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:

• Sermon Outline: “Solomon’s Divine Wisdom” by Lifeway
• Sermon: “The Kingdom Established” by Austin Walker
• Sermon: “God Only Wise” by Sean Michael Lucas

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 12, Session 1: Ask for Wisdom, with the core passages of 1 Kings 2:1-4, 3:3-15, and with the key concept of Wisdom from God is better than riches.

Last week we saw David sinning and repenting. But the death of his first son with Bathsheba was part of God’s judgment. However, she bore a second son, Solomon, in 2 Samuel 12:24. Now David’s other sons were evil and reckless as God promised; there was constant fighting. Absalom rebelled against David, slept with his wives, and died in battle. Now David was old and nearing his death, and he had words for Solomon to keep him on the right path.

What are some ways you are or could be passing the wisdom of the Lord on to the next generation?

Mentoring someone younger, whether through kids ministry, youth ministry, college ministry, or marriage ministry, are all opportunities to pour wisdom into the next generation. It does take time and effort, but the rewards surpass the minimal sacrifices.

David’s words to Solomon were, “As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man, 3 and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees.” As the Gospel Project  Commentary states on p 118, “the call to ‘be strong’ can indicate strength of character rather than physical strength. As Solomon would at times need to lead the people in battle, this call would encompass both physical and moral resolve.” David knew that if Solomon walked in the ways of the Lord and kept God’s statutes, it would go well for him. But he needed to stay strong on the course and be the man that God wanted Him to be. Then David continued, “This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn.” The words of God, including the law of Moses, are words of life. They lead to righteous paths and success in God’s eyes if we follow it. David wanted to remind Solomon that listening to Scripture and the law of Moses, would make Solomon a good king. And David knew that God was a promise keeper: “and so that the Lord will fulfill his promise that he made to me: ‘If your sons take care to walk faithfully before me with all their heart and all their soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’” This, however, was a conditional statement—if Solomon did this, then this would be promised. It is conditional for Solomon. But it is also an everlasting promise that is fulfilled through Christ, a future descendant son that will be on a forever throne.

What keeps you from walking faithfully before the Lord with all your heart and soul, and how will you address those roadblocks? Some answers may include busyness or distractions, stress or anxiety, fear of the future, apathy and doubts. These roadblocks can be addressed by getting into a rhythm of being with the Lord in prayer and Scripture. Also being in community of having someone who can mentor or disciple you toward a closer relationship with Christ.

From here, David died and his other son, Adonijah, conspired to be king instead of Solomon and was eventually executed.

Now Solomon, himself, didn’t always make the best choices. He was kind of a complicated guy but aren’t we all. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we don’t.  He married the king of Egypt’s daughter (1 Kings 3:1), a foreigner. And yet, in verse 3, it says that “Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the statutes of his father David.” But then it says, “but he also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.” At this time, the temple hadn’t been built yet, so people worshiped in various areas, but for the king, who had access to the ark of the covenant, that should have been where he was to offer sacrifices. Solomon, in his kingship, would continue to offer sacrifices in the high places even after the temple was built, which did not please God.

The king, here, however, went to Gibeon to sacrifice there and he offered a thousand burnt offerings. God then graciously showed up in Solomon’s dream and told him to ask for what He should give him. Although it doesn’t state it, I’m inclined to think it was like a test for Solomon. How would he answer here? For this particular moment, I think Solomon passed this test.

How have you witnessed the Lord overcoming your shortcomings to show you and others His great grace?

We all are a mix of strengths and weaknesses, with areas that we obey well in and other areas, maybe not so much. But God in His infinite knowledge knows that about us and in His infinite wisdom knows how much grace to impart to us. Your group will have varying personal answers to this question, but it’s a good reminder to know that even in our shortcomings, God still works through His grace and mercy.

In response to God, Solomon humbly praised God for his good character, knowing He had shown great and faithful love to David, his father, knowing it was also because David walked in faithfulness, righteousness, and integrity. He also understood that God had set him on the throne. And he knew he was young “with no experience in leadership” in verse 7. So, he asked for “a receptive heart to judge people and to discern between good and evil.” Though Solomon didn’t always follow the ways of the Lord; here, he did what was right in thinking about the people instead of himself. He knew he needed a “receptive heart,” wisdom and discernment. For a leader, these qualities are essential to rule and judge. And the fact that Solomon could’ve asked for anything, and he thought of characteristics to lead the people, above riches or beauty or other more superficial things, “pleased the Lord” in v. 10.

And so, God did what Solomon asked and more. He granted him what he asked, “a wise and understanding heart,” but God gave him even more. God loves to give good gifts. Because Solomon asked for the right thing, God added on riches and honor. And he added a conditional statement in the end: “If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands” as David did, I will give you long life. God wants to give His people good gifts, and he wants us to ask, to pray for those good gifts, the right gifts. When we look at our prayer life, are we asking for more fruit of the Spirit, wisdom and discernment, and a receptive heart? Or are our prayers more situational, material, a solution to a problem? God is reminding us that perhaps we need to take a look at our hearts more to ask for, to pray for, what God desires.

How might you pursue the wisdom that only God can give? For our Gospel Connection, for us today, knowing Jesus means we have the Holy Spirit to guide us in wisdom as we grow in our sanctification. But we also need to be intentional, by first asking for wisdom. The study of Scripture also gives us wisdom, and living out our lives in obedience also adds to our collected wisdom. Having mentors and sitting under good teaching also adds to our wisdom.

After this, Solomon woke up and went back to Jerusalem from Gibeon. He went to God’s presence, standing “before the ark of the Lord’s covenant” and again burnt offerings appropriately. Then he celebrated with a feast for all his servants. When God answers our prayers, that’s something to celebrate, to feast on with others.  Proclaiming God and His mighty work in our lives to others is one way we honor God, especially when He gives us good gifts.

Into the Group Experience, follow the instructions for the Arrival with the survey. Knowing your own group better, you might think off possibilities that pertain to your specific group, especially if it’s all men or all women, or all singles, etc.

Go into the Transition and rhetorically ask how often wisdom makes their prayer list.

Move into the Context, describing wisdom and the context surrounding David and the leadership’s transition to Solomon.

Recap, outlining 1 through 5 the information given in the session’s passage. Leave room to answer any questions or other highlights the group may have. Then transition through to the Group Activity.

In the Group Activity, direct your groups to p. 96 of their Personal Study Guide. Follow the instructions to form two groups, having one group take David and one take Solomon. Ask someone to read 1 Kings 2:1-4 and 1 Kings 3:3-15 in their respective group. Read the passage and identify the words, actions, and motives that revealed godly wisdom.

For the group with David, under Words, some answers can include: Telling Solomon to “be strong and be a man.” Telling him to keep his obligation to the Lord, to walk in His ways, and to keep his commands; telling him walking faithfully will keep their line on the throne.

Under Actions, answers may include: calling Solomon and giving him wisdom, telling him how to live his life, reminding Solomon of the importance of the Law and obedience, reminding him of God’s promises.

Under Motives, answers may include: David wanted Solomon to have success in everything he did, and he wanted God to fulfill His promise that if his sons walked faithfully, they would always have a man on the throne.

Have the group share their insights and fill in where needed. Then ask, Do you think David’s final instructions for Solomon were just for a king or are they applicable for us today and why? They’re applicable for us all for we are all leaders in some form or fashion, for our families, friends, workplace, ministries. We all need to be reminded to walk faithfully, to be strong, to be who God’s called us to be as men or women.

For the Solomon group, under Words, answers may include: Solomon’s words showed wisdom in acknowledging that God has “shown great and faithful love,” acknowledging oneself as “servant” before God, acknowledging your placement as a leader is from God, and that your weakness is lack of experience, and asking for “a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern good and evil.”

Under Actions, answers may include: Solomon acknowledged God’s character, his own place as a servant, and God’s placing him as leader. He acknowledged his weaknesses and asked appropriately for the character to be a good leader. And when God answered positively, Solomon worshiped correctly with burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in Jerusalem at the ark of the covenant. And he celebrated with a feast for all his servants.

Under Motives, answers may include: that  Solomon wanted to judge the people well, and be able to discern good and evil, knowing it would be difficult without the Lord’s help to judge God’s people well.

Wrap up with a quick look at James 4:1-4, highlighting verse 3 if time is limited. There are many verses that talk about asking and you will receive. But there is always James 4:3 as well that reminds us that we don’t always ask for the right things. Every verse needs to be placed in its proper context.

Debrief with: Why should asking for wisdom from the Lord be a daily prayer? Every day, and every moment, we need wisdom for all our choices. We don’t always function in wisdom, so we need to ask God for His supernatural power to give us some.

What can you do to be reminded of wisdom’s spiritual value? Maybe have a screensaver that says, “Ask for wisdom” or a tagline in your email that reminds you of wisdom. Your group may have other answers.

Summarize and go to the Head question if time is limited: How would godly wisdom help Solomon, and how should we expect godly wisdom to help us today? Wisdom may help us discern right from wrong, but we still need to act on that wisdom. Wisdom helped Solomon to judge his people well and rule as king well, but many times he might have had the wisdom but failed to follow it. That goes for us today as well. Sometimes, the right choices are hard to discern. Wisdom helps us discern those choices. But if we don’t act on the right choice, we’ve failed to use the wisdom God’s given us.

Go through Next Steps, I like the last bullet point, writing down any decision that will require wisdom and asking God for that wisdom.

End with prayer request and praises and Psalm 119:97-104, remind us that through God’s Word, we gain wisdom, for His word is sweeter than honey.

Hey thanks again for joining me on another Leader Training podcast. Send comments and questions to [email protected] and hope you have a great group time!