April 27, 2025 – 1 Kings 13 – 15

Lesson Date: April 27, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 13:1-6, 33-34; 14:7-12, 20-26, 30-31; 15:1-3, 7-15, 24

AIM: To lead students to discover some of the deadly effects of idolatry exhibited in the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah, and to identify and turn from any idols in their lives.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Kings 13 – 15 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Get enough copies of the “Performance Review” study guide for your anticipated attendance, along with pens or pencils for students who might need one.  Write the word “Deadly” on the board or screen.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Deadly” written on the board or screen.  Tell the students that there are many things and activities that are dangerous, but some are actually deadly.

Ask: “What are some objects that can be deadly?” (a loaded gun, a bomb, an automobile, heavy machinery, etc.)

Ask: “What are some natural disasters that can be deadly?” (tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, forest fires, etc.).

Ask: “What are some animals that can be deadly?” (poisonous snakes, lions, tigers, alligators, etc.).

Ask: “What are some behaviors that can be deadly?” (drinking and driving, texting while driving, smoking, mountain climbing, sky diving, etc.).

Tell the students that in addition to deadly objects, disasters, animals, and behaviors, some diseases are deadly and some medications can be deadly if taken incorrectly.

Write the word “Idolatry” after the word “Deadly” on the board.  Ask: “How does God feel about idolatry?” (He hates it and warns against it).  Read Exodus 20:3-5.  Ask: “Are God’s warnings clear?” (yes).  Ask: “Do any of you have trouble understanding what He meant?” (no).

Tell the class that the title of today’s lesson is Deadly Idolatry.  Tell them in this lesson we will discover some of the deadly effects of idolatry exhibited in the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah, and examine ourselves for signs of idolatry in our lives.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   1. Remind everyone that last week we interrupted our study of 1 Kings for an Easter lesson.
   2. Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Tell Others About Jesus’ Resurrection; we learned about the facts, proofs, and importance of Jesus’ resurrection).
   3. Ask if anyone can quote last week’s memory verses (Matthew 28:18-20).
   4. Ask: “Have you had an opportunity to tell anyone about Jesus’ resurrection this week?”
   5. Tell the class that today we are returning to the book of 1 Kings.
   6. Remind them that in 1 Kings 12, David and Solomon’s great and wealthy kingdom was divided into two kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom of Israel ruled by Jeroboam and the Southern Kingdom of Judah ruled by Solomon’s son Rehoboam.
2. Jeroboam’s Deadly Idolatry.
   3. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 13:1-3.
   4. Tell the class that a “man of God” from Judah went to Bethel, where Jeroboam had set up one of his golden calves (1 Kings 12:28-29; locate Bethel on the Map of Israel).
   5. Ask: “According to verse 1, what was Jeroboam doing?” (standing beside the altar to burn incense on it).
   6. Ask: “What did the man of God say in verse 2 about Jeroboam’s false altar to his false god?” (a descendant of King David named Josiah would kill the false priests established by Jeroboam and burn their bones upon the false altar).
   7. Tell the students that these prophecies were perfectly fulfilled 300 years later by King Josiah (see 2 Kings 23:15-20).
   8. Ask: “According to verse 3, what sign did the man of God give to prove that the prophecy was true?” (the altar would be split apart and the ashes on it would be spilled out).
   9. Read 1 Kings 13:4-6.
   10. Ask: “What happened in verse 4?” (Jeroboam ordered that the man of God was to be arrested, but when he did, his hand was instantly withered and paralyzed).
   11. Ask: “What happened in verse 5?” (the altar was split and the ashes poured out as a sign that God would do what he said).
   12. Ask: “What happened in verse 6?” (Jeroboam begged the man of God to ask God to heal his hand, after which God mercifully restored Jeroboam’s hand).
   13. Tell the class the rest of the chapter reveals that the man of God later disobeyed God’s clear instructions, which cost him his life.
   14. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 13:33-34.
   15. Ask: “According to verse 33, did any of these events cause Jeroboam to turn away from his sin and idolatry?” (no).
   16. Ask: “According to verse 34, what did God plan to do about Jeroboam’s idolatry?” (utterly destroy Jeroboam’s family).
   17. Tell the students that Jeroboam’s son became sick, so he told his wife to disguise herself, go to Judah, and ask Ahijah the prophet if their son would recover.
   18. Read 1 Kings 14:7-12.
   19. Ask: “What did the Lord remind Jeroboam about in verses 7-8?” (He had raised Jeroboam up and given him most of David’s kingdom).
   20. Ask: “According to verse 9, what had Jeroboam done?” (made and worshiped idols).
   21. Tell the class in verse 10 God promised to kill every male member of Jeroboam’s family.
   22. Ask: “What did God promise in verse 11?” (the bodies of Jeroboam’s descendants who died in the city would be eaten by dogs, and the bodies of those who died in the country would be eaten by wild animals; the Jews viewed this as a reprehensible fate).
   23. Ask: “What did God say about Jeroboam’s sick child?” (he would die; see v. 17).
   24. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 14:20.
   25. Ask: “What happened to Jeroboam?” (he died).
   26. Give everyone a copy of the “Performance Review” study guide, and tell them at many jobs employees receive an annual review of how well they are doing their job.
   27. Lead the students to fill in the blanks on the first line of the study guide to evaluate Jeroboam’s performance as king of Israel.
   28. Summarize: Jeroboam disobeyed God’s clear warnings against idolatry. Jeroboam’s deadly idolatry brought death upon his son, himself, and eventually every male member of his family.
3. Rehoboam’s Deadly Idolatry.
   1. Tell the class that next we will turn our attention to Rehoboam, the king of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
   2. Read 1 Kings 14:21-24.
   3. Explain that Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king and he reigned for 17 years.
   4. Ask: “How does verse 22 describe Judah under Rehoboam’s rule?” (evil and more sinful than ever before).
   5. Ask: “According to verse 23, what did Judah under Rehoboam do?” (built places of idol worship throughout the country).
   6. Ask: “Who does verse 24 say were allowed to live in the land and do their wicked deeds?” (“sodomites,” which is the biblical word for homosexuals, so named because of the wicked and perverted practices of the people of Sodom; Gen. 19:4-9).
   7. Read 1 Kings 14:25-26.
   8. Explain the following:
      • In the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Judah.
      • According to 2 Chronicles 12:2, this was part of God’s judgment for Judah’s sin.
      • The king of Egypt captured Judah’s fortified cities (2 Chron. 12:3-4), and took away the gold Solomon had accumulated in the Temple and his palace.
   9. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 14:30-31.
   10. Ask: “According to verse 30, what continued throughout Rehoboam’s reign?” (war with Jeroboam, resulting in the deaths of untold numbers of fighting men).
   11. Ask: “What happened to Rehoboam?” (he died; he was only 58 years old).
   12. Direct everyone’s attention once again to the “Performance Review” study guide, and lead them to fill in the blanks to evaluate Rehoboam’s performance as king of Judah.
   13. Summarize: Rehoboam allowed and promoted idolatry and other abominable sins. His deadly idolatry resulted in the decline of Judah, both morally and militarily.  Many died because of his wars, and in time he died.
4. Abijam’s Deadly Idolatry.
   3. Read 1 Kings 15:1-3.
   4. Tell the class that Abijam (also called Abijah) became king of Judah after the death of his father, Rehoboam.
   5. Ask: “According to verse 2, how long did he reign?” (only three years).
   6. Remind the class that Rehoboam was only 58 when he died, so Abijam must have been a young man.
   7. Ask: “What does verse 3 tell us about Abijam?” (he continued all the sins of his father).
   8. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 15:7-8.
   9. Ask: “According to the last part of verse 7, what continued throughout Abijam’s rule?” (deadly warfare with the Northern Kingdom of Israel).
   10. Ask: “What does verse 8 say happened to Abijam?” (he died).
   11. Direct everyone’s attention once again to the “Performance Review” study guide, and lead them to fill in the blanks to evaluate Abijam’s performance as king of Judah.
   12. Summarize: Abijam followed in his father’s footsteps, allowing and promoting idolatry and other abominable sins, and continuing deadly warfare. After only three years on the throne, Abijam died.
5. Asa’s Reforms Against Deadly Idolatry.
   15. Read 1 Kings 15:9-15.
   16. Ask: “According to verse 10, how long did Asa reign?” (41 years).
   17. Ask: “How does verse 11 describe Asa’s behavior?” (he did right, like King David).
   18. Ask: “According to verse 12, who and what did he remove from the land?” (the sodomites and all the idols his fathers had made).
   19. Ask: “Why does verse 13 say he removed his mother from being queen?” (because of her idol worship).
   20. Ask: “What did Asa do with his mother’s idol?” (utterly destroyed it).
   21. Ask: “What does the last half of verse 14 say about Asa’s heart?” (it was “perfect,” or wholly devoted to the Lord).
   22. Ask: “According to verse 15, what did he bring back into the Temple?” (gold and silver that had been dedicated to the Lord).
   23. Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 15:24.
   24. Tell the students that Asa died after ruling over Judah for 41 years.
   25. Direct everyone’s attention once again to the “Performance Review” study guide, and lead them to fill in the blanks to evaluate Asa’s performance as king of Judah.
   26. Summarize: Asa’s heart was right with God, so he removed idols and sodomites from the land. He pleased God so he lived and reigned a long time.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the words “Deadly Idolatry” written on the board or screen.  Remind them that Deadly Idolatry is the title of today’s lesson.

Ask: “What are some ways these chapters have shown that idolatry is deadly?” (Jeroboam’s son died, God promised that all of Jeroboam’s male descendants would die, Rehoboam’s idolatry led to the moral and military decline of Judah, and Abijam followed in his footsteps, resulting in his own death at an early age).

Stress the fact that idolatry is always deadly, because worshiping dead idols instead of the living Lord Jesus ultimately leads to eternal death and torment in hell.

Tell the class that some people today still worship images made of gold, silver, or stone; but many people worship a different kind of idol.  Ask: “What are some modern-day idols?” (sports, sex, money, pleasure, self, career, family, possessions, etc.).

Direct everyone’s attention once again to the “Performance Review” study guide.  Ask: “Which of those kings would have passed their performance review?” (Asa).  Stress the fact that the others would have all failed because they worshiped and served dead idols.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Ask: “Do you have any idols in your life?  Are you devoted to anything more than to the Lord?  If God were to conduct a performance review on you, what might He say?”  Tell the students to confess their sins and turn away from dead idols to worship and follow the living Lord Jesus.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer of confession and commitment.

 

CONCLUSION: Urge everyone to get rid of any idols in their lives, before those idols destroy them and their families.  Suggest that everyone memorize Exodus 20:3 (which is printed on their study guide).