PDF: Discovery Bible Study Guide (Rojas) – Use this guide to lead or facilitate a Discovery Bible Study.
IMAGE & VIDEO: Discovery Group Format - use this strategic format for discipleship to get the most of this DBS Bible study story set.
This Discovery Bible Study (DBS) set walks a group through the core storyline of David’s life—from his hidden calling as a shepherd, to his rise as a leader, to his failures and repentance, and into the costly realities of family conflict, kingdom leadership, and finishing well. David’s story is not mainly about “being a hero,” but about how God forms a person over time: faith in public battles, integrity in private pressure, mercy toward enemies, humility after sin, and trust in God when life collapses.
The Life of David DBS Set (Core Storyline — 28 sessions)
Chosen and Anointed — 1 Samuel 16:1–13
Secret Formation (Serving in obscurity) — 1 Samuel 16:14–23
Faith vs Fear (Goliath) — 1 Samuel 17:1–54
Favor, Jealousy, and Cost — 1 Samuel 18:1–16
When Authority Turns Hostile — 1 Samuel 19:1–18
Covenant Friendship (Jonathan) — 1 Samuel 20:1–23 and/or 20:24–42
Compromises Under Pressure — 1 Samuel 21:1–15
David’s Community Forms (Adullam) — 1 Samuel 22:1–23
Guidance + Timing (Keilah) — 1 Samuel 23:1–14
Mercy Toward an Enemy (Cave) — 1 Samuel 24
Wisdom Through Abigail — 1 Samuel 25
Mercy Again (Spear + Water Jug) — 1 Samuel 26
The Drift of Discouragement — 1 Samuel 27
Crisis Leadership (Ziklag) — 1 Samuel 30:1–31
Grief + Honor (Saul & Jonathan) — 2 Samuel 1
Waiting for the Full Promise — 2 Samuel 2:1–7 (optionally read 2–3 over two weeks)
King Over All Israel (Jerusalem) — 2 Samuel 5:1–12
Presence and Holiness (The Ark) — 2 Samuel 6
Covenant and Calling (Davidic Promise) — 2 Samuel 7
Power Used for Kindness (Mephibosheth) — 2 Samuel 9
Conflict and Loyalty — 2 Samuel 10
Sin, Secrecy, and Collapse — 2 Samuel 11
God’s Confrontation + True Repentance — 2 Samuel 12:1–25
Pain That Spreads (Amnon & Tamar) — 2 Samuel 13
Absalom Returns; The Heart Problem — 2 Samuel 14
Losing the Throne; Keeping Faith — 2 Samuel 15
Humiliation, Betrayal, and Prayerful Endurance — 2 Samuel 16–17
Victory That Feels Like Loss (Absalom) — 2 Samuel 18–19
These are great “bonus” sessions if you want a longer set.
David’s Song of Deliverance — 2 Samuel 22 (≈ Psalm 18)
David’s “Last Words” + Leadership Lessons — 2 Samuel 23:1–7
The Census: Pride, Consequences, Mercy — 2 Samuel 24
Succession + David’s Final Charge — 1 Kings 1–2
Temple Vision + Preparation (Chronicles angle) — 1 Chronicles 21–22; 28–29