Shepherd To King-Day 1

29 Aug Shepherd To King-Day 1

Hi! Thanks for being here. Whether you have followed Jesus for decades or haven’t yet made that commitment, this three-week study on the life of David is for you. To start, David is one of the most well-known characters in the Bible, and his influence can still be seen in our culture today: 

• Accounts of underdogs who overcome incredible odds are often referred to as “David versus Goliath” stories.
• His Psalms have been the lyrical inspiration for Christian artists as well as mainstream musicians and are the basis of some of the most well-known prayers.
• The name David has ranked in the top ten for popularity throughout the last century (okay, maybe that’s not wholly due to the David of the Bible, but stick with me).

Who was David? What can his life teach us about God and ourselves? For the next twenty-one days, I invite you to join our community to explore answers to these questions.

David spent time as a shepherd, as a fugitive, and as a king. He spent seasons in the company of others and endured times of oppressive isolation. David was far from perfect, but one thing holds true throughout his positions and the seasons he experienced: David never let the circumstances he faced distract his attention. In fact, he often remained focused on God despite the circumstances. David lived a life of meaning and impact, and perhaps more than anything, David’s life shows us that a heart for God prepares us to be used by God. We want that for you, too. 

If you don’t already have a slot and spot—a time on your calendar and a place you can settle in to be with God—these next few weeks are a great way to try it out!  You can use a Bible app on your phone or a physical Bible (you know, the kind made with paper). If you need one, let us know by filling out a Connect Card here (and we’ll send you one on us)!

Each day of this study is written in the SOAP format to help you hear David’s story, draw parallels to your life, and grow in your relationship with God as you read and pray…

Scripture: Every day will focus on a section of scripture from the Bible. This is the starting point for each day’s study, but feel empowered to follow the links that will lead you to the entire chapter of the text—God speaks to us through his Word.

Observation: The context for what is going on in the scripture (the who, what, when, where, and/or why) is shared so we can better understand the scripture together.

Application: How the lesson from this Scripture applies in the writer’s life—and how it might apply in yours—is shared.

Prayer: This is all about having a conversation with God. Start with the words on the page but don’t stop there. Make it personal. Share your feelings with God (all the feelings, not just the “appropriate” ones. David set a precedent for you here—he felt all the feels and shared them with God on the regular).

The next three weeks will be a journey. While scripture alone has the power to transform us, that transformation can be activated in the context of community. Consider connecting with our Care Team, sharing a prayer request with our Prayer Team, or joining a J-Group, our name for a small group of Journeyers connecting for friendship and heading in the same direction with Jesus.

I’m glad you’re here. Day one starts tomorrow —let’s go!

Austin Capone/Communications J-Teamer

Austin and his wife Shayna have been coming to The Journey for nine years and have two sons, Ezra and Isaiah. They recently pulled the ripcord and relocated to the Cincinnati, Ohio area and, well, miss being close to their Journey family. It’s been a worthy spiritual adventure—you might even call it a journey—and that in itself reminds them of home. While there is no more chicken-wrangling (for now), Austin still finds time to explore new activities with his boys like cul-de-sac scooter riding, creek-stomping, and testing out the latest dad jokes.