“David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.” – 2 Samuel 23:15-17. .

Over the last few weeks on Friday, we have been looking at various people from the Bible who are not that well-known, but who provide an example, a model, for us of faith, trust, courage, perseverance, conviction, and so on. People that we can learn from. Such is the case with David’s mighty men.

David’s mighty men were a legendary band of warriors who rallied to David when he was a fugitive on the run. Renowned for their valor, the mighty men became David’s most loyal and trusted warriors during his tenure as king.  Heralded for their valor and skill in battle, David’s mighty men were a unique group of fighting men who came to David in the caves of Adullam after he fled from King Saul. Jashobeam the Hacmonite once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle (2 Samuel 23:8).

What can we learn from these mighty men? One thing is devotion. Devotion is not an easy thing these days. As believers, we have to ask ourselves, “Am I fully devoted to Him?” David’s mighty men were devoted. They were loyal and followed David through thick and thin. In addition, they served cheerfully. They respected David and gladly followed and served him. David asked for some water from the well by the gate of Bethlehem. What did these three mighty men do as they heard the desire and the wish of the king? Boom. They were off to get water despite the challenges.  How deep is our devotion to the King and how ready is our response to the King and to His commands and to His desires to follow Him?

The mighty men had unbelievable courage. They were always willing to take a risk. If our goal is to serve Christ, then there are times when we will have to take risks. It might be the risk of job or financial loss, the risk of social isolation and scorn, the risk of family rejection, or simply the risk of leaving what is familiar to you to go somewhere else, to do something else, to serve Him in another way.

David’s mighty men may not have been large in number. Still, their courage, loyalty, and willingness to stand their ground and challenge giants were enough to win the day. We should never, therefore, underestimate just how much a small but committed group of brave people can achieve.

Discussion Questions:

1. What can we learn from David’s mighty men?
2. The church needs mighty men who are attracted to the person of Christ. Agree or disagree and why?

“To gather with God’s people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.”– Martin Luther.

Unity is more than a good idea; it’s a scriptural command. This is why Paul writes, “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

For some, unity is a vague, dream-like wish for a day when Christians sweetly smile at each other and sing in harmony; disagreements are resolved and eliminated, and we all say, think, and do the same things. That is not how the scripture looks at unity. Scripturally,  unity is the idea that people from different backgrounds can come together to accomplish a shared mission and vision. It’s about recognizing that people are stronger together than they are individually. That does not mean we won’t have disagreements. There’s no such thing as a perfect church, organization, or family. Problems will arise. Tension will mount. But despite our differences, we can move forward together with sincerity, humility, and love.

Our unity is not based on shared cultures, personal interests, or personal tastes but on something much more profound.  It is not what we have in common that matters, but Who we have in common.  There are a thousand ways to splinter church unity and one way to unite it again.  We need to walk the same path and head in the same direction. Sometimes, Jesus will be all that connects us, but that connection is critical and will last for eternity.

A united church is a powerful tool.  Paul says we exist as a church so, “…all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:6) If we’re going to be successful doing that, it’s going to take everyone making that our goal.

When this occurs, different gifts, talents, and blessings become connected and integrated, and the result is a fantastic release of divine power that achieves and accomplishes the impossible. Unity empowers the Christian community to operate at full capacity. Unity is also a distinguishing mark of Jesus’s presence and power in the Christian community.

When the world sees this kind of love and unity, it is a powerful testimony to the truth of the gospel. Let us work even harder to improve our unity through the love we show in the communities we serve. A unified church brings glory to Jesus, and when Jesus is glorified, the world will sit up and take notice.

Discussion Questions:

1. How important is living in harmony?
2. How would you describe the power and impact of unity? When or where have you experienced that?

“For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.” – Hebrews 3:4.

A house can be beautiful, unique even, but the amazing thing is that someone thought of it, and was able to carry it through. The builder is given the accolades, not the house. If you want a really spectacular house, you have to find a builder capable of creating such a home. You wouldn’t be as sure of getting a great house without that builder. Hebrews 3:4 has a straightforward and empowering message. God is the builder of our faith, salvation, trust, courage, challenges, guidance, and victory in Christ Jesus.

One of the things we learn about God in the Bible is that He is a builder. All throughout the pages of Scripture, we read about holy building projects. In creation, God constructed the world. Jesus presented Himself to us as the builder of the church. Jesus is returning and will build a new heaven and earth. God is a builder, and if we are to be like Him, we, too, must be builders. But what are we called to build?

We are called to build up ourselves spiritually. “But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit …” ( Jude 1:20 Msg). Pursuing the Lord through studying His Word is key to building yourself up spiritually. There is something extraordinary about the Word of God, and it is the fact that it produces power and transmits life into us when we open our hearts. When you have His words in you and commit to putting them into practice, you will experience such a transformation of life that no human education or academic qualifications could have made possible.

We are called to build up the church. ” … Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church” — 1 Corinthians 14:12 (NIV). Christians are called to build the church, and every member is essential.  Ephesians 4:12 says, “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”

We are called to build up one another. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” ( Ephesians 4:29).  “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up …” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). These are people who genuinely care about you, ask how you are doing, chip in to give you a hand when you are in need, and will listen without trying to formulate an answer.  They are builders.

What are we building?

Discussion Questions:

1. It takes everyone to build the church. Agree or disagree and why?
2. What area of building do you need to work on? 

“ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” –  Hebrew3s 10:24-25 (ESV).

“And let us consider…”

The word “consider” means “to give careful consideration to some matter, to think about it very carefully, to consider it closely.” So when we encounter this word in Scripture, we are to pause and think carefully about whatever comes next. What is also implied in the word “consider” is that we will not think about others naturally. We have to remind ourselves to do it. We must train our minds to think of others.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…”

We need to think deeply about how to love God more, love each other better, and how we can encourage each other to do good deeds for God. Then, it tells us the best way to do this. You can’t be a long-distance Christian. It is hard to have long-distance relationships. If we want to encourage each other to love better and do good works we have to be in relationship with each other, we have to gather together regularly, and the primary way we do this is by the gathering of the church or in small groups.

Stirring upon one another often challenges us to go somewhere where we don’t naturally want to go.  We need to pursue each other and push each other to be godly. On your own, you can learn more about God and grow in your love for God, but at the same time, you must realize that you can’t see everything on your own. We all have blind spots. In order to grow in the Christian life, you must spend time alone with the Lord and be around other believers. We need community, and the community needs us.

“but encouraging one another…”

 Over and over, the Bible emphasizes the importance of spending time with other Christians as a source of encouragement. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” Sometimes, the best way to encourage isn’t through words at all—it’s through listening. It’s by trying to understand the other person. Dallas Theological Seminary professor Howard Hendricks once said, “You can impress people at a distance; you can only impact them up close.” The general principle here is this: the closer the personal relationship, the greater the potential for impact.

The Christian life is meant to be lived in company with others, not alone. Hebrews 10:19–25 urges us to live in community with other followers of Jesus.

Even our most difficult days can become a meaningful part of our journey of faith when others share them with us.

Discussion Questions:

1. When did you keep going through a struggle because other people faithfully walked with you?
2. Who are the people in your life that you can walk alongside? How will you show them today that they are not alone?
3. What are some of the benefits of having meaningful relationships with other believers? 

“Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. Whether it is a brief, single encounter or the daily fellowship of years, Christian community is only this. We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Community is important for several reasons. When we consider its importance, we need to look at it through the lens of the One who created it and us. It is not only important but also the key to discipleship and experiencing a fully abundant life. As followers of Jesus, our community is the space where we grow in love and become conduits of God’s love to others.

Jesus modeled finding community when He chose 12 men to walk alongside and disciple. Jesus was in  a relationship with these twelve for three years. They ate and talked around campfires, caught fish, and shared stories. Beyond the regular ups and downs of hanging out together, they saw Jesus perform miracles. They were immersed in Jesus’ teaching and way of life together.

God didn’t design you to do life on your own. Scripture is filled with exhortations to engage in community with fellow believers. Galatians 6:2 says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” Psalm 133:1-3 says, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!”  

Think for a moment about the people God has given you. Think about your friends and family. Think about those around you at church you feel close to. What would your life be like if you had no one to share it with? The truth is we need each other: the support, the encouragement, the help along the way. Christian life is not easy, and there are many hills and valleys along the way. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

God gives us community as a way to become more like Him. There’s something powerful about believers joining together, making each other accountable, and being a sort of witness of one another’s lives. We need people checking in on us, asking the hard questions, and challenging us to live out our faith. If you are not a small group member, please consider joining one. It gives people confidence in the model scripture, in Jesus’s constantly calling people together and inviting them into a relationship with Him and each other.

There is something extraordinary about growing together in communion with one another. When God’s people are living in unity together, we grow closer to Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you have someone or a group of people you can be authentic, be yourself with, without any facades or false fronts? 
2. Small groups are about doing life together. A place where you can grow closer to God, others, and your purpose. Agree or disagree?
3. Having a community of believers to do life together is just as important today, but why?

“ He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”  Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.” — Acts 12:13-17.

Over the last few weeks on Friday, we have been looking at little-known characters in the Bible that we might, wrongly perhaps, skip over as not being particularly important. But some of these often-overlooked characters can be significant in other ways, showing us and teaching us something important through their lives, what happened to them, and how other people engaged with them. One was Rhoda.

We don’t know much about Rhoda. She’s a maid in Mary’s house, the mother of John Mark. We don’t know if she’s a slave or a paid employee. We don’t know her age. But first, a little context.   

King Herod Agrippa killed James and put Peter in prison. Agrippa had planned on putting Peter on trial. (Acts 12:1-4) But an angel appeared in Peter’s cell the night before the public trial. The chains fell off Peter’s wrists, and the angel led Peter out of prison. Once on the street, the angel left him. It wasn’t a dream, he was free and set off for Mary’s home.

Mary’s home had an outer courtyard door that faced the street. The door did not have a window or peephole, and therefore, it only opened when someone inside the home recognized the knocker’s voice. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and Rhoda came to answer the door. Rhoda’s job was to discern who to let in and who to contact the owner before admitting. We can probably assume that Rhoda wasn’t about to open the door in the middle of the night, so she probably asked a question like, “Who’s there?”

When Peter identified himself, Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice. She forgot to open the door and told the group inside that “Peter is standing at the door.” She believed that the people’s prayers were answered even without visual confirmation. Everybody basically told her she was out of her mind. She didn’t flinch and insisted it was Peter. Rhoda truly exemplifies the concept of childlike faith.

Childlike faith believes in the outcome of prayer that God answers prayers, not in spending time pondering reasons why God can’t or won’t answer them. Rhoda stood firm in her faith regardless of what everyone was saying and believing. (Acts 12:15)

Discussion Questions:

1. What can we learn from the story of Rhoda?
2. What is it like to have childlike faith? 

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” – Habakkuk 1:2-4.

We’re living in very violent times. At home, abroad, to the point of exhaustion, hopelessness, and numbness. Our families are torn by violence. Our communities are destroyed by violence. Our faith is tested by violence. There is no reprieve in sight and every reason to expect it to never stop.

It’s tempting to shut down emotionally in light of all of this violence. It’s tempting to give into despair. “So goes the world,” we might say, wanting it to change by feeling powerless to affect a change. What is the proper response to violence? In an increasingly violent culture, this is a question we must all ask ourselves as followers of Jesus.   

Violence is nothing new. Long before planes were flown into buildings, explosives detonated, assassination attempts, or even guns manufactured, godly men sought God’s protection and deliverance from violence. David, the King of Israel, is just one example. And lest we forget, the center of our faith and the foundation of our salvation is one of the most violent and gory events in the history of the world — namely, the crucifixion of Jesus. There is no salvation without this violence.

Habakkuk, one of Israel’s minor, or lesser, prophets, steps into the scene when God’s people were in severe decline. They had abandoned following God’s will. Habakkuk loved God, he loved God’s law, he loved God’s people, and he wanted to see God’s people obey and glorify God. Despite his prayers, Habakkuk sees things getting worse. Habakkuk had repeatedly called upon God to act, to intervene, to set things right, to just do something. Yet there was silence. Finally, out of a deep sense of frustration and confusion, he cries out to God, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help?” (Habakkuk 1:1)

God did answer Habakkuk, but it was not the answer he had expected. God’s solution was to have them invaded by the Babylonians. We don’t want the Babylonians running roughshod over us. We want things to be fixed. We want things to be better. God, can’t you wave your hand or say a few words and fix all the evil, make things that are out of whack back in line and also transform the not so good people into good people. In other words, make everything right. He could, but is that what is best for us?

God’s answer to Habakkuk reminds us of the limitations of our perspective. To us, it sometimes seems as if the wicked will prosper forever. While the Lord may use even the wicked to achieve His purposes, He will make it right in the end.

The one thing we can do is pray. We are called to be “a people of prayer.” Prayer is not just our emergency resource. As a Christian, it is our lifeline. It is our source of strength for daily living. Prayer is how God reveals His plan for our lives to us. In times of uncertainty, we find safety in God’s presence.

Discussion Questions:

1. How should we react to violence in our culture?
2. How should we pray in light of that violence?

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.“ – Proverbs 16:9.

We all have plans. There are large plans such as going to college, having a family, or getting a job, and there are also smaller plans such as going shopping, going to a movie, or making tacos for dinner. If we are honest, we believe that we have a pretty good idea of our future, whether it’s ten minutes from now or ten years from now. And why not? Much of what we do and how we do it is predicated on designing our future and the steps we need to achieve that future. But what happens when our plans don’t align with God’s plans for us?

Scripture answers that question. Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” The Bible directly tells us that no matter what our plans are, the Lord’s plan will come to pass. This Scripture makes a crucial point: your plans will only come to fruition if they are the Lord’s will and if they are part of His plan for you.

Too often, we prefer our plan. Throughout scripture, we see phrases like “own way,” “own thoughts,” “own heart,” etc.   Judges 17:6 says, “… all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” 2 Kings 17:33 says, “And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods…” Proverbs 14:14a (EST) says, “The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways… Proverbs 21:2 says, “People may be right in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their heart.” And finally Isaiah 53:6 says. “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.”

There is nothing wrong with having plans. God wants us to go to Him with our plans. He wants to be included.  He wants to be our guide. He wants us to trust Him completely. He wants us to go to Him with our plans, lay them at His feet, and say, “I have some ideas, God, but what do You think? What do You want for me?”

Then we wait. Rather than getting impatient and going our own way, we wait for God’s response. God may not respond immediately, which means that sometimes, giving God your plans looks like taking action steps without a clear yes but remaining surrendered to His plan.

Proverbs 16:1-3 says, “We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

It’s okay to have plans but be prepared that God’s plans may be better. You might want to believe your plans are right, but God knows your heart. The key is to get in sync with God. If you walk with God in everything you do, your plans will succeed because they will align with God’s plans for you.

Discussion Questions:

1. When was a time when you knew you were living God’s plans for you? How did you know?  Or, when did you realize that you were not living God’s plans for you? How did you know?
2. Proverbs 16:4 says: “The Lord has made everything for His own purposes.” What are the implications of this verse for our lives?

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.” –  Colossians 1:9-10.

Many Christians equate bearing fruit with winning people to Jesus Christ. And certainly, that is a big part of it. If counting each person that you bring to Christ is the fruit that God looks for and counts for eternity, then Jeremiah is going to be disappointed. He spent his life following what God asked him to do and never had one convert. No doubt there have been missionaries who have served in inhospitable places and never had a convert.

Many Christians haven’t brought many others to the Lord, yet they can still bear fruit that lasts for eternity. While winning people to the Lord is part and parcel of our job description as Christians, that job description also includes living out one’s faith and glorifying God through actions, words, and attitudes.

Wherever you are today, wherever God has you, and whatever your circumstances may be, God is bearing fruit in your life. You may not be able to see the fruit. Perhaps all you can see and feel are barren trees and infertile soil. You are praying for rain, and no rain comes. There doesn’t seem to be much fruit.

But the reality is that God has you, sees you, knows you, and loves you. He has a specific and meaningful purpose for your life. So rather than stress to find and produce His purposes for your life, focus on staying close to Jesus and keeping your connection with Him vibrant and alive. Keep Jesus first, and He will produce fruit in your life.

God wants us to grow more like Him while actively engaging with the world around us. Indeed, what we do should involve explaining the good news of Jesus to those around us. However, it also means living out the good news of the gospel through serving. God wants you to be part of what He is doing. That sounds monumental, but it can be as easy as helping that neighbor with his yard work, making that difficult phone call, or greeting and shaking hands on Sunday morning.  You can show the love of Christ and help others. You could still be watering seeds through prayer. We can still be giving to places on the frontline to get the Gospel out. We can always serve.

Jesus is our greatest example of servant leadership. In following Jesus and claiming to be disciples or Christians, we must do what He did. We must be willing to serve. God’s Word tells us, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).

Discussion Questions:

1. Following Jesus and sacrificially serving others are inseparable. Agree or disagree and why?
2. Was there a time you sacrificially served someone? Describe the impact that you had on them and yourself. 
3. What is preventing you from sacrificially serving others…from serving the needs you see? 

“The only really happy people are those who have learned how to serve. The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” – Albert Schweitzer.

When we look around, we see a world full of needs, and there is only so much we can do. It would seem more practical and logical to have everyone take care of themselves first. That eliminates the concerns of who best to serve and how best to serve them. There is one problem with that idea. God wants us to serve others.

Not only are Christians called to be in community, they are called to serve as a community. Service should distinguish the Christian way of life at work, in the home, and in relationships. The Bible calls for people to serve their wider communities and to work for their well-being. Jeremiah 29:7 says, “And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jesus made it clear that those who are greatest in the kingdom of God are those who serve God and others (Matthew 20:26).

A barometer of the Christian walk is how well we serve others. As our faith in Christ deepens and grows, our view of service changes, and we begin to understand that serving is not a duty but a privilege, not a mandate but a delight.

Mother Teresa, one of the greatest servants of all time, once said: “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” God is not asking us to change the world, only to serve the person that He has put in front of us this moment…and then the next…and then the next. When we are faithful to serve in the small things, God will use us in big ways. We may never know the impact of our service to God in this life. Still, we can trust His Word when He says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

But serving others can be challenging. It requires sacrifice, selflessness, and a willingness to put the needs of others before our own. It may mean giving up our time or resources or stepping out of our comfort zone to help someone in need. Thankfully, we don’t have to do it alone. As we serve others, we can rely on God’s strength and guidance to help us. We can pray for wisdom, discernment, and a heart of compassion. And we can trust that God will provide everything we need to serve others well. Every Christ-follower should seek to be involved in some form or fashion in each area, whether through prayer, giving, or serving.

So find the time and energy to serve others with joy and humility, knowing that we’re making a difference in their lives and the kingdom of God. In that way, we can follow Jesus’ example of selfless love and service and be a light of hope and compassion to those around us.

Discussion Questions:

1. Your devotion to God is illustrated, demonstrated, and authenticated by serving others.  Agree or disagree?
2. What is your definition of servanthood?
3. What hurdles do you have serving others?