4/3 1st Kings 19 - Spiritual Depression & Burnout
Key Chapters of the Bible
Many of God’s servants have experienced spiritual depression and/or spiritual exhaustion. Today we look at 1 Kings 19 and see that Elijah suffered deep spiritual depression right on the heels of spiritual victory. This will be a challenging study as we look at principles for how to deal with it. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The opening verses of 1 Kings 19, what does Ahab tell Jezebel? If you were Jezebel and heard about all the Lord had done in 1 Kings 18, how would you have responded? 2. Instead, what message does Jezebel send to Elijah in verse 2? Given...
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4/2 1st Kings 18 - Who is Your God?
Key Chapters of the Bible
A key question we all have to answer is “Who is our authority?” The “gods” of our day or the Lord of the Bible? These questions have been asked for millennia and today we’ll read a powerful account of how the Lord answers this question through His prophet Elijah. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. Three years have transpired between 1 Kings 17 and 1 Kings 18. What has been happening since 1st Kings 17? How should this have affected the spiritual climate in Israel during this time? 2. What does verse 3 say about Obadiah’s fear of the...
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4/1 1st Kings 17 - Faith Among the Faithless
Key Chapters of the Bible
It’s difficult to have faith when we’re surrounded by a faithless world, and yet that’s not uncommon for God’s people. Today we’re looking at 1 Kings 17 and the account of Elijah and Ahab. We’ll see how Elijah stands for the Lord and how the Lord blesses him and those around him. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. According to the podcast, what happened to the nation of Israel 55 years earlier? Which kingdom did Elijah preach to? 2. Although King Ahab was a king over the northern kingdom, by his mode of life, which God did He really worship?...
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3/31 1st Kings 12 - A House Divided
Key Chapters of the Bible
A key fact that we all need to know is that in 930 BC, Israel divided into two kingdoms. Today, we read the record of that account and consider why it happened, and what were the massive repercussions of this event. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. When Chapter 12 opens, who was Rehoboam, where was he going, and what was he expecting? 2. How many of the tribes were going to support Rehoboam? What does this mean about the others? 3. In verse 6, what kind of wise counsel did Rehoboam receive? Whose counsel did he get in verse 8? Which...
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3/30 1st Kings 11 - But For the Grace of God...
Key Chapters of the Bible
One of the most shocking realities of scripture is that at the end of Solomon's life, he turned from God. This sobering study reminds us that "but for the grace of God, there go I…" Let us look over this chapter and be reminded of how it must be God that holds on to us, if we are to persevere. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. In verses 1 & 2, what was Solomon doing? According to verse 4, how was this affecting his relationship with the Lord? Why do you think this was so? 2. Verse 5 says that Solomon also went after the false gods Ashtoreth and Milcom (aka...
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3/29 1st Kings 8 - Dedicated Worship
Key Chapters of the Bible
What does it look like when a person is serious about their worship? Today, we’ll look at 1 Kings 8 and will see how Solomon led the people in worship of God as He dedicated the Temple to the Lord. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. In the opening verses of this chapter, who is gathering with Solomon to dedicate the Temple as the ark is brought in? What does this tell us about the heart of the people? 2. In verses 10 and 11, what filled the temple during this event? Why was this so important? 3. What does Solomon tell the people in verses 12 to 21? How was God a part of this entire...
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3/28 1st Kings 3 - Needing Wisdom
Key Chapters of the Bible
If you’re a child of God, then you want His wisdom. So did Solomon. By God’s grace, he became the wisest man to ever live. Today we’ll look at his life and how God gave him wisdom to grapple with the challenges he was facing. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. What do we learn about Solomon’s heart for the Lord in the first part of verse 3? According to the podcast, how should we understand this statement in light of verse 1? 2. Likewise, what was going on in verse 2? What did this reflect about the people’s devotion to the Lord? How was...
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3/27 1 Kings 2 - Rocky Beginnings for Solomon
Key Chapters of the Bible
Plenty of passages might leave us wondering what’s going on. 1st Kings 2 is probably one of them. Today, we’ll discuss the unsettling accounts of several executions that took place in the early days of Solomon’s reign. Although these may not fit the sense of justice in our day, we’ll see that they ultimately remind us to be looking for the Kingdom of Christ. DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. As this chapter opens, what does verse 1 let us know is about to happen? 2. The podcast reminds us that Solomon is regarded as the wisest person who ever lived....
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3/26 1st Kings 1 - Following God Down a Difficult Path
Key Chapters of the Bible
There are times when life can bring us all kinds of tumultuous upheaval. We may even be in the “right” but having everything go against us. Today in our study of 1st Kings 1, we’ll see that as Solomon become king, several people had to follow a difficult path; yet they were ultimately blessed by the Lord for their faithfulness. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The opening verses give us an unsettling situation with David. What does this tell us about David and his probity at this point in his life? 2. In verse 5, what did David’s son...
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3/26 1st Kings 1 - Following God Down a Difficult Path
Key Chapters of the Bible
There are times when life can bring us all kinds of tumultuous upheaval. We may even be in the “right” but having everything go against us. Today in our study of 1st Kings 1, we’ll see that as Solomon become king, several people had to follow a difficult path; yet they were ultimately blessed by the Lord for their faithfulness. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The opening verses give us an unsettling situation with David. What does this tell us about David and his probity at this point in his life? 2. In verse 5, what did David’s son...
info_outlineOn the surface, the account of God calling Abraham to offer Isaac is one of the most difficult passages in the Bible. We can't imagine God actually calling any of His people to do such a thing. But we'll see in today's episode, that when we understand the context of this passage, and what Abraham knew to be true, we'll see that it was an amazing step of faith that actually shows us the kind of faith that God calls us all to. Please join us in this important study in God's Word!
DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:
Genesis 22 1. Using a Bible atlas or online atlas, locate Beersheba on the map to the right. Also, locate the Wilderness of Moriah on the map. What importance does each of these locations have in Genesis 22?
2. This chapter contains God’s command to Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. While we know how the story ends, this would be an unsettling command for anyone to hear. How does the miraculous origin of Isaac’s conception help us understand why Abraham was so calm in his obedience to the Lord? How do the words “we” and “return” in verse 5 give us a window into Abraham’s mindset as he obeyed the Lord?
3. In verse 8, Abraham assures Isaac that the Lord will provide a sacrifice. How has Abraham seen the provision of the Lord in his life before this? How have you seen the Lord provide in your life? How might dwelling upon God’s prior provision give us strength in times of present distress?
4. Think about Isaac’s age in this passage. Do you think a 120-year-old man could have physically put Isaac on the altar? What would have had to happen in order for Isaac to get on it? How does this likelihood help us understand Isaac’s role in this event?
5. Isaac was Abraham’s only link to something and someone. What and Who was Isaac the link to? What kind of faith did Abraham demonstrate by being willing to break this link, if that was to be the Lord’s will?
6. This passage also gives us a picture of the substitutionary death of Christ. How? What did God’s substitute mean for Isaac? What does Christ’s substitute mean for us?
7. Verses 16 to 18 contain one of the most important promises in the Old Testament regarding who the offspring of Abraham are. Who are the “four seeds” suggested in the lesson? Which ones will be in God’s Eternal Kingdom? Why? Are you among the believing seed spoken of in these verses?
8. Genesis 22 shows the kind of faith that this new nation would be founded upon. How would you summarize Abraham’s faith and obedience from this event? Where does this kind of faith come from?
9. Are there any situations in your life where you simply need to trust and obey God as Abraham did here? Are you able to trust and obey Him? Why or why not?
10. Have you ever sung the children’s song, “Father Abraham”? It says that he had many sons. In light of what the lesson has taught about this passage, who are those sons? When the song says, “I am one of them, and so are you,” what does that mean? Is that true of you? Why or why not?
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