step one

This Weekly Bible Passage will be the basis of next Sunday’s sermon. Spend some time studying it prior to Sunday and see what God is revealing to you in it.

1 samuel 18:10-30 csb

Saul Attempts to Kill David

10 The next day an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear, 11 and he threw it, thinking, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David got away from him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. 13 Therefore, Saul sent David away from him and made him commander over a thousand men. David led the troops 14 and continued to be successful in all his activities because the Lord was with him. 15 When Saul observed that David was very successful, he dreaded him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was leading their troops. 17 Saul told David, “Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I’ll give her to you as a wife if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” But Saul was thinking, “I don’t need to raise a hand against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him.”

18 Then David responded, “Who am I, and what is my family or my father’s clan in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?” 19 When it was time to give Saul’s daughter Merab to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

David’s Marriage to Michal

20 Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David, and when it was reported to Saul, it pleased him. 21 “I’ll give her to him,” Saul thought. “She’ll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him.” So Saul said to David a second time, “You can now be my son-in-law.”

22 Saul then ordered his servants, “Speak to David in private and tell him, ‘Look, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Therefore, you should become the king’s son-in-law.’”

23 Saul’s servants reported these words directly to David, but he replied, “Is it trivial in your sight to become the king’s son-in-law? I am a poor commoner.”

24 The servants reported back to Saul, “These are the words David spoke.”

25 Then Saul replied, “Say this to David: ‘The king desires no other bride-price except a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Actually, Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.

26 When the servants reported these terms to David, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. Before the wedding day arrived, 27 David and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought their foreskins and presented them as full payment to the king to become his son-in-law. Then Saul gave his daughter Michal to David as his wife. 28 Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved him, 29 and he became even more afraid of David. As a result, Saul was David’s enemy from then on.

30 Every time the Philistine commanders came out to fight, David was more successful than all of Saul’s officers. So his name became well known.

Step two

Join us on Sunday for this critical second step in encountering God through His word as we gather together as a church family.

1 Samuel isn’t just about kings and battles — it’s about the heart that captures God’s attention. From Hannah’s desperate prayer to David’s humble worship, we’ll see that God values obedience over image, surrender over status, and devotion over power. 1 Samuel invites us to look beyond appearances and cultivate the kind of heart God delights in — one that listens, obeys, and worships with authenticity.

Join us as we dive back in.

step three

Questions to discuss and process as a Discipleship Group, based on the previous Weekly Bible Passage and Sunday Sermon.

Encourage one another towards a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Jesus.

These discussion questions are based on the talk on November 16, 2025:

1. Have you had a close Gospel friend in your life? What made that friendship unique?

2. What challenges have you faced in friendships in your life?

3. Rather than succumbing to jealousy or self-pity, Jonathan selflessly celebrates David even when it costs him greatly (vv. 3-4). Do you rejoice when your friends rejoice? How can you grow in that area?

4. What are some other practical ways that you can follow Jonathan's and Jesus' examples of faithful, self-giving friendship?