Max Lucado (18 page)

A. In what ways have you been the
haqqaton
of some group or organization that was important to you?

B. What is the hardest thing about being the runt of the litter?

3. Oh, the Goliath of exclusion. Are you sick of him? Then it's time to quit staring at him. Who cares what he, or they, think? What matters is what your Maker thinks.

A. Why is it so hard to stop staring at the Goliath of exclusion?

B. What do you think your Maker thinks of you—right now, today, at this very moment?

4. God saw what no one else saw: a God-seeking heart. David, for all his foibles, sought God like a lark seeks sunrise. He took after God's heart, because he stayed after God's heart. In the end, that's all God wanted or needed . . . wants or needs.

A. What do you think it means to seek God's heart?

B. Do you have a God-seeking heart? How does a God-hungry heart direct your days?

5. The story of young David assures us of this: your Father knows your heart, and because he does, he has a place reserved just for you.

A. Does it comfort you or alarm you that God knows your heart? Explain.

B. Do you think God has a place reserved just for you? Why or why not?

Marching Orders

1. Read 1 Samuel 15–16 and 1 Chronicles 10:13–14.

A. Why did the Lord reject Saul as king?

B. How did Samuel's fear of Saul threaten God's will?

C. What was the result of Saul's disobedience?

2. Read 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22.

A. According to 1 Samuel 13:14, what trait or characteristic was God looking for in the person who would lead his people?

B. According to Acts 13:22, how would this sought-after characteristic display itself in David's life?

C. Is this characteristic found in your life? Does your behavior confirm or deny this characteristic?

3. Read 2 Chronicles 16:9a.

A. For whom do the Lord's eyes constantly scan the planet?

B. Why does the Lord search for such people?

C. How can you increasingly become this sort of person?

Battle Lines

One of the best ways to become a person after God's own heart is to spend time around men and women after God's own heart. Identify two to three mature believers who you believe have a close walk with Christ, and ask to interview them. Find out what makes them tick, how they nurture their relationship with God, and what they do when they grow discouraged.

3

RAGING SAULS

Reconnaissance

1. What ogres roam your world? Controlling moms. Coaches from the school of Stalin. The pit-bull math teacher. The self-appointed cubicle commandant.

A. How would you answer Max's question above?

B. When your ogres confront you, how do you normally react?

2. How does God respond in such cases? Nuke the nemesis? We may want him to. He's been known to extract a few Herods and Pharaohs. How he will treat yours, I can't say. But how he will treat you, I can. He will send you a Jonathan.

A. Why do you think God responds in such different ways to the many nemeses that cause such trouble in our world?

B. Who is the Jonathan that God sent you? Describe him or her.

3. You long for one true friend? You have one. And because you do, you have a choice. You can focus on your Saul or your Jonathan, ponder the malice of your monster or the kindness of your Christ.

A. Where do you tend to place your focus when a Saul or a monster confronts you?

B. How can you get better at choosing to focus on the kindness of your Christ? What practical steps could you take?

4. Linger too long in the stench of your hurt, and you'll smell like the toxin you despise.

A. Of the hurts you've suffered, which has the most power to keep you trapped?

B. Why does dwelling on a terrible hurt make you smell like the toxin you despise?

5. Wander freely and daily through the gallery of God's goodness. Catalog his kindnesses. Everything from sunsets to salvation—look at what you have. Your Saul took much, but Christ gave you more! Let Jesus be the friend you need.

A. Take a pen and a sheet of paper, and catalog the kindnesses that God has lavished on you just this week.

B. In what ways has Christ given you more than your Saul has taken?

Marching Orders

1. Read 1 Samuel 18:6–29.

A. What first made Saul angry with David? Why did this make him angry?

B. What made Saul afraid of David (v. 12)?

C. What actions were caused by Saul's jealousy?

2. Read 1 Samuel 18:1–4; 20:1–42; 23:16.

A. How would you describe David's friendship with Jonathan?

B. Who risked more, David or Jonathan, by this friendship?

C. What is perhaps the most important element of a deep friendship as shown by 1 Samuel 23:16? What is meant by “strengthened his hand in God”?

3. Read 2 Timothy 4:16–18.

A. Which of Paul's friends stood with him at the end of his life?

B. Who did stand with Paul?

C. How did this friendship give Paul great strength and encouragement?

Battle Lines

We are told that Jonathan “strengthened [David's] hand in God.” One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to help someone else grow spiritually. Who do you know that might need some encouragement right now? Take the initiative, and do what you can to “strengthen ____________'s hand in God.” Make sure you do this authentically, genuinely, and sensitively.

4

DESPERATE DAYS

Reconnaissance

1. David's faith is wavering. Not too long ago the shepherd's sling was all he needed. Now the one who refused the armor and sword of Saul requests a weapon from the priest. What has happened to our hero? Simple. He's lost his God-focus.

A. What do you think caused David to lose his God-focus?

B. What usually prompts you to lose your God-focus?

2. Bread and blades. Food and equipment. The church exists to provide both.

A. How does your church supply “bread” (food) and “blades” (equipment) to those who need them?

B. What part do you play in this supply line?

3. Jesus calls the church to lean in the direction of compassion.

A. Why is compassion so important to Jesus?

B. How do you tend to show others the compassion of Jesus?

4. At the end of the sanctuary day, the question is not how many laws were broken but rather, how many desperate Davids were nourished and equipped? Ahimelech teaches the church to pursue the spirit of the law more than its letter.

A. Do you find it easier to pursue the spirit of the law or its letter? Explain.

B. What tends to happen when you pursue the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law?

5. David stumbles in this story. Desperate souls always do. But at least he stumbles into the right place—into God's sanctuary, where God meets and ministers to hopeless hearts.

A. In the past year, how has God ministered to you after a stumble?

B. Who in your life needs to be ministered to after a stumble?

Marching Orders

1. Read 1 Samuel 21:1–9.

A. Why do you think David lied to the priest?

B. Why did David want Goliath's sword?

C. Does taking a sword necessarily imply a lack of faith? Explain.

2. Read Romans 8:38–39.

A. What confidence does Paul express in this passage?

B. How does such confidence help someone to face life's difficulties?

C. Do you have this confidence? Why or why not?

3. Read John 20:19–22.

A. How does Jesus respond to the fear of his disciples?

B. What mission did Jesus give to his disciples?

C. What power did Jesus give his disciples to accomplish their mission?

Battle Lines

As a member of Christ's church, it is your privilege to provide others with food and equipment. Who in your church could use some basic necessities? Reach out to someone in need this week.

5

DRY SEASONS

Reconnaissance

1. Wilderness begins with disconnections. It continues with deceit.

A. What has happened in your life when you disconnected from important relationships?

B. Why does deceit so often follow personal disconnections? What do disconnection and deceit lead to?

2. Has your Saul cut you off from the position you had and the people you love? In an effort to land on your feet, have you stretched the truth? Distorted the facts? Are you seeking refuge in Gath? Under normal circumstances you would never go there. But these aren't normal circumstances, so you loiter in the breeding ground of giants.

A. How would you answer Max's questions above?

B. What is Gath for you? What would cause you to loiter there?

3. Make God your refuge. Not your job, your spouse, your reputation, or your retirement account. Make God your refuge. Let him, not Saul, encircle you. Let him be the ceiling that breaks the sunshine, the walls that stop the wind, the foundation on which you stand.

A. How do you make God your refuge?

B. What needs to change in your life if you are to make God your refuge?

4. “You'll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.”

A. Do you agree with the statement above? Why or why not?

B. Has there ever been a time in your life when you had nothing but Jesus? If so, describe it.

5. Are you in the wilderness? Crawl into God the way a fugitive would a cave. Find refuge in God's presence and comfort in his people. Those are your keys for wilderness survival.

A. Describe a time when you sought refuge in God's presence.

B. How have God's people given you comfort? How have you, as one of God's people, given comfort to others?

Marching Orders

1. Read 1 Samuel 21:10–22:2.

A. What made David afraid?

B. How did David act because of his fear?

C. Did his actions hurt him or help him? Explain.

2. Read Psalm 57:1–3.

A. Where does David turn for help from his enemies?

B. What does “refuge” mean for David in this psalm?

C. What answer does David expect to receive from God? Why does he expect this answer?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26–31.

A. How does Paul characterize the members of the church? Why is this significant?

B. Why does God choose the ones he chooses? What does he hope to accomplish?

C. According to this passage, what should be the perspective of a believer in Christ?

Battle Lines

Those who most need comfort often won't risk asking for it. Put your antennae up, and look around for someone who seems to feel disconnected and alone. Invite that person to go to lunch or to take a walk with you. Don't go prepared with a talk, but just “be there” for him or her—and ask God to use your efforts to help that person find refuge in him.

6

GRIEF-GIVERS

Reconnaissance

1. Think about the purveyors of pain in your life. It's one thing to give grace to friends, but to give grace to those who give you grief ? Could you?

A. Who are the purveyors of pain in your life? What would it take for you to give grace to them? What do you think it would look like?

B. How do you avoid the natural human tendency to give grief to those who give grief to you? How could you make it a habit to give these people grace rather than grief ?

2. Vengeance fixes your attention at life's ugliest moments. Score-settling freezes your stare at cruel events in your past. Is this where you want to look? Will rehearsing and reliving your hurts make you a better person? By no means. It will destroy you.

A. Think of someone you know whom you would describe as a vengeful, score-settling person. How happy do you think that person is? Explain.

B. Why do vengeance and a life of retribution destroy the one who engages in such behavior?

3. Your enemies still figure into God's plan. Their pulse is proof: God hasn't given up on them. They may be out of God's will, but not out of his reach. You honor God when you see them, not as his failures, but as his projects.

A. How does it help you to think of your enemies as God's projects?

B. Use your imagination for a moment: how could God use your enemies to benefit you and bring him glory?

4. Forgiveness is not excusing. Nor is forgiveness pretending. David didn't gloss over or sidestep Saul's sin. He addressed it directly. He didn't avoid the issue, but he did avoid Saul.

A. Is it compatible to forgive someone and still purpose-fully avoid him or her? Explain.

B. If forgiveness is not excusing or pretending, what is it? What does it look like? Whom do you most need to forgive right now?

5. Dare we ask God for grace when we refuse to give it? This is a huge issue in Scripture. Jesus was tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners.

A. In God's eyes, is your sin any less sinful than that of someone who hurt you? Explain.

B. Why do you think Jesus was so tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners? What might Jesus say to you personally on this subject?

Marching Orders

1. Read 1 Samuel 24, 26.

A. How did David's men twist a prophecy to encourage David to do evil (24:4)?

B. Why did David give Saul such great esteem (24:5–7)? Who was David really honoring by his conduct?

C. Into whose hands did David commit both his and Saul's destiny (26:10–11)?

2. Read Romans 12:14–21.

A. How are believers in Christ supposed to treat their enemies?

B. Why are believers forbidden from taking revenge (v. 19)?

C. Instead of taking revenge, what strategy does God give his children (VV. 20–21)?

3. Read Colossians 3:13.

A. What does it mean to bear with each other?

B. Why are believers to forgive those who hurt them?

C. Why did the Lord forgive you? What aspects of the Lord's forgiveness can you imitate?

Battle Lines