When you read the paper, visit social media sites, or watch the news, what is your opinion of the way people treat one another today? Would you say it is harder to extend kindness today than it has been in the past? Why or why not. These are some of the questions that will be discussed in LifeWay's Explore the Bible Study: Valued.
The following ideas are provided in the downloadable teaching ideas:

Questions

• What did David have to overcome in order to show kindness to Saul’s family? What do people today have to overcome in order to show kindness to others, especially those who might be perceived as “enemies,” adversaries, or just people we don’t agree with?
• Imagine you are Mephibosheth. You remember everything that has taken place since you were five years old. What would be your opinion of David? What kind of attitude would you have? 
• Do you think an adversary demonstrating kindness in this way would prompt people today to describe themselves as “dead dogs”? 
• If this were the scenario today in our society, how would people respond to someone offering this type of kindness? Would they mock it? Would they return it? Would they continue to fight or protest? Would they continue to demonstrate hate toward a person?
• If you were Mephibosheth. How would you respond to David? 
• Is it easier to be kind to someone who once might have been an adversary or to receive kindness from someone who was your adversary?
• What can we do to become practitioners of kindness instead of propagators of hate?
• How hard is it to be practitioners of kindness without compromising what you believe?
• Why is it so important for believers to be practitioners of kindness? 
• How can we demonstrate kindness in ways that help people know it is because of our faith in Jesus Christ?

How can the following passages help us understand the need for becoming practitioners of kindness instead of propagators of hate?

• “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:27-28, CSB
• Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. – Romans 12:14, CSB
• If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. – Proverbs 25:21-22, CSB
• Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear or be intimidated, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. – 1 Peter 3:13-17, CSB

Videos

All of us come to Christ with concerns about health, prosperity, success in life, and possibly the mark we want to make or leave on this world. God cares about these things. When King David came to God desiring to build a "House" for the LORD, he felt it was a worthy project. Perhaps David also felt it would be his legacy. But, God had other plans for David. God's plans were much greater than David could have ever imagined or requested. This week's Explore the Bible study: Established, focuses on God's plans for David from one of the most significant theological passages in the Old Testament. 

2 Samuel 7:8-21 introduces us to the promises of God, not only for David, but for his descendents and for all mankind. It would be through David's lineage that the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come to provide salvation for all who would respond. What a promise! What a blessing! What a legacy!

As your group focuses on those promises, consider two things: (1) How the promises to David impact us today. (2) How the promises of God help strengthen our faith and give us hope.

Lead your group to consider the following as you conclude your session:

• What they can learn from David regarding how to respond to God’s promises today – whether it be the promise of eternal life, a relationship with Christ, or other promises in Scripture.
• The feelings and thoughts that come to mind when they consider how the promises given to David find their ultimate fulfillment through Jesus Christ.
• How God's promises to David help us rest in the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
• How God's promises of salvation and other promises from God help us face uncertainties about the future.

We all love a good celebration: from royal weddings, with which most of us had no connection, to birthday celebrations, to end zone football celebrations, and everything in between. And, when we celebrate, we tend to act in ways we otherwise wouldn't normally act. This week's Explore the Bible study: Celebrated, examines how David celebrated the joy and excitement he had because of God's blessings and presence. As we examine these passages, some of us will wonder if David went too far with the celebration. Some of us will question whether we celebrate these blessings enough, based on how David responded in worship. We can learn how to respond when people around us celebrate God’s presence in unusual ways. Hopefully we will all gain more insight into how we can honor God as we celebrate Him through worship.

LOOK UP IDEAS - TO GET YOUR GROUP FOCUSED AND TALKING
Discussion: Consider opening by sharing things that are celebrated on June 17th. Here are some of the "national celebrations" that are designated for June 17th: Global Garbage Man Day; National Apple Strudel Day; National Eat Your Vegetables Day; National Stewart’s Root Beer Day; National Cherry Tart Day; National Turkey Lovers’ Day – Third Sunday in June (See June National Days Calendar)

Video Option: The following video could be used to supplement the discussion related to how crazy people get when they celebrate. Click to Play Video

LifeWay's Extra teaching ideas provides a great illustration related to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding that is included in the downloadable teaching helps.

SUPPLEMENTAL BACKGROUND MATERIAL
While the following audios from J. Vernon McGee are dated, he provides a good contextual understanding of what was taking place in 2 Samuel 6:1-23. Source: Blue Letter Bible

• Click to Listen: J. Vernon McGee - 2 Samuel 6:1-14
• Click to Listen: J. Vernon McGee - 2 Samuel 6:15-23

Dancing for an Audience of One - Explore the Bible Blog Post

If we know that we most likely will face pain or difficulties when acting on God’s plans, why should we follow Him? You may have asked this at some point in your life as a believer. King David knew all too well the pain and difficulties of following God. He had already seen and experienced so many difficulties. The Explore The Bible Study: Crowned, now examines what took place after David was proclaimed king in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4). One would think that the moment he was proclaimed king, all his trials would end. This is not the case. 2 Samuel 3:1 describes the fact that a "long war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David."

Through this long conflict, God continued to work to bring about a unified kingdom in Israel. God was not only working in the heart and through the leadership of David but through an unlikely individual named Abner. As you follow the events that unfold in this session of Explore the Bible, consider how you will lead your group to evaluate their willingness to carry out God's plans.

As Christians we need to take this passage and evaluate our commitments and loyalties to see if we are also allowing God to use us. When we realize that God is at work, we need to respond as Abner and David did. Both of these men recognized that God was working to fulfill what was promised, and they responded in ways that can only be explained as steps of bold faith, each one taking a chance on the other's loyalty and faith in God.

Ideas for Presenting this Session

The downloadable teaching ideas include the lyrics to the hymn, Be Still My Soul. Reading the lyrics and discussing the difficulties of having a "still soul" when walking with God could be a great way to introduce the session. Consider using the following video in place of reading the lyrics - CLICK TO VIEW.

Conclude by sharing all the ways Abner responded when he realized God's plan for David. Here is a list to consider:

• He confronted Ish-bosheth, 2 Samuel 3:8.
• He proclaimed to Ish-bosheth that God had chosen David to rule over Israel and Judah, 2 Samuel 3:9-10. 
• He initiated conversations with David, 2 Samuel 3:12.
• He acted on David’s terms, 2 Samuel 3:15. 
• When he ordered Paltiel, Michal's current husband to go back, the husband obeyed, 2 Samuel 3:16. 
• He negotiated with all the tribes of Israel and convinced them to unite with Judah under David, 2 Samuel 3:17-20.
• He continued to carry out his commitment by leaving the banquet in order to prepare for the process of unification, 2 Samuel 3:21.