Message on Sunday, December 29, 2019

FACING YOUR ENEMIES

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 17:1-51

Main Theme: Overcoming Obstacles; Facing Giants in Your Life, Trust in the Lord
(See background information below.)

Guide for Crossroads Community Groups:

1. Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:

   Our purpose is to multiply groups. We do this by inviting new people to our group and building them to be followers of Jesus. Each person here has the potential to be empowered to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.

2. Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as   Your Presence is Heaven to Me.

3. Review:

   • What has God been telling you this week in your personal time with Him?

   • How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?

   • With whom did you share what you learned last week?

   • Who did you invite to the group for this week?

4. Opening Question:
   What are some of the things that people fear?

5. Introduction: Read the background information below.

6. Word: Read this week’s scripture aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)

   • What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

   • Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.

   • What are the details? What details can you add to what others in the group have said?

7. Discussion: Discuss together the questions below.

8. Application: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.

9. Prayer Time:

   • Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.

   • Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.

10. For Next Time:

    • Assign group members who are ready to do different parts of the next meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).

    • Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
      
      

Background Information

Background Information:

This is the well known true story of David and Goliath. David was the youngest of his father, Jesse's, children. In the Hebrew culture at that time the youngest son was not the one expected to lead the family upon the fathers death. In fact David had been kept at home while his older brothers had gone off to war. The Philistines are the enemy of the people of Israel. Saul was the king of Israel at the time of this incident. A sling of the type used by David was a weapon they used in warfare. It was a deadly weapon and a baseball size stone could travel at about 60 mile per hour. 

Key Verse: I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.  1 Samuel 17:45

THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 17:1-51

Discussion Questions

1. What new thing did you discover in the story, or are there any verses that you didn’t know before?

2. What do you learn about God (Father, Jesus, or Holy Spirit) from the story? 

3. What do you learn about people from the story?

4. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

5. What will you take away from this discussion?

6. What will you do with what you have learned?

7. As a result of this study, what do you need to stop doing?

8. As a result of this study, what do you need to start doing?

Commitment — Obedience — Application

1. Jesus taught you this today because someone in your life needs to hear it. With whom in your inner circle of relationships will you share what you have learned through this study?

2. What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?