Broken Kingdoms: WK 3 - GROUP GUIDE

INTRODUCTION: The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN: Is there a lesson, a task, a recipe, that no matter how many times you’ve learned it, you have to keep relearning? If so, share with the group. If you can’t think of one, is there a time when a close relationship to you was divided by something innocent (fans of different sports teams, or musical arts, or an opinion)?

SCRIPTURE READING
Read together: I Kings 16:29-33, 17:1, 18:1, 16-21, 36-39, I Kings 21:1-16, 22: 4-9

Ahab tried his whole life to live under the rule of two masters. Be on the lookout for which one he seemed to serve the most, and what happened in his life as a result.

HEAD: Explore the Text

Share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts you received just from listening to the text, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.
Why do you think a leader like Ahab was so quick to ignore the Law of your God and people, in order to prostitute yourself and serve other gods, and unite with other people who serve other gods?
Why do you think the “anger of the Lord” was provoked with Ahab’s actions? What is the “anger of the Lord”?
Elijah couldn’t have been popular, since he prophesied a drought that would negatively impact each person in Israel. How do you think Elijah navigated this time and stayed serving the Lord?
What do you think Ahab thought was going to happen on Mount Carmel?
Reading verse 37 of chapter 18, what was God’s intent for going through this whole event on Mount Carmel?

HEART: Personal Reflection

In our world today, what other things do we tend to put our time and trust in rather than God?
Throughout Scripture, God seems to have to teach the people the same lessons over and over again. He does so for us today as well. Can you think of some ways that we can help each other remember the hard lessons in order to live the life that God came to give us?
I once read in a commentary that Jesus had different reflexes than we do. Our reflexes, as humans, are often to retaliate when we’ve been wronged - eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, kind of thing. Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. How do we seek to exchange our reflexes for his?
Do you have people in your life that you keep close, but who disagree with you on some things? Does that relationship help you or hurt you? If it helps, how do you keep them close if you have those differences?

HANDS: Practice This Week
Spiritual Practice: Exchanging your heart of stone, for His heart for others

Over the next seven days, listen to the closing scenes of Jesus’ life leading up to the cross via an audio version of the Bible. Those references include: Matthew 26:47-27:56, Mark 14:43-15:41, Luke 22:47-23:49, John 18:1-19:37
Listen and watch for how Jesus responds to hatred and anger, violence and chaos
Write down his responses.
Ask God to take your heart of stone, and replace it with Jesus heart for others

Invite the group to check in next week about their experience.

FINISH WELL: Bring It Home

What is one area in your life right now that you wish to be more like Jesus?

CLOSING PRAYER (Leader or Participant Reads)
Abba, Father,
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
Give me a hear to love like you love,
Serve like you serve,
and help me make you my One and Only…
Today, tomorrow, and all my days
In the precious name of my Savior and King, Jesus,
Amen.