Here is the Sunday School Lesson for this coming Sunday. Dave Torok will be teaching it as Judy and I will be away on vacation for a couple of weeks. I intend to keep everyone posted on my blog as the events of the day pass by. We are leaving for Tennessee on this coming Friday and plan on being with my former Pastor and his wife, Rick and Judy Stewart on that evening in McMinville.

Now for the lesson, enjoy:

FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH PASTOR’S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
FEB. 8, 2009 “COMMITMENT TO CONFRONT” 2 SAM. 12:1-7, 13-15

1And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. 2The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: 3But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

· Why do you think that God did not speak unto David directly? Why did he use a prophet to convey the message?
· Why do you think that Nathan used a parable to speak to David instead of just telling David straight out that he had sinned against the Lord?
· When does it become our “business” to talk to others about “sin” in their lives? Aren’t we all sinners? Don’t we all want to be left alone?
· What was the parable that Nathan told to David? Why would David be inclined to listen to story about a man who had a little sheep?
· How does this story remind you of your own pet? Do people care more about their pets than they do about other people?

4And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

· What gave the rich man the right to think that he had the right to take the poor man’s lamb? Are all rich people self centered people?
· Who did the “rich man” portray in the parable that Nathan was telling? Do you believe that David ever considered himself in this light?
· Do you think that the rich man in this text ever considered the fact that he was “sinning?” Was this rich man indeed committing a sin?
· How does this story compare in the analogy of committing adultery? Is all adultery “selfish?” Isn’t adultery just “love making” between two consenting adults? Do you believe that Bathsheba was a consenting adult in the sexual exploits of the palace? Did David have an affair or a fling? Is there a difference? Can’t people just have an “innocent affair?”
· Do you have a proper self image of yourself? Do you think that you might appear to be selfish in the eyes of others? How can we change that image of ourselves to others?

5And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: 6And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.

· Why do you think that David got so upset over the story of a little sheep? Wasn’t his own violation much more severe than that told in the story?
· What did David say should be done to the rich man? Can government ever give to harsh a sentence to those who violate the law?
· Why do you think that David was so quickly angered?

7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

· Do you think that Nathan was a little blunt at this point? Wouldn’t you have been afraid to tell the King, “Thou art the man!” Especially in that David had just threatened to have a man put to death?
· How do you think that David physically appeared when Nathan had pointed out that “he was the rich man” in the story that he had just told?
· Why would God have been so angered with David? Couldn’t David simply have stated, “What’s the big deal, everybody sins from time to time?
· Does God have a higher standard for those who are in governmental leadership? How would those who govern our lands fare today by God’s standards? Should a “president” be impeached for committing adultery?

13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. 14Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

· What kind of excuses did David make for his sin? Did he make any excuses? If a person makes excuses for their sin, are they truly repentant?
· Who did David say that he had sinned against? Hadn’t David also sinned against Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite? Who else was harmed by David’s sin? Did David owe everyone an apology?
· When we sin, should we walk around apologizing to everyone that we see and tell them that we are sorry for being so terrible?
· Have you ever read Nathaniel Hawthrone’s book “The Scarlett Letter?” Should an adulteress person be forced to wear a Scarlet A on their tee shirt all over town? Should we put people in stocks for being bad people?
· How did God put away our sin? Has your sin been put away?
· What did Nathan say would be the results of David’s sin?
· What should we expect the world to do to us when they learn that we have sinned? Should the Christian community follow their lead?
· How should the response of the Church be any different than that of those who are sitting at the Tavern?
· Why would the world be so quick to condemn a Christian for being a sinner? Are Christians sinless? What should we say to others when we sin?
· What did God say would happen to the child of Bathsheba? Wasn’t God punishing David and Bathsheba? What wrong had Bathsheba done? What wrong had the child done? Why should they have to bear consequences of David’s sin? Is God fair? Is life fair? Should David had gotten angry at God for allowing his son to die? Did God cause the child’s death? If so, is a God a murderer?

15And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

· Why would God strike the child sick, when the sin was David's fault?