On June 5, 1976, a massive dam burst in Idaho, and it all began with one inconspicuous crack that was ignored for too long. This image opens the story of King David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11), an account of how small concessions to our own desires lead to a tragedy that cannot be undone. The sermon shows that none of us is immune to sin, and God calls evil what we try to cover up. Listen before the small cracks in your life turn into a destructive flood.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- At the start of 2 Samuel 11, in the season when kings went off to war, David stayed in Jerusalem. How did this decision set the stage for what followed?
- Uriah refuses to go home because the ark and his fellow soldiers are out in the field, and even when drunk he does not change his mind. What does his attitude reveal in contrast to David's behaviour?
- The sermon opens with the story of the dam in Idaho that failed because of a small, unnoticed crack. What small neglects can lead to a great fall in a believer's life?
- Everything looked as if nothing had happened, yet one sentence says that what David did displeased the Lord. Why is it so easy to excuse David, and ourselves, by pointing to all the good someone has done?
- The speaker stresses that no one is immune to sin, including those who have believed for years or hold a position. In what situations are you tempted to think that you are allowed more?
- What small crack in your life do you want to honestly name this week before God or a trusted person, instead of ignoring it?
