Because 2022 – Week 3
Message Recap: King David was known as a man after God’s heart. Pastor Bret took different snapshots of David’s life to show how David’s lifestyle of worship got him to that point.
Opening Question
- What is one thing you do or would like to do to worship in private?
Read and Reflect
1 Samuel 13:13-14 NASB
13 Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
- Why did the kingdom get taken away from Saul?
- What was the Lord looking for in someone to rule over His people?
- What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?
- Why is it so important that we keep the Lord’s commands?
- What do you do in your private life to help you keep the Lord’s commandments?
- Who are some people you meet with that help you with this?
- If you don’t have anyone to hold you accountable, who are two people you could talk to about that this week?
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
- Why are people so drawn to the outward appearance of people?
- When people are looking for churches, or at pastors of a church, what do they typically look for?
- Do they look for the outward things or the inward things?
- What are some ways you can start looking at the heart of people instead of the outward appearance?
- What were some ways David developed his heart to reflect God?
- What can you do to start making steps towards developing a good heart?
1 Samuel 16:18-19
One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.” Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”
- What were some things that attracted people to David?
- Why did the servant say “the Lord is with him?”
- If someone was to describe you, what might they say?
- Who are some people that you would say, “The Lord is with them?”
- How did David’s private times of worship influence his character?
- Do you make time for private worship in your life?
1 Chronicles 17:1
After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”
- After David finally became king, why was he still unsettled?
- What does this reveal about David?
- Is there anything right now in your relationship with God that is unsettled, unresolved, or where you are letting your own needs take precedence over what God wants?
- What do you need to do to work towards resolving it?
Challenge Questions
- What is one thing you can do this week to worship in private?
- If you already do this regularly, what might be a new spiritual practice you could try this week?
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving: Thank God for looking at the heart and not our outward appearance or works.
Adoration: Spend a few moments worshiping God for being worthy of all our worship
Confess to those times where you have judged people on their outward appearance, and haven’t taken time to develop your personal worship with Him.
Others: Pray for those who are searching in all the wrong places to find fulfillment.
Self: Ask the Lord to develop in you the character of Christ so that people may say of you, “The Lord is with them.”