This week we start an eight-week study of King David. The Bible says David was a man after God's own heart. What does that mean? David is a complex man; David is a servant and a leader, a sinner and a redeemed child of God, an instrument of God's creative purposes. God looked at David, out in the foothills of Bethlehem tending sheep, and God says, 'There's my man". For David it was a day just like any other morning. Little did he know his life would never be the same again. Beginning that very day, David was destined for the throne of Israel and a major part in God's HIStory.

Some of these questions are taken from the Life Change Bible study on 1 & 2 Samuel.

Our readings for this week: 1 Samuel 16: 1-13.

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30 am or go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our website redoakpresbyterianchurch.com

Questions to think about:

1. What can we learn from the Lord's question to Samuel, "how long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?"

2. Why do you think God chose to anoint David while Saul was still king? What might this teach us about God's timing?

3. Samuel's mission in 16: 1-3 is to anoint a new king. How would you put into your own words what God said to Samuel in 16: 7?

4. What qualifies a person to be a man or woman of God?

5. The ancients felt strongly about the superiority and priority of the firstborn but notice how the book of Genesis repeatedly stresses God's choice of a younger brother for special blessing or service (read Genesis 17: 18-21 where Isaac  is chosen over Ishmael or Genesis 37: 5-11 where Joseph is chosen over his older brothers). What reason can you give for this?

6. What does David's anointing tell us about the characteristics God values in a leader?

7. What are some common ways people fall into the trap of looking at someone's appearance?

8. Do you evaluate people and situations by how they appear outwardly, or do you look deeper and consider them from God's point of view? How can you cultivate the ability to see the heart, as God does?

9. What should you do when you are tempted to focus on someone's appearance instead of their heart?