Bible Lessons

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1 Kings: Lesson 15 — A Tale of Three Kings

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 15 (A Tale of Three Kings)
1 Kings 15
  October 9, 2013

The Text:

  1. How long did Rehaboam reign in Jerusalem?  How long did his son, Abijah, reign?  How is Abijah compared to his father? . . . To David?  What did God do at this time for David’s sake?  Why?  What was the relationship between Israel and Judah during this time?
    –
  2. Who succeeded Abijah as king in Jerusalem?  How does his actions compare with that of his father? . . . Of David?  What were some of his actions that were different from his predecessor?  What remained?
    –
  3. Who was Baasha?  How did he get along with Asa?  What did Baasha do to those living under Asa’s rule?
    –
  4. What did Asa collect from the temple and from his palace?  What did he have done with it?  Did it serve its purpose?  What did Asa require everyone in Judah to do?  Who was excused?   
    –
  5. Who succeeded Jeraboam as king in Israel?  How long did he reign?  How did he live?  How did his reign end?  What did his successor do to Jeraboam’s family?  Why?

The Application:

  1. How patient does God have to be with you?  How would your life be compared to that of your ancestors?  Do you think God treats groups of people with patience because of the faithfulness of one? . . . Of you?
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  2. How difficult is it to do the right thing when it seems like all of the examples around you are wrong?  Why do people often seem to excuse bad behavior in their family?  What might you still be holding on to that God has asked you to remove?     
    –
  3. Who is your adversary?  Do you often recognize that you are living in a war zone?  What situations make you feel trapped by the enemy?   
    –
  4. What would you give to be completely free from the entrapment of the enemy?  Why is it important to destroy the means by which the enemy has confined you?  What happens if not everyone is involved in this?         
    –
  5. What legacy will you leave those behind you?  What do we often seem to forget about God and His timing?  What promises are  you glad God will keep?  Are there some that concern you?

 

Next Week:  From Bad To Worse
1 Kings 16

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 14 — You Can’t Hide What’s Inside

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 14 (You Can’t Hide What’s Inside)
1 Kings 14
 October 2, 2013

The Text:

  1. Where does Jeraboam ask his wife to go when their son becomes ill?  How does he want her to go?  Why?  Who is she supposed to see?  What does he hope to learn?
    –
  2. What had Ahijah the prophet lost because of his age?  What message did God give him about his soon-to-arrive visitor?  How does Ahijah greet Jeraboam’s wife?  What reason is given for the message God is about to send to Jeraboam?
    –
  3. What does God say will happen to the males in the household of Jeraboam?  What does God say will happen when Jeraboam’s wife returns home?  How will Israel respond?  What will be unique about the burial of Jeraboam’s son?
    –
  4. What will happen to the family of Jeraboam?  Who will do it?  What will happen to Israel?  Why?  Did this happen?
    –
  5. How long did Rehoboam reign in Jerusalem?  Who was his mother?  Why would God point this out twice in the span of 11 verses?  How did Judah act under his reign?  What happened to the treasures of the temple and the palace during Rehoboam’s reign?

 

The Application:

  1. Who do you turn to when tragedy strikes?  How transparent are you when you seek God?  Are there times that you try to disguise the real you when you approach God?  Why would a person do that?  What should they do instead?
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  2. In what ways does God’s presence overcome physical limitations you may face?  Are there times when God calls you through His Word or Spirit to put down the mask, He knows who you are?  How do you respond to God’s conviction in your life?
    –
  3. How would you (do you) feel when bad things happen to others because of your actions?  If you really believe God when He says something bad will happen when you did a certain thing, would you do it?  Are you sure?
    –
  4. When you receive the consequences of sin, who is responsible?  Why is it so hard to take responsibility for bad decisions?  Does God keep  His word?
    –
  5. Is longevity in a position or event proof that it is good and right?  Are there bad decisions that we make today that have a cascading effect on future generations?  Is there a way to stop that?

 

Next Week:  A Tale Of Three Kings
1 Kings 15

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 13 — A Hard Lesson

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 13 (A Hard Lesson)
1 Kings 13
 September 25, 2013

The Text:

  1. What message does a man of God bring from Judah to Bethel?  Who/what is the message delivered to?  What was declared would happen as a sign?  Who was there to hear the message?  What was his response?  What happened to him? . . . To the altar?
    –
  2. What did Jeraboam request be done for him?  Was it?  What did Jeraboam offer the man of God?  Was it accepted?  Why/Why not?
    –
  3. Who was told about the interaction between the man of God and Jeraboam?  How did he respond to the news — what did he do?  What request does he have for the man of God?  What response does he receive?  Did he accept that answer?  How does he attempt to overcome the man of God’s refusal?  Does it work?
    –
  4. What happens when the man of God sits down to eat with the old prophet?  What message is given?  What happens after the meal?  What stands out as unusual about the details of this event?  What does the old prophet do when he hears news of what had happened to the man of God?
    –
  5. What instruction does the old prophet give to his sons regarding the end of his life?  What reason does he give?  How did Jeraboam respond?  How did God feel about it?

 

The Application:

  1. What promises has God given regarding those who continue in wickedness?  How do people typically respond to that message?  How do you respond to it?  Has God proven to you that He keeps His promises?
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  2. Do you have a tendency to turn to, or away from, God when bad things happen?  Why?  Does it always mean you have a willingness to change?
    –
  3. How do you respond when someone wants you to do something that God has made clear you shouldn’t?  What does it take for them to convince you it is okay?  Does this say more about them, or you?
    –
  4. How would you feel when the messenger of pointing out your sin is the person who convinced you to do it?  How does God feel when we decide that it is okay to not do what He says?
    –
  5. How confident are you that God will keep His promises both to the saved and the unsaved?  What do your actions say about that level of confidence?

 

Next Week:  You Can’t Hide What’s Inside
1 Kings 14

 

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The Pot Calling The Kettle Black — Genesis 38

I guest taught a lesson in a Bible study class that is working its way through Genesis.  This is the study guide/discussion questions that I used with the class.

Genesis 38

“The Pot Calling the Kettle Black”

 

  1. Chapter 38 opens with the phrase, “At that time” – what was “that time”?  What had taken place?  What was Judah’s role in it?  How did it turn out?  Where did Judah go?  Why?  What takes place?
    –
  2. Who are Er, Onan, and Shelah?  What did Judah do for Er?  How did Er live according to God’s view?  What happened to him?  What was Onan’s responsibility?  How did he respond to that?  What was God’s response?
    –
  3. What instruction does Judah then give Tamar?  Why?  After time passes and his wife dies, where does Judah decide to go?  Who hears about it?  What does she do?  Why?  When he sees her, who does Judah think she is?
    –
  4. What arrangement does Judah make with the woman he meets?  What does he leave as a guarantee of payment?  What happens when Judah tries to send what was promised?  What is he told?  What does he do?
    –
  5. What news is brought to Judah three months after this incident?  What does he want to have done?  What message does Tamar send to Judah?  How does he respond to this?  What takes place in the proper time?  Who are Perez and Zerah?  Where do we read of them again?

So what?

  1. How often do circumstances and bad choices take you down a path you shouldn’t be on?  Is it easier to hide from regrets or face them?  Which is better?  Why is it so hard to see that at the time?
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  2. How bad is too bad?  How do you respond to things that you aren’t given a choice about?  How much do you consider what’s in it for you when you decide a course of action?  How long do you think you would live if God punished all selfish actions in the way Onan was punished?
    –
  3. Are there things that you try to keep to yourself that really belong to someone else?  Are there times that you fail to take the circumstances into account and begin to believe something will happen simply because it has happened before – forgetting why it happened and so, how to avoid it?  Have you ever used deceit to persuade someone to do what is right?  Is that a good idea?
    –
  4. Do you have possessions that people would generally identify as belonging to, or coming from, you?  How willing would you be to give these up, particularly to a stranger?  How might trying to retrieve something that was “lost” in a questionable manner make you look?  Have you ever given up on something simply to avoid others noticing, and reacting to, what you did?
    –
  5. How quick are you to judge people based on what others say about them?  Do you tend to be harsher or more lenient on those who fall to the same sin you struggle with?  Why?  How do you respond when your hypocrisy is exposed?  Do you have confidence that God can use the messed up circumstances in your life to accomplish great things?  You should!
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1 Kings: Lesson 12 — Dividing A Nation

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 12 (Dividing A Nation)
1 Kings 12
 September 18, 2013

The Text:

 

  1. Who was Rehoboam?  What was the purpose of his trip to Shechem?  What message does Israel give to Rehoboam?  How does he initially respond?
    –
  2. What advice does Rehoboam receive from the elders who had served Solomon?  What does Rehoboam think of this advice?  Who does he go to for another opinion?  What response do they suggest?
    –
  3. When the people of Israel gather back together to hear Rehoboam’s response, what does he say to them?  Why?  How did the people of Israel respond to the king’s decision?
    –
  4. What did the people of Israel do to the man Rehoboam sent out to gather people for forced labor?  What did this do to the nation?  Who did the people of Israel turn to as their leader?  What did Rehoboam want to do?  Why didn’t he?
    –
  5. What concern did Jeroboam have about the people going to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices?  How did he attempt to resolve that problem?  How much attention did Jeroboam give to the way God had instructed worship to take place?  What does God say about it?

 

 

The Application:

 

  1. In what settings do people look to you for leadership?  How do you address someone when you want things done differently?  How much thought do you put into the answers that you give people?
    –
  2. Do you seek advice from people who have more experience than you?  Do you prefer to listen to the advice of people who would be your peers?  Why is it sometimes difficult to take advice from people from another generation?
    –
  3. Why is it that control and power seem to be so addictive?  Why is it so easy/hard for you to part ways with someone who does not have your best interest in mind?
    –
  4. How do you respond when people try to force you to do something?  What seems to be the typical effect of a person insisting that everything has to be their way?  What would it take for brothers & sisters in Christ to cease fighting one another?
    –
  5. What role does genuine worship have in uniting people?  What do you think this says about the enemy’s efforts to get us to make worship about us and what we like?  How does God respond when we ignore Him in our worship?

 

 

Next Week:  A Hard Lesson
1 Kings 13

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 11 — It’s All Downhill From Here

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 11 (It’s All Downhill From Here)
1 Kings 11
 September 11, 2013

The Text:

  1. Where were the foreign women from that Solomon loved?  What had God said about these nations?  What eventually happened as a result of Solomon’s love for these women?   
    –
  2. How was Solomon’s obedience to God compared to that of David?  How did God respond to Solomon’s actions?  What influence did the relationship David had with God have on God’s dealings with Solomon?  
    –  
  3. Who was Hadad?  Where did he grow up?  Why?  What did he set out to do after he learned that David and Joab were dead?  Why?  What did Hadad have in common with Rezon?
    –
  4. What was Jeroboam’s early relationship with Solomon?  What did Solomon notice about him and how did Solomon respond to that?
    –
  5. What did the prophet do when he met Jeroboam heading out of Jerusalem?  What did he tell Jeroboam this represented?  What reason did God give for doing this?  What instruction is given to Jeroboam?  Does this sound familiar?

The Application:

  1. Are there people or things that have the potential to turn your heart away from God that get you attention?  Why is it hard to avoid such situations?  Even though you likely wouldn’t claim it, do your actions show that you think you are wiser than Solomon?
    –
  2. Would God say that you have a heart after Him or that your heart is not fully devoted to Him?  What should you do when it appears your heart is divided?  Does your relationship with God, your intercession for others, make a difference in God’s dealings with them?   
    –
  3. Do you know people who seem to be your adversary?  Have you ever given serious thought as to why and if God might be using them for your discipline?   
    –
  4. Who are some people that you trust so much that you would put them in charge of things you are responsible for?  Do you work in such a manner that people would trust you to be in charge of their responsibilities?
    –
  5. How do you respond when it feels like someone you trusted is betraying you?  What if you knew it was at God’s direction?  How important is doing what is right in God’s eyes?

 

Next Week:  Dividing A Nation
1 Kings 12

 

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1 Kings: Mid-Term Review

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Mid-Term Review
1 Kings 1-10
   September 4, 2013

 

  1. “Who’s In Charge” — How do you feel when you realize you have chosen the “wrong side”?  How afraid are you of the judgment you deserve?
    –
  2. “Settling Accounts” — What things do you think are important to pass on to others while you can?  How important is it for you to challenge others to keep the Lord’s commands?  What benefits of  keeping God’s commands have you experienced that you could tell others about?
    –
  3. “Asking For Anything” — How do you think God would react to your request if you were to ask Him for what you felt you needed most?  In what ways has God given you immeasurably more than you could think or ask?
    –
  4. “Collecting Taxes” — Do you believe that God wants to supply your every need?  What things make that seem more believable or less believable?  What influence does contentment have on your willingness to give?
    –
  5. “Building Preparation” — When starting something new, how important is it to remember why it hadn’t been done yet?  Who benefits from that reminder?  Should we consider how our circumstances are different from those of our predecessors when evaluating doing something they couldn’t?
    –
  6. “Building Project 1” — How much “living space” does God want in your life?  Does He receive it?  How concerned are you about distractions as you prepare your temple for God?
    –
  7. “Building Project 2” — How do you define justice?  What areas of injustice concern you?  Are you more concerned about justice in the sense of punishing wrongs or righting wrongs?
    –
  8. “Building Dedication” — Is God at the center of every aspect of your life?  Do you find it easier to look to God during good times or bad?  Do you act like God really wants all people to know His name and fear Him?
    –
  9. “A Special Guest” — How much do you think about God inspecting your work?  What does He look for?  How has God revealed himself to us?  What does He say to you about His temple?
    –
  10. “What’s It Worth?” — Do you live like you are in possession of the great riches of God’s grace?  What would need to change so that people would want to hear the wisdom God has given you?  Are you a hoarder, a spender, or a giver?

 

Next Week:  It’s All Downhill From Here
1 Kings 11

 

 

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 10 — What’s It Worth?

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 1 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Starting Strong Isn’t The Same As Finishing Strong

A Study of the Book of 1 Kings

Lesson 10 (What’s It Worth?)
1 Kings 10
   May 22, 2013

The Text:

  1. What had the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon?  What was the purpose of her visit to Solomon?  What did she bring with her?
    –
  2. What did she talk with Solomon about?  How did Solomon respond to her questions?  What did she feel about Solomon’s wisdom, possessions, and relationship with God?  What did she come to believe about Solomon’s reputation?  Why?
    –
  3. What did the queen of Sheba conclude that the attitude of the people of Israel must be?  Who does she credit for all that Solomon has become?  What does she and Solomon give each other?
    –
  4. How much gold did Solomon receive each year?  What other revenue sources did he have?  What were some unique things he made?  How much was made out of silver?  Why?
    –
  5. How did Solomon’s wealth and wisdom compare with his contemporaries?  How popular was he?  What did the people do who came to see him?  What did Solomon do with all his wealth?

 

 

The Application:

  1. What do you think people hear about you?  How much is your relationship with God known?  How would it be known?  Do people try to put your relationship with God to the test?  Do you tend to “test” people who seem too good to be true?  In what ways do you try to impress people?  Does it work?
    –
  2. Who are you most open with in your conversations?  Why?  Do you like people who have all the answers?  Why or why not?  How do you respond when your attempt to impress someone comes up short?
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  3. Do people look at your relationship with God and conclude that the people around you ought to be happy?  Does every good thing in your life noticeably come from God?
    –
  4. What is your primary source of income?  Do you have other means of revenue?  What do you do with what you have?  What things of value have lost their value to you because they are so plentiful?
    –
  5. Do you live like you are in possession of the great riches of God’s grace?  What would need to change so that people would want to hear the wisdom God has given you?  Are you a hoarder, a spender, or a giver?