"A Dish Best Served Cold" / 1 Sam 23:19 – 24:22 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In 23:19-29, why might have David expected the Zephites to protect him? Why did they betray him? What do we see in Saul's relentless pursuit of David? How is God's sovereignty displayed?

2 – In 24:1-7, why did David's men encourage David to kill Saul? What did they say in verse 4? Did God say that? (See 23:4) Why might David be tempted to kill Saul? Why might he see this as God's provision and plan? Why did he choose not to? Why was David remorseful of simply cutting off the corner of Saul's robe?

3 – In verses 8-22, was it dangerous for David to follow Saul out of the cave? How does David's defense indict and blame Saul? (see verses 11, 15) How does our forgiveness of others often recognize fault and responsibility? How can we acknowledge blame and yet forgive? Does the other person need to acknowledge and accept before we forgive? Do they need to ask for forgiveness?

4 – Read Dt 32:35 and Rom 12:19. What should Christians do when we have been offended, wronged, or mistreated? How is this different from what the world does? Why? Read Jn 15:18-21 and 1 Pet 2:21-23.

"Two Are Better Than One" / 1 Samuel 23:1-18 / Jim Rosenquist

1 - In verses 1-5, why were David's men afraid to fight to save Keilah? How is David's direction becoming more godly? How does David give assurance to his men? How does David behave, "kingly," in saving Keilah? Why doesn't Saul?

2 – In verses 6-14, Why might David think he is safe in Keilah? Why does Saul think he has David trapped? After saving them from the Philistines, why would the people of Keilah give David to Saul? Does David find fault for this?

3 – In verses 15-18, How does Jonathan, "strengthen David's Hand?" Of what does he remind David? How is Jonathan like Barnabas in Acts 11:22-24? (4:36; 9:26) How is this an example of how Christians should give brotherly support and encouragement to each other? How is encouragement different from flattery? What makes it difficult? How is this passage more of an exhortation to be a Jonathan?

4 – Read Ecc 4:9-12. How can we apply this scripture to the passage today? To our church? To our friends?

"Chain Reaction" / 1 Samuel 22:1-23 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verses 1-2, what problems might be associated with building a following among the discontent? What problems might David experience being on the run with over 400 people?

2 – In verses 3-5, why would David seek sanctuary for his parents? Why in Moab? Why might the king of Moab agree? Why might Gad, the prophet, direct David to return and remain in Judah?

3 – In verses 6-10, what clues are given as to the deteriorating mental and spiritual condition of Saul? What does Doeg report? What information does he add? (verse 10) What important fact does he omit?

4 – In verses 11-15, in what ways does Saul demonstrate disrespect and contempt for the priest, Ahimelech? How does the priest demonstrate respect for the king? How does Ahimelech respond to the charges?

5 – In verses 16-19, Why does Saul condemn to death the priest and all the other priests? Ahimelech is the great great grandson of Eli. How is the prophecy of 1 Sam 2:27-33 realized in the murder of Ahimelech and his entire family? Why would Saul's guards be reluctant to obey the order to execute the priest? Why does Doeg have no such reluctance? Saul was once reluctant and unwilling to obey the Lord's command to annihilate the enemy, here he has no reluctance, but great eagerness, to murder the Lord's priests and annihilate the entire town of Nob and every living thing in it. What has happened to Saul? How?

6 – Read James 1:13. What does this tell us about unrestrained evil in our own hearts? How do we avoid a, "chain reaction," of sin in our own lives?

"Excalibur" / 1 Samuel 21:1-15 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verses 1-3, why does David flee Gibeah and run only 2 miles to Nob? Why was Ahimelech alarmed to see David? What explanation does David give? Was David trying to protect Ahimelech with a lie?

2 – In verses 4-5, why would the priest give holy bread to men who were not allowed to eat it? Would he give it to anyone? How do we know that David's arrival at Nob was on a sabbath?

3 – Read Luke 6:1-5. What were the disciples of Jesus doing that irritated the Pharisees? What law do they say the disciples are breaking? Does Jesus debate about what is legal on sabbath? Why?

4 - Who was Doeg? What do we about his people, the Edomites, from Num 20:14-21 and 1 Sam 14:47-48? What kind of a man is Doeg? Is David aware of this? (See 1 Sam 22:17-19)

5 – In verses 8-9, what do we know about the sword of Goliath? How did it come to David? Why does he want it?

6 – Why would David flee to Gath? Why does he think that is a good idea? Why would this be the very last place one would expect to see David? What kind of reception did he expect or hope for? Why? What did he get instead? Why? What danger was he facing? How did he escape? What did he learn? (See Psm 34:1-4)

7 – What is, "The Sword of the Spirit?" (See Eph 6:18) How do we obtain it?...use it? Who needs it?

"The Long and Winding Road" / 1 Samuel 20:1-42 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verses 1-4, why does David leave Samuel and go back to the royal residence? Was he safe with Samuel in Ramah? Why does Jonathan think David is mistaken in accusing Saul of attempted murder? How does David convince Jonathan?

2 – In verses 5-13, what is David's plan to test Saul and convince Jonathan? Is it a lie? Is it always wrong to lie? What principle governs this decision?

3 – In verses 14-17, why is Jonathan concerned for his family should David become king? How are his concerns addressed? How is this covenant different from 1 Sam 18:3?

4 – In verses 18-23, How is Jonathan' plan clear and clever? What's the purpose of the boy with him? (other than retrieving the arrows)

5 – In verses 24-34, why is Saul initially unconcerned about David's absence? What changed? How does he see through the deception? With what reaction? Why does Saul try to kill his own son, the crown prince? What is Jonathan angry about?

6 – In verses 35-42, if Jonathan was a man of such faith, courage, and character, why wasn't he destined to be the next king? How does David respond to, "The Long and Winding Road," ahead? (see Psm 62:1-2, Psm 23:1) How can we endure, "The Long and Winding Road?" (see 1 Pet 1:7, Lk 14:26-27)

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"The Great Escape" / 1 Samuel 19:1-24 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verses 1-7, how does Jonathan exemplify true friendship to David when confronting his father? How does he confront respectfully, tactfully, and effectively? Why was this risky? What was the result?

2 – In verses 8-10, once restored to Saul's favor, David was again successful in battle. How did this benefit Saul? How did Saul react? Why?

3 – In verses 11-17, Saul sends "hit-men" to stake out David's house. What is their plan? How does David's wife trick them? With what result?

4 – In verses 18-24, why does David flee to Samuel? Are they friends? In verse 20, who are, "the company of the Prophets?" (see 1Sam 10:10) Why do the "hit-men" end up prophesying? What does "prophesying" mean in this context? How does it save David from arrest?

5 - Why does Saul himself go to Ramah? What does he hope will be different? Why? Is it? What does the saying mean, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" How is it used differently here from 1Sam 10:11-12?

6 - David wrote Psalm 59 about this event. What can we correlate from Psalm 59:1-5 with this passage? In what ways is David's experience here similar to what Jesus experienced?

"Reconciliation" / Philemon 1-25 / Hanson Rosenquist

In this small letter, Paul writes to a slave owner imploring him to be reconciled with his runway

slave because in the Lord Jesus Christ they are both brothers. Keep this context in mind as you

discuss these questions.

1. What are some examples of broken relationships in our society?

2. What are the causes of these broken relationships? (Be specific. Don't just say "sin." What sins?)

3. What fruits of the Spirit are the opposite of these sins (e.g. patience is the opposite of impatience)?

4. What keeps people from repenting, forgiving, and reconciling? Are these good reasons?

5. How seriously does God take forgiveness and reconciliation? What has he done to reconcile us to Himself? What does this mean for our own understand of reconciliation?

6. Whom should you forgive? With whom can you be reconciled? With whom can you not be reconciled?

7. What does Paul applaud Philemon for? What does he applaud Onesimus for? How are these good things about these two men possible?

8. What is Paul's request of Philemon? On what basis does Paul make this request?

"Bounty" / 1 Sam 18:17-30 / Jim Rosenquist

1a – If Saul hates David and fears him, then why does he want his daughter, Merab, to marry him? (v 17)

1b – In verse 18, why does David turn down an offer to marry the king's daughter?

2 – In verse 21, why might Michal be, "a snare," for David? See 1 Sam 19:13.

3 – In verse 25, whose idea was it to take the Philistine's foreskins? What reason is given? Why this particular trophy? Why might it be difficult to obtain them? Why would the Philistines consider this horrific? How might the offended and horrified Philistines respond?

Why would David agree to this action? How did he respond? (verse 27) Why double the amount?

4 – In verse 28, Saul has been afraid of David because the Lord was with David and had departed from Saul. Verse 28 tells us for the first time that now he "knows" it. Why is this significant? How?

5 – The context of this passage has to do with Saul's envy of David. Why is envy such a dangerous and pervasive sin? How can we recognize it, confess it, and repent of it?

- Consider John the Baptist and his disciples in John 3:22-30. How is this example opposite from Saul's envy? What can we apply to ourselves?

"You've Got a Friend" / 1 Samuel 18:1-16 / Jim Rosenquist

1 – In verses 1-3, verse 1 says the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David. What does that mean? How does that happen? Why did it happen?

2 – In verse 4, other than material things, what was Jonathan conveying to David? What does it mean?

3 – In verses 6-9, what are the women celebrating? What were they trying to say in their singing? Why does it anger Saul? What does this say about Saul?

4 – In verses 10-11, did the harmful spirit cause Saul to be envious, or merely exploit an already present attitude? Was Saul temporarily insane when he tried to kill David? How do you know?

5 – In verse 12, why was Saul afraid of David? Will people love you when they recognize the Holy Spirit within you?Why?

6 – We all long for a friend like David had in Jonathan, someone who loves us and our soul is knit to. How can we have such a friendship?

"Hupomone" / Hebrews 10:32-39 / Hanson Rosenquist

In this passage the author of the book of Hebrews encourages his readers to keep faith, endure suffering, and to sacrifice for the sake of Christ, knowing there is a greater reward in heaven. Keep this context in mind as you discuss these questions.

1. In what ways is life harder since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ? What are some examples of hardships you've experienced because you are in Christ? (As opposed to just being an obnoxious person who is also a Christian.)

2. How is enduring loss, reproach, and hardship for the sake of knowing Christ worth it? Read Philippians 3:7-16. Does what Paul says here resonate with you? Do you feel the same as Paul? Why or why not?

3. What do you regularly choose over Christ Jesus? (Be honest. God already knows.)

4. Why do you pick these things over the Lord Jesus? What do you think they'll provide you that He won't or can't? How is the Lord Jesus more lovely than these?

5. What promises does the Bible have for those who suffer and endure for Christ's sake?

6. How does verse 39 connect and relate to Hebrews 10:26-31?

7. When does verse 36 tell us we will receive what God has promised? What does this mean? (See Eph. 2:10)

8. Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Was Jim correct? What does this mean for you?