How can such good and such evil reside in the soul of one man? How can he display such incredible godliness and shocking wickedness in such a short span? What happened to David? And what can we do to avoid his disasters when we sense the same coexistence of good and evil in our own souls? Most importantly, what does this story teach us about the patience and purpose of God in the world?
Usually, failure teaches more than victory. This week, we will learn from both.
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(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)
Title: Rise and Reign: “O my son Absalom, my son!” // Scripture: 2 Samuel 13-19:8
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
This week we continued our series Rise and Reign through the books of I and II Samuel by focusing on one of the major tensions in David’s life—the tension between David as a king and as a father. This is a tension all of us face in our own lives. How do we make sense of both work and home? How do we thrive as a professional and as a parent? This week Jon challenged us through the devastation and destruction of David’s home life to avoid this potential tragedy and turmoil in our own lives. We saw how David’s inaction and disengagement at home led to ruin in his son Amnon’s life and rebellion in his son Absalom. These short-comings in David’s parenting life left David exposed in his professional life. Similarly, when we neglect our home life, this neglect and inactivity will eventually cost us both at home and at work. Living in the midst of challenging and difficult times, where parenting and profession have dramatically changed, we will need to invest as much in learning how to parent as we do in our professional life. Because no matter how much success we have had in our profession (for David as a warrior, poet, and king), none of this will ensure the same kind of success in our lives as a parent. Also when it comes to making an impact in life and among the next generation, how we parent is at least as important as anything we can do in our profession.
THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Parenting is not like breathing—we must learn to do it well.
SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What stood out to you most from Jon’s sermon this week? Why? Who were the main characters in the story? (David, Amnon, Tamar, Absalom, Joab) Which of these characters do you resonate with most? Why? What mistakes did David make as a parent in II Samuel 13-19? (Inaction, Disengagement) How did these mistakes wreck David’s family? How do you think David could have parented differently?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): Where have you made the same mistakes David made in his parenting? How do these mistakes affect your family? How are you trying to parent differently than David? What resources have been most helpful to you in your parenting? What would you say your greatest achievement as a parent has been?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): What are the distinct challenges you think we face as parents today? How does David do things differently with Solomon? How does this give you hope as you face your own challenges as a parent? How would you define success in your parenting? Why?
BE IT – Practice
At Grace each week we use the ideas of Worship, Word, and Wonder to guide our Sunday morning experiences. This week we want you to use these ideas to guide you in your community experience.
Change UP // Parent Prayer 15 minutes
Take a moment this week to lift each other up as parents and as those who desire to invest in the Next Generation. Spend a few moments allowing your group to identify specific challenges you are facing as parents with your own kids. Invite the group to pray to join up in groups to pray for each other as parents and future parents.
Change IN // Name Change 5 minutes
Take a few moments this week to identify the names of the kids represented by the parents in your group. Ask each family or person to write out on separate pieces of paper the names of their kids or children or students each person is discipling and the ways these children and students need prayer in their lives. Have the group exchange names this week and commit to pray for each other’s children.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
One of the most important characteristics of children who keep their faith beyond high school is whether that child has had an adult other than their parent’s speak truth into their lives. If we want this for our children, we must be that for someone else’s child. Encourage your group this week to think of one area outside their own family they can invest in the Next Generation. Encourage your group to act on what they identify.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.