Welcome to the third week of our series Good Kings. This series explores the good kings of the Old Testament. This week, Lifeline Pastor Aaron Buer talks about King Asa. King Asa inherits a tenuous kingdom fraught with idol worship. How he responds to the different events of his rule highlights five important practices to grow our faith.
SHARE LIFE
Building healthy and life-giving relationships.
Updates.
What has been new or challenging in your life since last time the group met? Spend 20–30 minutes checking in with each other.
Celebrate.
Sharing life means caring for each other during the lows and celebrating the highs. Take a few minutes to think about what you should celebrate from the last year together as a small group. Maybe plan a social gathering to celebrate what God has done through your group.
Share Part of Your Story.
What is the most monotonous thing you have to do?
PURSUE GOD
Taking next steps toward Christ together.
Have someone read 2 Chronicles 14. What do you notice in these verses? What stands out?
Remove the Competition.
A key lesson we can learn from the life of Asa is living “all-in” with God means relentlessly removing anything that leads us away from him. What are some things in our culture that tend to draw us away from God? (Note some of these distractions from God are obvious while others are very subtle.)
Twice Asa removes the places of pagan worship in Judah (2 Chronicles 14.3, 14.5 and 15.8). Why do you think he had to do it twice?
What is something that you have had to relentlessly and repeatedly remove from your life? Why do you think this keeps showing up in your life?
Seek the Lord.
Asa sought the Lord. He intentionally and purposely pursued him. What does seeking God mean?
What are some ways you make seeking God a priority in your life? What are some steps we can take to seek God intentionally?
Build Defenses.
In the time of peace, Asa built defenses. He recognized where he was weakest and bolstered those areas. Why is it important to do this in a time of peace?
What are some potential weaknesses in your spiritual life? What resources might help you address those weaknesses?
What are some ways your small group can help you build defenses?
Rely on God.
Asa faces two crises in this story. During the first crisis, he relies upon God and God handles the situation. How long does it usually take you to engage God when you are faced with a life crisis? How have you seen God lead through a crisis in either your own life or someone close to you?
During the second crisis, Asa comes up with his own plan and that appeared to be a “success.” How can following our own plan sometimes lead us to what looks like “success” but hurt us in our walk with God?
What are some areas people commonly do it their own way instead of trusting God? Is there an area of life where you struggle to trust God and find yourself doing it your own way?
Respond Humbly.
The first time God sends Asa a message, he responds with humility again removing the places of pagan worship. Later, God sends a messenger to confront Asa and he gets angry. Why do you think he gets angry? What happens to Asa’s heart after he ignores God’s message?
Our first response to being confronted or convicted about sin is often anger, denial or rationalization. How do you typically respond when confronted or convicted?
What are some steps you could take to start responding rightly in a way that seeks truth and growth?
Through King Asa’s story, we see past faithfulness does not guarantee future faithfulness. Unless we continually recommit areas of our life to following God’s plan, the natural progression will be for us to take those areas over. It may be a sin we struggle with (anger, lust, pride, discontentment, fear), our marriage, parenting, our job or something else. What area do you need to recommit this week? How can the group be praying and supporting you in that area?
INVEST IN OTHERS
Valuing people outside the group and outside the faith.
Discuss how you and your group can better engage the people in your life outside your small group.
Relationships.
Last week we asked you to share with the group the people you are purposely investing in who do not have a relationship with Jesus. Give the group an update on these people. Take some time to pray for them together as a group.
Who Needs What We Have?
The summer is a great time for a small group to consider adding members in the fall. The fall sermon series is a great opportunity to invite a co-worker, friend or fellow volunteer to your group. Take some time to discuss the possibility of adding members to your group. Who can you invite from your social circles? Talk about is as a group and make a decision together. If you decide to add someone, be praying about it and come up with a plan for how you want to do it.
Download a printable PDF here.