Solomon - Message Study Questions

Message Summary

When Solomon ascended to the throne, he unselfishly asked God for the wisdom he needed to rule justly. God answered and gave him both wisdom and wealth. We too can ask for wisdom for the issues we confront, both large and small. Solomon also faithfully and diligently completed the first Temple of God in Jerusalem—another massive balcony event blessed by God. But Solomon had some weaknesses; most notably were the poor choices he made regarding his wives. He had way too many! And he married unbelieving foreign women who led him astray, spiritually, and not only him the whole nation as a result.
There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Solomon. First, when we seek God with all of our heart, He will be found. Second, the spiritual life is a marathon, not a sprint, and when you get complacent, you make compromises. Compromises sacrifice your values, and you lose what matters most. Third, don’t willfully violate what you know to be true in God’s word.

1. What have you started well then, at some point, walked away from?
   

2. Recall some bad decisions you’ve made in the past. What are some things you do or could do differently to help you make better decisions?
   

Consider This

Biblical heroes have balconies and basements and so do you. You will have hero moments and hero decisions and also have villain moments and make poor decisions. That is just life. Our quest is to make better choices that have better outcomes.

1. God wants us to depend upon Him and ask for wisdom in every area of our lives. Read James 1:5-6. What does it mean to ask for wisdom in faith?
   

2. Read Proverbs 3:5-6. What does “trust in the Lord with all of your heart” mean to you?
   

3. Solomon wrote, “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32). How could such a wise man like Solomon forget his own advice and make such foolish decisions?
   

4. Connection with God is everything. How can you effectively seek God? (Use the following for ideas, 1 John 1:9-10, Acts 26:20, John 14:21, Jeremiah 29:12-13)
   

   • Prayer, the Word, Fellowship and Service. You may have strayed from the path if one or more of these is missing from your life.
     

5. We are taught to pray without ceasing. That’s pretty much every day, isn’t it? When was the last time you really prayed?
   

6. The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Do you read and study God’s word, the Bible, regularly? If yes, what helps you to do that?
   

7. Read Hebrews 10:25. Neglecting to meet with other Christians is a sure sign you’ve gotten off the path. If so, how can you connect with other believers in your current circumstances? If you are connected, what suggestions do you have to deepen and maintain those relationships?
   

Moving Forward – Application

“All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”
(1 Corinthians 9:25-27 NLT).

1. List the principles you gain from the above passage and consider how you might apply them to your life this week.
   

2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:33. Do you currently have a “friend” who is a bad influence on you, a person that drags you down? Why aren’t you separating yourself from that person? What steps can you take this week?
   

3. Do you memorize scripture? It is a great blessing if you do, one that will help you all your life. Choose a Bible verse and try to memorize it every day this week.
   

4. Do you make it your goal in life to serve others, even if in some small way? List some ways you can serve or encourage others and aim to do so each day this week.
   

Don’t quit! Do these things and you’ll stay on the path and in the race.