The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

This past Sunday we continued our study of Kings and "Does My Character Count?".  We covered 1 Kings 9:10-11:43, which covered the final 20 years of Solomon's reign. Both the positive details and the negative are included in the narrative.  Complete with dissatisfied trade partners to slave labor, a lot about the building of the temple is included.  We also see Solomon's other accomplishments, and see shere he meets the queen of Sheba.  A list of his enemies is even included in 11:14-40!

We looked at character versus reputation and discussed the differences.  Character is the combination of emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities of a person. Reputation is the general estimation held of one by the public, or how others perceive us to be.  So why is character important, and why does it matter?

What part of No Don't You Understand?  11:1-3

     

Here we see Solomon break character when he loved foreign women despite being instructed by the Lord not to.  Solomon showed the same love (or ahab) to these women that he did God.  How is that possible?  How could Solomon prevented this?  How does it make you feel when you instruct your children not to do something and they do it anyway?  God tole Solomon not to intermarry with non-Israelites. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:17 and see what God prompted Paul to write there.  As our teens enter the "dating phase" of life, how will you handle this issue?

Heart Failure 11:4-8

In verse 4 (NIV) the word heart is mentioned 3 times.  Character is another word that could be used in place of the 'heart' of David or Solomon.  Importantly noted here was that Solomon was later on in his life.  Have you noticed that believers often become indifferent to their relationship with God in the later years of their life?  What causes this?  Due to the direct influence of his foreign wives,  Solomon allows his heart to be turned to other gods.  One of the worst of these was Molech, which required child sacrifices which God strictly disavowed.  See 2 Kings 23:10, Jer 32:35, Lv 18:21 and 20:2.  As a result of this, Solomon did not fully devote his heart to the Lord.  Joshua gave the Israelites a choice to wholly follow God before entering the promised land in Joshua 24:14-15.  Jesus did the same in Mt 4:10 and 6:24.  What can we do do prevent our hearts from wandering or failing?

What Might Have Been 11:9-13

What began as a compromise for the sake of his wives became a spiritual meltdown for Solomon.  This broken covenant with God not only affected the relationship between he and God, but also with God and the nation of Israel.  God had appeared to Solomon twice, so he had no excuse for his ignorance of the law.  God said that he would tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give it to his servant.  This, however, did not negate the covenant that God established with David.  What might have happened had Solomon stayed true to the covenant?

Sin does have consequences.  It almost always affect more than just the offender, yet the results may not be evident or immediate.  They might include on us missing out on God's plan to use and bless us.  Have you ever seen a believer really blow it?  Let's make a pact to never become that believer so that we never have to wonder what might have been. Character really does matter.

SPOT Super Bowl Party!!

This Sunday (the 6th) at 4:30 at the LaRowe's.  Drinks provided so bring whatever you want to snack on!  If you need them, directions will be provided on Sunday.

Big CHILLi Supper

We now have the sign-up sheet and the donation envelope in the Sunday folder for this event on March 19th.  It will be a great way to help minister to our kids.  We will get all the ingredients together and cook and serve the chili at church that Saturday night.  Any and all help will truly be appreciated.

Snacks

• 2/6   the Hurt's
• 2/13 Zenobia Perry  
• 2/20  the Massey's 

Watch This Space...

Coming Soon!!!...the date and details of our annual camping trip!!!

Prayer Requests

• Continued prayers for Zenobia (see the blog entry before this one for an update!)
• Phil and Gingers sister Jane is dealing with spontaneous abscesses caused by a couple of invasive bacterium.  She is currently on 6 months of high-dose antibiotics, but has a very suppressed immune system.
• Susan's mother who is still suffering in pain.  They determined that she has a mass in her abdomen, and they are going to begin tests to find out what it is.
• Neil Stubbs is looking for employment.
• Life Groups as they enter week 5.  Pray for the leaders of each group and those that open their homes for the studies.
• Pray for class members who have been absent for a long time, some considering other options.