Heart Over Hype: Backward Movement on God’s Path

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: 1 Samuel 19.

overview

The insecurity of Saul’s heart continues and drives him to go from passively wanting David to die on the battlefield to outwardly commanding that he be killed, displaying his internal obsession with David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, shares a devoted friendship with David and goes to talk some sense into his father and talk him out of murdering David. After Jonathan lists off all the good that David has done for the king and Israel as a whole, Saul seems to have a change of heart, and he vows in God’s name not to put him to death. However, he soon gives into the envy in his heart because he never actually rid himself of it; it was suppressed, but not uprooted.

question 1

Temporary restraint – suppressing harmful thoughts or actions for a bit – does not bring about full transformation. Talk about what does bring us transformation. How have any of you been able to have lasting transformation in your own life?

discussion

Read John 16:31-33. David has done all the right things with a pure and devoted heart, and yet Saul goes back on his word and orders his death once again. David is forced to leave his home, his wife, and his purpose and live on the run. Many believers have done all the right things, served God and his Church faithfully, lived in obedience as a disciple, and yet trouble and heartache come upon them. We find the strength to move forward by remembering the character of God and actively seeking his comfort. Our faith rests on this truth: God never promised a life free of trouble, but he did promise his peace and presence to sustain us through it all and live a full life.

question 2

How do you walk through trials and keep your own faith alive? Rather than operating on autopilot, what does it look like for you to remember God’s promises in hard seasons? 

When David’s life completely fell apart, he didn’t seek revenge or fight against Saul. Instead, he ran straight to Samuel, his faithful spiritual leader, and surrounded himself with a community of prophets. When life takes a painful turn that we never asked for, our heartache, doubt, and confusion can easily drive a wedge between us and God. Shame, anger, and sorrow can tempt us to isolate ourselves from the church community, the exact place we need to find healing. If we can remember that God is still with us, and that he gave us community to carry us through, our journey will feel a lot less lonely.

question 3

At some point, most of us have been tempted to walk away from God or community. Has anyone ever turned away from God or community? How did you find your way back?

weekly application

Spend this week thanking God for his comfort and the community he has given you. Ask for your own protection against isolation and ask God to fill you with perseverance for when the next trial comes.