David

1. Before you get into the discussion tonight, spend a few minutes as a group thinking through, praying over, and reaching out to anyone you haven’t seen in awhile. Take some time to write down those lists of names and specifically pray over them by name and then have someone in the group send a text that you prayed for them and hope they are doing well and miss seeing them. (why is this a life group question?) Because these circles are meant to be life on life with one another. If we fail to pray for, care for, and reach out to one another then we are missing the point of what these circles are meant to truly be about. 

2. Take a moment before reading the passage to talk as a group about how you’re doing. Just check in with one another. Discuss some things like: How’s your spiritual walk? What has God been teaching you lately?  The holidays are coming up, how are things with family? Holidays are great for some but more difficult for others. Is there anything we can be praying for one another this holiday season? Mainly use this time to just be relational with everyone and get a spiritual temperature check to see how everyone is doing. Then end this question by praying for one another.

3. Read 1 Samuel 17 together. This famous Bible story can teach us so much. Unpack it together and spend some time discussing what stands out. 

4. David was a teenager at the time this was happening and yet he boldly still went before Goliath and took on the fight no one else would. When no one else would do anything about it, he stepped up even though he was the youngest one there. Discuss how this challenges you as a young person? Do you find yourself being more like David or more like everyone else in the army and why? 

5. Read 1 Samuel 17:32 together. They had ‘lost heart’ because of Goliath who was the physical enemy and obstacle in front of them. In a way this had crippled the army and caused them all to not want to go up against him. Discuss what things in your life cause you to ‘lose heart’ and seem to cripple you from moving forward? Our’s may not be physical giant Philistines, but they certainly still may leave us paralyzed with fear of moving forward. Take some time to discuss some examples of these things in your life.

6. Read 1 Samuel 17:33-37 together. Saul says David can’t go out and fight Goliath because he is “only a young man.” To which David responds by all of the ways that the Lord had prepared him and protected him. David didn’t see this any different than all of the ways the Lord had provided before. Discuss as a group the ways that you feel as “only a young person.” Then discuss as a group the ways God has prepared you to actually go make a difference.