4/2 2 Kings 18 - Standing Against Evil
Key Chapters of the Bible
God calls us to trust Him even when life is going sideways. Today, in our study of 2nd Kings 18, we’ll learn about the account of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. This is one of the most uplifting passages in the Bible and we look forward to going through it with you. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. According to verse 1, how old was Hezekiah when he became king? How does verse 3 describe his character? When you consider the spiritual life of the typical 25-year-old man today, how does Hezekiah compare? Given his family background that was explained in this podcast,...
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4/1 2 Kings 17 - The Fall of Israel
Key Chapters of the Bible
One of the troubling aspects of studying God's Word are the examples of times when God's people turn away from Him and suffer the consequences. Today's study highlights one of the most egregious examples of what a fall from God looks like. Yet, as difficult as this chapter is, it also helps us make sense of much of the message of the rest of scripture. So, join us for another important study in the key chapters of God's Word! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other...
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3/31 2 Kings 4 - The Widow's Mighty Miracle
Key Chapters of the Bible
People sometimes want God to perform some kind of miracle in their lives, and they're dismayed when He doesn't. Today we'll look at an amazing miracle that God does for an impoverished woman, and we'll discuss why God does miracles and how we should respond. Join us for another study in the Key Chapters of God's Word! Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: . Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: Itunes: YouTube: . As...
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3/30 2 Kings 2 - Laboring In A Hostile World
Key Chapters of the Bible
Does it seem like the world rejects God’s message? This is not new. Today we’ll look at the beginning of Elishah’s ministry and see that his message was rejected from his first day. Yet we’ll also see that this was the very work that God had called him to do. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. The podcast begins by taking us back to 1 Kings 19 when Elijah met Elisha on his way home from Mount Sinai. What happened at the end of that passage? 2. The podcast explained that Elisha’s plowing with 12 oxen reflected a custom where the local farmers...
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3/29 1 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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3/28 1 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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3/27 1 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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3/26 1 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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3/25 1 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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3/24 1 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...
info_outlineGod calls us to trust Him even when life is going sideways. Today, in our study of 2nd Kings 18, we’ll learn about the account of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. This is one of the most uplifting passages in the Bible and we look forward to going through it with you. Join us!
DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. According to verse 1, how old was Hezekiah when he became king? How does verse 3 describe his character? When you consider the spiritual life of the typical 25-year-old man today, how does Hezekiah compare? Given his family background that was explained in this podcast, what do you think explains Hezekiah’s faithfulness to the Lord? How does this show us that we are not bound to our previous generations faithfulness (or lack thereof)?
2. What does Hezekiah do in verse 4? What kind of moral courage would this have taken?
3. What was the Nehushtan in verse 4 (c.f. Numbers 21:4-9)? Why were the people worshipping this object? How had this become an idol? What does this indicate about people’s natural tendency to turn things that are possibly even “good” into something “ungodly” to worship? Was the Lord displeased that Hezekiah destroyed this? Why or why not?
4. What is the importance of the word “in” in verse 5 where it says that Hezekiah “trusted in the Lord”? How is this slightly different than simply saying that he “trusted the Lord”? When you think of your own faith, are you “trusting the Lord” or “trusting IN the Lord”? How are they different in your life?
5. What does verse 6 mean by saying that Hezekiah “clung to the Lord?” On top of trusting “in” the Lord, what does “clinging” to the Lord suggest?
6. How does verse 7 describe the Lord’s response to Hezekiah’s faith? What do you think this looked like in Hezekiah’s life? How does the Lord bless him in verse 8? Along those lines, what does Hezekiah NOT do in verse 7? Why was this especially bold, given the fact that Hezekiah’s father was a vassal of Assyria?
7. Verses 9-11 describe the conquering encroachment of Assyria. Who is defeated in these verses? What impact, do you think these victories would have had on the uneasiness of the Southern Kingdom?
8. Who does Sennacherib come against in verse 13? What does this indicate about his intentions for Judah and the Southern Kingdom?
9. What does Hezekiah do in verses 14-16? Was this a good thing? What does this indicate about Hezekiah’s imperfect faith? What was Sennacherib’s response in verses 17ff? What lessons can we learn about the futility of trying to appease evil?
10. Who (or what) did the podcast say was “Rabshakeh” in verse 17? What was his message to Judah in verses 19ff? How does he mock the people’s trust in the Lord? How does Rabshakeh claim the Lord “guided” him in verse 25? Was he right? How do people today inappropriately claim God’s guidance?
11. How does the Rabshakeh undermine Hezekiah’s leadership in verses 29-32?
12. How does the Rabshakeh promise to give the people mercy in verses 21-32? How would this have been tempting for the people of Judah?
13. How does this passage set the scene for what it means to have faith, even when things go severely sideways? What principles can you apply to your life today?
Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January!
To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org.
Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv
Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819
YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube.
As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com.
Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM.
Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.