Welcome to session five of the seven-part Salvation History Bible Study, exploring the story of King David. We are led by our founder, Curtis Martin, and Dr. Edward Sri, theologian and Senior Vice President of Apostolic Outreach at FOCUS, with special guest Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York. If you’re just now joining us in this series, head to session one to start from the garden with Adam and Eve!
- Session 5 Overview: King David
- What Will You Learn In This Bible Study?
- Discussion Questions
- What’s Next?
- Additional Resources
Session 5 Overview: King David
It’s sometimes said, “the greater the rise, the harder the fall.”
In this fifth session, we venture into the heights of the Old Testament to take an in-depth look at one of the most significant periods in biblical history–the reigns of King David and King Solomon.
As we journey through Salvation History, from the early covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, we’ve arrived at the next major covenant and one of the biggest moments before the coming of Christ: God’s covenant with David.
As this covenant expands past the family to the kingdom of Israel, we see Israel expand its influence and rule over other nations and share with them the wisdom of God. This foreshadows what we see in the establishment of the church–the Catholic Church–that reaches the ends of the earth, founded by Jesus.
What Will You Learn In This Bible Study?
Key Highlights from the Discussion:
- King David and King Solomon: A tour through the rise and fall of these kings and the complexities of their reigns.
- Israel’s demand for a king: Like other nations, Israel wants a king, leading to Saul’s anointing and eventual failure.
- David’s selection by God: David shows the ideal for true leadership in God’s eyes
- David’s covenant with God: The promise that his lineage would endure forever and set the stage for the coming of Christ, linking Old Testament promises to New Testament fulfillments.
- Solomon’s wise yet flawed reign: Its impact on Israel’s prosperity and decline.
- Cardinal Dolan’s insights: The importance of understanding King David to fully grasp the identity and mission of Jesus, often called the “Son of David” in the New Testament.
Join Curtis Martin, Dr. Edward Sri, and Cardinal Dolan as they start in 1 Samuel, Chapters 1 – 8, and 16 – 17 to unpack these pivotal moments in the story of Salvation History.
Loving this online Bible study series? It’s perfect for sharing in your own Bible study group, parish, or family. We’ve written a guide on how to lead a transformative Bible study.
Discussion Questions
Session Five: King David
Small Group Discussion Guide
1 Samuel 1–8, 16–17; 2 Samuel 5–7, 11–12
Discussion Questions:
- What stands out to you about the character of David before he becomes king? Think: David and Goliath, David’s treatment of King Saul, etc.
- In 2 Samuel 7, God makes a covenant with David. What is significant about this covenant? What does God promise to David?
- How does David fall? How does his fall impact the kingdom?
- How and why did the kingdom begin to split? How does this split impact the kingdom moving forward?
Download Discussion Questions — PDF
What’s Next in the Salvation History Bible Study Series?
Our next Bible study session will move from King David to the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah. Join us as we continue to uncover the transformative power of Salvation History in this series.
Additional Resources
Looking for some materials to add to this Bible study? Try these out:
Got some extra time or want to go even deeper with your Bible study? We have an even deeper dive resource on King David you can use to prepare for leading your study, distribute to your participants, or explore together.
For a novena to St. David the King, add this by the National Catholic Register to your study materials.
We’ve got an article about what we can learn about leadership from King David to enhance your Bible study participant’s daily lives.
For more from our special guest for this session, watch Cardinal Dolan’s homily from SEEK24.
Head over to FOCUS Equip to discover more resources on discipleship, like these Catholic Bible study guides. Check out our podcast with talks from our SEEK conference and our YouTube page for videos and more!
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