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Scripture and questions for study and reflection:
Read 1 Kings 8:46-51.

1. What did you think about the way Pastor Mick selected this sermon series (8:46)? Do you believe God still uses signs to get our attention? What signs have you experienced in your life?

2. What do you think about the Bishop\\u2019s admonition to \\u201cDare to believe that God might use us like leaven in the loaf\\u201d? What do you think he meant by that? How can you be leaven? In what loaf?

3. How did Solomon\\u2019s prayer of dedication make you feel when he focused on sin and its consequences? What does this tell us about the pervasiveness of sin in our lives and culture?

4. How much of the history of the divided kingdom (Israel-North, Judah- South) was new to you? How might that impact the way you understand this and other Scriptures?

5. How might Israel\\u2019s history of a divided kingdom and captivity be relevant to us today?

6. Captivity can be used both literally and metaphorically. Although we are a free nation, how might we still be in captivity in some ways due to sin, especially systemic sin?

7. What did you think about the letter Pastor Mick received from the pastor in Texas? What could we/all churches learn from that? In what ways might we have \\u201csinned, done wrong, been most wicked\\u201d as Solomon describes in verse 47?

8. What does repentance look like for Solomon in this prayer (see verses 47-48)? How easy is it to repent like this? What holds us back? What is the benefit when we do repent?

Prayer for the Week:

Gracious and Loving God, forgive us for the times we allow ourselves to conform to the sinful patterns of this world. Help us to do better. Help us to recognize and confess areas we need to improve and then do our part to
improve. Remind us, though, that we can\\u2019t do it all on our own. We can\\u2019t do it without you. So we humbly approach your throne of grace asking you to help us. Renew our minds and transform our lives so that we will not only know your good, pleasing and perfect will, but we will truly live it out in our daily lives. May our lives be holy and pleasing to you as we become the leaven in the loaf. We pray all of this in the strong name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.