The Hero We Want, The Villain We Fear

Getting started

• Who was your hero growing up? Did they ever let you down?
• Think of a time someone told you a hard truth kindly. How did they do it?

Read 2 Samuel 12:1–19

Read it together, slowly. Then, before any of the questions below: what do you notice about David? About Nathan? About God?

1 "You are the man!"

• Look at verses 5–7. David is furious with the rich man in the story, then hears, "You are the man!" Why is it so much easier to see what's wrong in someone else's story than in our own?
• Annie talked about 'main character energy'. Where are you quickest to explain yourself, and slowest to give others the same benefit of the doubt?
• At the Last Supper the disciples asked, "Lord, is it I?" (Matthew 26:22). What would change if that were your first response to a challenging sermon, rather than 'I hope they were listening'?
• "You can't treat what you won't allow anyone to assess." Who in your life is allowed to tell you the truth about yourself? What would make it easier for them?
• Just you and GodRead Psalm 139:23–24 slowly. Is there anything God is gently showing you — somewhere you're getting it wrong, hurting someone, or holding something back?

2 Good things don't cancel out evil things

• Annie said we must not skip over Bathsheba. Why do you think we're tempted to tell this story as 'David's mistake' rather than as a story about power being abused?
• "Good things don't cancel out evil things." Why is it so easy to excuse someone because they're gifted, popular or have done a lot of good? Where have you seen that happen?
• Annie named the kinds of power we hold: position, money, age, influence, personality, our role in a family, a church or a workplace. Where do you hold power, and who could you use it for this week?
• The young man in Albania had his knees fixed, only to find the problem ran further up. Where have you seen one choice ripple out into a family or a community?
• Just you and God"Not every pain in your life is the result of your sin." Are you carrying guilt for something that was never yours to carry? What would it mean to put it down?
• At Vale we say everyone belongs, and Annie said belonging cuts both ways: 'If one part suffers, every part suffers with it' (1 Corinthians 12:26). What would it look like for us as a church to come alongside, listen, protect — and, when necessary, challenge?

3 God comes looking for David

• David hadn't asked for Nathan. When has God come looking for you before you went looking for him?
• "Grace isn't God saying, 'It doesn't matter.' Grace is God saying, 'It matters so much that I am going to come and deal with it.'" How is that different from the way you usually think about grace?
• Look at verse 13: no excuses, no blaming. Which excuse do you reach for most easily — the pressure you were under, your position, 'everyone makes mistakes'?
• The death of the child (verses 14–19) is the hardest part of the story, and Annie didn't pretend to have an answer. Read Luke 13:1–5. How can we bring hard questions honestly to God without deciding we know why tragedy happens?
• "David takes. Jesus gives." Which of Annie's contrasts between David and Jesus means most to you this week, and why?

Conviction, not condemnation

• Read Romans 8:1. "Conviction says, 'This is wrong. Come into the light.' Condemnation says, 'You are wrong. Hide.'" Which voice do you hear more often? How can you tell them apart?
• Try it together: pray Psalm 139:23–24 slowly, one line at a time, with a pause after each line. Let the silence do some of the work.

Praying together

• Pray for anyone harmed by someone else's power, and for anyone carrying guilt that was never theirs — that they'd know God sees them.
• Pray for courage to tell the truth, about ourselves and as a church.
• Close together with Annie's last line: "The King who knows us completely is the King who loves us completely."