Groups, ours included, are beginning to gather together again. What is the largest gathering you have ever attended? What was it like?
When you’re in a large group, do you typically feel connected to everyone or do you still feel alone? Explain.
What about church? How would you encourage someone who visits a large church and says they want to be a part of the community, but they feel disconnected and alone in the crowd?
It’s possible to be surrounded by people and still feel alone. That’s true even at church—in a large worship service or a small group like this one. It’s a blessing and encouragement to be part of a fast growing community, but the greatest blessing and encouragement comes when that community bands together for one common goal. When we do this as a church, we’re compelled to honestly share our common experiences so that we can together fight our common enemy.
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.
Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.Bring me out of prison so I can thank you.
Psalm 142:5–7 (NLT)
The godly will crowd around me, for you are good to me.”
So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.
1 Samuel 22:1–2 (NLT)
Both of these passages describe a difficult time in David’s life. After defeating Goliath, David went on to achieve other great military successes which greatly increased his popularity among the people. However, this also effectively destroyed his favor with King Saul, who became jealous and wanted to kill David. So David ran for his life.
From Psalm 142:5-6, how would you describe David’s emotional state when he was hiding in the cave of Adullam? From verse 7, what was David’s hope and expectation?
When you are facing difficult circumstances, do you long for the “righteous [to] gather around” you, or would you rather be left alone? Why?
How did God answer David’s prayer (see 1 Sam. 22:1-2)? What common goal did David and the 400 men who joined him have? What common enemy? What common experience did they all share?
David felt alone, and God brought him community. These men were lonely outcasts, too. But they determined to band together around a common goal (to make David king), a common enemy (Saul), and a common experience (being desperate, in debt, and discontented). As a result, God used each of them to help each other. They became so close that they would die for each other. This is a picture of Christian community today. When the kingship of Christ is our common goal, we will determine to fight our common enemy together by encouraging one another in our common experience.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 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.
Hebrews 10:23–25 (NLT)
What common goal did the writer of Hebrews identify here for believers in verse 23?
What common enemy, issue, or obstacle did he infer we would face in carrying out that goal?
What common experience did the writer indicate we should share to help us fight the obstacles we face in pursuing that goal?
The writer of Hebrews implored his readers to hold on to the confession of hope without wavering; that is, to remain steadfast and faithful in our relationship with and commitment to King Jesus. This is not solely an individual call. Though we are personally accountable to God in that confession of hope in Jesus, we are corporately engaged with one another as we carry it out practically each day.
Thinking back to 1 Samuel 22, what reasons or excuses might David and the 400 men who joined him have had for not banding together?
What reasons keep some Christians from joining other believers in not banding together to fight the battles they face? Why is it important that we do band together, uniting around our common purpose, fighting our common enemy, and sharing our common experience?
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
2 Corinthians 1:3–7 (NLT)
What common thread do you see in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 with 1 Samuel 22 and Hebrews 10:23-25?
What does God intend to do for you in your struggles? What does He intend to do for other believers through your struggles?
When have you experienced this in your own life?
Jesus is sympathetic to our suffering, and He helps us by giving us the Holy Spirit and by promising us forgiveness and resurrection. The promises of God in Christ are key to enduring suffering. Jesus will not abandon us. If Christ does not give up on us, then we should not give up on others either. We have great confidence that the same hope we have for our own souls extends by grace to others who call on Christ. That grace takes on practical application when we engage in Christian community with our eyes set on our common goal, openly and honestly sharing experiences, and when we are determined to fight our enemy together.