But there’s something happening underneath the surface of this story that makes its very unfolding possible, and its triumph inevitable. It’s the difference between David and Saul, and the key to any of our hope in overcoming the giants in our own lives today.
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(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)
DATE: September 24, 2017 David and Goliath //
Scripture: I Samuel 17
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, in our journey through the book of 1 Samuel, we came to one of the most familiar passages in the entire Bible. It is the story of David and Goliath. This story is one of the greatest underdog stories of all time. And one of the reasons that we love it is because we all feel like underdogs from time to time. In this story, the Israelites are paralyzed in fear because of a giant named Goliath. Day after day, Goliath taunts them for 40 days by calling them “servants of Saul” – a message that penetrates their souls while he threatens to enslave Israel. But David, a shepherd boy who is only at the battle because he is on an errand from his dad, hears and sees something different. Where Saul and Israel are asking, “Who are we?” David starts to ask, “Who is he?” Where Goliath taunts Israel as “servants of Saul,” David sees Israel as “armies of God.” The story hinges and turns as David creates a different future because he lives from his identity (he knows who he is), lives with honesty (he knows who he is not) and lives in authority (he knows what God can do).
THE MAIN THOUGHT keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion
We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.
SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): What stuck out most to you from Aaron’s talk this past Sunday? What new details caught your attention? Who was the giant that taunted Israel? What did he do to provoke Israel each day? What did he call Israel? What does David see when he arrives at the battle? How does Saul want David to fight Goliath? (Dressed in his armor.) How does David defeat Goliath? Why is that important? How does David live differently than everyone else? (Identity, honesty, authority.)
Mirror (Where am I in the story): Three things differentiated David from others at the battle: He lived from his identity, with honesty, and in authority. How did Aaron define these three concepts this week? (Identity—he knows who he is; Honesty—he knows who he is not; Authority—he knows what God can do.) Which of these three best characterize you? Why? Which do you struggle with the most? Why?
Window (How does the story change how I see those around me?): Aaron said, “God doesn’t copy and paste when He is making disciples – He custom builds.” In what ways has God custom-built who you are in Him? How can we disciple others in such a way that “custom builds” them? Why is it important that everyone doesn’t just become or look the same? How can you help others identify the unique work that God is doing in their lives?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Bible Stories 5 minutes
As a group, try to list at least 15 different stories from the Bible that show God working in unique ways to overcome major obstacles or adversaries in people’s lives. Emphasize the unusual ways in which God works. Then ask individuals to share personal stories of how they have seen God overcome giants in their own lives.
Change IN // Billboards 5 minutes
One of the things that Aaron talked about this week was the different billboards that hang in our minds bombarding us with false messages about who we are. Take a moment to give your group 3 x 5 notecards. On one side, invite each person to take three minutes to write down a few of the false messages that act as billboards in their life. Then have each person share their billboard. After each person shares, invite the group to speak the truth about who each person is. Invite each person to write down these truths on the other side of their card. Then encourage everyone to keep their card with them in their pocket this week to remind them about who they are.
Change OUT // Blind Spots 5 minutes
Most people have trouble seeing who they are. Take a few moments to identify two people that you can speak truth to about who they are this week. Then choose to help these people overcome their blind spots by speaking the truth about who they are in an intentional way this week.
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.