The Bible 20/20 - Week 17: "The Real Battle"

This Sunday we explore the life of King Jehoshaphat, and a couple of important battles he found himself in. Whether he made a mistake in forming a wrong alliance with King Ahab, or he faced the enemy that came to his doorstep, we see his faithful heart towards God, and the grace of God to deliver him from trouble and bring peace, even in the most difficult circumstances. May we all learn to fight the real battle God is calling us to and see Him move strongly on our behalf as we walk with Him! Discussion Questions: 1. What does it mean to have a “blameless” heart towards God (see notes on 2 Chronicles 16:9)? Jehoshaphat is described that way in 2 Chronicles 17:3-6 - what can we learn from that description of his life about having a heart towards God? 2. Jehoshaphat makes an alliance with King Ahab, who appeared to be a friend on common ground, but he wasn’t. How can we watch out for this in our lives? What were some of the biggest differences between Ahab & Jehoshaphat? Ahab was smart and resourceful, but he wasn’t a trust-worthy guy. Jehoshaphat was good-hearted and trusting but didn’t always have the best judgment. 3. Even though Jehoshaphat had bad judgment in this story and got himself into a tough situation - God delivered him. Have you ever seen God rescue you from bad situations that you stumbled into? What does this teach us about God? 4. Compare the descriptions found in Galatians 5:19-21 (living by the flesh) with Galatians 5:22-23 (living by the Spirit). Reflecting on these verses - what areas are you struggling with right now? Are there ways you have responded poorly in this situation? Are there ways you have seen the Holy Spirit help you respond rightly in our current circumstances? 5. What does it look like for us to choose “the right battle” in our current situation? How can we have a heart towards God, and see His kingdom and His presence more in our lives? In our homes? In our interactions with others?