A. How does it help you to think of your enemies as God’s projects?
B. Use your imagination for a moment: how could God use your enemies to benefit you and bring him glory?
4. Forgiveness is not excusing. Nor is forgiveness pretending. David didn’t gloss over or sidestep Saul’s sin. He addressed it directly. He didn’t avoid the issue, but he did avoid Saul.
A. Is it compatible to forgive someone and still purpose-fully avoid him or her? Explain.
B. If forgiveness is not excusing or pretending, what is it? What does it look like? Whom do you most need to forgive right now?
5. Dare we ask God for grace when we refuse to give it? This is a huge issue in Scripture. Jesus was tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners.
A. In God’s eyes, is your sin any less sinful than that of someone who hurt you? Explain.
B. Why do you think Jesus was so tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners? What might Jesus say to you personally on this subject?
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Samuel 24, 26.
A. How did David’s men twist a prophecy to encourage David to do evil (24:4)?
B. Why did David give Saul such great esteem (24:5–7)? Who was David really honoring by his conduct?
C. Into whose hands did David commit both his and Saul’s destiny (26:10–11)?
2. Read Romans 12:14–21.
A. How are believers in Christ supposed to treat their enemies?
B. Why are believers forbidden from taking revenge (v. 19)?
C. Instead of taking revenge, what strategy does God give his children (VV. 20–21)?
3. Read Colossians 3:13.
A. What does it mean to bear with each other?
B. Why are believers to forgive those who hurt them?
C. Why did the Lord forgive you? What aspects of the Lord’s forgiveness can you imitate?
Battle Lines
Is there someone you’ve been unable to forgive in the past? Spend some time prayerfully determining to forgive that person. If possible, attempt a reconciliation. Do not let bitterness acidize your soul.
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BARBARIC BEHAVIOR
Reconnaissance
1. Their goodness proves contagious, and Gordon contracts a case. He begins to treat the sick and share his rations. He even gives away his few belongings. Other soldiers do like-wise. Over time, the tone of the camp softens and brightens.
A. Describe a time you saw the good influence of one per-son change the atmosphere of a group or organization.
B. What specific environment could you reshape by your good influence?
2. Do personal possessive pronouns dominate the language of your circle? My career, my dreams, my stuff. I want things to go my way on my schedule. If so, you know how savage this giant can be.
A. Think back over your day. How much of your time was consumed by thoughts of yourself ?
B. What’s the biggest problem with a sustained self-focus to the exclusion of all else?
3. Abigail’s gentleness reversed a river of anger. Humility has such power. Apologies can disarm arguments. Contrition can defuse rage. Olive branches do more good than battle-axes ever will.
A. Describe the gentlest person you ever knew. What kind of influence did this person have on others?
B. Is humility a struggle for you? Why or why not?
4. Abigail placed herself between David and Nabal. Jesus placed himself between God and us. Abigail volunteered to be punished for Nabal’s sins. Jesus allowed heaven to punish him for yours and mine. Abigail turned away the anger of David. Didn’t Christ shield you from God’s?
A. What do you think motivated Abigail to act as she did?
B. Did Christ shield you from the wrath of God? Explain.
5. One prisoner can change a camp. One Abigail can save a family. Be the beauty amidst your beasts and see what happens.
A. How could you be the beauty that brings peace to a tense or combative situation?
B. What would you hope to accomplish?
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Samuel 25.
A. How did Abigail’s servant characterize the treatment he and his friends had received from David and his men (VV. 14–16)?
B. What lie did David tell himself as he prepared to take vengeance on Nabal (VV. 21–22)?
C. Who kept David from taking vengeance, according to Abigail (v. 26)? Why is this significant?
2. Read Proverbs 15:1.
A. Which half of this verse did Nabal demonstrate?
B. Which half of this verse did Abigail demonstrate?
C. Which half of this verse do you normally demonstrate?
3. Read Philippians 4:5.
A. What trait does this verse urge believers to display? To whom is this trait to be displayed?
B. What unexpected thought is connected to this command? How do you think it’s connected in thought?
C. What do you think it means to be gentle?
Battle Lines
Think of a person whom you have injured, insulted, or alienated. Ask God to give you the grace and the humility to approach this per-son and ask for forgiveness. It may be tough, but pray that the Lord will bring peace and healing to the situation.
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SLUMP GUNS
Reconnaissance
1. No hope and, most of all, no God. David focuses on Saul. He hangs Saul’s poster on his wall and replays his voice messages. David immerses himself in his fear until his fear takes over: “I will be destroyed.”
A. Why do “no hope” and “no God” often go together?
B. What most often causes you to think, I will be destroyed?
2. Hiding out with the enemy brings temporary relief. Doesn’t it always? Stop resisting alcohol, and you’ll laugh—for a while. Move out on your spouse, and you’ll relax—for a time. Indulge in the porn, and you’ll be entertained—for a season. But then talons of temptation sink in. Waves of guilt crash in. The loneliness of breaking up rushes in.
A. In what ways do you sometimes hide out with the enemy? What do you hope to gain from this?
B. Why does hiding out with the enemy not work ultimately?
3. Stop talking to yourself. Talk to Christ, who invites, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest” (Matt. 11:28 MSG).
A. What kind of tapes play over and over in your head?
What kind of unproductive things do you keep telling yourself ?
B. Have you ever experienced the rest of Jesus? If so, describe it. If not, what prevents you from seeking it?
4. Be quick to pray, seek healthy counsel, and don’t give up.
A. What is the relationship between regular prayer and the ability to endure?
B. Whom can you go to for healthy counsel?
5. Don’t be fooled by the fog of the slump. The finish may be only strokes away. God may be, at this moment, lifting his hand to signal Gabriel to grab the trumpet. Angels may be assembling, saints gathering, demons trembling. Stay at it! Stay in the water. Stay in the race. Stay in the fight. Give grace, one more time. Be generous, one more time. Teach one more class, encourage one more soul, swim one more stroke.
A. What good thing or task are you most tempted to give up on right now?
B. Describe an instance where someone you know finished strong despite the obstacles. What impact did that example have on you?
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Samuel 27.
A. In what way was David’s whole strategy to escape Saul based on a lie (v. 1)?
B. How did David’s whole strategy for staying in Philistia depend on a stream of lies (VV. 8–11)?
C. Why are lies never a good basis for building a sound future?
2. Read Proverbs 14:12.
A. How did David’s Philistine stopover illustrate the truth of this verse?
B. If God’s ways are always better than ours, then why do we s
o often choose our own ways?
C. How can you make sure that your life doesn’t illustrate the truth of this verse?
3. Read Matthew 11:28.
A. What is the promise described in this verse?
B. To whom is the promise addressed?
C. What must one do to take advantage of the promise given in this verse?
Battle Lines
Designate this “accentuate the positive” week. Consciously give positive comments to those you come into contact with, especially those who may not be expecting it: a grocery clerk, a neighbor, the mailman, a waiter. At the end of the week, note what happened—both to you and to them.
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PLOPPING POINTS
Reconnaissance
1. Support systems don’t always support. Friends aren’t always friendly. Pastors can wander off base and churches get out of touch. When no one can help, we have to do what David does here. He turns toward God.
A. Describe a time when one of your support systems failed you. How did you respond? Where did you turn?
B. In what area of your life do you most need to turn to God?
2. What do we do with the Brook Besor people? Berate them? Shame them? Give them a rest but measure the minutes? Or do we do what David did? David let them stay.
A. What do you tend to do with Brook Besor people?
B. When was the last time you were a Brook Besor per-son? Did a David let you stay? Explain.
3. David did many mighty deeds in his life. He did many foolish deeds in his life. But perhaps the noblest was this rarely dis-cussed deed: he honored the tired soldiers at Brook Besor.
A. Why would Max say that David’s noblest deed was to honor his tired soldiers at Brook Besor? Would you agree? Explain.
B. Who are the tired soldiers in your life that you could honor as David did? In what specific ways could you honor them?
4. It’s okay to rest. Jesus is your David. He fights when you can-not. He goes where you cannot. He’s not angry if you sit.
A. Do you ever feel that Jesus is angry with you when you sit? Explain.
B. In what ways has Jesus fought for you when you could not? Describe a few specific instances.
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Samuel 30:1–25.
A. How did David make it through this terrible ordeal (v. 6)?
B. How did God show his grace to David, despite David’s misadventures in Philistine territory (vv. 18–19)?
C. Whom did David credit with his victory (v. 23)? How does this help to explain his order about the plunder?
2. Read Mark 6:31.
A. How would you describe the activity level of the disciples in this scene?
B. What was Jesus’s prescription for his tired disciples?
C. How does Jesus’s prescription relate to your situation?
3. Read Philemon 1:20.
A. What was Paul requesting here?
B. How did Paul expect to benefit if his request was granted?
C. Whose heart can you “refresh . . . in the Lord” today? How could you do this?
Battle Lines
It really is all right to stop for a while and get some rest. So take a break! Go somewhere that feels refreshing and relaxing to you, and just hang out. Visit a garden, take a walk in the park, go for a drive—whatever helps you to recharge your batteries. Turn off your cell phone, leave work behind, and get some rest. God will be pleased.
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UNSPEAKABLE GRIEF
Reconnaissance
1. The grave stirs such unspeakable hurt and unanswerable questions, we’re tempted to turn and walk. Change the subject, avoid the issue. Work hard. Drink harder. Stay busy. Stay distant. Head north to Montana and don’t look back.
A. How do you tend to react to death, especially the death of a loved one?
B. Why do so many of us avoid thinking about grief ? What does this usually accomplish?
2. Just when you think the beast of grief is gone, you hear a song she loved or smell the cologne he wore or pass a restaurant where the two of you used to eat. The giant keeps showing up.
A. How has sorrow returned to you without warning?
B. When the giant of grief stalks you, how do you tend to respond? How do you deal with personal grief ?
3. Understand the gravity of your loss. You didn’t lose at Monopoly or misplace your keys. You can’t walk away from this. At some point, within minutes or months, you need to do what David did. Face your grief.
A. Think of the biggest loss you’re dealing with at this moment. How would you describe it?
B. What Scriptures have brought comfort to you in the heaviness of grief ?
4. We spelunk life’s deepest issues in the cave of sorrow. Why am I here? Where am I headed? Cemetery strolls stir hard yet vital questions.
A. What key issues of life has death forced you to grapple with?
B. With what specific questions has death left you? What answers are you still seeking?
5. So go ahead, face your grief. Give yourself time. Permit your-self tears. God understands. He knows the sorrow of a grave. He buried his son. But he also knows the joy of resurrection. And, by his power, you will too.
A. Do you think there is a general time limit for grief ? Explain.
B. Do you look forward to the joy of resurrection? If so, why? If not, why not?
Marching Orders
1. Read 1 Samuel 31–2 Samuel 1.
A. Why do you think God allowed Jonathan to die along-side his father, Saul?
B. Why did David treat the young Amalekite in this story so harshly?
C. What do you learn of David’s friendship with Jonathan in this passage?
2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:3–4.
A. What does God think about believers mourning their dead?
B. How can mourning ever be better than laughter?
C. What godly purpose does mourning serve?
3. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18.
A. Does verse 13 tell believers that it is inappropriate to mourn the death of their loved ones? How does it counsel believers?
B. What promise does this text give to all believers in Christ? How does this promise give them hope?
C. Why is it important to tell one another the truth about what will happen when Jesus returns (v. 18)?
Battle Lines
Many in our culture find it hard to grieve. We think that grieving should have a set time limit or that it should be hidden from public view. To get a better idea of what constitutes healthy grieving, con-sider reading a book such as A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis or Letters to a Grieving Heart by Billy Sprague.
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BLIND INTERSECTIONS
Reconnaissance
1. One of life’s giant-size questions is How can I know what God wants me to do?
A. What do you think God has called you to do and to be?
What do you believe is his overarching goal for your life?
B. If you can’t currently identify God’s purpose for your life, how can you find out what his will for you really is?
2. You have a Bible? Read it.
A. Describe your current Bible-reading habits.
B. How would you like to improve your comprehension of the Bible? How might you be able to make your Bible reading more interactive with the Holy Spirit of God?
3. You have a family of faith? Consult it.
A. How connected are you to a family of faith? Who there could serve as an effective consultant for you?
B. How often do you go to someone else for help in deter-mining God’s will for you? Why is this a wise practice?
4. You have a heart for God? Heed it.
A. On the following scale, where would you put your heart for God? Icy—Frigid—Cold—Cool—Lukewarm—Warm—Hot—Blistering
B. How could you better use your heart for God to dis-cern God’s will for you?
5. People have been known to justify stupidity based on a “feeling.” “I felt God leading me to che
at on my wife . . . disregard my bills . . . lie to my boss . . . flirt with my married neighbor.” Mark it down: God will not lead you to violate his Word. He will not contradict his teaching.
A. Do you know God’s Word well enough that it can keep you from making a foolish decision based on a feeling? Explain.
B. Describe a time when the wisdom of the Bible kept you or someone you know from making a foolish decision based on a feeling.
Marching Orders
1. Read 2 Samuel 2:1–4.
A. What specific directions did David ask for in this pas-sage? What kind of answers did he get? What does this teach you, if anything, about prayer?
B. What happened when David followed the direction God gave to him? Do you think this would have hap-pened had he not followed God's guidance? Explain.
C. What connection, if any, do you see between this pas-sage and the principle outlined in James 4:2?
2. Read Psalm 32:8 and Proverbs 3:5–6.
A. What does God promise in Psalm 32:8? On whom does the major responsibility for guidance fall?
B. What is the believer’s responsibility in discovering God’s will, according to Proverbs 3:5? What does this look like in practical terms?
C. What promise does Scripture give in Proverbs 3:6 regarding the discovery of God’s will for a person’s life? Are any exceptions given?
3. Read Philippians 2:13; 4:6; Ephesians 2:10.
A. How does Philippians 2:13 relate to discovering God’s will for your life? What encouragement does it give you?
B. If you are anxious about discovering God’s will for you, what does Philippians 4:6 encourage you to do?
C. What further encouragement do you find in Ephesians 2:10 in regard to discovering (and doing) God’s will for your life? How committed is God to this process?
Battle Lines
How effective do you think you are at discovering God’s will for your life? The Bible actually says quite a lot about finding and doing God’s will. Get out a concordance and look up all the references you can find to “the will of God” or “God’s will.” What do you discover?
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STRONGHOLDS
Reconnaissance
1. Where does Satan have a stronghold within you? . . . “You ain’t touching this flaw,” he defies heaven, placing himself squarely between God’s help and your explosive temper, fragile self-image, freezer-size appetite, distrust for authority.