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GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES the LIFE of SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11

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GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES the LIFE of SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 Harvester Christian Church Life Groups | GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES THE LIFE OF SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 WEEK 1 | 1 KINGS 1-2 | TAKING CONTROL 1. What is one question from the Personal Bible Study you’d like to share? 2. What is one observation/question from the Teaching Time that was meaningful to you? 3. What surprised you most about the story of Solomon becoming King? 4. Which character has your life’s direction resembled most? Why? 5. Read 1 Kings 2:12 and 2:46. Both verses make a statement about the kingdom being established. What similarities or differences do you notice between the two statements? 6. Regarding the kingdom being established… • What actions did God take to establish the kingdom for Solomon? • What actions did Solomon take to establish the kingdom for himself? • What actions did other people take to establish the kingdom for Solomon? • Knowing what you do about how Solomon’s life turns out, how would it be different if Adonijah had become the King of Israel? 7. Don mentioned in the teaching time, “Both God and I influence the direction of my life.” Think about your life up to this point. • What actions have you seen God take to influence the direction of your life? • What actions have you taken to influence the direction of your life? • What actions have you seen others take to influence the direction of your life? 8. Read Ephesians 2:8-10 and Philippians 2:12-13. According to these verses… • What actions does God take in influencing my life? • What actions do I take in influencing the direction of my life? 9. Starting tomorrow… • When do I need to follow God’s leading more than I have? • When do I need to take action to get where God wants me to be? The Life of Solomon 1 Harvester Christian Church Life Groups | GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES THE LIFE OF SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 WEEK 2 | 1 KINGS 3-4 | PUTTING LIFE IN ORDER 1. What is one question from the Personal Bible Study you’d like to share? 2. What is one observation/question from the Teaching Time that was meaningful to you? 3. In 1 Kings 3:5, God told Solomon to ask for anything. • How would you have answered the question if you were Solomon? • If God asked you that question tonight, how would you answer it? 4. The story of Solomon and the prostitutes is a famous account of Solomon’s wisdom. • What strikes you most about the story the women told? • What would the mindset of the women have been standing before the new king? • How would Israel view Solomon differently after hearing this account of him as opposed to hearing about the executions of chapter 2? 5. When has your life been fulfilled from following God’s wisdom? What has happened in your life when you didn’t following God’s wisdom? 6. What steps can you take to develop a heart that is devoted to God? 7. Warning: tough question to follow. If a biographer wrote 1 Kings 3:3 about your life, how would it read? The Life of Solomon 2 Harvester Christian Church Life Groups | GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES THE LIFE OF SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 WEEK 3 | 1 KINGS 5-8 | MAGNUM OPUS 1. What is one question from the Personal Bible Study you’d like to share? 2. What is one observation/question from the Teaching Time that was meaningful to you? 3. What stood out to you about these chapters? Why? 4. No doubt, both the Temple and the palace were amazing buildings and incredible projects. • What do you think the author is saying about Solomon through the details of each building? 5. We’ve seen Pharaoh’s daughter mentioned two times now (see 1 Kings 3:1). • Up to this point, has she been portrayed as a positive or a negative influence on Solomon’s life? What evidence do you see for each? 6. In the teaching time, Don said, “My greatest work is that which glorifies God.” • Based on that standard, what is the author saying about Solomon’s work? • Solomon spent nearly twice as much time and more money on his palace than the Temple. Should he have done that? 7. What do you think your greatest work in life has been up to this point? Judging from what you spend your time, money, and energy on, what would others say your greatest work is? 8. How can your job bring glory to God? What keeps you from using your work to glorify God? 9. Besides your job, what else in your life could be your greatest work? 10. How can Colossians 3:17 help define your greatest work? The Life of Solomon 3 Harvester Christian Church Life Groups | GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES THE LIFE OF SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 WEEK 4 | 1 KINGS 9-10 | LETTING LIFE GET OUT OF HAND 1. What is one question from the Personal Bible Study you’d like to share? 2. What is one observation/question from the Teaching Time that was meaningful to you? 3. How would you summarize these two chapters in one sentence? 4. Several things are mentioned about Solomon that appear neutral or even positive until they’re held up against God’s Word. • As a group, compile a list of these from these chapters. • How did Solomon go down this path and get involved in activities that directly violated God’s Word? • Could Solomon have changed the direction of his life at this point? 5. How does your life resemble Solomon in these chapters? Are there things in your life that appear good on the surface but actually go against God’s teaching? 6. As mentioned in the Bible Study, 1 Kings 9-10 are a contrast to 1 Kings 3-5. • What impression you get of Solomon in each section? • How is his use of wealth and wisdom presented in each of these? • What led to the change in his life? 7. Don said, “Misaligned priorities are the keys to a frustrated life.” • Read Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 and 6:1-6. How do these words of Solomon help you understand Solomon in 1 Kings 9-10? • How have you seen this played out in your own life? • How do your priorities become misaligned? • How can we realign our priorities? The Life of Solomon 4 Harvester Christian Church Life Groups | GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDES THE LIFE OF SOLOMON | 1 Kings 1-11 WEEK 5 | 1 KINGS 11 | LOSING CONTROL 1. What is one question from the Personal Bible Study you’d like to share? 2. What is one observation/question from the Teaching Time that was meaningful to you? 3. How would you summarize these two chapters in one sentence? 4. How do the idols in Solomon’s time differ from the idols we worship today? How are they similar? 5. Read Romans 1:18-32. • What makes worshipping an idol so destructive to a relationship with God? • How do you see Romans 1:23 played out in our society today? • How have you seen it in your own life? • What idols have you worshipped in your life? • Why is the lure of idols so strong? 6. How can we keep ourselves from idol worship today? 7. Read Ecclesiastes 12:9-14. How do these verses describe Solomon’s life? 8. What has been the most meaningful lesson you’ve learned from studying the Life of Solomon? 9. What is one thing that you will change in your life based on how God has spoken to you through Solomon’s example? The Life of Solomon 5 .
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