Sermon Outline:
I: Through Asa, God’s people had hope that they would enjoy God’s blessings and promises.
II: Asa’s reign leaves us disappointed that He failed to persevere in faithfulness.
III: Our lasting hope is in the constant faithfulness of Jesus, who entrusted Himself unwaveringly to God.
Discussion Questions:
1: What verdict does the Chronicler give regarding Asa’s reign. What makes that verdict so interesting in Asa’s case?
2: What does Azariah prophecy regarding Asa? What would that challenge have meant to the readers of Chronicles? What does it mean for us now on this side of the cross?
3: Why would Azariah tell Asa to “take courage! Do not let your hands be weak,” when his task was to “seek the Lord?”
4: What righteous actions of Asa did the Chronicler choose to show us? In what particular ways do these actions show us Asa’s faithfulness as a king?
5: Who was the primary actor in Asa’s early reign, making it so successful?
6: Why might the story of Asa leave us more disappointed than the account of a purely wicked king like Ahab or Amon?
7: Have you ever experienced the disappointment of someone who you trusted in wavering in their trust in God? How can looking to Christ help you to respond to your disappointment in that particular case?
8: Consider the Context of 1 Peter 2:22-25. The faithfulness of Christ to God does not give us a license to live faithlessly. What can and should we take from Christ’s faithfulness?
