For Sunday, January 2, 2011

Lesson preparation for January 2, 2011!

1) 1 Kings 11:41-43
What happened? How was Solomon described?
12:1-5
Who are the characters? What is the situation? How did the people describe Solomon's rule? Why?

2) 1 Kings 11:26-40
Why was Jeroboam in Egypt? Why was God bringing this judgment on Solomon? What did God, through the prophet, promise Jeroboam? How did that promise compare to Solomon's original promise?

3) 1 Kings 12:6-11
Who did Rehoboam go to first for advice? What was their advice? Who did he go to next? What explanations can you think of to explain the differences in advice?

4) 1 Kings 12:12-15
How did Rehoboam answer the people? What is the reason given in this passage for this turn of events?
1 Kings 12:16-24
How did the people respond? What were the consequences for Jeroboam? Rehoboam? Israel? How did God intervene, according to verse 24?

For Sunday, December 26, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, December 26, 2010.

1) 1 Kings 10:23-25
Based on this passage, describe King Solomon. How did he become this way? (See 1 Kings 3:3-15) What were the consequences of God's gifts to him? What were the conditions of this promise?

2) 1 Kings 11:1-3
Describe Solomon's home life. How does this fit with what you already know about Solomon? Could he claim to be ignorant of the consequences of his choice? Why or why not? What were the consequences of his choice?

3) 1 Kings 11:4-8
How many idols are mentioned in this passage? What was Solomon's motivation in building the high places and joining in the worship of idols? How do your human relationships effect your relationship with God? Are there any relationships that are coming between you and God? What do you need to do about it?

4) 1 Kings 11:9-13
What was God's response to Solomon's choices and actions? How many times had God appeared to Solomon? What were the consequences going to be for Solomon? For all of Israel? Why did God reserve part of Israel?

For Sunday, December 19, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, December 19, 2010.

1) Mathew 1:18-25
What was God’s purpose in sending Jesus to earth? Jesus can save you from the power and consequences of sin. Name some of the sins Jesus saved you from. Do you have any unconfused sin in your life right now? Bring it to God today. Thank God for forgiveness through Jesus.
1 John 1:9

2) Mathew 1:18-25
What other name was given to Jesus? In how many ways is Jesus “God with us?” Tell God how much that means to you today.

3) Mathew 2:1-12
How did the wise men know they had found the One for whom they were searching? What gifts did they give? What gifts are you giving God this Christmas?

4) Mathew 2:13-18
What is your response to this part of the Christmas story? What other Bible stories come to mind when you read this passage? How can this story help us trust God even when He doesn’t make sense?

For Sunday, December 12, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, December 12, 2010.

1) 1 Kings 8:12-21
What background information do we learn from this passage about the events unfolding? What did Solomon highlight about God’s character in this blessing? Solomon viewed his personal identity and accomplished as connected to God’s work. How? Do you see this kind of connection in your life?

2) 1 Kings 8:22-30
What did Solomon say about to God about God in his prayer? What were the conditions of the promise God gave David about his descendants? What promise of God would you ask to be confirmed in your life? How would you describe Solomon’s attitude in verse 27? What did Solomon request of God in relation to the Temple? In verse 30, what did Solomon identify as the people’s greatest needs from God?

3) Skim 1 Kings 8:31-53.
What are the repeating words in this passage? What does Solomon repeatedly ask of God? Why was this request so important? What actions of the people did Solomon refer to? Who did Solomon pray for? How many sin scenarios did Solomon list?

4) 1 Kings 8:54-61
How was Solomon’s prayer posture described? In verse 56, what did he identify as God’s gift to His people? What effect does God’s faithfulness have on your prayer life? In verse 58, how did Solomon describe the initiation of relationship between God and people? What were Solomon’s goals for the people? How did Solomon view Israel’s role in God’s kingdom around the world? What does it mean to be wholly devoted to God?

　

For Sunday, December 5, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, December 5, 2010.

1) 1 Kings 1
Who are the main characters mentioned in this chapter? Who was king? Who became king? What obstacles were in his way? How would you describe the way the new king treated his brother in verses 52-53?

2) 1 Kings 2:1-12
What were the main instructions David gave to Solomon? What warnings did David give Solomon? Why? In verses 2-4, David passed along the promise God had made to him. What promises of God have you shared with someone else recently?

3) 1 Kings 3:3-15
What did God ask Solomon? How would you have answered? How did Solomon answer? Why did this answer please God so much? Is verse 14 a promise to everyone, or a specific promise to Solomon? What did Solomon do next after this encounter with God?

4) 1 Kings 3:16-28
Can you think of other stories over time that have been based on this story? How would you have handled this situation if you were Solomon? How did Solomon handle it? What was the response of all the people who heard about it? Do you trust God to provide the wisdom you need? See James 1:5-8.

For Sunday, November 28, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, November 28, 2010.

1) Ephesians 6:10-17
Paul uses this imagery in small sections of other letters. How do you think he came up with this idea?
Isaiah 59:15-20
The Isaiah 59 passage may have been his example. What do these verses say about the Lord as a warrior? How does the time and society described in this passage compare to today?

2) Ephesians 6:10-17; Hebrews 4:12
Which is the only offensive weapon Paul listed? What happens when Christians try to use other methods of offense?
Luke 4:1-13
What does Jesus’ example show us about God’s Word as a weapon?

3) Ephesians 6:18-20
What instructions does Paul give about prayer? What requests did he ask for himself?
Luke 18:1-8
What did Jesus emphasize in this parable about prayer? How does your prayer life measure up to the example he gave?

4) Ephesians 6:21-22
Who was Tychicus? See Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; and Titus 3:12.
Ephesians 6:23-24
What are the key words of Paul’s blessing on the Ephesians? Which do you need most right now?

For Sunday, November 21, 2010

Lesson prep for Sunday, November 21, 2010.

1) Ephesians 6:1-3
What does it mean to "honor your mother and father" as an adult? What is it about obeying and honoring your parents that leads to verse 3 being true in your life? Evaluate your treatment and attitude toward you parents: does it follow God's standard?

2) Ephesians 6:4
In this verse, the word translated for "Fathers" actually is generic for parents.
In what ways do you exasperate your children? In what ways are you bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord?
Hebrews 12:5-11
According to Hebrews 12:5-11, what is the goal of discipline?

3) Ephesians 6:5-9
What is surprising about this teaching? How do verses 6-7 relate to the work place? Do your attitudes and activities at work meet this standard? What is surprising about verse 9? How would it effect a master's treatment of a slave (or an employer to an employee) if they are God-fearing?

4) Ephesians 6:1-9
Examine your own family and workplace relationships. How do your relationships measure up to Paul's teaching? Which of these teachings point to an area for your to work on?