Part 3 – The Holy Place
Leader Guide
Entering the temple courts required sacrifice. Solomon’s temple was dedicated with much ceremony, prayers, worship, and many sacrifices. We, too, must bring the sacrifice of a holy life to please God, whose Spirit lives within us. We, too, need revival in our lives and our church.
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
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What is one thing you changed when you started “going to church” or when you became a believer?
2. Read 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, 11-12. Before God spoke to Solomon (vs 12), how did the people know God was pleased? What did the fire represent? What do you think verse 11 implies? What principle to do you see there, also? What sacrifices have you made to follow Christ? Share one.
Leader’s Note: Fire came down from heaven. Fire usually stands for the presence of God, but also the purifying fire of holiness. In the New Testament, tongues of fire on the heads of those praying, symbolizing the Holy Spirit falling and filling them. The glory of the Lord was visible as He came into the building. It was obvious enough that the priests could not enter. The people could sense God, and they fell and worshipped in awe, thanksgiving, and wonder. Solomon must have had God’s stamp of approval for them to have been so thoroughly completed. Remember Solomon wrote the vast majority of the proverbs; see Proverbs 16:3! Note that Solomon completed the Lord’s house, then his own. God come’s first. David had previously stated similar (2 Samuel 7:1-2), but God did not allow him to build the temple. He was promised that David’s son would complete it (2 Samuel 7:12-13), but also referring to Jesus, the Son of David and Eternal King.
3. Read 2 Chronicles 7:13-14. What does God list in verse 13? If any of those situations arise, what does He expect of us, His people? Why does this responsibility rest on us? Are we in a similar situation now? Where are we looking for relief? Instead, what are we doing about it?
Leader’s Note: These are a few of the ways God might bring judgment or discipline upon His people. Note that not all suffering is a result of sin, but widespread events are sometimes a call to repentance. We are not to blame other people for the mess we are in. God’s people are to humble themselves, pray, seek God, and repent. This changes our hearts and makes us realize that “we are the problem.” We are to repent both independently, as Life Groups, in our families, and as a church body.
4. Read Revelation 2:2-5. Jesus praises this New Testament church (at Ephesus) for many things. What are they? Do we fit the same description? What did they do wrong? Do you remember your first love of Jesus? What adjectives or actions describe that time of your life?
Leader’s Note: They were hard-working, they hated evil and false teaching, they kept doing the things they thought they should do.... but they forgot the relationship. They forgot their love of Jesus. Instead, they were just going through the motions.
5. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. How are we like the Old Testament temple since now “the temple of the Holy Spirit within you”? Do you agree or disagree that you are not your own? How does that go against culture? Does knowing this help you glorify God with your body and life? How has this changed the way you live?
Leader’s Note: We can see that our flesh is the outside of the temple or in the outer courts. Our soul is a holy place with the Spirit living in our spirits, the holiest place. The fact that you are both the temple of the Lord and that you “are not your own” are both a bit overwhelming. It goes against our culture: “You are not the boss of me!” To be called to glorify God with your body and to be inhabited by the Spirit is both an honor and a responsibility. We should live in such a way that others see God living in and through us.
6. Action Step: Would you read and really pray Psalm 139:23–24? Review this YouVersion link for specific sins you might need to confess, repent of, and ask forgiveness for from God. Would you commit (to God and your Life Group) a desire to regain your “first love” of Jesus?
7. Pray: Lord, we seek you today. We come humbly, aware of our sins and our lack of concern for our community, nation, and world. We want to repent of our lack of passion for You and Your purposes in our lives. We want to pray for revival: Lord, let it begin in me. Let it begin in this Life Group. Let it break out in our church family and spread. We ask for the power of the Spirit to stir up our first love for you once again. Empower our prayers, our evangelism, our desire to follow and obey You. Show us Your Glory, Lord, as we sacrifice our lives to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
8. Solomon had one of the most comprehensive, eloquent prayers on behalf of his people at the temple's dedication. If you have time, read all of 2 Chronicles, Chapter 6. Read a part of it now: 2 Chronicles 6:21, 24, 26, 28, 32, 36-37, 39. Why did Solomon pray about future sin? What are some of the consequences that he attributes to the people’s sin? How is this theology of suffering and evil in the world partly true and partly untrue?
Leader’s Note: Solomon relies heavily on the PLACE where God will live. That if the people come there to pray, even if a foreigner comes there to pray, he begs God to listen to those prayers. He also was very aware of the cyclical sins of the people. Idolatry and leaving God, then punishment and repenting/returning to Him. Re suffering: if disaster comes (illness, drought, famine, defeat in war, captivity), Solomon assumes it will because the people have left God. He assumes God has sent these troubles to discipline them. In part, this is true, and God does use any trouble to strengthen our faith and call us back to Him. But some suffering is the result of sin, or living in a fallen world with germs, or someone else’s sin. We are judging if we attribute all trials to someone’s sin (as Job’s friends did).
9. In that famous verse, 2 Chronicles 7:14, the first thing which God asks of His people is to humble themselves. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. What is humility? In what ways does our culture promote being boastful or proud? In what environments or situations have you been boastful or proud?
Leader’s Note: Humility is the attitude of thinking about others before ourselves. It is not thinking we are bad at everything or worthless: it’s not low self-esteem. It is simply not thinking about ourselves too much or as “better than,” especially compared to others. At our very core, we are self-involved. Studies show (Psychology Today) that our brain is more active when performing self-absorbed tasks. Our culture promotes self-help, self-improvement, and “selfies.” In order to grow in humility, we must realize it is against our very nature and choose to humble ourselves.
10. Again, in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we find that humility is crucial to answered prayer, vital to God beginning to act our behalf. Read James 4:3-10. What does “humbling yourself before God” mean, according to this passage? Why is humility necessary to receive the full grace of God? What prevents us from fully feeling the weight of our sin and humbling ourselves before God?
Leader’s Note: If we do not fully acknowledge our sin and the severity of it, how can we fully receive the grace of Jesus and live in His freedom? The two go hand in hand. God wants us to be free of our sins, but if we never acknowledge our bondage, how can we be free? We rarely experience the repentance seen in James 4:9 for two reasons:
1) We don’t view sin as a big deal today. We are so quick to remember Jesus forgave us that we forget the weight of sin from which He has set us free. Sin is a big deal. It is such a big deal that God had to sacrifice His Son to atone for it.
2) We don’t want to acknowledge to ourselves the weight of our mistakes and the harm we’ve caused. We try to move on quickly and never deal with the mistakes in our own lives. However, with complete humility and turning, God is able to speak to us, lead us, direct us, and answer prayers. He longs to be gracious, to draw near, and to exalt those who weep before Him.
11. Read 2 Chronicles 7:12-15. This passage occurs shortly after Israel (under Solomon's leadership) has completed the temple. The people are still suffering and are seeking God, looking for answers. Why does God ask that His people humble themselves before He brings healing? In what areas of your life are you seeking healing or restoration? Have you humbled yourself (to His plan, acknowledged your sin, etc.) as you prepare for His healing?
Leader’s Note: Humility allows us to see that we are part of the problem and take ownership for being part of the change. He wants us turn whole-heartedly to Him BEFORE the miracle so that we know Who is the source of our healing.