Faith

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2 Samuel: Lesson 7 — Are You Sure That’s The Right Way?

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 7 (Are You Sure That’s The Right Way?)
2 Samuel 6

The Text:

  1. Where did David and his men go?  What was their purpose?  How many of them were there?  What was significant about this task?
    –
  2. What did they do with the ark of God?  Who was guiding it?  What were David and the house of Israel doing?  What happened at the threshing floor of Nacon?  Why?
    –
  3. What reaction did David have to God’s action?  What did he do with the ark?  Why?  How long did this remain?
    –
  4. What news came to David about the household of Obed-Edom?  What did he decide to do?  How was this task done?  What were David and the house of Israel doing during this event?
    –
  5. How did Michal feel about what David was doing?  What did David do when the ark was set in the place prepared for it?  How did Michal greet David when he returned home?  What was his response?
    –

The Application:

  1. How far have you ever travelled to retrieve something of value to you?  Did anyone go with you?  What was the atmosphere of the trip?  If you’ve never done so, how do you think it would feel to make such a trip?
    –
  2. How does it feel to regain possession of something that may have been lost, misplaced, or taken from you?  Have you ever given your very best to a task only to discover you were doing it wrong?  How did you feel?  Do you think God values obedience?
    –
  3. How would you respond if it felt like you were being punished for doing something good just because you did it in different way than expected?  Are there times that you “avoid” God because you’re angry or fearful of Him?
    –
  4. How do reports of the goodness of God to others make you feel?  Do reminders of God’s goodness draw you back to Him?  What things might drive you to do things God’s way?  How excited are you for God’s presence to be with you?
    –
  5. Does the worship others offer God bother you?  Do you let others dictate how you worship?  What effect does your worship have on how you treat others?
    –

Next Week: A Godly Conversation
2 Samuel 7

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2 Samuel: Lesson 6 — Conquering King

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 6 (Conquering King)
2 Samuel 5

The Text:

  1. Who comes to see David at Hebron?  What do they say about their past leadership?  What had God said?  What agreement was reached?  How long did it last?
    –
  2. Who was living in Jerusalem?  Why did David go to Jerusalem?  What did the residents think about David’s plan?  What was David’s response?
    –
  3. What did David call Jerusalem?  What did he do there?  How was it accomplished?  What did the king of Tyre do for David?  Who did David credit for what was  happening?  Why was it being done?
    –
  4. What was the Philistines response to hearing David was king over all Israel?  Where did David go?  What did he do there?  What did he learn?
    –
  5. What happened at Baal Perazim?  What did David and his men take from there?  When the Philistines returned, what did David do?  What instructions was he given?  What happened?

The Application:

  1. How would it feel to have unanimous, or nearly unanimous, support of people willing to support you as a leader?  How does it feel to have your past accomplishments recognized by people who didn’t seem to appreciate them at the time?  What things give a leader longevity?
    –
  2. How does it feel to be completely disrespected?  How easily do statements of people discourage you from doing what you set out to do?  How can you stay motivated to accomplish a difficult task when others think it is impossible?
    –
  3. What do you call yours?  How much attention and care do you give to what is yours?  Why do you put whatever effort into it that you do?  How did you come about obtaining whatever it is that you possess?
    –
  4. Are there ever people in your life who seem to be completely set against you succeeding?  What do you do when they come against you?
    –
  5. Is it possible that the idols of your enemies could become a stumbling block to you?  Do you tend to settle for one answer from God that should solve all your battles?

Next Week: Are You Sure That’s The Right Way?
2 Samuel 6

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2 Samuel: Lesson 5 — Look What I Did!

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 5 (Look What I Did!)
2 Samuel 4

The Text:

  1. What effect did the death of Abner have on Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, and all of Israel?
    –
  2. Who were Baanah and Recab?  How were they connected to the people of Israel?  Who was Mephibosheth?  What do we know about him?  How did he become crippled?
    –
  3. Where did Recab and Baanah go?  What did they pretend to do?  What was their real purpose?  What did they accomplish?
    –
  4. What did Recab and Baanah take to David?  What was their message to him?  What seems to be their expectation?
    –
  5. How did David take the news that was given to him?  How does he describe what took place?  What does he order to be done?
    –

The Application:

  1. On whom, or what, is your courage based?  What events would cause you to lose your courage?  Are there people whose loss of courage would cause you to be alarmed?  Are there people who would be alarmed if you were to lose your courage?
    –
  2. What are some things that would make you feel more, or less, connected to a group?  What harm comes from being disconnected and/or disillusioned?  Are there people who are easy to overlook because they seem to have nothing to offer?  Is that right?
    –
  3. How desperate are you to get ahead in life?  Are there people who you believe stand between you and success?  How do you treat them?
    –
  4. Do you ever expect to be rewarded for something that seems to help someone else even though it was done in a wrong manner?  Do you reward, or honor, activity that helps you even if the activity was wrong?
    –
  5. How would you respond to the falling, or even death, of someone who lives as your adversary or in opposition to you?  How can you live with integrity and honor, even with your enemies?
    –

Next Week: Conquering King
2 Samuel 5

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2 Samuel: Lesson 4 — A Deadly Feud

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 4 (A Deadly Feud)
2 Samuel 3:22-39

The Text:

  1. Where have David’s men been?  Who has been leading them?  How successful have they been?  What had taken place while they were gone?
     
  2. When he hears of what had happened while he was away, who does Joab go to?  What are his stated concerns?  What response does David have? 
     
  3. What does Joab have done?  What does Joab do when Abner returns?  Why?  How much of this was David aware of as it happened? 
     
  4. How does David react when he hears of what Joab did?  What is his wish, or prayer, for Joab’s house?  What was the difference between the deaths of Abner and Asahel?
     
  5. What did David require Joab and all those with him to do?  What did David do?  What statement did these actions make to the people?  How did these events make David feel as a leader?

     

  The Application:

  1. How focused are you on being successful at what you do?  What defines that success?  Does it ever seem like what you do causes you to miss things that are important?
     
  2. When you disagree with a decision you had no part of, how likely are you to go to the person responsible for the decision?  How thorough would you be with the real reasons for your concern?  Is an explanation or response from the “other side” important to you?
     
  3. Have you ever gone “behind the back” of an authority that you disagreed with to accomplish what you thought should have been done?  Would it have been helpful to hear the authority out before you acted?  What can be the problem of pursuing justice as you see it?
     
  4. How appalled/accepting are you of sin in the lives of the people closest to you?  Why? 
     
  5. How can you keep the wrong of others from discrediting you when it appears that you would benefit from the wrongdoing?  How does having to address sin in others make you feel?

  

Next Week: Look What I Did!
2 Samuel 4

 

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2 Samuel: Lesson 3 — Changing Sides

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 3 (Changing Sides)
2 Samuel 3:1-21

The Text:

  1. How well is the house of David and the house of Saul getting along?  What things take place over time?  Who seems to be the actual leader of the house of Saul?
     
  2. What does Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, accuse Abner of?  How does Abner respond to Ish-Bosheth?  What does Abner promise to do?  What is Ish-Bosheth’s response?
     
  3. What message does Abner send to David?  How does David respond?  What condition does he place on having a meeting?  What happens? 
     
  4. What does Abner say to the elders of Israel?  What does this statement say about the intentions, or desires, of those elders?  What promise of God does Abner remind the elders of?
     
  5. Who else does Abner confer with?  What was Abner’s purpose in travelling to Hebron?  What request does Abner put before David?  How does David respond?

  

  The Application:

  1. What conflicts exist in your life?  Are there extended conflicts between what you want and what God wants?  What effect does extended conflict have on you personally?  Who is the real leader of the opposition against you?
     
  2. Have you ever been accused of something that seemed to make absolutely no sense?  How does it make you feel?  Have seemingly outlandish remarks from someone ever brought you to the point of doing something you should have already done?
     
  3. When you realize you are on the wrong side of an issue, or relationship, how can you initiate changing sides?  What if changing to the “right side” has a condition or cost, are you still willing to change?
     
  4. Are there people who have followed you that are actually waiting for you to lead them in the way that is right?  What promises of God do you need reminded of? 
     
  5. How gracious are you in hearing out people who have opposed you?  How hard is it to be at peace with someone who has spent much of their life as your enemy?  What things make it easier or harder?

Next Week: A Deadly Feud
2 Samuel 3:22-39

 

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2 Samuel: Lesson 2 — Families Feud

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 2 (Families Feud)
2 Samuel 2

The Text:

  1. What does David ask of the LORD?  Where is David when he asks this?  What is the LORD’s response?  Where does David go and who goes with him?  What happens there?
     
  2. What is David told about the men of Jabesh Gilead?  How does he respond to this information?  What is his message to them?
     
  3. Who was Abner and what had been his relationship with Saul?  What is his idea of who should lead Israel?  What does he do?
     
  4. Who gathers at Gibeon?  What is the conflict between the two groups?  What does Abner suggest they do?  What is the outcome?  Who wins?
     
  5. Who is involved in the pursuit of Abner?  What happens?  As the pursuit continues, what does Abner say to Joab?  What response does Joab give?  What was the outcome of this exchange of words?

  

The Application:

  1. Are there things in your life that you need to ask God if now is the time to do them?  Do you consistently ask God for specific direction?  What do you need to seek God about this week?
     
  2. How do you respond when you hear of people doing things that are good and right?  Are there ways that you could thank, or show kindness, to people in your life that have done the right thing just because it was the right thing — expecting and receiving no reward?
     
  3. Are there things that you tend to decide to do your way no matter what?  What does that attitude do to your relationship with God?
     
  4. Do you ever end up in the same place as someone you are in conflict with?  How do you feel?  What should you do?  What is the problem with the “may the best person win” method of conflict resolution? 
     
  5. When you find yourself in conflict, how hard is it to call it off?  Have you ever had to “agree to disagree” — even when you were overwhelmingly in the right?  What does a continued fighting among Christians do to the cause of Christ?  Does knowing that give you motivation to be a more active peacemaker?

  

Next week:  Changing Sides
2 Samuel 3:1-21

 

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2 Samuel: Lesson 1 — A New Mourning

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Samuel.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

A Man After God’s Own Heart:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

A Study of the Book of 2 Samuel

Lesson 1 (A New Mourning)
2 Samuel 1

The Text:

  1. Where was David when Saul died?  What had each of them been doing?  What do you remember about the circumstances surrounding Saul’s death?
  2. As 2 Samuel opens, a visitor arrives in David’s camp.  How is he described?  What does he do?  What news does he have?  How does that compare with the account at the end of 1 Samuel?
  3. What question does David have for him?  How does he respond?  Do you think he knew where David had just come from?  How does David respond to this man?
  4. How does David view the deaths of Saul and Jonathan?  What does he do?  Why does he not want the news told in Gath or Ashkelon?
  5. How does David describe Saul and Jonathan?  What was his relationship like with each of them during their life?  What does this say about David?

The Application:

  1. What do you know about David’s reign as King?  What do you hope to learn or understand more fully through a study of 2 Samuel?
  2. How tempting is it to tell news of an event based on how you believe your listener wants to hear it?  What problems exist with that approach?
  3. Have you ever given an answer to someone when you’ve not known the context of the question?  How hard is it to listen and research before speaking?  Why?
  4. How protective are you of the reputations of your friends?  How about with those who have acted like enemies toward you?
  5. Knowing the relationship between Saul and David through much of 1 Samuel, how hard do you think it was for David to genuinely mourn Saul’s death?  When do you think David’s mourning for Saul began?  How does this show in his words about Saul and Jonathan?  Are there people you mourn for that are still living?  What can you do about it?

Next week:  Families Feud
2 Samuel 2

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1 Samuel: Lesson 35 — Who Do You Serve? 1 Samuel in Review

The following are the final review discussion questions from a weekly study I led through the book of 1 Samuel at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

 

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

Lesson 35 (Who Do You Serve?)
1 Samuel in Review

 

  1. What stands out to you from our study of 1 Samuel?  Why?  What are some key things you have learned?  Has the study changed any of your thoughts or actions?
     
  2. Who was Samuel?   How/where did he grow up?  What is the character of the people around him as he grows up?  What happens to them?  Why?  Do/should the people around you determine how you “turn out” in life?
     
  3. As Samuel grows older, what do the people of Israel request?  What is their purpose and reasoning?  What do they expect?  How does Samuel feel about their request?  What answer does God have for Samuel’s concerns? In what ways today do people reject  God as “king” in their life? 
     
  4. How is Saul selected to be the king of Israel?  What credentials does he have?  How does he seem to take the idea of becoming king?  What are some highlights/lowlights of his life?  What are some changes that take place in him as he reigns as king?  What is behind those changes?  Do you know specific things that God has called you to do?  What qualifies you to do what God calls you to do?  Does God’s calling guarantee that you will do it correctly or faithfully?  What are some influences to changes in your life . . . For the good?  . . . For the bad?
     
  5. How does David gain national attention?  What makes him think he can do a task no one else is willing to attempt?  Where is he when it comes time to select the replacement to Saul as king?  What does he do after being anointed by Samuel to be the next king?  How confident are you of God being able to do the impossible through you?  What would it take to believe/do that?  What does it take to faithfully live day-to-day when you know God has something different in store for you?   
     
  6. How does Saul treat David?  How does that treatment change over the course of time?  What happens as Saul begins to suspect, then becomes confident, that David is to be his replacement as king?  How do you treat others?  Does that change if you perceive them to be a threat to your current position?  What protections do you need to have in place to help keep from treating people in ways that are wrong?
     
  7. How does David treat Saul?  Does that change over time?  How can you maintain a “righteous” treatment of people who don’t treat you well?  How important is honoring and respecting others to you?  How do you act toward those who are set against you?  How do you respond when your “enemies” fall?
     
  8. Who is really “king” in your life?  How can you maintain a practice of Jesus as Lord?