By Michael C. Mack
1. How did you live as God’s servant over the past week?
2. What was the biggest challenge you faced last week?
[Ask two people to read aloud 2 Samuel 12:1-14 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask two other people, playing the parts of Nathan and David, to act out the story as best as they can.]
3. What did you notice about the Bible story in addition to or different from the way our actors portrayed it?
4. Let’s dig deeper:
• What prompted Nathan to go to David?
• In what ways was King David like the rich man in Nathan’s parable?
• How was Uriah the Hittite like the poor man?
• What emotions did David display throughout this story?
• How did God, through Nathan, describe David’s sin?
• What consequences, both short-term and long-term, would David face?
• What words would you use to characterize David’s response?
5. What do you learn about God from this passage?
• What do you learn about his justice and his grace?
6. What do you learn about people?
7. What does this passage teach you about the importance of obeying God?
8. In Psalm 51, which David wrote in response to the events in this story, he said, “Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.” Consider a lesson you have learned the hard way. How can you teach others about God’s grace by sharing your story?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
10. What new challenge do you anticipate facing this week?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on 2 Samuel 22:17-25; 23:1-5. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
Author: Christian Standard
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