THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. Remember to take your SPIRITUAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT! We care deeply about your spiritual journey and want to equip you to thrive in your faith! This assessment will give you a snapshot of where you are in your walk with Jesus, and where God might be inviting you next. We offer this simple resource to our small groups twice a year. It also helps us better understand how to support you as a church as you walk with Christ. To take the assessment, click HERE.
GROUP VALUES. This November, we begin a new focus on the group value of FORMATIVE CONVERSATIONS. In this week’s sermon, we see God use conversations like these to shape David’s heart. From David being anointed by Samuel, to the prophet Nathan confronting David about Bathsheba, God uses formative conversations to train, encourage, and convict. The same is true for us, both individually and in our small groups. As a group, recall a conversation you had with someone that was essential to your relationship with Jesus.
GROW AS A LEADER. This week, Pastor Jeff does the unthinkable and summarizes the life of David into a single sermon! However, like many of the characters we’ve explored, his life contains more than can truly be shared on a Sunday morning. Consider checking out this week’s episode of Beyond the Weekend for a deeper dive. This podcast is the perfect addition to your arsenal as a leader. Be prepared to answer any unexpected questions related to the sermon that might come your way. To listen, click HERE.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to another week of our series, EPIC. This week, we explore the life of David and what it means to have a heart fully devoted to God.
ICEBREAKER
Share about a person in your life who fits the description, a person after God’s own heart. What about this person stands out to you?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read 1 Samuel 16:4-13 aloud.
What phrases or words stand out to you from this passage?
What does this passage reveal about how God evaluates people?
Why do you think God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Jeff continued our series by exploring David’s fully devoted heart. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
Culture is always vying for our affection. In what ways does the world attempt to take pieces of our hearts?
David understood that to follow God’s commands meant that God needed his whole heart. Why is it important to recognize the connection between following God’s commands and loving him wholeheartedly?
Think honestly about your own life. What percentage of your heart would you say is fully devoted to God right now?
David continued to trust God even as time felt uncertain. How do you typically respond when life feels out of control or when you’re waiting on God to act?
Share about a season when you had to trust God even though you couldn’t see how things would work out. How did you experience God’s faithfulness during that time?
David’s sin with Bathsheba shows that even someone with a heart after God can drift. What safeguards or accountability do you need to have in place to keep from drifting spiritually?
Failure does not have to get the final word. What in your life do you need to repent and turn away from to have a fully devoted heart?
WRAP UP
The story of King David points to the ultimate son of David, Jesus. He fulfilled God’s promises. If Jesus really kept his promises and demonstrated God’s love for us through the cross, how should that change the way you respond to him this week?