Together for Good

2 Kings 22:15-20, 23:1-3

Connecting Questions

England’s royalty has fascinated people around the world. Why do you think that is?

What’s the strangest item you have found in your home that you did not put there?

Prayer for Illumination

Let us pray, Loving God, we pause today grateful for this next breath. We are grateful for the chance to connect with others today for we all carry such hurts and hope. Open your Word to us. Open our hearts to let your word speak to us and change our lives. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Context

We are “Together for Good”; God is good! Our fall season we are exploring the way God builds relationships through the stories found in scripture. Come explore the many opportunities to grow in faith and carry on the work of Jesus Christ at Easter. So glad you are here!

Sermons can be found at Easter.org/worship.

From Pastor Fred Gaiser at EntertheBible.org:

Second Kings uses the history of the kings of Judah and Israel to explain the destruction of Jerusalem to those experiencing exile in Babylon in the hopes that they might gain a new self-understanding. It is a story of the monarchy’s failure and deserved judgment. But it is also a story of God’s unrelenting commitment to his people through divine words of hope, judgment, summons, and warning, as God seeks to maintain God’s covenantal relationship with the people. We, too, need to hear that a patient and merciful God awaits our response and listens to our prayers.

Look at the Book

Open to the book 2 Kings. Have you been around something that has collapsed? A building, a silo, a relationship, a government? What was it like?
2 Kings 22 records the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. They had four kings; two were good and two were bad. What makes a good king? What makes a bad king?
What is the name of king in this part of the story? He is regarded as one of the best.
As King Josiah speaks, who is he responding to?
Why is God upset?
What did King Josiah do in response to God’s anger? Make a list.
When was the last time someone apologized to you? What was that like? What was done?
In verse 20, because of King Josiah’s repentance, what is promised him by the prophetess? What do you make of this promise?
In Chapter 22, Josiah tries to remodel God’s house, to “get his house in order,” so to speak. In Chapter 23, Josiah invites the entire community into a renovation of the heart. What’s something in your own life—physical or literal—that needs some renovation?
Lutherans talk about sin as “being turned in oneself.” What do you like or not like about that definition?
Who does Josiah gather in Jerusalem?
The main event is the reading of a book that was “accidentally” found in Chapter 22—but it’s essential! It’s the book of the covenant. What happens when we “lose sight” of God’s promises?
Martin Luther loved God’s promises; he felt like he discovered good news when he read Romans 3:28. It was like a new discovery. Read Romans 3:28 to see why.
2 Kings 23:3 echoes Deuteronomy 6:4-6. The latter passage is spoken by Jews every single day. Does faith involve just your head, why or why not?
This coming weekend is Easter Cares Sunday. How have you been served by the caring arm of our church or how have you served as the caring arm of this church for someone else?
What do you want to talk about that has not been brought up yet?

Taking it Home

What is a promise from God that sounds fresh for you today?

Consider being part of Easter’s Care Ministries in some fashion. A phone call, card, or visit can change someone’s life!

Grow Guide | Nov 26, 2023