LIFE GROUPS WEEK 6 – WINTER 2026
LIFE GROUPS – WEEK 6
FULL SERMON – 37 MINUTES
ICE BREAKER:
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Who is someone in your life that has always believed in you or celebrated you?
SCRIPTURE:
1 Samuel 18: 5-16 NLT
5 Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.
6 When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. 7 This was their song:
“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
8 This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
10 The very next day a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, 11 and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice.
12 Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul. 13 Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle.
14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle.
KEEP IT UNCOMPLICATED:
Observation Questions:
- What does this passage show us about David’s character?
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How does King Saul react to David’s success and the celebration from the people?
Understanding Questions:
- Why might King Saul feel jealous and threatened by David?
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What does Saul’s reaction reveal about insecurity and comparison?
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How might jealousy distort the way we perceive another person’s success or intentions?
Application Questions:
- Pastor Keith taught about “friendly fire,” the hurt or betrayal from someone close to us. Have you experienced this?
- Saul became angry when David was celebrated more than he was. When have you felt overlooked or compared yourself to someone else?
- In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How does this passage of David help us apply Jesus’ command to love those who hurt us?
Spirit Lead Me
- How might truly knowing our identity in Christ heal us and help us with insecurity?
- Take a moment to pray together and ask the Holy Spirit:
- Is there any resentment or bitterness that the Holy Spirit may be asking you to surrender to Him today?
- Are there areas in your life where comparison or insecurity might be taking root?
- We are preparing for the Great Commission as a Life Group by taking turns to share a testimony. Select someone to share their testimony, and decide who will share their testimony next week. Share your testimony using the 4 Minutes of Fire Format, focusing on only one test, mess or weakness.
- The situation
- What God did
- What you learned about God
- How it changed you
Life Journal Reading Plan
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Day 1: Mark 8
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Day 2: Mark 9
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Day 3: Mark 10
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Day 4: Mark 11
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Day 5: Mark 12
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Day 6: Mark 13
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Day 7: Mark 14
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