The Bridge Church

Comparison

1 Samuel 18:7-8 (CSB)
As they danced, the women sang: Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands. 8Saul was furious and resented this song. “They credited tens of thousands to David,” he complained, “but they only credited me with thousands. What more can he have but the kingdom?”

Competition

1 Samuel 18:8b (CSB)
What more can he have but the kingdom?

Celebration

1 Samuel 18:4 (CSB)
Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
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I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups

Dig Deeper:
1. What’s the world’s definition of success? Describe someone who is successful based on the world’s definition.
2. What is God’s definition of success? Describe someone who is successful based on God’s definition.
3. Read 1 Samuel 18:5-7. Comparison is determining your own value based on someone else’s value. Have you ever compared yourself to someone else? What was the outcome?
4. How does comparison shape the world around us? Discuss the many ways comparison is possible in our culture.
5. How is comparison different than learning and growing in a biblical community?
6. How accurate is it to compare yourself to your view of someone else?
7. What ultimately declares our value?
8. Read 1 Samuel 18:8-12. Competition is believing that someone else must lose for you to win. How is competition linked to a misunderstanding of God’s providence and majesty?
9. 1 Samuel 18:10 says that “an evil spirit sent from God came powerfully on Saul.” Why did this happen?
10. Describe a time when you had to ultimately trust in God’s plan even when it’s not what you envisioned. Did comparison and/or competition play a role in the process?
11. Read 1 Samuel 18:4. Who is Jonathan? Why is his act of giving away his garments significant?
12. Celebration is choosing to accept and celebrate God’s will for yourself and others. Describe a time when someone celebrated you rather that compete or compare themselves to you.
13. What can you put into practice in your life to ensure that you are celebrating others and trusting God in your own life?
14. How is trusting and surrendering to God’s idea of greatness better than our own?
15. Read Philippians 2:5-11. Describe how Jesus modeled surrendering to God’s will.

Live It Out:
The path to true greatness requires surrendering our idea of greatness and embracing God’s idea. As God unfolds his will through the lives of his people, you have a choice on how you respond. Today, choose your response. You can respond like…

…Saul. You can hold tightly to what you want and put your focus on comparison and competition.

OR

…Jonathan. You can hold loosely to your idea of success, happiness, and significance. You can choose to trust God and celebrate His plans for you and for others.

Choose celebration. Reject comparison and competition. Embrace who God has called you to be and who He has called others to be. Recognize that God’s will is perfect and good, and it is a privilege to participate in what He is doing.

Spend time with God this week, in prayer and in the Word. Ask Him to reveal to you the areas where you need to choose celebration and reject comparison and competition. Have honest conversations with Him, sharing with Him your concerns. Surrender to His will in the process.

Reading Plan:
Monday: 1 Samuel 18:1-9
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 18:10-17
Wednesday: 1 Samuel 18:18-25
Thursday: 1 Samuel 18:26-30
Friday: Philippians 2:1-11
Saturday: Philippians 2:12-18