The Books of Kings: A Kingdom Divided - A Survey of the Bible
The Books of Kings: A Kingdom Divided
A Survey of the Bible
For the bulletin in PDF form click here.
1 & 2 Kings Chart - Wilson
Context: Who, When, Where, and Why?
• Who composed 1 & 2 Kings?
• When did he write?
• Where were he and his audience?
• Why was he writing?
Content: How and What?
• How are the Books of Kings organized?
- Major Movements:
• United Kingdom under Solomon (1 Kings 1:1-11:43)
• Divided Kingdom in the North and South (1 Kings 12:1-2 Kings 16:20)
• Remnant Kingdom in the South (2 Kings 17:1-25:30)
- Reversal of Fortunes:
• Solomon/United Monarchy (1 Kings 1:1-11:25)
• Jeroboam/Rehoboam; The Division of the Kingdom (1 Kings 11:26-14:31)
• Kings of Judah/Israel (1 Kings 15:1-16:22)
• The Omri dynasty: The Baal Cult in Israel and Judah (1 Kings 16:23-2 Kings 12)
• The Prophetic Ministry Begins: Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17-2 Kings 8)
• Kings of Judah/Israel (2 Kings 13-16)
• The Fall of the Northern Kingdom (2 Kings 17)
• The Kingdom of Judah (2 Kings 18-25)
• What is the message of 1 & 2 Kings?
Conviction: So What?
• What should we believe?
- Human leaders are not the solution.
- The consequences of sin are certain and inevitable.
- God sends people to deliver His Word and call them back to faithfulness.
- God never gives up on His people or His promises.
• How should we behave?
- Pray for your political and spiritual leaders, but put your hope in God’s plan and promises.
- Stand against the flow of society in order to be faithful to God.
- Repent of your modern idolatry and maintain allegiance to the Lord.
• Where does this fit?
- A tragic demonstration of the failure of human leadership.
- A clear demonstration of God’s faithfulness.
- A compelling call to covenant loyalty.
Next Steps
• Listen to the Word of God and respond appropriately.
• Rest in the hope of God’s promises and nowhere else.
• Prepare for Easter by spending some time in the Prayer Room on Ash Wednesday.
This Week’s Growth Guide
God’s Word is both central and critical to your spiritual growth. We invite you to utilize the Growth Guide during the week to further your application of the Truth from the message.
•. Monday - 1 Kings 1
•. Tuesday - 1 Kings 8
•. Wednesday - 1 Kings 17
•. Thursday - 1 Kings 18
•. Friday - 1 Kings 19
Home Church
Our Home Churches meet weekly to facilitate quicker relational depth, study the same passage taught
Sunday to help apply Scripture in the context of community, and pray with one another. Home Church helps our body seek God’s best for one another.
Home Church Questions
• Read 2 Kings 17:7-23.
• Was there anything new or insightful in this message?
• Was there anything you know you can or should immediately apply?
• What did you struggle with in this message? What did not make sense or cause you to evaluate your own life more deeply?
• How would your life personally, or the life of your family be different if you fully live out the truths in this message?
• In what ways are Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts similar to Elijah and Elisha?
• Solomon is an ambiguous figure at best. What do you think about him? Good guy? Bad guy?
• Why did the Northern Kingdom fall fast and first? Was it because of bad kings or bad religion?
• What do you like most about Elijah and Elisha?
• Why do you think there are so few good kings? Why did many of the good kings not continue to lead spiritually?
• Why is it important to remember that there is always a remnant who is faithful to God?