I apologize for the lack of updates recently; this week is finals week. It has been a good first term, and I'm really looking forward to the break we have: a trip to St. Louis, Kentucky, Harding and Dallas! I am most excited, of course, about Harding. I'll get to see my sister and one of my closest friends! We won't be on campus, maybe not at all, but we will be at the World Mission Workshop at Takhoda. I need to get back to writing a paper and studying for my two finals tomorrow, but I thought I'd post a teaching outline I wrote a few weeks back.
In my Old Testament class we had to create three teaching outlines as if we were going to teach the Bible class lessons. They were on an event, a person, and a Psalm. I did my second outline on King Josiah, and I enjoyed learning about him myself. My teacher also thought it was good (97%), so I thought I'd share it with you. You can also see the kind of work that we do in AIM classes. I hope Josiah's life challenges you as it challenged me.
"KING JOSIAH MAKES IT RIGHT"
Text: 2 Chronicles 33:2,22; 34-35
Purpose of Lesson: To look at King Josiah’s life as an example of being willing to go against the status quo and stand for what is right. We, like Josiah, must look at our lives and examine our motives and actions against God’s standard. When we find evil, it must be purged from our lives and replaced with His goodness. In humility we must be willing to admit wrong and repent before God to change what needs to be changed in our lives to seek after Him.
Principles of the Text: King Josiah broke from his family legacy and chose to seek after God instead (2 Chron. 33:2, 22; 34:2). He was willing to examine his life and his kingdom to purge evil from them (2 Chron. 34:3-7). Josiah then repairs the temple of God after tearing down the false altars and destroying their idols (2 Chron. 34:10). When the lost Book of Law was found, he immediately humbled himself before God (2 Chron. 34:27), then repented and made right his own heart and actions as well as those of the people according to God’s law (2 Chron. 34:31-33).
Opening Question: What is your family known for and how has that legacy impacted you? Tell me about something you do now simply because that’s what your family has always done or you’ve always done it that way.
Discussion Questions:
1. Josiah was 8 years old when he became king. How has your parents’ influence on you changed from when you were young until now? What is different?
2. Josiah’s father and grandfather both did evil in the eyes of the Lord. What would have been expected of Josiah as the next king? Describe the status quo of the time.
3. When Josiah was 16, he chose to seek God. When did you decide on your own to seek after God and what lead to that decision? What are your reasons now for seeking God?
4. For the past two generations since King Hezekiah, the people in Judah have been allowed to worship false gods freely. Their idols and altars had pervaded the nation of Judah. Why are the people of God so eager and willing to turn to false gods?
5. Why is it so important to follow God’s law if we are truly seeking after Him?
6. Even though Josiah had been seeking after God, he and all of Judah were ignorant of the Book of Law until it was rediscovered. When he heard the Law, his first reaction was to tear his clothes and weep before God. What should our first reaction be when we learn we are in sin? What usually is your reaction when you discover sin in your life?
7. Josiah set the example to seek after God, making it right by ensuring the people heard the Book of Law read to them. Those who had previously worshipped false gods turned back to following God because of Josiah. Why are examples so influential?
8. 2 Chronicles 22:2 says that “Josiah did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” What does it mean to do “right in the sight of the Lord”?
9. When we seek God, He shows us what we need to change in our lives. Josiah realized that to make it right he needed to put a stop to worshipping of false gods? What has God been showing you that you need to change in your own life?
10. Josiah made a covenant before God to walk after the Lord and follow the Book of Law. What covenant do you need to make before God right now?
Application: Take a few moments to examine your own life and your walk with God. What sin are you struggling with right now? Is there something you know you should be doing but are not? What is God showing you that you need to make right? Pick one thing you need to change and pray about it in humility. Make a covenant with God for this next week to try to change. Then focus on making that one change this week and “do right in the sight of the Lord.”
***Just in case anyone would like to use this teaching outline or any ideas from it, or wants to see the other two I have written, please ask first! Thanks!
-ej
This is a great teaching outline and it certainly is a challenge. Thank you for sharing.
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