A Man After Yahweh's Own Heart

How to Use This Guide

The purpose of this Sermon Library is to support your spiritual growth as you revisit, reflect, and meditate on the sermon topic, and study the Scriptures.

In each tab of the Study Guide, you will find information that will help you increase your understanding and knowledge of Yahweh's Word and gain deeper insight into the Biblical topic covered.

You can engage in this study on your own or with a group.

Summary - Read and reread to help you remember what the sermon was about so that you can deepen your understanding and more easily share it with others.

Points and Scriptures - Compare these to your notes. Add key points and Scriptures for review. Turn to each passage and read it carefully.

Discussion Questions - Read one at a time and write down your answers. Use your notes as well as the information in the Points and Scriptures tab.

Small Group Guide - We recommend engaging in this activity during the week with brethren, family members, and/or friends.

Devotional - We recommend engaging in these activities during the week and/or in days leading up to the Feast.

Points & Scriptures

Key Points

1. Yahweh can only start new things in our lives when we stop mourning the old things.
2. Yahweh measures with a stethoscope, not a measuring tape; He looks at the heart, not outward appearance.
3. The Holy Spirit's anointing is not just a feeling but empowers us for what is to come.
4. Yahweh will make room for your gift, even in the house of your enemy.
5. Righteous indignation can spark the courage needed to face our giants.
6. We should make sin our mortal enemy and refuse to tolerate spiritual giants in our lives.
7. David chose five stones, showing preparation and Spirit-led wisdom.
8. The battle is Yahweh's, but the sling is in your hands; faith requires action.
9. David's faithfulness in small things prepared him for greater battles.
10. Who you are when alone, away from public eyes, is who Yahweh truly sees.

Scripture References

1. Acts 13:22
2. 1 Samuel 15
3. 1 Samuel 16:1
4. 1 Samuel 16:7
5. 1 Samuel 16:11-13
6. 1 Samuel 16:14-23
7. 1 Samuel 17:1-58
8. 1 Samuel 17:13-16
9. 1 Samuel 17:26
10. 1 Samuel 17:33-40
11. 1 Samuel 17:43-47
12. 1 Samuel 17:48-58
13. 2 Samuel 21:15-22
14. Genesis 37-50
15. Romans 8:31
16. Luke 16:10
17. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
18. Philippians 4:13
19. 1 John 4:4
20. Isaiah 43:18-19
21. Philippians 3:13-14

Main Stories Covered

• David as a young shepherd killing lions and bears to protect his sheep.
• Samuel's visit to Bethlehem to anoint the next king, passing over David's seven older brothers.
• David playing the lyre to bring relief to the tormented King Saul.
• Goliath taunting Israel for 40 days in the Valley of Elah.
• David refusing Saul's armor and choosing his shepherd's tools instead.
• David's victory over Goliath with a single stone from his sling.
• The later account of Goliath's brothers being defeated by David and his men.

Discussion Questions

1. What does it mean to be "a man after Yahweh's own heart" like David, and how can we cultivate that kind of heart in our daily lives despite our failures and shortcomings?
2. How can we recognize when we are mourning old things in our lives that prevent Yahweh from starting something new, and what practical steps can we take to move forward in faith?
3. In what ways do we judge by outward appearance rather than the heart, and how can we train ourselves to see people and situations the way Yahweh sees them?
4. David was anointed long before he was enthroned as king. What does this teach us about the gap between calling and fulfillment, and how should we live during that waiting period?
5. The sermon mentions that "the Holy Spirit is not just a feeling" but requires us to move when it is time. How do we discern when Yahweh is calling us to action versus when we should wait?
6. What "giants" in our own lives have we tolerated for too long, and how can righteous indignation become the spark for courage to finally confront them?
7. David chose his shepherd's tools over Saul's armor when facing Goliath. When have we tried to use someone else's "armor" instead of trusting in the gifts and experiences Yahweh has uniquely given us?
8. What are the "five smooth stones" in your spiritual life that you can draw upon during times of struggle, and how can you ensure they are always ready when needed?
9. "The battle is Yahweh's, but the sling is in our hands." How do we balance trusting Yahweh completely while also taking bold, decisive action in faith?
10. David killed lions and bears in obscurity before facing Goliath publicly. How might Yahweh be using the hidden, mundane seasons of our lives to prepare us for future battles and callings?

Small Group Guide

Opening Prayer

Begin your gathering by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and help you apply the lessons from David's early life to your own walk with Yahweh.

Sermon Overview

This message explores David's journey from shepherd boy to giant-slayer, examining what made him "a man after Yahweh's own heart." We see David's anointing, his service to King Saul, and his courageous confrontation with Goliath, all while Saul descends into spiritual darkness.

Opening Questions

1. What stood out to you most from this message about David's early life?
2. Have you ever thought of David as someone who "smelled like sheep" and killed bears as a teenager? How does this humanize his story for you?

Digging Deeper

1. On Character and Calling: "Who you are when you are all alone, away from the eyes of the public-that is who Yahweh sees." How does this challenge or encourage you?
2. David was the youngest, forgotten son tending sheep when Samuel arrived. What does this teach us about how Yahweh chooses and uses people?
3. On Letting Go: Samuel had to stop mourning Saul before Yahweh could use him to anoint David. What old things might you be mourning that prevent you from embracing what Yahweh has next for you?
4. Share an example of when letting go of something opened the door for something better in your life.
5. On Facing Giants: What giants have you tolerated for too long in your life, such as addiction, bitterness, doubt, or fear?
6. The sermon says, "Call it what it is and then call on who Yahweh is." How can we apply this principle to the struggles we face?
7. On Preparation and Action: What quiet fields might Yahweh be using to prepare you for something greater?
8. When have you been tempted to use someone else's armor instead of the gifts and tools Yahweh gave you?
9. On the Five Stones: What are your five stones-scriptures, friends, practices-that you keep ready for spiritual battles?

Personal Reflection

• Where do I need to run toward the battle instead of waiting for Yahweh to move everything for me?
• What does it look like for me to have righteous indignation about my own sin?
• Am I more concerned with outward appearance or heart condition?

Practical Applications

1. Identify Your Goliath: Write down one giant you have been tolerating. Confess it to a trusted friend or accountability partner this week.
2. Prepare Your Five Stones: Select five scriptures that speak to your specific struggles. Write them down and memorize one this week.
3. Stop Mourning, Start Moving: Identify one thing you have been mourning. Pray specifically for Yahweh to help you release it and show you what is next.
4. Heart Check: Set aside 15 minutes of complete solitude this week. Ask yourself, "Who am I when no one is watching?"
5. Run to the Battle: Identify one area where you have been waiting passively for Yahweh to act. Take one concrete step of faith this week.
6. Use Your Gifts: Like David using his sling instead of Saul's armor, identify one gift or ability Yahweh has given you and use it this week.

Closing Prayer

Pray together for courage to face the giants in our lives, hearts that seek Yahweh above all else, wisdom to use the gifts He has given us, and faith to run toward battles while trusting Him.

A 5-Day Devotional Journey Through David's Story