Bible Reading
1 Kings 3:3-9 “Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, 'Ask what I shall give you.' And Solomon said, 'You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
[52:36]Matthew 10:37-39 “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
[01:00:29]Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
[01:12:42]Observation questions
- In 1 Kings 3:3–9, what does Solomon acknowledge about God, his own abilities, and the people he has been called to lead?
- What does the phrase Lev Shomea, a listening heart, include beyond feelings? What two kinds of listening does it involve? [01:08:10]
- In Matthew 10:37–39, which relationships and personal costs does Jesus name when describing what it means to put him first?
- What warning from God did Solomon later ignore, and how did his choices change his worship? [01:03:46]
Interpretation questions
- Why is Solomon’s admission of his limitations an important starting point for leading God’s people? How might that humility affect the way a person handles responsibility? [59:08]
- How does Solomon’s desire to govern justly explain what a listening heart is for? What distinguishes this kind of wisdom from simply knowing many things? [01:08:27]
- How does Jesus’ call in Matthew 10:37–39 challenge a believer whose family’s expectations conflict with obedience to God? How can putting Jesus first shape faithful love for family? [01:00:29]
- How does Solomon’s later failure show the difference between receiving wisdom and living by it? How does Romans 12:2 help explain the need for ongoing change rather than confidence in past spiritual experiences? [01:14:56]
Application questions
- Where do you currently feel responsible for more than you know how to handle—in your family, work, church, or another setting? What would asking God for a listening heart look like in that situation? [01:07:50]
- Is there a relationship, a hope, or a good gift that sometimes takes priority over God in your decisions? What might putting God first look like while still caring well for the people involved? [01:02:28]
- Think of someone whose needs or grief you may have overlooked recently. How could you make room to listen to that person this week, and how might God’s wisdom shape your response? [01:08:27]
- When you consider your recent prayers, what do they reveal about what matters most to you? What room could you make for gratitude, the needs of others, and a request for wisdom? [01:10:17]
- If you have children in your life, what do they see and hear about prayer through you? If not, who could you pray with regularly so that seeking God’s wisdom becomes a shared habit? [01:10:50]
- Where do you feel pressure to accept a habit or attitude simply because it is normal around you? What might help you examine it honestly in light of Scripture rather than assuming your first reaction is right? [01:12:42]
- Is there an area where you already know the right next step but have been slow to take it? What makes obedience difficult, and how could this group support you without pressuring you? [01:14:56]
