<h2>Read all of 1 Samuel 20</h2> <p>Why is David running away? Who is he running from?</p> <p>Why is Saul so mad? (look at 1 Sam 18:7-8 and 18:28-29)</p> <p>What did David do just before this? What is David most famous for? (killing Goliath, 1 Sam 17)</p> <p class="well">Saul's son Jonathan and David became fast friends after David killed Goliath. 18:1, “After David finished talking with Saul [about defeating the Philistines and Goliath], Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." David and Jonathan hung out all the time after that -- they went hunting for Philistines together and caught lots of them. Saul gave him an important job in the military because he was so awesome. But Saul got jealous and wanted to get rid of David.<br><br>Saul tried to send soldiers to kill David, but in a hilarious incident, they all ended up praising God instead (they actually couldn't help it). And when Saul showed up, he started praising God -- God's Spirit came on them when they got too close to David, and they started prophesying and praising God and couldn't stop. (Weird story -- 1 Sam 19:18-24)</p> <p>David is sure that Saul wants to kill him, but what does Jonathan think? (vv. 2, 4)</p> <p>What plan do David and Jonathan make to see if Saul wants to kill David? (vv. 5-8)</p> <p>Why does Jonathan decide to help David? (v. 17)</p> <p>What is Saul's reaction when David doesn't show up at the dinner table? (vv. 30, 33)</p> <p>Have you ever done something really scary or difficult because a friend needed your help?</p> <p>Why would you want to do something like that for a friend? What if you end up getting hurt in the process, like Jonathan almost did?</p> <p>In the end, what happens to David? Does he get to hang out at Jonathan's house?</p> <p>How do they react to David having to run away? (vv. 41-42)</p> <p>Can you think of other places in the Bible that talk about doing things for others?</p> <h2>Read 1 John 3:16-18</h2> <p>Why should we do things for others, even if we could be really difficult for us?</p> <p>What kinds of things should we do for each other, according to 1 John? (3:17-18)</p> <p>Does this sound familiar? Do you remember what we talked about last week? (Baptismal covenant) -- Can you remember some of the covenant questions that talk about loving people?</p> <p>Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?<br>Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?</p> <p>It's kind of obvious that doing good things for people is a good thing to do. But why is it such a big deal to Christians? Why do we commit to loving people in this way when we get baptized?</p> <h2>Read John 15:12-17</h2> <p>What is Jesus' command to his disciples (and to us now)?</p> <p>How does Jesus define love in this passage? (v. 13)</p> <p>So, if we're going to follow Jesus' example and love people the way he loves people, what are we expected to do? (To do really difficult things for people; to serve people even if it's really hard for us, even if we lose our lives in the process.)</p> <p>Why would Jesus ask us to do such a difficult thing? (v. 16)</p> <p>What is “fruit that will last”? How can “fruit” last at all if we're supposed to be okay with dying for other people?</p> <div class="well"> <p>“Fruit” are people -- people who belong to God -- people who will live forever because they belong to God.</p> <p>We can feel okay about going through really tough things for other people, even losing our lives, because Jesus already did this, and he rose from the dead! Christian people are people who can't die -- you're already immortal even though your body will die. Because you belong to Jesus, you'll be resurrected just like Jesus was.</p> <p>Christian life is all about friendship -- all about love -- all about giving things to other people. And we do it because Jesus gave us his friendship, his love, and his life.</p> </div>
January 1, 2013 | Luke Johnson
