside and label ourself, and others, but at some point what  is really inside comes out and is revealed.  Jesus puts it this way, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”  (Luke 6:45) 

Carl Evans shared a sermon tonight at Deer Run that challenged each of us to allow God’s Word and Spirit to check us for heart trouble.  So, how do we do that?  How do we check the condition of our spiritual heart and what do we do about what we find?  Well, I have good news and even better news. 🙂

The good news is that this heart check-up is not difficult — it could be painful to see and acknowledge, but definitely not difficult.  God says that if you want to know the condition of your heart then you should carefully observe just what it is you say and do.  In Galatians, Paul writes that the actions of our sinful desires are obvious.  He goes on to list many actions and activities that we would often put in different categories of very bad, bad, not so bad, and somewhat tolerable.  Paul, however, says all of them are symptoms of a heart that is in trouble — so much trouble that God says if we choose to continue to live in these actions we will not have a place in His kingdom.

The even better news is that there is a cure to whatever heart trouble our spiritual check-up may reveal! 🙂  Paul follows up the list of actions that come from a bad heart with a list of characteristics that flow from a good heart — a Spirit-filled heart.  In Ezekiel 11, God tells his people that he will call them back to himself and they will put away the actions that were in disobedience and rebellion toward him and he will put within them a new spirit — he will remove their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.  The cure for our heart trouble is to repent from the deeds of sin and rebellion and live by the Spirit.

To fully recover from the heart transplant, Carl pointed out tonight some instructions that are commonly given when a person faces a physical heart trouble.  To follow-up on our spiritual heart change, we need to change our diet and get appropriate exercise.  🙂  We must live, and feast, on a steady diet of God’s Word.  As we allow God’s Word to fill and satisfy us, we must get appropriate exercise by actually doing what it says.

I pray that your container, your jar of clay, really does contain what the exterior says is inside.  I pray that you spend time with God listening intently to what comes out of you that would reveal how accurate the label Christian is in your life.  I pray that you  are living with a changed heart and that you are maintaining that renewed heart with a healthy diet and plenty of regular exercise! 🙂

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1 Samuel: Lesson 31 — Bewitched

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 31 (Bewitched)
1 Samuel 28:1-25

The Text:

  1. What are the Philistines preparing to do?  What is expected of David?  How does David respond to that request?  How does Achish take the response?
     
  2. What was significant about Samuel’s death?  What good thing is mentioned that Saul had done in the past?  What is Saul’s reaction when the Philistines come and set up camp?  What does he do first?  What response does he get?
     
  3. When Saul’s initial inquiry fails, what is his next request?  What did he do with the information he received?  What interaction takes place between Saul and the woman at Endor?  What is the woman’s reaction at who she brings up?  What is Saul’s reaction?
     
  4. What is the reason Saul gives to Samuel for bringing him up?  How does Samuel respond?  Was this a new message?  What is said specifically about Saul and his sons?   
     
  5. What is Saul’s reaction to this message?  What concern does the woman have?  What does she want Saul to do?  Who joined her in making this request?  What happens?

                 

The Application:

  1. Have you ever been asked to join a group of people who are heading out to do something that you don’t like — perhaps something that is even harmful or wrong? What are some ways you could respond? Are there ways that you could go but have a different motive than everyone else?
     
  2. How serious are you about getting rid of sin, and even its temptations, from your surroundings? What do you do when you face a situation that makes you afraid and full of terror? Are there times in your life where God is silent?
     
  3. What do you do when God seems silent? Are there things that you continue to do but would deny your involvement in them if you don’t know or trust the person asking? What might that say about the action or activity?
     
  4. What are some areas where we might try to give a good reason for doing a wrong action? How often do you go to God for a different answer when you don’t like the one He’s given?
     
  5. How do you respond to God’s truth that is specific to your life? Would people be fearful of you if they were the means of delivering God’s truth into your life?

                  

Next week: 1 Samuel 29:1-11
Not Everyone Approves

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1 Samuel: Lesson 30 — Hiding In Plain Sight

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 30 (Hiding In Plain Sight)
1 Samuel 27:1-12

The Text:

  1. What concern does David have about his future?  How does the “but” that begins chapter 27 tie in with the end of chapter 26? 
     
  2. Where does David decide to go?  What is his reasoning?  Who goes with David?   
     
  3. How effective was David’s plan?  What does Saul do when he hears where David has gone?
     
  4. Who was Achish?  What was David’s request of Achish?  How did Achish respond?  How long did David stay there?   
     
  5. What did David do during his time in Ziklag?  What did he tell Achish he was doing?  How did David protect the news of his actual actions?  How did Achish feel about David?

                

The Application:

  1. Are you a skeptical person?  How far do you trust someone who has continually betrayed you in the past?  Are there advantages to being a skeptic?  Disadvantages?   
     
  2. Does God have a plan for your life?  Are there times that plan inconveniences you?  Are there limits to what you would do to see that plan fulfilled?       
     
  3. How does it feel when a course of action that you take seems to work the way you had planned it?  How often do you recognize God’s hand in successful plans?  Have you ever given up on something that seemed very important to you at one time because it became too difficult?       
     
  4. How easy/difficult is it for you to ask someone for a favor?  What if that person would seem to have little reason to grant it?  What are some ways to keep from compromise when you live in enemy territory?  
     
  5. Have you ever had someone think something good about you that you knew wasn’t true?  How does it make you feel?  How about if they think bad about you that isn’t true?  How important is your reputation or character to you?  What extent would you go to in order to protect it?  Do people consider you trustworthy?  Should they?

                 

Next week: 1 Samuel 28:1-25
Bewitched

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1 Samuel: Lesson 29 — Missing A Few Things

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 29 (Missing A Few Things)
1 Samuel 26:1-25

The Text:

  1. What does Saul do when word comes to him of David’s location?  Where does Saul and his chosen men camp?  How does this location compare to where David is supposed to be?
     
  2. What does David do when he sees that Saul is on the move again?  What does he find out?  When the reports come back, where does David go?  What does he take notice of?
     
  3. David asks for a volunteer from two of his men — where does he want someone to go with him to?  What does Abishai want to do?  What is David’s response?  What do they do instead?  Why didn’t anyone wake up?
     
  4. When he is a safe distance away from Saul and his army, who does David call out to?  What message does David deliver?  What is David’s proof that Saul’s guard did not do its job? 
        
  5. Who calls out to David?  What is David’s response?  How does Saul respond to David’s words?  Under what terms do David and Saul part ways at this time?

               

The Application:

  1. How often do you return to something that hasn’t worked out the way you want?  Do you tend to follow directions even if initially it doesn’t look like it will get you what you want? 
        
  2. Do you tend to take things at face value or are you more likely to investigate?  How hard is it for you to head in a direction that doesn’t appear to make sense or be safe?  What does it take for you to do that?     
     
  3. If you were asked to accompany someone into a dangerous situation would you do it?  How hard is it to remain consistent in doing the right thing — particularly in regards to people who aren’t doing right and there wrong may be directed at you?  
           
  4. When people are against you, are there good ways that you can get their attention?  When things, or people, seem to be against you do you often consider God could be behind it?  Could He?  Why or why not?  
     
  5. How hard is it to admit your actions have not been appropriate?  Is it harder to admit or to change bad actions?

                

Next week: 1 Samuel 27:1-12
Hiding In Plain Sight

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1 Samuel: Lesson 28 — A Fool’s Very Temporary Reprieve

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 28 (A Fool’s Very Temporary Reprieve)
1 Samuel 25:1-44

The Text:

  1. What significant event takes place as chapter 25 opens?  How does Israel react?  Where does David go?  Who else is there?  What do we know about them?
     
  2. For what purpose does David send men to see Nabal?  How do they greet him?  What information do they give?  What are they actually saying?  What is Nabal’s response?  How does David react to the news of Nabal’s response?
     
  3.  Who does one of Nabal’s servants go to with news of Nabal’s response to David’s men?  What does the servant say about David and his men?  What does he say about Nabal? 
     
  4. What does Abigail set out to do?  What is her plan?  Who doesn’t know?  What happens when she meets David?  Who does she blame for David’s anger?  What is David’s response to her words and actions?   
     
  5. What was Nabal doing when Abigail arrived home?  When did she tell him what she had done?  What happened?  How did David respond?  What happened to Abigail?

               

The Application:

  1. What things in a person’s life would cause an entire nation to mourn his death?  How can you life in such a way as to have people truly mourn their loss at your passing?   
     
  2. How would you ask someone for help?  How can you talk well of your actions without bragging or being arrogant?  How well do you listen to what people are actually saying?  How do you react when someone responds to your requests in a way that seems very inappropriate?     
     
  3. Who would you go to if you know of a situation where one person has unjustly treated someone else?  How can you accurately identify if there is a right and wrong in a situation?       
     
  4. How difficult is it to take blame for something someone else did that you would have done differently had you known?  How readily do you accept a genuine apology?  
     
  5. How hard is it for you to let God handle punishment, justice, and reward?

                

Next week: 1 Samuel 26:1-25
Missing A Few Things

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1 Samuel: Lesson 27 — May The LORD Judge

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

Here Comes A King:
A Study of the Book of 1 Samuel

Lesson 27 (May The LORD Judge)
1 Samuel 24:1-22

The Text:

  1. After Saul finished his pursuit of the Philistines, a pursuit that interrupted his pursuit of David, what did he do?  Where did begin his search?  Why?
     
  2. Where are David and his men hiding?  Who comes into their hiding place?  What did David’s men want him to do?  What does David do?
       
  3. After accomplishing what he did, how did David feel about it?  What was the explanation given to his men for why David felt the way he did?  How did David respond to his men? 
       
  4. What does David do after Saul leaves the cave?  What message does he give to Saul?  What questions are asked by David?  Who does David call upon to be the judge between he and Saul?   
       
  5. How does Saul respond to David’s words?  What question does Saul have?  What statement does Saul make about David’s future?  What is Saul’s request of David before Saul returns home?  What does David do after this encounter?

               

The Application:

  1. What things are you so focused on that you return to them even after life had interrupted them with other urgent matters?  Are they good things or bad things or some of each?  How much do you rely on others for information on where you should go or what you should do? 
     
  2. How much time do you spend hiding in one form or another?  Have you ever had a person you were hiding from show up and not even realize you are there?  Do you ever find yourself encouraging someone, or yourself, to do the wrong thing just because the opportunity is present and it appears to do so will make things easier?     
     
  3. Do you feel bad for even “minor” violations against someone?  How hard is it to recognize someone as a fellow servant of God when their actions are not godly?   
          
  4. How can you defend your cause with honor when you find yourself unjustly under attack?  
     
  5. Are there people who deserve better treatment than what you have given them?  How hard is it to “let the LORD judge” when the opportunity exists for you to judge?

               

Next week: 1 Samuel 25:1-44
A Fool’s Very Temporary Reprieve