leadership

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2 Kings: Lesson 4 — Multiplication and Addition

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 4 (Multiplication and Addition)
 2 Kings 4
       January 22, 2014

The Text:

  1. What is the wife of one of the prophets concerned about?  How does Elisha respond to her concern?  What does she tell Elisha that she has?  What does he have her do?  What happens?  
    –
  2. What happened when Elisha went to Shunem?  What did the woman there ask her husband to do?  What did Elisha want to do for her?  How did she respond?  What information did Elisha’s servant tell him?  How did Elisha respond to this news?      
    –
  3. How did the woman respond to Elisha’s news to her?  What happened?  When the boy grew, what happened in the field?  What did the mother do?  How did Elisha greet her?  What did she initially tell him?  What does Elisha do when he discovers the real reason for her visit?  
    –
  4. What was taking place when Elisha returned to Gilgal?  What did he ask his servant to do?  What did one of the men find?  What did he do with it?  What happened?  What did Elisha do?
    –
  5. What did a man from Baal Shalishah bring to Elisha?  What did Elisha say to do with it?  How did Elisha’s servant respond?  What did God say?  What happened?

 The Application:

  1. How tempting, or easy, is it to be trapped by debt?  Do you ever feel that you don’t have enough to do what is needed?  What might you be overlooking?  What has God put into your life that He wants to multiply? 
    –
  2. Is there value today in caring for spiritual leaders?  What might that look like?  How hard is it to accept help from someone you’re helping?  Why?  How closely do you watch and listen for unspoken needs that a person might have?
    –
  3. If you’ve ever received news that seemed to good to be true, how did you react?  How do you feel when you get something you have longed for and then it appears it is being taken away?  How fully do you trust God to care for you in a way that is right?        
    –
  4. Are there things that you take into your life that have death in them?  What does God want to do about them?         
    –
  5. How much is enough?  Do you trust God when you feel you don’t have enough?  When supplies seem limited, are you likely to give or to hoard?

 

Next Week:  Anything But That!
2 Kings 5

 

 

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2 Kings: Lesson 3 — A Revolting Situation

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 3 (A Revolting Situation)
 2 Kings 3
      January 15, 2014

The Text:

  1. Who was Joram?  How is he compared to his mom and dad?  What did he cling to?
    –     
  2. Who was Mesha?  What was he being required to do?  What did he do after Ahab died?  How did Joram respond?  Who did Joram go to for help?  
    –        
  3. What route do the armies take toward Moab?  How long did they march?  What happened?  What did Joram conclude?  What did Jehoshaphat ask?  What response was he given?  How was that response received?  
    –
  4. How did Elisha address Joram?  What was Joram’s response?  What made Elisha willing to talk to Joram?  What message did God give?  What was the problem that forced them to seek God’s help?  How difficult would God’s help be?
    –
  5. What unusual thing happened the next morning?  What news had the Moabites heard?  What did they see when the got up early in the morning?  What did they think they saw?    What did the Moabites set out to do?  How were they met?  How did the battle finish?

 The Application:

  1. Who are you?  In terms of being good or evil, how would people compare you to your parents, to others?  How do you compare yourself?  How do comparisons tend to lead us to cling to things we shouldn’t? 
    –
  2. Do you ever feel you are required by others, or by God, to do things that seem excessive?  How likely are we to rebel when we think there is a window of opportunity?  What does it take for God’s people to put aside differences and fight the real enemy?
    –
  3. How do you determine your path in life?  Have you ever reached a point on that path when you realized that you don’t have everything that you need?  When that happens, is it easier for you to blame God or seek God?  Are you one who people would turn to when looking for godly advice?       
    –  
  4. How do you feel about people who live in rebellion of God seeking His advice?  How can your relationship with God help others to hear what He has to say?  Do you believe that it “is an easy thing” for the Lord  to take care of that which you think impossible?      
    –     
  5. Is your perception of things always accurate?  In what ways are people trapped by an illusion they believe to be true?  What illusions do you need to see through in order to follow God more faithfully?

Next Week:  Multiplication and Addition
2 Kings 4

 

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2 Kings: Lesson 2 — Passing The Mantle

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 2 (Passing The Mantle)
 2 Kings 2
     December 18, 2013

The Text:

  1. What was the Lord about to do with Elijah?  What does Elijah ask Elisha to do?  How does Elisha respond?  What do the prophets at Bethel tell Elisha?  What is his response?  What happens at Jericho?
    –
  2. Who is watching when Elijah and Elisha arrive at the Jordan river?  How do they get across?  What does Elisha ask for from Elijah?  How does Elijah respond?
    –
  3. What happens as Elijah and Elisha are walking?  How does Elisha respond to this?  What does Elisha pick up that had fallen from Elijah?  What does he do with it?  Why?
    –
  4. What do the company of prophets conclude about Elisha?  What do they want to do? Does Elisha think this is a good idea?  How does the request of the prophets turn out?  How does Elisha respond to them?
  5. What problem exist in the town where Elisha is staying?  What does Elisha do?  What happens?  What does a group of young people do as Elisha returns to Bethel from Jericho?  How does Elisha respond?  What happens?

 

The Application:

  1. How often do you think about the Lord coming to take you to heaven?  When that time comes, do we tend to attempt to shield people from its inevitability?  Why do we try to avoid news that we already know?
    –
  2. How often do you think about people who are watching your life?  What are you doing that shows the power of God at work in you?  If someone were to give you the opportunity to make a final request of them, what would you want most?
    –
  3. How do you feel when people close to you go to be with the Lord?  Are there things that they leave behind that you ought to be picking up?  What kind of things?  What should you do with what they leave?  Why?
    –
  4. How can  you build on the reputation of people who have gone before you?  Are there times when you need to let people discover something for themselves?  How hard is it to let them?  How do you respond when they discover what you’ve already told them?
    –
  5. What problems exist in our city that are in need of healing?  Are there things God would have you do to help bring that healing?  Will you?  Are you ever guilty of mocking a servant of God?  How do you think God feels about that?

 

Next Week:  A Revolting Situation
2 Kings 3

 

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2 Kings: Lesson 1 — Learning a Fear of God

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 1 (Learning a Fear of God)
 2 Kings 1
     December 11, 2013

The Text:

  1. What had Ahaziah done to himself?  Who did he send messengers to?  What did he want to know?  What was Elijah told to do?  What message did God have for the king?
    –
  2. How did the king respond when the messengers returned?  How did they explain their sudden return?  How did they describe the man who gave them the message?  What did the king conclude about this man’s identity?
    –
  3. Who did the king send to Elijah?  What did they say to Elijah?  How did Elijah respond?  How did God respond?  How did the king respond?
    –
  4. What happened to the second group of people the king sent to Elijah?  How did the king respond to this?  How did the third captain sent to Elijah approach him?  What request did he have of Elijah that was different from his predecessors?
    –
  5. How did Elijah respond to the third group sent by the king?  What message did Elijah give the king when they met?  Why?  What happened?

The Application:

  1. Who do you turn to for information?  Are there times when you find yourself seeking advice or input about something that you’ve not listened to God about?  Why?
    –
  2. Has God ever given you an answer that you were looking for, but you weren’t looking for it from Him?  How likely are you to accept or recognize that the answer came from God?
    –
  3. When God’s word says something you don’t like, what do you do about it?  Are there times when you tend to demand a personal response from God?  How hard is it to have balance when it come to a fear of the Lord and an understanding of God’s love?
    –
  4. Do you ever find yourself in trouble because you are trying something a second time that God was clearly displeased with the first time?  What can you learn from the third captain sent to Elijah about your approach to God?
    –
  5. How does God respond to you when you approach Him in humility seeking mercy?  How does God feel today when we continue our attempt to find answers to problems and difficulties through any and every means we can think of except Him?

Next Week:  Passing the Mantle
2 Kings 2

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 22 — Conflicting Messages

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 22 (Conflicting Messages)
1 Kings 22
     December 4, 2013

The Text:

  1. How long was there peace between Aram and  Israel?  Who is the king of Israel?  What concern did he have?  Who came to visit him?  What request did the king of Israel have for this visitor?
    –
  2. How willing was Jehoshaphat to help the king of Israel?  What one request did he have before he would join forces with Israel?  How did the king of Israel respond?  What was he told?  Did this satisfy Jehoshaphat?
    –
  3. What did Jehoshaphat want?  Why did the king of Israel not want to do this?  What were all the prophets saying?  What recommendation did the messenger who was sent to get Micaiah have for him?  How does Micaiah respond?
    –
  4. What message does Micaiah initially give the king of Israel?  How did the king respond?  What did Micaiah then say?  What response did the king have?  What did Micaiah say was God’s purpose in the king attacking Ramoth Gilead?
    –
  5. What order had the king of Aram given his men?  How were they deceived?  How did the king of Israel happen to be wounded?  How did his death fulfill what God had said?  How did Jehoshaphat live?  What were his relations with the king of Israel like?  Who succeeded Ahab?  How did he live?

The Application:

  1. Are you at peace with people who have been your enemies?  What things would you risk that peace for?  Why?
    –
  2. When asked to help someone confront an enemy, do you first want to get God’s advice — even when you are already inclined to help?
    –
  3. Do you tend to surround yourself with people who are likely to give you the advice that you want to hear?  How do you respond when someone wants you to just go along with what everyone else is saying?
    –
  4. Are there times when someone tells you what you want to hear but you know it is not the truth?  How do you know?  Why would they do that?
    –
  5. How do we try to deceive God?  Does it work? How hard is it to maintain peaceful relationships with people whose lives are set against God?  Should we?

 

Next Week:  Learning a Fear of God
2 Kings 1

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 21 — Sour Grapes

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 21 (Sour Grapes)
1 Kings 21
    November 20, 2013

The Text:

  1. What did Ahab want from Naboth?  Why?  What did he offer?  How did Naboth respond?
    –
  2. How did Naboth’s response make Ahab feel?  What did he do when he went home?  What does he tell Jezebel?  What is her response to him?
    –
  3. What message does Jezebel send to the leaders in Jezreel?  What did they do?  What happened to Naboth?
    –
  4. How does Jezebel respond when she hears what has happened to Naboth?  What does she tell Ahab?  What does he do?
    –
  5. Where does God send Elijah?  How does Ahab greet Elijah?  What message does God give Ahab concerning he, his wife, and his family?  Why?  How does Ahab respond?  How does God respond?

The Application:

  1. Are there things that others have that you wish you had and they didn’t?  What would God call that?  How much value do you put on what God has given you and your family?
    –
  2. How do you feel when you don’t get what you want?  Why?  Do you think you deserve everything you want because of who you are?
    –
  3. How much effort do you put into getting what you think you deserve?  How hard is it to do right when you are told to do something that isn’t’ right?
    –
  4. Do you tend to live life with a “win at any cost” attitude?  If you knew something that you wanted was obtained in an illegal/immoral way, would you accept it?
    –
  5. How do you respond when God wants you to speak truth in the midst of wickedness?  When God uses someone to correct you, do you tend to think poorly of the messenger?  What wickedness does God want you to recognize in your life?  What response will you have when you recognize it?  What does God look for in order for Him to respond with patience and mercy?

Next Week:  Conflicting Messages
1 Kings 22

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 20 — If At First You Don’t Succeed

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 20 (If At First You Don’t Succeed)
1 Kings 20
    November 13, 2013

The Text:

  1. Who was Ben-Hadad?  Who does he join forces with?  What do they do?  What message does Ben-Hadad send to Ahab?  How does Ahab respond?  Does this satisfy Ben-Hadad?  What is his response?
    –
  2. Who does Ahab gather for advice?  What does he tell them?  What is their advice?  How does Ahab now respond to Ben-Hadad?  Does Ben-Hadad find this acceptable?  What does he promise to do?  How does Ahab respond to that?
    –
  3. What message does God send to Ahab?  What questions does Ahab have?  How are they answered?  How many young officers does Ahab summon?  How many men make up the rest of his forces?  What do they do?  Who wins the battle?
    –
  4. What message does God give after the battle?  What explanation did his officials give Ben-Hadad for their losses?  What advice to they give?  How did the two armies appear when they met again?  What happened when the battle finally took place?  When he becomes trapped, what advice is Ben-Hadad given?  What was the result of that advice?
    –
  5. What did the prophet ask a man to do?  What happened?  What story does the prophet tell Ahab?  How does Ahab respond to the story?  Who was the story really about?  What was God’s verdict?

 

The Application:

  1. What would you give for peace?  What if agreeing meant they wanted more?  What are God’s terms of peace?  Are you always willing to give it?
    –
  2. How quick are you to seek advice?  Does the support of others embolden you to take a stand?  How do you respond to threats?  Do you tend to make statements that you may not be able to back up?         
    –
  3. Do you believe God’s instructions?  How closely do you follow them?       
    –
  4. Following victory, do you tend to think about preparing for the next battle?  Do you ever try to explain away the work of God?  How much do you trust God when you feel small compared to the enemy?         
    –
  5. Why is it hard to obey God when His instructions don’t make sense?  Do you tend to excuse sin that God has condemned?  . . . In others?  . . . In yourself?

Next Week:  Sour Grapes
1 Kings 21

 

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1 Kings: Lesson 19 — Feeling Alone

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 19 (Feeling Alone)
1 Kings 19
   November 6, 2013

The Text:

  1. What news does Ahab bring back to Jezebel?  How does Jezebel respond?  Who does she tell?  What does Elijah think of her response?  What does he do?
    –
  2. What does Elijah do in Beersheba?  Where does he go from there?  When he reaches his destination, what does he tell God?
    –
  3. Who wakes Elijah up?  What instruction does he give Elijah?  What does Elijah do?  Who returns to Elijah?  Why?  What is the message given to Elijah?  How long does he travel?  Where does he go?
    –
  4. What question does God have for Elijah?  What is Elijah’s response?  What does God tell Elijah to do?  What events take place that the Lord was not in?  When did Elijah recognize God’s presence?  What does Elijah tell God is the reason for him being where he is?
    –
  5. Where does God tell Elijah to go?  What is he supposed to do when he gets there?  What will Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha do?  How many people does God say have not worshipped Baal?  What did Elijah do when he met Elisha?  How did Elisha respond?  How committed was Elisha to following Elijah?

The Application:

  1. When you don’t like something that happens, who are you most likely to tell?  Why?  Do you tend to respond with rash statements when you are upset or do you like to think things through?  How easily do you become afraid of people?  Where do you usually land on the “fight or flight” spectrum?
    –
  2. Where do you go when you’re afraid?  How often does fear drive you to isolate yourself as much as possible?  How honest are you with God when fear dominates your life?
    –
  3. What things strengthen you when you are mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually worn out?  What might that say about what you ought to be doing for others?
    –
  4. How would you explain your current situation to God if He were to ask you, “What are you doing here?”  Do you believe God’s desire is to reveal Himself to you?  Does where we expect to find God help or hinder our recognizing His presence?
    –
  5. Do you ever feel alone in your walk with God?  Are there people around you that God may have put there to let you know you are not alone?  Who has God put in your life for you to learn from?  Who has He put in your life to learn from you?

Next Week:  If At First You Don’t Succeed . . .
1 Kings 20