Faith

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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

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1 Samuel: Lesson 26 — Listening For Protection

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 26 (Listening For Protection)
1 Samuel 23:1-29

The Text:

  1. Where are David and his men?  What news does David hear?  Who does he go to for direction?  What response does he get?  What response do David’s men have?
     
  2. What does David do in response to the concern of his men?  What is he told?  What do he and his men do?  How successful are they?
     
  3. What is Saul’s immediate reaction when he finds out David is at Keilah?  What does he do?  When David hears that Saul may be coming toward him, who does he go to for information?  What does he find out? 
     
  4. Because of what he learns, where does David escape to?  Who meets him there?  What is  his purpose?  What information does he share?   
     
  5. Who discloses David’s location to Saul this time around?  How does Saul respond?  What does he want to know?  As Saul and his army were closing in on David, what causes them to break off the pursuit?

              

The Application:

  1. What response do you usually have when you hear of someone in trouble?  How often do you ask God what you should do?  Are there times that you are skeptical of something a friend says God wants them to do? 
     
  2. When someone questions a course of action that you believe God wants you to do, how do you feel?  Would you be willing to go back to God and make sure you heard right, or would you be tempted to dig in your heels and do it just to prove you can?     
     
  3. When faced with a situation, good or bad, where the outcome appears to be a given, do you handle it with your own wisdom and ability based on what you see or do you ask God what you ought to do?      
     
  4. Who do  you know that you need to meet where they are and help them find strength in God?  How can you do that?  
     
  5. Does it ever feel like there is always someone trying to deliver you to the enemy?  How does it feel when God provides the way of escape — especially if the source is unexpected?

              

Next week: 1 Samuel 24:1-22
May The LORD Judge

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The Art Of Re-GIFTing — Part 3: Faith

“I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming.  When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  John 4:25

This is part three of a four-part series of posts based on a sermon I preached at the Deer Run Church of Christ.  I began with part one, Grace, and then last wrote about part two, Inventory. 

As we continue with the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, part 3 takes an interesting turn.  It is here, in “foreign” territory, that the seeds of faith have taken root and are expressed. 

There are many who look at John 4:19 as the beginning of a distraction — a change of subject by the Samaritan woman designed to avoid further conversation about her personal life.  I’m not convinced that is really what is happening.  I believe that the revelation of Jesus’ knowledge of her personal life ignites a sprouting of the seeds of faith that were within her.  She quickly recognizes that this is no ordinary man.  This “prophet” can see into her life, perhaps he also has a real answer to satisfy her deep longing for a relationship with the living God.  This is exactly what Jesus has already told her to ask Him for — living water so that she might never thirst again.

And so she asks the taboo question with all of the current worship arguments, who is right?  What!  Did she really ask that!  I thought that was a modern question!  But no, look, there it is — “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”  It doesn’t even sound like a question.  Yet the question is there.  Does it sound familiar?  What we claim as genuine worship is different from what you do — who is right? 

The answer that Jesus gives isn’t completely satisfying to her.  He doesn’t seem to pick either side.  He indicates that a new way of doing things is on its way — as a matter of fact, it has already arrived.  Place is no longer even a part of the argument, it is all about the heart of the worshipper.  Real worship isn’t focused on place, style, form, or anything else.  Real worship is worship that is focused on the Father.  Real worship identifies with God being spirit and truth by being worship that is done in spirit and in truth.

But wait.  That doesn’t sound right.  I’ve been around for a long time and no one is talking like that.  We can’t all be wrong, can we?  It’s all so confusing.  Who do I believe?  And then it comes.  This great profession of faith in the one who can give a definitive answer.  “I know that Messiah is coming.  When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”  Wow!  My translation of this dialogue?  Sir, you aren’t making any sense.  But that is okay.  God has promised to send the Christ and he will explain everything perfectly when he shows up.  What faith!  This Samaritan woman was convinced that God would keep his promise of a coming Messiah.  Not only would He keep His promise, but the Messiah would come with an explanation not only for the Jews, but for her as a Samaritan as well.

I wish I had been there just to watch.  Can you imagine her reaction when the response of Jesus to her expression of faith is, “I who speak to you am he.”!  Wow!  Wow!  Wow!  Could it be?  That sure would make the previous parts of our conversation make a lot more sense.  I can just imagine the shadows of doubt and disbelief being driven away by the rays of joy and hope that were beginning to flood her life.  Her faith was transforming her very existence as she stood toe to toe with the very one whom she believed could reveal God’s will to her.

How about you and I?  How often do we find ourselves caught up in some meaningless arguments about worship, or anything else?  Do we have the faith that God has promised to reveal Himself to us in a way that is meaningful and relevant?  Is God’s answer to our dilemmas good enough for us? 

I pray that our faith would be a growing and maturing faith that understands our need to worship God in spirit and in truth.  May you and I grow in our trust of God to provide the answers that we need — even when the answer is not the way we expect it to be.

Coming next — Part 4:  Tell!