Reflection Questions:

“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

It’s easy for us as humans to judge a book by its cover, but we shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking of God this way. He doesn’t judge by outward appearance because God can look into every person’s heart. God chose David as King because of David’s heart.

1. What made David’s heart different than those of the men around him?

2. In the sermon today, Travis said, “You can’t control the things that come into your heart, but you can control the things your heart fixates on.”

What do you think he meant by that?

3. What are some things that your heart has become dependent on?

How do these things affect your relationship with God?

4. On a typical day, when is it hardest for you to depend on Jesus?

5. What step is God calling you to take in order to move closer to Him? 

Reflection Questions:

“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17: 45

1. What was it that made David so willing to fight Goliath? What made him successful?

2. It feels like we all have a Goliath, or an enemy that looms large and intimidates us. It fights against us and takes our eyes off of God. What is your “Goliath”?

3. Travis said, “Sometimes I’m my own Goliath.” What do you think he meant by that?

Have you ever sabotaged your own relationship with God?

4. The demands of our lives often steal our attention away from God. How can you avoid distractions and have the perspective of God more often? 

5. What step is God calling you to take to move closer to Him? 

Reflection Questions: 

David had great success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 1 Samuel 18:14-15

1. Jealousy is a common feeling in our culture. It’s such a common thing to feel because of how easy it is to compare ourselves and our situations to those around us and feel dissatisfied.

Who do you most identify with in this story, Saul (always jealous of others success) or David (always under attack)?

2. What was at the heart of Saul’s jealousy of David?

3. What/who are the “raging Saul’s” in your life? Have you become a “raging Saul” in the life of someone else?

4. How can having a relationship with Jesus help us when the “raging Saul” is attacking? Or when we get jealous?

5. What step might God be calling you to make in order to move closer to Him? What’s standing in your way? 

Reflection Questions: 

And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the King of Gath. He changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands… 1 Samuel 21:10, 13

When David’s life is being threatened by Saul he goes into desperation mode in order to survive. When we’re feeling the pressures of life and flirting with desperation, it can be so hard to hone our focus on God’s purpose for us. 

1. Describe a moment in your typical week when you start to feel the pressure and turn desperate.

2. When the pressure is on, in what ways are you tempted to compromise your values and/or convictions?

3. What do you learn about yourself when you compromise your convictions?

4. Describe a time when God provided for you in a desperate moment.

5. What’s one step God might be asking you to make in order to move closer to Him?

Reflection Questions:

1. Describe a time when you obeyed God even though it didn’t benefit you immediately.

2. During the message Brady said, “When you take time to listen to God’s voice, God’s way becomes clear.”

a.    How has this been true in your own life?

b.    In the middle of a busy day, what can you do to slow down and listen for God’s voice?

3. Read 1 Samuel 24:1-15. Who or what do you relate to most in this section of scripture?

4. David was committed to letting God have control of vengeance and justice. Read the following scripture: Proverbs 20:22, Deuteronomy 32:35, and Romans 12:19. Is there a situation in your life where you need to let go of the justice? How can you give that over to God?

5. Brady said you will become more merciful when you start trusting God as judge. As a way of thanking God, write down all the ways you can think of God showing you mercy. After writing them down, pray and thank God for being our perfect judge. 

Reflection Questions:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

1. Read 1 Samuel 25:2-38. Who or what do you relate to most in this story? David? Nabal? Abigail? 

2. Nabal’s focus on himself heightened the tension between he and David. His selfish attitude made conflict where there was no conflict. 

How can a selfish attitude cause us to miss the bigger picture in the midst of our daily circumstances? 

3. In the sermon, Travis compared Abigail’s actions to those of Christ. How does Abigail compare with Jesus on Nabal’s behalf? What about on David’s behalf? 

4. Describe a time when someone else’s selflessness let you off the hook. 

5. Travis said, “Denying yourself is a good for you and a gift from God.” 

Is there a situation in your life where you can deny yourself in order to defuse tension? How will denying yourself more change your relationship with God? 

Reflection Questions:

But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

1. In the sermon, Travis says the heart of man is “easily tired, afraid, confused, overwhelmed, hopeless and trusts temporary fixes.” 

What do you think he meant by “temporary fixes”? 

2. What temporary fix was David seeking when he fled to live with the Philistines? 

3. Read Proverbs 14:12-13 (MSG). What is it about shortcuts in life that frequently lead us to “heartbreak”? 

4. Compared to seeking temporary fixes, does it take more or less work on our part to be strengthened by God? How so? 

5. What are some common places/things people in our culture seek to renew their strength? Where do you turn most commonly for a boost in strength? 

6. Make a short list of things you can try this week to harness God’s strength each day rather than leaning on your own.

Reflection Questions:

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 

Isaiah 30:21 NLT

1. Think about, or write down, the main idea you came away with from Travis’ sermon today. 

2. David didn’t always “inquire of the LORD” right away. Sometimes it was his last option. Are there moments in your life when you struggle to inquire of God? When? 

3. Describe a time when you could feel God leading you in a certain direction. What happened? 

4. What keeps you from consulting God’s word when you are faced with a decision?

5. What is the ultimate outcome of knowing what God expects and choosing not to do it? 

6. Finish this statement: Based on what God has taught me in this lesson, I will…