SERMON NOTES

1 Kings 11:38 NLT

“If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.”

1 Kings 13:1-6 NLT  

“At the Lord’s command, a man of God from Judah went to Bethel, arriving there just as Jeroboam was approaching the altar to burn incense. Then at the Lord’s command, he shouted, “O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: A child named Josiah will be born into the dynasty of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests from the pagan shrines who come here to burn incense, and human bones will be burned on you.” That same day the man of God gave a sign to prove his message. He said, “The Lord has promised to give this sign: This altar will split apart, and its ashes will be poured out on the ground.” When King Jeroboam heard the man of God speaking against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him and shouted, “Seize that man!” But instantly the king’s hand became paralyzed in that position, and he couldn’t pull it back. At the same time a wide crack appeared in the altar, and the ashes poured out, just as the man of God had predicted in his message from the Lord. The king cried out to the man of God, “Please ask the Lord your God to restore my hand again!” So the man of God prayed to the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and he could move it again.”

Matthew 16:24-27 NLT.   

 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[l] Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

1. Jeroboam was a success politically and personally

2.  Jeroboam failed to obey the Lord

3.  What is a soul worth?  

Discussion Questions

1. Read over chapter 14 of “The Story” and I Kings 11:26-43.  Who are Rehoboam and Jeroboam?  What do you notice about how (and why) Jeroboam came to power?  

2.  Read 1 Kings 12:1-20. How would you describe King Rehoboam’s decision to rely on his younger buddies’ counsel?  Why was this a big mistake and what outcome did this have on the unified nation of Israel?

3. Read 1 Kings 12:25-33. What were some things Jeroboam did that were not obedient to the Lord?  What stood out to you about his actions and new religious policies?

4.  Although Jeroboam may have been “successful” as a leader from the world’s perspective, he was NOT aligned with God’s ways.  Discuss how successful outcomes without obedience to the Lord could mislead Christians.  Discuss how a Christian could be “unsuccessful” by worldly standards yet be successful in the Lord’s eyes.  

5.  How did Jeroboam’s “success” lead to his downfall?  Do you think that success is spiritually more dangerous than failure?  Explain. 

6.  Read 1 Kings 13:1-10.  What message did the “man of God” say to Jeroboam?  What impacted you about Jeroboam’s response to the rebuke?  How should we as Christians respond to rebuke and correction from God?

7.  Read Matthew 16:24-27.  How did Pastor Dewayne describe what it means to “carry your cross?”  What is your gut reaction to these verses?  If we follow Jesus what do we lose?  What do we gain?

8.  In what ways do you find yourself trying to blend your agenda with the Lord’s?  

Have you really accepted Jesus as your Savior if you have not also accepted and submitted to His being LORD of your life?