Taking It Home: Paul Bond Most Christians today do not believe they, by themselves can make changes in a “A Tale of Two Kings” Part 1 Bethel Church nation that is quickly rejecting Jesus Christ. According to Scripture, one Christian 2 Chronicles 28:1-27; 2 Chronicles 29:1-11 August 24, 2014 CAN make a huge difference, just like King Hezekiah. READ James 5:16-18. This week prayer fervently for God to bring renewal to your personal life, renewal to “A Tale of Two Kings” Part 1 the body of Christ, the Church, and for the Church to be a witness to the unsaved people of America. Notes: This week write down a list of attributes, characteristics and principles you definitely want reflected from your life. Compare your list to a person’(s) attributes, characteristics and principles you would like to see leading our nation. READ & Interpret Phil. 4:8-9 Are you a contagious Christian? Do people who know you desire to emulate you because they know you are a faithful follower of Jesus Christ? If the answer is “yes,” continue being contagious. If the answer is “no,” please begin living the principles of God’s Word and be the kind of Christ follower that draws unbelievers to Jesus! READ & Interpret Ephesians 4:32-5:1-2. Please remember that America needs godly, righteous Christ followers to lead and guide this nation back to honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ. As a believer you are a powerful voice and life that can make a difference by helping restore godly leaders to rule our land; compare what they say with God’s Word. READ & Interpret John 17b; 2 Tim. 3:16. For more information about Growth Groups, Growth Group homework, and a podcast of sermons with homework, visit www.bethelfc.com. Growth Group Homework Growing Deeper: Please Read 2 Chronicles 25:1-2; 26:1-4; 27:1-2 and 28:1-4. Compare and Contrast For the week of August 24, 2014 God’s evaluation of these 4 successive Kings of Judah. If Ahaz had a rich, righteous 2 Chronicles 28:1-27; 2 Chronicles 29:1-11 legacy left to him from his father, grandfather and great-grandfather (3 generations), why do you suppose Ahaz departed from this righteous legacy? Is it a guarantee that Quick Review: The Nation of Israel is divided between the Northern Kingdom, all Christian parents will have righteous children? As Christians, should we leave a Israel, containing 10 tribes and the Southern Kingdom, Judah, containing only 2 tribes, rich legacy of righteousness even if our children choose not to follow our righteous Benjamin and Judah. Of the 20 kings of the Northern Kingdom, not one of them legacy? worshipped God and subsequently they were wiped out by the evil Assyrian Kingdom in 722 B.C. Judah also had 19 kings and 1 queen, which ruled them from 931 B.C. to Make a list of the “evil things” Ahaz did, according to God’s point of view, which are 586 B.C. Of the 19 kings & 1 Queen, ONLY eight Kings worshipped God and “did right in listed in 2 Chronicles 28:1-4. What does the Scripture mean when it says, “Ahaz the eyes of the Lord.” 3 successive kings of Judah served and worshipped God; Kings walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel?” Were those “ways” of the Kings of Israel Amaziah, Uzziah, and Jotham. While the 3 righteous kings ruled over Judah, Judah was (northern kingdom) righteous or evil? (Compare to King Ahab of Israel; 1 Kings a prominent, powerful and righteous nation who served Yahweh. The next king of 16:29-33) Judah was Jotham’s son, Jehoahaz, also known as “Ahaz the wicked.” In only a 16 year span of King Ahaz’s reign as king of Judah, Judah quickly fell from prominence, power Write down the 4 characteristics of an unrighteous leader that Pastor Paul shared in and privilege. King Ahaz worshiped the Caananite gods, Baal, Asherim, and Molech, but his message. What can America learn from these terrible characteristics of he did not worship the God of Israel, Yahweh. Swiftly, Judah was conquered by evil leadership? What was the ultimate price the nation of Judah had to pay for following foreign nations thus causing Judah to lose hundreds of thousands of soldiers slain in such wicked leadership? (Cf. 2 Chron. 28:5-8; 22-23). battle. Judah had to pay tribute to evil foreign nations, and Judah’s economy, morality, C 2 Chron. 28:1-4 and sovereignty were destroyed, all because of a wicked leader who rebelled against C 2 Chron. 28:5 God. C 2 Chron. 16-20 My Story: C 2 Chron. 21:25 God appealed to King Ahaz to repent of his sin, trust in Him and He would forgive Share a personal testimony or a personal experience of being under great Ahaz and restore Judah and bless Ahaz. God sent the Prophet Isaiah to speak to King leadership versus “not-so-great” leadership. Share some characteristics of the great Ahaz and admonish him to worship Him. READ the famous Scriptures Isaiah 7:14. leader and some “not-so-great” characteristics of the bad leader. Which leader This was the sign God gave to Isaiah to give Ahaz. What was the significance about would you rather follow, and why? this incredible prophecy that Pastor Paul shared in his message? King Ahaz failed to repent and turn back to God, subsequently Ahaz turned even more wicked than before. READ 2 Chron. 28:22-26 and write down those wicked Please write down all the attributes, and your expectations of a righteous leader, things that led King Ahaz’s destruction and the punishment upon Judah. Is the one whom you would follow without hesitation. Compare your list with the other character of a national, state or local leader really important? Why? Why Not? people in your Growth Group. Compare and Contrast your findings. Discuss. The Tale of the Second King – Hezekiah! READ 2 Chronicles 29:1-11. What’s the character differences between King Ahaz and his son, King Hezekiah? How could a Does God give us Scriptural examples of righteous leadership and examples of righteous, godly King, like King Hezekiah come from such a horrible, dysfunctional, wicked leadership? Share at least one example of a Righteous leader and one of a evil home led by his wicked father, King Ahaz? Write down those things Hezekiah wicked leader from Scripture (do not use Ahaz and Hezekiah as examples). reversed that his father, Ahaz had established in Judah (CF. 2 Chron. 29:3-17)? What are the first 2 Principles of a “Righteous Leader” that Pastor Paul talked about in his message? Should Americans expect its leaders, today, to share these same What is a Spiritual legacy? Is it important for you to leave a spiritual, godly legacy to godly characteristics and Principles? Why? Why Not? Discuss. your children and grandchildren? Why? C 2 Chronicles 29:1-2 C 2 Chronicles 29:3-9 .