Class Lesson July 2, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

A casual introduction can often turn into something far greater. Ivan Vaughan introduced Paul McCartney, a friend from school, to another friend, John Lennon. Those two later would form The Beatles and change the world of music. Bill Fernandez introduced his friend Steve Wozniak to another friend, Steve Jobs. They eventually gave us Apple®. 

We know this on a personal level, as well. Many of us were casually introduced at a social event or other occasion to the person who later became our spouse. 

A wise man once observed that who you become depends a lot on three things: the people you meet, the places you go, and the books you read. I think this is solid advice, but let’s consider the role we play in helping other people meet Christ—because a relationship with Jesus Christ changes everything. 

In the Gospel of John, we’re introduced to some men who met Jesus of Nazareth. They, in turn, introduced others to Him. And each of these seemingly casual introductions ended up changing a life.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

John 1:35-39 

35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 

In Jesus’ day, to be someone’s disciple meant you went where he went, slept where he slept, ate what he ate, and did everything you could to emulate him. John the Baptist had disciples like this, including Andrew and another unnamed man (see John 1:40). So it certainly caught their attention when their mentor and role model said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 

John had been proclaiming the coming of the Messiah for a long time, so his followers knew enough to know they wanted to meet Jesus and follow Him. They chose to be the Lord’s disciples. We know this because they “followed Jesus” and asked Him, “where are you staying?” They were ready to go where He went, sleep where He slept, and eat what He ate. 

It was common for rabbis to quiz potential disciples to see if they were worthy. Not Jesus. He only asked, “What are you looking for?” The two men called Jesus “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”) and asked where He was staying. Jesus’ invitation was both simple and profound: “Come and you’ll see.” What a beautiful picture of Jesus’ love for people. He’s always available to those who seek Him. 

We tend to fill our lives with activities and schedules. Jesus stayed busy, too, but He was always “interruptible.” He remains accessible today for all who are willing to come and see.

John 1:40-45 

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 

The term “evangelism” makes a lot of believers nervous. We know sharing the gospel with others is important, yet we’re frightened by the prospect of actually doing it. 

But notice how naturally and quickly Andrew told his brother Simon (we know him best as Peter) about Jesus. As Jewish men, they longed for the coming of the Messiah—the promised Savior. So, it’s easy to imagine Andrew brimming with excitement as he announced the good news that Jesus was in fact the Messiah they sought. 

Andrew’s influence led Simon to his own encounter with Jesus, which was transformational. Jesus even changed Simon’s name to reflect who he would ultimately become: “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called ‘Cephas’ (which is translated ‘Peter’).” Jesus essentially gave Simon a nickname that means “rock.” Peter may have been rash and impulsive, but under the leadership and lordship of Christ, he would become a leader solid as a rock. 

The following day Jesus traveled to Galilee where He met Philip. Notice there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach for people to come to faith in Christ. Some people, like Andrew, need to hear a testimony—“Look, the Lamb of God” (v. 36).

Others, like Philip, need a more direct approach—“Follow me.” Jesus took different approaches with different people, and so should we. 

Philip received an invitation from Jesus to follow Him, and he naturally passed that invitation onward by telling Nathanael the good news as well. Philip’s message was a bit more descriptive: “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 

Andrew and Philip modeled evangelism for us simply by sharing the good news of the gospel with others. Do you want to tell someone about Jesus? Tell them the good news you’ve found in knowing and following Christ.

John 1:46-49 

46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 

While Andrew, Peter, and Philip immediately began to follow Jesus, Nathanael was more hesitant. We don’t know if Nathanael’s attitude reflected a rivalry between his hometown of Cana (see John 21:2) and Nazareth, or a general perception that Nazareth was “on the wrong side of the tracks.” 

Lots of people today love to argue against Jesus’ claims. When we encounter such people, we’ll do well to follow the example of Philip—starting with two things Philip did not do:

• Philip did not take Nathanael’s skepticism as a personal offense. People who doubt Jesus aren’t always doubting us, as well. They may simply be honest about their experiences. 

• Philip did not get into an intellectual argument with Nathanael. Instead, Philip simply repeated what Jesus had said earlier: “Come and see.” 

Philip gave us a great example by simply keeping the focus on Jesus. This approach calls for patience with those who are hesitant, doubtful, or even unkind when they hear the good news. Their preexisting view of reality can hinder them from seeing the joy of salvation in Christ. We must graciously help them see beyond their blind spots so they can find Jesus. 

Nathanael responded to Philip’s invitation, though he remained skeptical. Jesus responded to that skepticism by telling Nathanael, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” For rabbis and their students, a fig tree was considered a place of prayer and meditation on the law—a place of devotion. That’s how Jesus identified Nathanael as a sincere Jew with no deceit. 

This was a supernatural insight from Jesus, and it grabbed Nathaniel’s attention. More than that, it blew away his doubts. Philip had challenged Nathanael to “come and see”—to check out Jesus for himself. Nathanael did, and he was changed. He became a disciple. 

Simon, Philip, and Nathaniel—think about what a difference was made in their lives (and in the world) because of a simple invitation. How much difference can we make in peoples’ lives today with that same invitation to “Come and see”?

LIVE IT OUT

How will you invite others to “Come and see” Jesus this week? Consider these suggestions: 

• Pray. If you’ve never talked about Jesus with someone else, begin with prayer. Who do you know who’s without Christ? Pray for that person, pray for the opportunity to talk, and pray for boldness. 

• Invite. Invite others to “Come and see” by inviting them to join you in your Bible study group. Bible study is a great way for individuals to see what God’s Word says about Jesus. 

• Tell. Telling others about Jesus is as simple as telling how you met Him and what He has done in your life. Share with others your own encounter with Jesus and how He changed your life. 

Someone introduced you to Jesus. Someone took the time to share good news with you and help you “Come and see” what Christ was all about. Now it’s time for you to do the same.

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Teacher's Notes:

Do's and Don't of Evangelism

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Our relationship with Jesus Christ colors every other relationship we have. Our ability to love others flows from the love of Christ within us and is evidence that we love Him. As believers, we love one another in the love of Christ. Our love for Christ challenges us to love all people, even those outside the church, those who do not profess to have a relationship with Him. The best way we can show love to others is to introduce them to Jesus.

We have a responsibility to introduce our friends to Jesus.

A casual introduction can often turn into something far greater. Ivan Vaughan introduced Paul McCartney, a friend from school, to another friend, John Lennon. Those two later would form The Beatles and change the world of music. Bill Fernandez introduced his friend Steve Wozniak to another friend, Steve Jobs. They eventually gave us Apple®. 

We know this on a personal level, as well. Many of us were casually introduced at a social event or other occasion to the person who later became our spouse. 

What would the introduction of Jesus change?

Let’s consider the role we play in helping other people meet Christ—because a relationship with Jesus Christ changes everything. 

In the Gospel of John, we’re introduced to some men who met Jesus of Nazareth. They, in turn, introduced others to Him. And each of these seemingly casual introductions ended up changing a life.

I. Seek a Personal Experience

John 1:35-39 

35 The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and you’ll see,” he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. 

In Jesus’ day, to be someone’s disciple meant you went where he went, slept where he slept, ate what he ate, and did everything you could to emulate him. John the Baptist had disciples like this, including Andrew and another unnamed man (see John 1:40). So, it certainly caught their attention when their mentor and role model said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” John had been proclaiming the coming of the Messiah for a long time, so his followers knew enough to know they wanted to meet Jesus and follow Him. They chose to be the Lord’s disciples. 

Our lesson begins by saying that we should seek a personal experience with Jesus’ and His own first spoken words in the gospel of John are a question: “What are you looking for?”

How would you answer that question if Jesus asked it of you? What is your personal experience with Jesus? Why are you following Him?

It’s interesting that the disciples can only say: “Where are You staying?” and Jesus’ answer is simply, “Come and you’ll see.”

• There seems to be a huge difference between our way of presenting Christ, and His own way of revealing Himself.
• I wonder sometimes why Jesus was so slow to give direct answers to the people who were most likely to follow Him.
• What do you notice about Jesus’ way of presenting Himself there? 
• Early in His ministry as John records it, Jesus frequently allowed His questioners, His followers, and His potential followers to remain wondering. 
• I see Him being willing to let people wonder. Why did He do that?

I think it’s because He wants you to Seek your own personal experience. When we feel the impact of God’s righteousness on our lives, we cannot keep it hidden. We want to tell others what God has done for us. God sent Jesus, His Son, to be our Savior by His atoning death on the cross. The gospel is about Jesus or it is not the gospel. The message of Jesus is powerful in its effects. If God’s faithfulness has changed your life, don’t be timid. 

He wants you to tell others about it. This is what Andrew does…let’s read on.

II. Tell Others Your Personal Experience

John 1:40-45 

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw him, he said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law (and so did the prophets): Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 

Tell Others about it. Pass it on was a phrase quoted back in the 70’s. It’s called “evangelism” and it makes a lot of believers nervous. We know it’s important, but we’re frightened about actually doing it. Look how natural it was and how quickly Andrew told his brother Simon (we know him best as Peter) about Jesus. 

Why is it sometimes difficult to initiate a conversation with a family member about Jesus?

• Andrew’s influence led Simon to his own encounter with Jesus, which was transformational. Jesus even changed Simon’s name to reflect who he would ultimately become: “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called ‘Cephas’ (which is translated ‘Peter’).” 

When have you felt compelled to tell someone about Jesus? When have you regretted choosing not to speak with someone about Jesus?

The following day Jesus traveled to Galilee where He met Philip. Notice there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach for people to come to faith in Christ. Some people, like Andrew, need to hear a testimony— “Look, the Lamb of God” (v. 36).

What can we learn from Andrew and Philip’s response to following Jesus?

• Others, like Philip, need a more direct approach— “Follow me.” Jesus took different approaches with different people, and so should we. Philip received an invitation from Jesus to follow Him, and he naturally passed that invitation onward by telling Nathanael the good news as well. 

Andrew and Philip modeled evangelism for us simply by sharing the good news of the gospel with others. Tell them the good news you’ve found in knowing and following Christ.

Sharing Christ is all about sharing your personal story.

 

Tell others about your personal experience with Jesus. The message of Jesus is to be shared by one person to another. A witness for Jesus can begin by telling about one’s own experience with Him. An encounter with Jesus leads to life change. 

Discipleship begins with meeting Jesus and continues by following Him. Jesus is more than an ordinary man but the One who fulfills the promises of God as revealed in Scripture. 

Share Christ:

1. John the Baptist points Andrew (and another) to Jesus to follow.

2. Andrew tells his brother, Peter about Jesus and brings him to Jesus.

3. Jesus finds Philip and tells him to follow.

4. Philip tells Nathanial about Jesus.

III. Invite Others to know Jesus

John 1:46-49 

46 “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him. “Come and see,” Philip answered. 47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered. 49 “Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 

While Andrew, Peter, and Philip immediately began to follow Jesus, Nathanael was more hesitant. 

What are some ways we can respond when others express doubts about Jesus?

Lots of people today love to argue against Jesus’ claims. When we encounter such people, we’ll do well to follow the example of Philip—starting with two things Philip did not do:

1. Philip did not take Nathanael’s skepticism as a personal offense. People who doubt Jesus aren’t always doubting us, as well. They may simply be honest about their experiences. 

2. Philip did not get into an intellectual argument with Nathanael. Instead, Philip simply repeated what Jesus had said earlier: “Come and see.” 

Philip gave us a great example by simply keeping the focus on Jesus. This approach calls for patience with those who are hesitant, doubtful, or even unkind when they hear the good news. Their preexisting view of reality can hinder them from seeing the joy of salvation in Christ. We must graciously help them see beyond their blind spots so they can find Jesus. Nathanael responded to Philip’s invitation, though he remained skeptical. Jesus responded to that skepticism by telling Nathanael, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” For rabbis and their students, a fig tree was considered a place of prayer and meditation on the law—a place of devotion. That’s how Jesus identified Nathanael as a sincere Jew with no deceit. This was a supernatural insight from Jesus, and it grabbed Nathaniel’s attention. More than that, it blew away his doubts. Philip had challenged Nathanael to “come and see”—to check out Jesus for himself. Nathanael did, and he was changed. He became a disciple. 

Simon, Philip, and Nathaniel—think about what a difference was made in their lives (and in the world) because of a simple invitation. How much difference can we make in peoples’ lives today with that same invitation to “Come and see”?

How can we make sure our group is a place for others to “Come and see” Jesus?

• Invite them.

Invite others to know Jesus for themselves. The believer’s witness to the unbeliever is to conclude with an invitation for the person to experience Christ personally. Christ searches each of us out as individuals for whom He has come. Christianity is more than accepting a philosophy of life, it is deciding to follow a Person, Jesus, who gives life. Jesus is the Master Teacher, but oh so much more, He is the Son of God.

LIVE IT OUT: The lesson from these narratives is quite clear. A personal encounter in which one chooses to follow Jesus brings with it the expectation and responsibility to introduce someone else to Him. Little more needs to be said, but much more may need to be done if we are to live it out faithfully.

Faithful people share their faith.

Matthew 9 

(Paralyzed man)

You have friends who are paralyzed and can’t get to Jesus. They are paralyzed by fear, guilt, doubt, pain, or maybe even resentment over being hurt in some church in the past. They are paralyzed, and they can’t get to Jesus on their own.

God is watching to see if you are going to be faithful enough to bring them. And if you are, God will honor your faith. He’ll not only heal your friend; he will also bless you. It’s a blessing of faith.

As long as we keep bringing paralyzed people to Jesus.

4 big ideas:

1. God’s Love. God Loves You and created you to know Him personally. God has a wonderful plan for your life.

2. Our Condition. People are sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know Him personally or experience His love and plan.

3. God’s Response. Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God’s love and plan.

4. Our Response. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord – then we can know God personally and experience His love and plan.

Hope to see you on Sunday! 

In His Love, 

David & Susan 

Class Lesson June 25, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

Let’s admit it: we’ve all been amazed by a magician’s trick or illusion. Whether it was making his assistant disappear, sawing a person in half, or even a sleight-of-hand card trick, we’ve wondered: How did he do that? 

Later, if we discover how he created the illusion, our amazement vanishes as quickly as the assistant. The next time we see that illusion, it seems so obvious what’s actually going on. What changed? We were able to see things from the magician’s perspective. 

The way we see people can play tricks on us, too. Our perception or opinion of a person can be skewed by our own prejudices and selfcenteredness, or even by how we hope that person can benefit us. We can be blinded by our own sinfulness. 

But when we see people from God’s perspective—the One who created us in His image—relationships change. In a famous story from 2 Samuel 11, King David gave us a tragic example of what happens when we fail to see people from God’s perspective.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

2 Samuel 11:1-4 

1 In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home. 

Sin comes in all sizes and shapes. Some sins are blatantly obvious, others hide in the shadows where we think no one else can see. We tend to categorize some sins as worse than others, but they all share two things in common: all sin is rebellion against God, and all sin begins in the heart. 

We see in David a prime example that sin begins in the heart. That may seem ironic, since Scripture refers to David as a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Yet he was still a man with a sinful nature—one that was on display throughout his encounters with Bathsheba, her husband, and the many people who witnessed the actions of a man who was supposed to represent God’s righteousness as their king. 

As we dig into the text, we’ll find three key stages of David’s downward spiral into sin.

1. David looked at Bathsheba. Walking on the rooftop of his palace, David happened to see “a very beautiful woman” bathing. No harm done—yet. It’s easy to see things we shouldn’t, especially in today’s culture. The problem is that David didn’t just glance at Bathsheba and then avert his eyes. He looked, and he kept looking. 

2. David asked about Bathsheba. David gazed long enough for his “accidental” sighting to turn to lust. Then he wanted to know who he was lusting for. In the space of a moment, David stopped viewing Bathsheba as a woman made in the image of God. Instead, she became nothing more than an object for his enjoyment. 

3. David sent for Bathsheba. Having reduced Bathsheba to an object in his mind, David used his power as king to grab what he desired. We don’t know if Bathsheba responded to David’s summons out of fear or ignorance—nor do we know at what point she understood David’s intentions. What we do know is that Bathsheba’s motives are not the point of the story. It’s David’s motives, as well as his actions, that deserve our scrutiny. 

Discussions of this passage usually center on the sin of adultery, which is understandable. Sex outside a marriage relationship was explicitly prohibited in the law (see Ex. 20:14), and David certainly knew that. But behind David’s willingness to commit adultery was an equally grievous sin: failing to see Bathsheba’s worth as a person created by God in His own image. 

Put simply, David failed to see Bathsheba as God saw her—and that failure opened the door to sin. 

The apostle Paul connected our treatment of others to our walk with Christ. He said God’s will is “that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions. … This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner” (1 Thess. 4:4-6, emphasis added). 

The way we treat others is supposed to be based on the way God has treated us. Therefore, when we walk with Christ, we see people from His perspective—and we treat them accordingly.

2 Samuel 11:5-9,14-17 

5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.” 6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house … . 

14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies. 16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. 17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hittite also died. 

David’s downward spiral into sin led him further and further away from intimacy with God. Instead of confronting and confessing his mistakes, David sought to cover up his actions—which led to more sin. 

David didn’t value Bathsheba and had used her for his own ends; now, David tried to use her husband, Uriah, to cover up his infidelity. The king planned for Uriah to go home and sleep with his wife while he was in Jerusalem, leading everyone to assume Uriah was responsible for Bathsheba’s pregnancy. 

In spite of David’s instructions, Uriah was obedient to the king in another way. He wasn’t a soldier on leave; he was a soldier still on duty. Therefore, he was determined to remain ritually pure—which meant refraining from sexual intimacy with his wife (see Lev. 15:18; 1 Sam. 21:5). 

In other words, Uriah showed a greater obedience to his king and a clear devotion to the Lord.

Because of Uriah’s unwavering loyalty and commitment, David’s Plan A was unsuccessful. So, David resorted to Plan B: “David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.” Loyal Uriah unknowingly carried his own death sentence to Joab! 

It’s hard to see David here as the same man who would not lay a hand on Saul, even when Saul sought to kill him. David presents a tragic example of what sin does when we don’t confess it, but instead allow it to spread. 

Let’s go back to the beginning and see where it all started: David was self-focused. He failed to see people—neither Bathsheba nor Uriah—as God sees them, and he used both of them for his own ends. His self-focused actions led to self-preservation at all costs. 

Jesus calls us to a different standard. We are to carry with us the same servant attitude that marks the life of Christ. As Paul wrote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5). 

Had David lived by this principle, he would have placed the truth and the life of Uriah ahead of his own. Of course, had David lived by this principle in the beginning, he would have placed the worth of Bathsheba before his own desires. He never would have gotten into that whole mess in the first place! 

We can do better. We can see people as Christ sees them. We can treat them with the dignity and worth Christ has given them.

LIVE IT OUT

What steps will you take this week to see and treat others as Christ does? Consider the following suggestions: 

• Evaluate. People often treat others as objects rather than as God’s image bearers. If you’ve drifted into this tendency, be intentional about confessing your sin and changing your actions. 

• Restore. Broken relationships are a great hindrance in the local church. Seek reconciliation and/or forgiveness from someone with whom you’ve become disconnected. 

• Fight back. There are a number of institutions that systematically strip away the dignity and worth of thousands of human beings—human trafficking, pornography, racism, and more. Take a stand to fight against one of these practices in a tangible way. 

Our culture has a way of creating illusions about certain types of people: They don’t matter. They’re not important. They’re expendable. Don’t believe these lies. Instead, look at all types of people the way Christ does, and treat them accordingly. 

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Teacher's Notes:

When has your perception of someone change for the better?

• When they did a good deed, when I saw them with their family, when he/she wrote a letter of apology, I read something they posted on Facebook, I saw a “where they are now” posting, years after I had known them, when I found out things about the person I didn’t know, he/she brought me cookies/flowers/…, when they were the speaker at a church (business, social gathering ...) I attended – they did better than I ever expected, when they won the tournament.

The Point: When we see others as Christ sees them, we will treat them accordingly.

Think about how we learn lessons in life. Typically, we learn by: 

• listening to what we should do, 
• watching someone do it, and 
• then actually doing it ourselves. 

We learn by good examples. But we can learn from bad examples too. David is one of those historical biblical figures that we look at and can learn great qualities. 

Through David, we learn how to:

• trust God in difficult circumstances. 
• courageously fight battles in His strength. 
• pray with an earnest heart. 
• forge friendships and how to respect authority. 

Certainly, these are the good examples in life we learn from David. 

But if you ask almost anyone who has a little church background about David, they will tell you two things: David killed Goliath and David slept with Bathsheba. 

Today our lesson focuses on the bad example of David and what we should learn from it. 

Turn to 2 Samuel 11:1-4

I. The Temptation to Use Others 2 Samuel 11:1-4

1 In the spring when kings march out to war, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. 2 One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing — a very beautiful woman. 3 So David sent someone to inquire about her, and he said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. Now she had just been purifying herself from her uncleanness. Afterward, she returned home. 

What can we learn about the private life of David in these verses?

• Sin comes in all sizes and shapes. Some sins are blatantly obvious, others hide in the shadows where we think no one else can see. We tend to categorize some sins as worse than others, but they all share two things in common: all sin is rebellion against God, and all sin begins in the heart. 
• David is a prime example that sin begins in the heart. That may seem ironic, since Scripture refers to David as a man after God’s own heart (see 1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Yet he was still a man with a sinful nature—one that was on display throughout his encounters with Bathsheba, her husband, and the many people who witnessed the actions of a man who was supposed to represent God’s righteousness as their king. 

Three key stages of David’s downward spiral into sin.

1. David looked at Bathsheba. It’s easy to see things we shouldn’t, especially in today’s culture. The problem is that David didn’t just glance at Bathsheba and then avert his eyes. He looked, and he kept looking.                                                                                
2. David asked about Bathsheba. David gazed long enough for this to turn to lust. She became nothing more than an object for his enjoyment.                                                                    
3. David sent for Bathsheba. Having reduced Bathsheba to an object in his mind, David used his power as king to grab what he desired. 

This passage usually centers on the sin of adultery, which is understandable. Sex outside a marriage relationship was explicitly prohibited in the law (see Ex. 20:14), and David certainly knew that. 

But there is a sin behind the sin. Behind David’s willingness to commit adultery was an equally grievous sin: What was it?

• Failing to see Bathsheba’s worth as a person created by God in His own image. 
• Imago Dei: “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness” … So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26a-27, NIV
• David failed to see Bathsheba as God saw her—and that failure opened the door to a greater sin by using her for his own selfish desire. 
• I allowed a neighbor to borrow a riding lawnmower. He was in a bind and to be honest, his yard looked horrible. I reluctantly agreed and off he went. After finishing his yard, he parked the mower in my driveway. Everything looked fine until the next time I went out to mow my grass. One of the blades was cutting directly into the lawn. I remember the anger that swelled up in my heart over that situation. I thought, “How can you take something that is mine and not care about it?” Imagine how the heart of God breaks when we mistreat the people that He created – the very people that He sent His Son to save. When we undervalue people, we don’t treat them the way Jesus would. Each person you come into contact with is a creation of God’s. (Imago Dei – image of God) When you view others with the eyes of Jesus, your treatment of them will change. 

Why is it often difficult to see the worth in others?

• The apostle Paul connected our treatment of others to our walk with Christ. He said God’s will is “that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions. … This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner” (1 Thess. 4:4-6, emphasis added). 
• The way we treat others is supposed to be based on the way God has treated us. Therefore, when we walk with Christ, we see people from His perspective—and we treat them accordingly.

Where do we see people objectified or undervalued today?

• Human trafficking which goes on, drug cartels sell what is poison, just to acquire vast wealth, some employers treat their workers badly, some politicians treat their constituents as fools, just to perpetuate their own power and influence, sports figures are sometimes treated as resources to be used up, and some classes or groups of a population are often minimalized (women, homeless people, racial groups, elderly …).

What are some ways we might try to use others for our own benefit?

• Get them to do your work, only choose friends who make us look good, make friends with someone we think will help us climb a ladder of success, demand total control in a relationship to make me feel important, demand “submission” from others (which is not really submission), use others to calm my own insecurities – “they deserve to be taken advantage of”, bully someone else to make me feel powerful, display arrogance towards others because I am insecure, myself.

Common thought: my sin doesn’t affect anyone but me.

• David’s sin affected David, Bathsheba, Eliam, Uriah, the men he sent to get her.

Points: See others as people of worth in the sight of the Lord. Even people with faith in God and devoted to serving Him can fall victim to moral failure. The personal character of a leader is critical. Weak character will express itself in ill-advised actions that have the potential to affect others negatively. People of authority are to exercise their authority in ways that benefit others, not harm them. People of authority are not to see others as objects to be used to satisfy their own whims, desires, or needs. Sin has its consequences, if not at the moment, then later.

II. The Misuse of Authority 2 Samuel 11:5-9. 14-17

5 The woman conceived and sent word to inform David: “I am pregnant.” 6 David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent Uriah to David. 7 When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing and how the war was going. 8 Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. 9 But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house … . 

14 The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In the letter he wrote: Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest fighting, then withdraw from him so that he is struck down and dies. 16 When Joab was besieging the city, he put Uriah in the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. 17 Then the men of the city came out and attacked Joab, and some of the men from David’s soldiers fell in battle; Uriah the Hittite also died. 

What can these passages teach us about the progression of sin in how we deal with other people?

• Temptation presents itself – “I could use that person to ___”
• We entertain the temptation – “How could I con them into it?”
• We partake of it a little bit - the little bit causes a desire for more – now we are definitely sinning, then the sin is rationalized – “He/she had it coming … deserved to be taken advantage of”, then we try to cover up the sin - causes more sins.
• It’s hard to see David here as the same man who would not lay a hand on Saul, even when Saul sought to kill him. David presents a tragic example of what sin does when we don’t confess it, but instead allow it to spread. Let’s go back to the beginning and see where it all started: David was self-focused. He failed to see people—neither Bathsheba nor Uriah—as God sees them, and he used both of them for his own ends. His self-focused actions led to self-preservation at all costs. 

How can we anticipate these kinds of temptations and stop ourselves from sinning in these situations?

• Know that you are not immune, don't put yourself in situations where you know you could be tempted, flee temptations – run the other way (sometimes literally), and continually ask for, receive God's help.

What are some warning signs that show we’re viewing people as objects or obstacles?

• We care little for their feelings, we disregard their needs, their wellbeing, we treat them nice only so we will please ourselves, we act selfishly.

How did David misuse his authority?

• David sought to cover up his actions—which led to more sin. David didn’t value Bathsheba and had used her for his own ends; now, David didn’t value her husband, Uriah. Tried to use him to cover up his infidelity. The king planned for Uriah to go home and sleep with his wife while he was in Jerusalem, leading everyone to assume Uriah was responsible for Bathsheba’s pregnancy. 

What is the lesson here for leaders in authority?

• Look out for the needs and interest of others. Leaders have a responsibility to look out for the needs and interests of those whom they lead. How sad when people of authority manipulate situations and other people and use their power for selfish purposes. People of integrity, even when given the opportunity to do otherwise, act with humility, demonstrate concern for others, and look to serve faithfully. One evil step leads to another, if left unguarded and unconfessed. Paul wrote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5). 

Close: This lesson is not so much a lesson on sexual infidelity and immorality as on personal integrity, valuing others, and looking out for the needs and interest of others. 

• David treated Bathsheba as an object to satisfy his desires. Then by refusing to own up to his sin and in an effort to cover himself, he manipulated others without any concern for what was best for them.

We may be faced with other kinds of opportunities at home, work, church, or in other settings to use others and manipulate situations to meet our desires, to promote ourselves, or achieve some selfish purpose. 

• However, every person has been created in the image of God and is to be treated as such. Rather than plan how they may serve us, we are to determine how we might serve them. That certainly was the model of Jesus (Mark 10:44-45). He did not allow His own privileges to dominate His actions, “but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant … humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death.” (Phil. 2:7-8)

Application

Evaluate. 

• The tendency of our fallen human nature is to treat people as objects rather than as God’s image bearers. 
• When we do this toward a whole group of people, we see prejudice and racism. 
• Confess to God if there is a group toward which you do not treat with the same respect or worth that God desires. 

Serve. 

• Is there a person in your life you have treated more as an object for your happiness or called a friend as long as he or she can help you? 
• Change your attitude and find a way to serve the person instead of seeing him or her as someone to serve you. 

Hope to see you on Sunday! 

In His Love, 

David & Susan