Category: 1 Kings Curriculum

Week 6 – A Divided Kingdom – 1 Kings 12-14

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 6 – A Divided Kingdom (1 Kings 12-14)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house and is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

1. Rehoboam solicited advice from two groups, both with different recommendations. Have you ever wondered how to discern a way forward when there are differing perspectives? How did you move forward?

2. Read 12:26-60. Jeroboam set up more places of worship outside Jerusalem to make it easier for those living outside the city. Have you compromised your own values to accommodate other activities or people? What calves have been set up in our society that cause us to make compromises?

Week 5 – Fading Glory: misusing wisdom and wealth – 1 Kings 9:10-11

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 5 – Fading Glory: misusing wisdom and wealth (1 Kings 9:10-11)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house and is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

SUMMARY: Chapter 9:10-28 summarizes  the ‘what’ of Solomon’s building endeavours and the ‘way’ they are accomplished.  His strong relationship with Hiram, king of Tyre is tested when he exchanges some of the land God had promised Israel in exchange for Hiram’s resources.  He also conscripts foreigners living in Israel for temple, palace, and wall construction.  Additionally, Solomon builds ships and partners once again with Hiram to sail the seas in search of gold.

In chapter 10, Solomon meets the Queen of Sheba, a powerful and astute ruler.  She finds Solomon’s insight exceeds her expectations then praises the God who gifted him with such great wisdom.  They exchange costly goods before she departs, leaving Solomon alone with his gold.  Before long, Solomon makes the most of his time by hammering his gold and costly resources into shields, goblets, and an enormous throne.  The chapter ends with Solomon establishing Israel as a centre of trade—importing horses and chariots from Egypt and  exporting them to the people groups around them.  

1. Read 1 Kings 9:11-14. How did Hiram of Tyre feel about the payment he received for his labor? Can you relate to him? How? Have you seen God at work when you’ve been treated unfairly? What did you learn about God and yourself?

2. Read 1 Kings 10:1-9. The Queen of Sheba asks tough questions of Solomon. Why? What motivated her? Are you a ‘tough-question-asker’? or do you tend to accept things at face value? What motivates you to be one over the other?

3. Read Deuteronomy 17:14-17. Now Read 1 Kings 11:1-6. If Solomon is so wise, why isn’t he following God’s commands? How have you been distracted from following God’s leading/commandments?

Week 4 – Constructing The Temple: My Glory or God’s? – 1 Kings G2G Curriculum

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 4 – Constructing The Temple: My Glory or God’s? (1 Kings 5-9:9)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house and is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

SUMMARY: In chapter 5, Hiram king of Tyre sends messengers to Solomon.  Solomon responds with a request: “help me build a temple for the LORD.”  “You supply the wood and labours and I’ll supply more labours and I’ll finance the whole project.”  Hiram agrees and they strike a deal.  Solomon conscripts workers from Israel and the massive temple project begins.

Chapter 6 describes the temple in detail.  Beams of cedar, stone chiseled at the quarry, and a golden interior.  In the middle of the construction God’s word comes to Solomon to remind him: stay obedient to the LORD your God.

Chapter 7 seems to interrupt the temple focus by inserting details about Solomon’s palace.  It was just as beautiful and even larger than the house he was building for God!  Our attention is refocused back at the temple where the articles of the temple are described: the bronze Sea for ritual cleansing and other bronze articles and gold articles from the altar and lamp stands to golden door sockets.

In chapter 8 the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the temple and the presence of the LORD descends.  In the midst of God’s appearance, Solomon offers prayer for himself and the people as he dedicates the temple.

Finally, chapter 9 begins with God’s answer to Solomon’s prayer and a warning to be obedient to the LORD and walk in His ways.

Offer group members a pen and paper. Give them five minutes to reflect and respond to the following:

  1. Solomon’s dream was to build the temple. What’s your dream 
  2. Where is God in your dream? Is the dream for your glory, God’s or both? Explain.
  3. Read 1 Kings 9:4-9. God tells Solomon that there will be roadblocks along the way if he is not obedient. Have you experienced roadblocks in pursuing your dreams? Have they been because of your disobedience or your obedience to God?
  4. Solomon prayed a prayer of dedication for the temple. Write down your prayer of dedication for your dream.

Leader, after everyone is finished, read each question out loud one at at time. Ask if anyone would like to share – leave space and time for that.

If people don’t know their dreams, have a discussion about hearing God’s voice or ways to discern a dream for their life.

Week 3 – 1 Kings G2G Curriculum

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 3 – Teen Challenge Sunday

Option #1:
 Spend an evening making food for HMC’s freezer.  Meals for individuals and families in need are getting low so it would be great if your group could help replenish our supply of “ready to go” meals.  Talk to Pastor Lyndsay for more info.

Option #2:
 Invite some non-churchgoing friends or neighbours to a BBQ or games night with your group.

Week Two – Lessons From A Young Leader – 1 Kings G2G Curriculum

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 2 – Lessons from a young leader (1 Kings 2:13-4)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house and is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

SUMMARY: In chapter 2 Adonijah approaches Bathesheba, the mother of king Solomon, to request a wife.  The woman of his dreams is none other than Abishag—the young virgin that kept David warm in his bed (1 Kings 1:1-4).  Bathsheba agrees to approach Solomon on Adonjiah’s behalf only her son an unwilling matchmaker.  Instead, Solomon has Adonijah killed.  Solomon then pursues two of Adonijah’s supporters—exiling one and killing the other.  The chapter finishes when Solomon fulfills his father’s final wish—bring Shimei’s grey head down to the grave (1 Kings 2:8-9)!

In chapter 3 Solomon shows half-hearted devotion to God by his choices:  in marriage (Deut. 7:3; 17:17) and worship.  Nevertheless, God meets with him and grants him one wish.  Solomon chooses wisdom.  The full extent of his discernment is shown when two mothers scuffle over a single living baby and Solomon determines the rightful mother.

Chapter 4 summarizes Solomon’s kingdom administration and the joy and peace of the people living under the wise rule of their king.  It’s not only Israel but kings from all over the world that benefit from Solomon’s wisdom.

1.    Why does Bathsheba advocate for Adonijah (1 Kings 2:13-21)?

2.    Is the bloodshed of chapter 2 necessary?  Is God rubber-stamping the anointed king’s actions or is something else going on?  Notice  the last sentence in 1 Kings 2:46.  Now read 1 Kings 2:12.  What’s changed between those two verses?

3.    Imagine if chapter 3 (Solomon’s request for wisdom) happened before chapter 2 (bloodshed).  Would chapter 2 look different?  What chapter in your life do you wish you could redo in light of what you knew later?

4.    Solomon asks for a discerning heart to govern people well and to distinguish between right and wrong (1 Kings 3:9).  What is right and wrong in Canada today?  Is it clear?  Are their grey areas?  What do we do and how do we know when it’s grey?     

5.    Read 1 Kings 3:14.  Do God’s promises always come with conditions?

Week One – A Surprise King – 1 Kings G2G Curriculum

1 Kings Sermon Series Curriculum

Week 1– A Surprise King (1 Kings 1-2:12)

(Our G2G Curriculum was crafted in-house is designed to follow our Fall Sermon Series: 1 Kings ~ A Heart & House Divided. Want to get connected to a G2G group? Contact us and we’ll find a spot for you!)

You may want to begin by watching the sermon that goes with this passage.

SUMMARY: King David is very old.  His spoiled son, Adonijah, senses the time for his kingship is near and he celebrates.  The sneaky son invites his brothers and some tribal officials to join him for a party fit for a king, but he leaves a few important people off the guest list.  Some of the uninvited, Nathan the prophet and Bathsheba, convince the ailing King David to step in and appoint another son, Solomon, to the throne.  David agrees.  He acts quickly: he calls royal officials together and has them anoint Solomon as king.  Another great party—rivaling Adonijah’s—ensues.  Soon Adonijah and his guests discover that their plan has been thwarted.  Solomon, not Adonijah, has been anointed king!  Fearing for their lives, Adonijah’s guests scatter.  Adonijah, himself at risk of death, runs to safety and pleads with King Solomon to spare his life.  Solomon honours his request, for now.  

1.    Was Solomon God’s choice or Nathan’s?  Read 1 Kings 1:11-14 and discuss.  Could David have appointed another leader?

2.    Why did Nathan go to Bathsheba and not directly to the king to make a case for Solomon to be king?  What might have been motivating him?  What motivates you when you avoid confronting someone directly?


3.    David’s parting words to Solomon seem somewhat vengeful (1 Kings 2:2-9).  Was that appropriate?  What if Jesus took David’s place?  What might he instruct Solomon to do?


4.    What other questions come to mind as you wrestle with this text?