Sermon Outline:
I. In Manasseh we see the terrible extent and just consequences of sin.
II. In Manasseh’s repentance and restoration, we see the magnitude of God’s grace.
III. In Amon we see that God is still committed to His justice, and that forgiven sin still has consequences.
Discussion Questions:
How does the Chronicler’s regular allusion to earlier scripture passages show the extent of Manasseh’s sinfulness? How does this also show us the extent of our own sinfulness?
Consider Manasseh’s sins and the inclinations of his heart that led to those actions. How can we see those same inclinations in our own hearts?
How did God ultimately bring Manasseh to repentance? What does this tell us about God’s commitment to our own repentance if we are His people?
What can we say about Manasseh’s good works after his repentance and faith? How does this help us to understand the role of good works in the life of believers?
What painful lessons can we learn about our own sin from Amon?
What was the difference between Amon and Manasseh? Why did God work repentance and humility in one and not the other?
Why is “he humbled himself” often a phrase that is used in the Old Testament to talk about repentance and faith in God?
How does Manasseh’s shocking deliverance from His sin all rest upon Jesus Christ?
