Gospel Prism

1. Paul Tripp said: “We were never meant to be self-focused little kings ruling minuscule little kingdoms with a population of one…It is a fundamental denial of your humanity to narrow the size of your life of your own existence, because you were created to be an ‘above and more’ being. You were made to be transcendent.” In what ways do you find yourself to be a self-focused little king? What do you think he means by saying that we were meant to be “transcendent”?

2. David was a man after God’s own heart. How do you think such a man could do such terrible things (adultery, murder, cover-up, hard-heartedness)? What does this tell you about the power of sin?

3. David grew complacent. Have you ever been complacent in your walk with the Lord? What does this look like to you? How did you end up in this place? How can you guard against such a thing from happening? Why is complacency such a deadly subtle danger to our faith?

4. David lived as one in ultimate authority because he had determined he was entitled to do so? What do you feel entitled to in your life? How does such entitlement mirror David’s sense of his own authority? Why is entitlement so alluring? Please share and explain.

5. Hebrews 3:12-13 says: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” How can having people in your life ‘exhorting you every day’ keep you from complacency? Do you desire such fellowship? What keeps you from having this in your life? What are some practical ways you can take to allow such exhortation?

6. Jack Miller speaks of preaching the Gospel to yourself daily. What does this preaching look like? Why is this so critical to keep you from responding to God the way David did? Jerry Bridges quoted the hymn, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” What do you think this phrase means? How does one build on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness? Has can this perspective transform the way you view yourself, others, and God?

7. David’s move to place himself at the center led to catastrophic results. What happened to David? What happens to people in general when they believe they are the King of their world, rather than God? Have you ever experienced such results as a result of placing yourself at the center? Please share.

8. Paul Tripp insightfully says: “The more I live with the meeting of my needs as my central focus of concern, the more things in my life get defined as needs.” What ‘needs’ in your life are there simply because you are the central focus of your world? Why do these ‘needs’ impact you so much and deaden your desire to follow Christ?

9. Take some time to read Psalm 51 together. Describe David’s heart together from this Psalm. What can we learn about David and his understanding of sin? How is this different from King Saul? From us (at times).

10. Share about Wellspring’s transition to Pleasanton and the new SGM church plant in SF. How can we as a church, and as members, and as a HG NOT place ourselves at the center but rather, place Jesus at the center in this move? Please pray for Wellspring and our transition, that He would always be at the center!