SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

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1 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Kings and Prophets JEROBOAM S FALSE RELIGION Elementary Lesson Year Two, Quarter One, Lesson Two AIM: to use the story of Jeroboam s false religion to teach my students that we are not to decide how to please God; God alone decides that. OBJECTS TO HAVE: Something from McDonald s A map of Israel, divided into tribes A picture of a golden calf Your Bible POINT OF CONTACT: Who can tell me where this bag comes from? That s right, from McDonald s. Have you ever gone through the drive-thru window at McDonald s with your mom or dad? What do you like to get from McDonald s? Let s pretend that we re at the drive-thru window right now. We pull up to the first window, and the lady says, Welcome to McDonald s; can I take your order? And I say, I want a hamburger, a medium French fry, and a large coke. And the lady says, That ll be $3.50. Pull up to the first window. So I pull up, and I pay my $3.50, and the lady says, Thank you, pull up to the next window for your food. So I pull up to the next window, and the lady hands me a bag and says: I know you said you wanted a hamburger, medium fries, and a large coke. But we decided that you would like a cheeseburger, an order of chicken nuggets, and a small Sprite better. Now wait a minute. Does she know what I want? Of course not! How can she tell me what I want? I m the one who knows what I want! Does everybody agree? So let me ask you a question: if that lady at McDonald s does not have the right to tell me what I really want, do I have the right to tell God what He really wants? Of course not! If God says to me, This is how to get to heaven; do I have the right to decide, God, I have a better idea; do I? Of course not! If God says to me, This is how to please me; do I have the right to decide, God, I have a better way to please you; do I? Of course not! If God says to me, This is what is right and wrong; do I have the right to decide, God, I know better what is right and wrong; do I? Of course not! Today I am going to tell you a story about a man who knew how God had instructed him to worship Him and serve Him; but he decided to make a different way, and to teach that different way to God s people. STORY: A few weeks ago I told you about Jeroboam. I told you how the man of God told Jeroboam that God was going to put him in charge of ten of the tribes of Israel. I told you that it was up to Jeroboam to influence those ten tribes properly. Then last week, I told you about when it actually happened when God split the nation of Israel into two parts. I told you that the one part was called Judah, and they had Rehoboam as their king. I told you that the other part was called Israel, and had Jeroboam as their king. So now it has happened exactly as the prophet said it would happen. Jeroboam is the king of the ten northern tribes of Israel. He could lead them any way he chose to. Jeroboam found that there was one big problem with this new arrangement, though. You see, the city of Jerusalem was the capitol city of the nation of Israel. Jerusalem was the place where the Temple was. Jerusalem was the place where the Ark of the Covenant was. Jerusalem was the place where God met with His people. Jerusalem was the place where God had commanded the people to go to do business with God, and to worship God. And where was the city

2 of Jerusalem located? It was in the land of Judah. So in order to please God, the people in Jeroboam s kingdom would have to leave Jeroboam s kingdom, and go to Judah, where Jerusalem was located. Jeroboam was afraid that if his people in the northern kingdom of Israel, left to go to the southern kingdom of Judah to worship God, they might miss the old ways. They would start thinking about their heritage, and their beautiful capitol city of Jerusalem, and they would change their minds about having their kingdom divided. He thought that they would want to bring all of the twelve tribes together into one nation again, and he would lose his kingdom. So Jeroboam came up with a wicked plan. He stood up before the people and said: I know that you think God wants you to go to Jerusalem. I know that you think God wants you to offer sacrifices in Jerusalem. But I m here to tell you that that is not what God wants you to do. God wants you to worship him right here in my kingdom. Do you see these two golden calves? These are your gods. I want you I mean, God wants you, to offer sacrifices to these calves, and serve them. That is what will please God. I will put one of these golden calves in the city of Dan, and one in the city of Bethel. You don t have to travel to Jerusalem anymore. You can worship God right here where we live. This is what God wants. Now, was Jeroboam telling the truth? Had God changed His mind? Did He really want them to go someplace different, and worship God in a different way? Of course not. Jeroboam was lying to these people. Jeroboam did not have the right to decide what would please God. And God never changes His mind like that. Jeroboam was lying to try to keep his kingdom together. But most of the people in the land were fooled. Most of the people did what Jeroboam told them to do. Because they did, their lives were ruined, and their nation was destroyed. God was not pleased with them, and His blessing was not upon them. How can good people be fooled like that? There are several reasons. There are reasons that the people were tricked into believing a lie. They are the same reasons that people are tricked into believing lies about God today. I don t want to be tricked into believing lies, and I know you don t either. We want to believe what is true. If you will listen to these reasons they will help you not be tricked into believing lies about God. The first reason people are tricked into believing lies about God is that they don t believe the Bible is God s perfect Word. You see, if these people had loved and believed God s commandments, nobody would have been able to trick them into believing something else. If you want to avoid being tricked into believing lies about God, you need to learn to love the Bible. Come to church and Sunday school every week, listen carefully as the Bible is taught and preached, love the Bible, learn it, and believe it. The Bible is the Word of God, and anything that disagrees with it is a lie. The second reason people are tricked into believing lies about God is that sometimes it is easier to believe a lie. These calves were closer to their homes than Jerusalem was. It was easier to go to where these calves were. There are many lies that tell you that you don t have to go to church to please God, you don t have to separate from sin to please God, you don t have to read your Bible to please God. That may sound easier than the truth, but it is a lie, and it will ruin your life. The third reason people are tricked into believing a lie is that all of their friends are doing it. If everybody is doing it, it must be true, right? No, that s not right. Usually, more people believe the lies than believe the truth. But when everybody else is doing wrong, it s easier for you to do wrong with them. A fourth reason people are tricked into believing a lie is that it is somebody they love and respect who lies to them. Jeroboam had been a hero to these people. They loved and respected him. When he stood up and told these lies, even though it did not sound right to people, they wanted to believe him because of who he was. But remember: no matter who says, The Bible is not God s Word, they are lying. Anybody who says, There are lots of ways to heaven, is lying to you, no matter who they are. Anybody who says, Jesus didn t really die for our sins, is lying, no matter who they are. It is easy to be deceived by someone that we love. Jeroboam brought great heartache to Israel. His kingdom was a failure from the start, because it was built upon a lie. If you want God to keep on blessing your life, don t believe the lies about God. Keep on believing the Bible, no matter what. Let s learn our memory verse: Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

3 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON Kings and Prophets JEROBOAM S FALSE RELIGION Teen and Adult Lesson Year Two, Quarter One, Lesson Two Teacher, choose one of the following truths to expand upon in teaching this portion of Scripture to your teen/adult class. Teach and apply the truth that you choose using statements and illustrations that are most helpful and applicable to your students. I. WE MUST ADAPT OUR LIFESTYLES TO MATCH GOD S TRUTH, INSTEAD OF CREATING A SET OF BELIEFS TO MATCH OUR LIFESTYLE. Jeroboam had a political agenda, and that was, to keep the people of the newly-formed northern kingdom following him. But he feared that if the people traveled to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, their hearts would turn their loyalty back to Jerusalem, their heritage, and the king of Judah. (12:26-27) So Jeroboam created a new religion, one that would match his politics. But that is completely backwards. We have no right to redefine our faith to accommodate any part of our lives; we must first find out what God says, then rearrange our lives to line up with His Word. II. OUR FAITH SHOULD NEVER BE DETERMINED BY WHAT IS CONVENIENT FOR US; OUR FAITH SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY WHAT GOD SAYS IS PLEASING TO HIM. 12:28. Jeroboam sold this new religion to the people by telling them how much more convenient it would be for them. Convenience does not factor into obedience. We must obey God whether or not we think it is convenient for us. III. BAD DOCTRINE BRINGS YOU INTO BAD COMPANY. 12:31. Jeroboam appointed people with no character, no convictions and no integrity to be priests in his new religion. Why? Because men with integrity would not sell out their faith. Sincere, godly people stick with what is right and true; so by default, when you choose bad doctrine, you choose insincere, ungodly friends. IV. WHEN YOU NEGLECT YOUR FAITH, YOU ARE VOLUNTEERING TO BE DUPED. Jeroboam was banking on the fact that most of the people in the northern kingdom didn t know what they believed. He knew he could pull a fast one on them because they didn t know their heritage. When you neglect God s house, God s Word, God s people, and God s presence, it is a matter of time before you will turn your back on the things of God, because there will come a time when you can t remember why you are living for God anyway. V. BE CAREFUL OF GOING WHERE THE CROWD IS GOING. It is a wonderful thing when multitudes of people turn to God; but usually the multitude is going in the wrong direction. That s why Jesus said that the gate that leads to life is strait, and the way is narrow, and few there be that find it; but the gate that leads to destruction is wide, the way is broad, and many go in thereat. Much of what is called Christian these days has the stench of the world on it. Don t ever let the popularity of anything make you think that it is of God.

4 Jeroboam s False Religion How a Deceiver Succeeds I. I KINGS 12:25 Jeroboam Builds His Palace II. I KINGS 12:26-27 Jeroboam Considers His Position III. I KINGS 12:28-33 Jeroboam Abuses His Power 28 The objects of the new religion The location of the new religion 31 The leaders of the new religion The practice of the new religion How did Jeroboam succeed at pulling Israel away from their God? Deception Succeeds: 1. When it is driven by a person with an agenda of personal gain When it is tied to a political scheme When it contains an element of truth When it appeals to people s desire for convenience When people do not thoroughly know their heritage When it is advanced by willing accomplices By replacing truth-based worship with an organized system Adult Bible Class

5 JEROBOAM S FALSE RELIGION Jeroboam deceived the people into worshipping an idol. If you stay in the Bible, God will protect you from being deceived by lies. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. PSALM 91:1

6 Jeroboam s False Religion Complete the crossword puzzle below using information from today s lesson ACROSS 2 One of the two cities where Jeroboam 4 The prophet had told Jeroboam he would be king when he ripped his into twelve pieces 5 Jeroboam didn t want the people going back to 8 Jeroboam led his people to idols 9 Jerusalem was the where the temple was 10 One of the two cities where Jeroboam DOWN 1 Jeroboam created a religion 3 Jeroboam was the king of the thern kingdom 4 Jeroboam built two golden 5 The name of the first king of the northern kingdom 6 The number of tribes in Israel before the nation was divided 7 When Jeroboam told the people that God had changed their place of worship, he was telling a He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. PSALM 91:1

7 Jeroboam s False Religion The answers to today s puzzle 1 F D A N A C O A T O L A 5 J E R U S A L E M E E V R 6 7 T E L O 8 W O R S H I P B E E 9 O P L A C E A V 10 M B E T H E L ACROSS 2 One of the two cities where Jeroboam 4 The prophet had told Jeroboam he would be king when he ripped his into twelve pieces 5 Jeroboam didn t want the people going back to 8 Jeroboam led his people to idols 9 Jerusalem was the where the temple was 10 One of the two cities where Jeroboam DOWN 1 Jeroboam created a religion 3 Jeroboam was the king of the thern kingdom 4 Jeroboam built two golden 5 The name of the first king of the northern kingdom 6 The number of tribes in Israel before the nation was divided 7 When Jeroboam told the people that God had changed their place of worship, he was telling a