A Serious Beauty

Sermon Notes January 7, 2017 I Kings 14 Short Review Review the main points of the morning message. Some Questions for Discussion: Focus the discussion on: The “Jeroboam Way” in spirituality and why it dishonors God and impoverishes us. 1. What are some things that people buy as investments? a. What is the difference between buying something for investment versus buying something because you enjoy it? b. Can it be both? Examples? 2. Describe (Review) Jeroboam’s relationship with God. [What had God done for him? What did Jeroboam do which incurred judgment?] Speculate a bit based on his actions: What did Jeroboam think of God? 3. Interesting details in the story – discuss: a. Why did Jeroboam send his wife instead of going himself? [what was he thinking? What does it say about him?] b. Why did he ask her to disguise herself? [How did that work out?] 4. Why did Jeroboam and his wife turn to Ahijah when their son got sick? [What are reasons why we might not expect them to turn to the prophet?] 5. Discuss the death of their son and the reasons given in I Kings 14:12,13. Why did God allow him to die? Does this startle you? Comfort you? Why? [see Isa. 57:1-2] 6. Discuss the “Jeroboam Way”: a. What did Jeroboam want from God? b. Contrast Jeroboam’s attitude towards God with David’s (see I Kings 14:8) – Psalm 27:6. c. How would a mother or father feel if their son/daughter treated them as Jeroboam treated God? 7. Beauty: a. How does beauty draw us to itself? What kinds of beauty in the world have captivated your attention? b. How does God’s beauty draw us to Him? c. Discuss the beauty of God in the “things of God”: I Chron. 16:29 (see the KJV, NASB); Psalm 84:1; Psalm 19:10. 8. Are we tempted by the “Jeroboam way” today? What are some examples? What are the dangers of the “Jeroboam Way” for Christians today?