What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. Tell your group one cliché you learned and that you’ve found to be true. (Explain it to them if your group hasn’t heard it before!)
2. This week, we were challenged to “identify what keeps us from being teachable.” Some examples were the “know-it-all,” the “one-upper,” and “been there, done that” attitudes. Which of those dialogue types do you struggle with not acting as? Read Proverbs 28:26, 12:15, and 18:2. How do these attitudes keep us from being teachable? If you don’t personally deal with any of these, how are you able to listen to others without the need to put “your two cents in”? Are you extroverted or introverted? Does that have anything to do with it?
3. A teachable heart is a humble heart. Read Proverbs 11:2, 16:18 and Psalm 25:9. Why do you think pride always precedes disaster? Of what types of disaster do these verses warn? On the other hand, what benefits are to be gained by humility?
4. Correction is not rejection. Read Proverbs 12:1 and Hebrews 12:6. Discuss typical human responses to correction, criticism, or discipline. How can you guard against reacting in those ways? How can you prepare your heart (in advance) to receive correction? It there an issue that God has been trying to reveal or teach to you, but to which you have been closed to and unreceptive?
5. Final Thought: We were challenged to say “I’m sorry. I was wrong. You were right” to someone who came to our minds during the message. Did God put someone on your mind? Maybe there is something more that needs to be said or repaired. Have you taken that step to humble yourself and restore the relationship? Can we pray for you, if you need support and courage?
Deeper
6. Read 1 Kings 3:1-4. We see the “less than perfect” side of Solomon here. What do you notice? If you have scriptural reasons for your judgements, list them also.
7. Read 1 Kings 3:5-9. Read this exchange between God and Solomon. What surprises you? What does it tell you about God’s nature? What do you notice in Solomon’s preface to his “ask”? What about his choice of blessings from God?
8. Read 1 Kings 3:10-15. What is God’s response to humble prayer? How does this compare to James 1:5? Does this remind you of Luke 6:38, Malachi 3:10, and Matthew 6:33? Why or why not?
Note: One example of Solomon’s wisdom, common sense, and his great ability to rule the people fairly is found in 1 Kings 3:16-28. It has entered into the general knowledge of the secular world and is sometimes called “the Judgment of Solomon.” It’s just a great story for you to know!