Friendship - David and Jonathan

Friendship - David and Jonathan

Ice Breaker

Who was your best friend growing up and what did you spend time doing together?

One of the greatest friendships described in scripture is the friendship between David and Jonathan.

Jonathan is first described in 1 Samuel 14:1-5 when he wins a battle while relying on the Lord for his victory. From that passage we can see that Jonathan is one who depends on God and places God’s work above his own.

                (Just prior to these verses, David kills Goliath)

Read 1 Samuel 18:1-5

The end of chapter 18 describes how Saul (Jonathan’s father) became jealous of David and was afraid of him and wanted to kill him.

Read 1 Samuel 19:1-7

What does it take for two people’s souls to be knit together?

What are some of the qualities (Of friendship) we see in Jonathan?

·         Selfless Humility – He virtually abdicated the throne

·         He was an advocate for David

·         Jonathan was loyal to David through thick and thin.

To have a friend like Jonathan, you have to be a friend like Jonathan.

Why is it such a challenge to be a friend who shows humility, is an advocate, and be loyal?

For many of us, our spouse is the closest friend we have. Can a married person have a friendship like David and Jonathan-Other than their spouse?

Where does God fit into this friendship?

Challenge – Don’t examine the kind of friends you have, examine the kind of friend you are to others.

Building a House - 1 Chronicles 17:15

Building a house – Has anyone got a good house building story?

Today we are going to talk about David’s house building project. He had big plans, but God didn’t let him go through with them.

1 Chronicles 17:1-15.

What do you think motivated David to propose building a house for God?

1 Samuel 23:1-2 

Why do you think that God spoke to David through Nathan, rather than directly to David? – God uses different ways to communicate with us (and David).

We know that Solomon built the temple after David’s death, but it’s clear that God is describing an eternal Kingdom with an eternal throne in v12-14. 

What do these verses tell us about God’s eternal Kingdom?

·         David will have a house (me too)

·         David would be with his fathers

·         One of David’s descendants (Jesus) will rule the kingdom and His throne will be established forever

·         The ruler (Jesus) will be God’s son and God’s loving kindness will not be taken away from Him.

Have you ever tried to do something nice for someone who didn’t appreciate it at all?

1 Chronicles 17:16-27

What does David’s response reveal about how he viewed God?

V20 – There is none like you.

Why is it sometimes hard for us to get on board with God’s commands to us?

David went farther than just accepting God’s answer, he jumped on it and said “do as you have spoken!”.

David also remembered that God had promised him good (v26). That probably helped.

Running the Race - Super Bowl Sunday

Super bowl Sunday – 3 sports passages.

I think Paul would have been a huge football fan. He really liked talking about running, and they didn’t have football back then.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Paul says that we should be doing all we can to gain a crown that will last forever. He is not talking about salvation, so what kind of prize is he talking about? 

What kind of training do you think he means?

Hebrews 12:1-2

What does it take to throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that entangles us?

Does anybody remember the song, “The streak”? One phrase repeated in that song over and over was “Don’t Look Ethel”. What do you think Ethel probably did – She looked! I think the writer of Hebrews knew it is easier to look at something (Jesus) than not look at something (whatever is hindering us). What are some practical ways to “fix your eyes on Jesus” DAILY?

Philippians 3:12-14

Both the Hebrews passage and this passage mentions hanging in there (perseverance, pressing on). If Paul had not yet gained all the heavenly treasure that God had prepared for him, how can any of us say that we have all the heavenly treasure that we need?

What are some ideas to help us press on when the going gets hard?