Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults

Listen to this week’s leader training podcast with Y Bonesteele, team leader for The Gospel Project for Adults, for a summary and guidance in leading your group.

This week’s additional resources for study and preparation:

• Article: “Exile” by Matthew Harmon
• Article: “Humility Begins with Listening” by David Mathis
• Sermon: “II Chronicles 36” by Kevin Ueckert

Transcript of Leader Training Podcast:

Hi, this is Y Bonesteele, team leader of the Gospel Project for Adults. Welcome to another Leader Training podcast. Today we are in Unit 15, Session 4, God’s Nation Fell, with the core passage of 2 Chronicles 36:11-21, and the key concept of: God warns people with compassion but will also judge evil.

We have seen the northern kingdom fall to Assyria and the kings of both northern and southern kingdoms fall into idolatry and unfaithfulness. We learned that God had sent His prophets to warn and accuse as well as send messages of hope if the people return to Him. But the people didn’t listen to His warnings, so judgment was near.

So we come to the last king of the southern kingdom of Judah: Zedekiah. He was one of Josiah’s sons. Josiah was a good king as we learned a few weeks ago. His son, Zedekiah, however, was not. “He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah at the Lord’s command.” Jeremiah was the prophet during his reign. Feel free to scan the QR code on page 142 of the leader guide for more details on God’s prophets and their words of judgment. God sent messengers but the people did not listen. From the text, we learn that Zedekiah was not a good king because his word meant nothing, he was “obstinate,” and he had a hardened heart. And all the leaders of the priests and people followed his example in following the nations and defiling the temple. The Gospel Project Commentary on page 149 states it well: “The people saw the waywardness of their king and modeled their lives off of those in leadership. Also, Zedekiah likely saw the sin of the people and placated them by indulging in their folly.” And Scripture reminds us that God sent messengers, prophets over and over again. Why? Because of His compassion. Verse 16: “But they kept ridiculing God’s messengers, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets.” They did it so often that “the Lord’s wrath was so stirred up against his people that there was no remedy.” They showed their hand that they weren’t going to follow God. God tried to give them so many chances, but they weren’t changing their decision. So God’s wrath was stirred because they needed to learn.

What are some ways we can grow in humility to listen to and accept godly rebuke and correction, unlike the Israelites? By searching our hearts often, by having mentors and people to keep us accountable, listening to their correction and wisdom. By asking for correction from God and others and having a heart that takes it with humility.

Sometimes we often talk about God’s compassion but not so much about Him being just and holding people accountable, probably because many abuse the way they share that characteristic of God for their own ends sometimes. But in love and compassion, we share of God’s justice and holiness because we want to warn people of the dangers of sin.

How have you been treated as you have shared the whole gospel with others? Sometimes people don’t want to hear the warnings or any of it. Sometimes we need to be careful in how we are sharing, but sometimes people get offended by our warnings. People may roll their eyes or ignore us or yell back at us. But we have to stay calm and know that we are not there to change their minds, we just simply share the message out of love and compassion.

And so for the Israelites, we see God’s wrath stirred and He allowed the Babylonians, the Chaldeans, to take the people captive. Verse 17: God brought up against them the king of Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar. And he killed some and took everything to Babylon—“all the articles of God’s temple, large and small, the treasures of the Lord’s temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials.” And as an ultimate act of destruction, God allowed the Babylonians to burn down the temple and completely destroy Jerusalem, tearing down its walls and burning down all the palaces. Those who didn’t die were taken to Babylon as slaves. And “This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Jeremiah.” Jeremiah prophesied the judgment coming to Israel and Babylon taking them captive and it happened. So God in one sense gave the Israelites what they wanted, to be of the nations around them to their demise. And though the people were taken, we see a glimmer of hope in how things all happened: “the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation until seventy years were fulfilled.” Though the people were taken captive and the temple and city of Jerusalem destroyed, the land was able to rest, being ready for the people’s future return, after 70 years as Jeremiah prophesied in Jeremiah 25:11-12. God had a message of hope through Jeremiah: though they would be in captivity for 70 years, He would bring them back to their land and rebuild their temple and city, because God is a compassionate loving God, even in His justice. This is true of Him today and true as seen in the gospel story. We as sinners deserve death, but God sent His Son, Jesus, the Savior to be the blameless sacrifice needed to be our substitute.

How might you communicate with others the remedy for God’s wrath that God has provided in Jesus Christ? Answers may include the fact that we as sinners deserving death, shame, and condemnation. But God gave Jesus to die for our sins that we may have eternal life. His sacrifice paid the price, the penalty, for our sin so we don’t have to pay it.

How does this passage challenge your perspective on the seriousness of sin in your own life? Though God’s grace is abundant and Jesus died for our sins, sin is still very serious and has serious consequences. We don’t dabble in sin to test God. Like Paul says in Romans 6:1-4, we don’t keep sinning so grace increases. We no longer want to sin because we walk in newness of life.

So because of God’s compassion, Jesus came to make a way of salvation for those who will believe in Him and repent of their sins. But there will come a time when all who harden their hearts against the Lord will be judged in the end times.

Going into the Group Experience, prepare for the icebreaker by writing on the board different scenarios with the word “but.” As the group enters, have them answer or bring up their own situations that require action but there was something that changed the course of that action. Transition to the Context that include the idolatry and unfaithfulness of the Israelites and the downfall of the northern kingdom by Assyria.

Recap with highlights or questions from your group, asking, “how do you recall King Zedekiah being described?” He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, he wasn’t humble, was unloyal, obstinate, and had a hardened heart. “What about the prophet Jeremiah?” That he was a prophet and what he said came true. “And the people of Judah?” That they were unfaithful, did detestable practices, ridiculed God’s messengers, despising God’s words. “And King Nebuchadnezzar?” That he killed some Israelites and took the rest captive. He had no pity and was ruthless in taking the treasures of Israel and burning down the temple and the city walls. “And the Lord?” He was gracious and compassionate in sending messengers to warn the people, but He was also just when the people continued to rebel and not remain faithful.

Going into the Group Activity, start by calling attention to Pack Item 2: The Kings, highlighting how so many kings were evil and did not do right in the eyes of the Lord. Then have someone read 2 Chronicles 36:11-16. Have the group summarize verses 11-14, it could be something as simple as “Zedekiah was unfaithful to everyone—his people, other nations, and God—doing evil in every respect.” Then summarize verse 15: “But the Lord…” But the Lord was compassionate and merciful, sending messengers to warn the people so that they would turn back to God and not be led to destruction. Then ask, “How many times have we seen God’s people rebel against Him? How many times have we seen Him call them back through His love and faithfulness?” We’re not looking for a number; the answer is simply so many times. God was relentless in pursuing His people. And the people were relentless at following their own way. Now summarize verse 16: “But they kept doing what God didn’t want them to do, following evil and not listening to God’s words.”

Then have someone read 2 Chronicles 36:17-21. Then summarize the last row, verses 17-21: “So He,” so God brought and allowed the Babylonians to conquer them, killing some and taking the rest captive, destroying all that was dear to them. Then ask, “Do you think God’s people were shocked that He brought about their defeat at the hands of the Chaldeans?” I would say yes, even though they heard the warnings, it didn’t really register. Like a teenage child who has been warned about their phone being taken away for disobedience and when it happens, they’re shocked. “How was this act a reflection of God’s good and faithful character?” The Israelites were going down a dark road that would not lead to peace or fulfillment as they strayed from God. They needed a wake up call to bring them back and restore them to Him which is a reflection of God’s good character.

Debrief with: “How can we avoid reaching a point of ‘no remedy’ with the Lord?” For those who follow Jesus, He has become our advocate before the Father so our sins are forgiven through Him. However, when we stray from God too long, there are natural consequences. God will still pursue us back to Him but we need to not make light of Christ’s sacrifice and realize God wants our pursuit as well. “How can we help others trust in God’s remedy in Jesus Christ?” Telling others of our testimony as well as sharing the gospel through words and acts of love are ways we can do that. “Why should we praise God for being just?” Because we want a just and holy God. If he wasn’t just, He wouldn’t be God. He is a good judge that we all need. “What does God’s justice reveal about His character and our responsibility?” God’s justice reveals His holiness and goodness and omniscience. He knows everything so He knows how to rule and act justly. And because He is just, we are to pursue holiness, obey His commands, and live justly as well.

Summarize and head into the Head, Heart, Hands section, focusing on the Head question if time is limited: “What would God have us believe and do in response to Judah’s destruction?” What can we learn here? Answers may include: obey God, know that He is gracious but also just, don’t take advantage of His grace, thank Jesus for His sacrifice to forgive us and restore our relationship with God, know that there are consequences to sin, know that God wants the best life for us and knows when we stray from Him it leads to destruction, share with others that God’s ways are the best ways, that God provides a way from destruction through the blood of Christ.

Suggest the Next Steps for your group to consider this week and end with prayer requests and praises. And the Leader Guide says pray through Psalm 79:9-13 if time permits. I would focus on verses 8 and 9 actually: “Do not hold past iniquities against us; let your compassion come to us quickly, for we have become very weak. 9 God of our salvation, help us, for the glory of your name. Rescue us and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake.”

Hey, thanks again for joining us on another Leader Training podcast. Reach out at [email protected] and hope you have a great group time.