week of 9/11

Unit 13  Session 2

AHAB'S IDOLATRY

1 KINGS 15- 18

God will not fail to confront evil, but neither will He fail to offer mercy to those who repent.

Because of Jeroboam's idolatry, his whole house was wiped out in judgment (1 Kings 14:10). The kings of Israel that followed failed to restore the kingdom to a healthy place. Over and over again, they walked in the ways of Jeroboam, in the ways of idolatry and sinfulness. With each passing king, it seemed to be getting worse. Then King Ahab came to power, and he was more evil than all the others. And of course, the people followed. But in God's mercy and grace, He sent messengers and prophets to speak truth and to call for a return to the Lord. Some would listen, and some would not.

Points to consider:

✞   Ahab leads the people further into idolatry.

     * Why should we maintain hope when we 

        see evil?

✞   Elijah leads the people toward repentance.

     * What are some potential dangers believers 

        in Christ might face for obeying the Lord?

     * Why should believers be able to speak the 

        truth with boldness even in the face of 

        opposition?

✞   God's power leads the people toward worship.       

     * What are some ways we can see the power 

        of God on display today? 

week of 9/4

Unit 13  Session 1

JEROBOAM'S COMPROMISE

1 KINGS 12 - 14

Left unchecked, doubt and fear can be the first steps toward sin and judgment.

At some point in Solomon's wise reign over Israel, he succumbed to foolishness and worshiped idols. God had declared that He would humble David's descendants when they did not do what was right in His eyes. For Solomon, this took the form of war, but succeeding generations would suffer a divided kingdom. After Solomon's death, his son, Rehoboam, was made king over all Israel, but he did not listen to wisdom and was harsh with the people. Because of this, the kingdom was divided and Rehoboam ruled over Judah while the people established Jeroboam as king over the rest of Israel. Jeroboam now had the responsibility to lead the people to obey God and enjoy His favor.

Points to consider:

✞   Doubting God's promises leads to fear.

     * Why is it doubt a dangerous way to view and 

        relate to God?

✞   Fear leads to idolatry.

     * What are some ways we can resist temptation 

        to sin?

     * What reasons do we have to trust God's wisdom 

        over our own?

✞   Idolatry leads to judgment.       

     * Why should we listen to those who speak God's 

        truth to us? 

week of 8/28

Unit 12  Session 4

GOD, THE MERCIFUL KING

1 KINGS 9:1-9  ;  11:14-40  ;  TITUS 3

The sinner deserves God's punishment, but God has extended mercy.

When Solomon finished building the temple of the Lord and his royal palace, he must have patted himself on the back. God then appeared to him and explained what would happen if he followed God like his father, David, did and what would happen if he didn't. Solomon decided not to listen to the Lord's warning. And in not listening, he failed miserably in the eyes of the Lord, so judgment was coming. Solomon was supposed to be the wisest man in the world, yet one misstep led to another. Oh, but for the mercy of God extended to us! Oh, but for His mighty plan and redeeming love to save us from our missteps and failures! Oh, but for the true King who leads us well as an example and a Savior for us!

Points to consider:

✞   Punishment is promised to all who disobey the Lord.

     * Why does God repeatedly remind His people of the 

        blessings of obedience?

✞   Mercy is extended to all who return to the Lord.

     * How should we respond to the mercy of God, whether 

        shown to us or others?

✞   Salvation is provided to all who fall on the Lord.       

     * In addition to sending Jesus, what are some ways God 

        has shown His love and kindness toward humanity?

     * How does the fact that we are undeserving of 

        salvation magnify the glory of God's mercy in 

        saving us?

week of 8/21

Unit 12  Session 3

SOLOMON, THE FAILED KING

1 KINGS 10-12

Sin begins in the heart, but its consequences affect others.

It's a dark time in the kingdom, but you wouldn't know it. The prosperity and fame of King Solomon had put him on the map in more ways than one. Foreign royalty had come to see for themselves both the lavish wealth and wisdom of Solomon. You'd think that with every blessing and provision Solomon would have been living with wholehearted devotion to God. You'd think that, but you'd be wrong. Dark days lay ahead for the king and his kingdom. It's too bad Solomon couldn't see that.

Points to consider:

✞   A divided heart leads to sin.

     * Why is it important that God's people obey His 

        command not to marry unbelievers?

     * What steps can we take to help us avoid passive 

        and active works of evil in our lives?

✞   A rebellious heart receives judgment.

     * Why does the Lord's discipline of believers in 

        Christ resemble that of Solomon and not Saul?

✞   An arrogant heart results in division and strife.       

     * Why might division be considered a natural 

        consequence of sin?

week of 8/14

Unit 12  Session 2

SOLOMON, THE WORSHIPING KING

1 KINGS 6-9

God is faithful to provide forgiveness for people so that He might dwell with them.

Solomon had secured the throne. He was God's chosen king of Israel. But he came to the office with a heavy expectation and task upon him - building God a temple. And so, the "Builder King" went to work assembling material and organizing labor to build a new place for God, as well as a palace for himself, that would showcase his extraordinary wisdom and wealth to all the world. But as Israel had learned before, handling the things of God isn't always a safe endeavor. With the completion of the temple, some may have been wondering if God would approve of this house built for Him.

Points to consider:

✞   The temple hosts God's presence with His people.

     * When have you felt God's presence in your life?

     * What similarities and differences do you see 

        between Solomon's temple and the church as 

        the temple of the Holy Spirit?

✞   The temple declares God's faithfulness to His people.

     * Why was retelling the story of God's covenant 

        with David important?

✞   The temple depicts God's forgiveness for His people.       

     *How should Solomon's prayer help instruct 

       our prayers? 

week of 8/7

 Unit 12  Session 1

SOLOMON, THE WISE KING

1KINGS 1-3

God is generous in giving wisdom to His people.

The crown is falling on your head. You're about to be the leader of a nation that is finally settling into peace and prosperity. Your father is one of the greatest leaders of all time, but you're young, inexperienced, and naive. Your brothers want your position; your father's generals are nervous about your leadership skill. The expectations over you are higher than they have ever been for anyone in your position before. How will you possibly meet and even exceed those expectations? Welcome to the first days of the reign of King Solomon, son of David.

Points to consider:

✞   A covenant charge is given to a son.

     * Why were expectations for Solomon so high?

     * Why is it important to walk in God's ways?

✞   A gracious offer is made to a son.

     * Why is it sometimes difficult to ask God for things?

✞   A generous gift is given to a son.

     * Why do you think God blessed Solomon in this way?

week of 7/31

Unit 11  Session 5

GOD, THE GRACIOUS KING

EPHESIANS 2 ; PSALM 51

God is gracious to save sinners who come to Him through faith in Jesus.

After centuries of no king, the Israelites were given Saul, who started his kingship with promise but turned his back on the Lord. They then received David, whose blessing and favor from the Lord were evident. David's reputation and rule, however, were tarnished by the second half of his reign. Neither man had a chance to fulfill all of Israel's hopes and dreams because they were flawed, selfish, and sinful. Every kingly failure points us to the one and only true King of Heaven and earth, Jesus Christ. As we focus on the grace of God, we see that the Lord Himself is the source of all our hopes and strength for this life and the next.

Points to consider:

✞   God's grace is needed to save the dead sinner.

     * What are some sinful paths people choose 

        to follow in this world?

     * How might a shared history of sin, in general, 

        help believers as they share the gospel with 

        unbelievers?

✞   God's grace is poured out in abundance through Christ.

     * What are some ways we can show our honor and 

        love for Jesus because of the salvation He has given 

        to us by His grace?

✞   God's grace is realized through faith and 

      prompts praise.

     * What are some ways you have seen the workmanship 

        of God in the lives of believers?