Study Guide for Week of March 6, 2022
This Week's Scripture: 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 12:1-14 (for background) and Psalm 51
Crossroads Community Group Guide
A. Welcome: Welcome everyone, especially new people, and read aloud the purpose of your group.
B. Purpose: Our purpose is to spread the Kingdom of God. We do this by multiplying groups of people who care for each as God's family. We begin 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 spread God's kingdom.
C. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use: O Come to the Altar (or pick your own YouTube video that shows the lyrics.)
E. Upcoming Events: Crossroads Website
F. Review:
- How did you do with what you wanted to apply from last week?
- Who did you invite to the group for this week?
G. Opening Question (an icebreaker - a simple question to introduce the main theme):
- Why is it hard for people to admit when they are wrong?
H. Background Information for this study:
This study is on Psalm 51 a powerful Psalm of confession and forgiveness. The backgroud of this psalm which was written by David is found in 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 12:1-14. It is summarized in the title to the psalm. It is the time that David commited adultry with Bathsheeba and killed her husband to cover up his sin. He thought he got away with it. God however was displeased and sent a prophet named Nathan to confront David. David confesses and Psalm 51 was written as his prayer for forgiveness from God.
You can either summarize the background or have the group read straight through the story so everyone hears the background. Here is a summary to use
1. It is time for war but David stays at home and does not take his place where he is supposed to be.
2. David is looking at what he should not be looking at a woman bathing in another house. From David's roof he can see her.
3. David asks who she is. He is told she is the wife of one of his commanders who is out at war where David should be. David has her brought to him and has sex with her. David sends her away.
4. Three months later a little pink envelope is delivered to David from Bathsheba has 2 words "I'm pregnant".
5. David choses denial not
confession. David devises a plan and ends up killing Bathsheba's husband and
marries her to cover up his sin.
6. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord
7. Nathan a prophet is sent by God to David to confront him.
8. David man's up and
confesses and says I am the man. David prays Psalm 51
We look at 3 lessons from David's life.
Lesson One: Sin (not following God’s way) is
seductive and destructive – 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 12:1-14
Lesson Two: Knowing God is the key to forgiveness
Psalm 51:1-4
Lesson Three: Knowing yourself is the key to
a new heart and a changed life Psalm 51:10-13
I. Verse Outline: Key Points to Discuss
1. Lesson One: Sin (not following God’s way) is
seductive and destructive – 2 Samuel 11:1-27 and 12:1-14
- Key Concept: If you are not actively engaged in what God calls you to do – just chillin – in is going to seduce you and destroy you
- Key Verse: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a person,But its end is the way of death.
- Community Group Application: Being a faithful follower of Jesus requires being part of a group of people who love you enough to confront you.
2. Lesson Two: Knowing God is the Key to Forgiveness Psalm 51:1-4
- Key Concept: God is always willing to forgive and calls us to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness to all people
- Key Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil.
- Community Group Application: We all gather on the Lord’s Day to remind ourselves of God’s forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
3. Lesson Three: Knowing yourself is the key to a new heart and a changed life Psalm 51:10-13
- Key Concept: You cannot change yourself, but God can change you.
- Key Verse: Ezekiel 36:25-26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
- Community Group Application: We receive communion as reminder that Jesus can give us a new heart
J. Word: Read the scriptures above. Read it in smaller portions aloud together several times. (The goal is for everyone to understand the Bible story or verses by retelling them in their own words; keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses.)
1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?2. Tell in your own words what happens in these verses.3. What are the details?4. What jumps out at you and catches your attention?5. What details can you add to what others in the group have said?
K. Discuss the following general questions together. (The goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. The leader should not speak for more than 30% of the time; let the group discover what God is saying to them.)
1. What catches your attention in these verses?2. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?3. What did you learn about God (Father, Jesus or Holy Spirit) from the story?4. What do you learn about people from the story?5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?
L. Commitment - Obedience - Application
(This is the key - have everyone answer this question.)
M. Prayer Time: Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex
- What specifically will you commit to apply in your life from this study?
M. Prayer Time: Break up into smaller groups of 3-4 - groups of the same sex
- Pray for your group to multiply.
- Ask each other how you are doing spiritually.
- Pray for the needs of the members of the group.
N. For Next time: Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
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