1 Kings 15:1-8 | 2 Chronicles 13

1. Read From Rehoboam to Abijam and An Overview of Abijam. What stands out to you about King Abijam? Briefly discuss both the positive and negative aspects of his life and reign.
2. Read 1 Kings 15:1-7. Verse 15:3 says, "His heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God." Scripture regularly takes aim at not only people's actions but also their hearts. The heart is the inner you—the control center of your thoughts, desires,
   and will—where God is either treasured above all else or rejected for lesser loves.What do you think 1 Kings 15:3 means when it says that Abijam's heart "was not wholly true to the LORD his God"? What does it practically look like when your heart is wholly true to the LORD?
3. In Kings and Chronicles, the word "nevertheless" often serves as a theological signpost. It marks an intersection of human failure and divine faithfulness. As you read the stories of Judah's kings, pay attention each time the word appears. Look
   at the word "nevertheless" in 1 Kings 15:4 and discuss the significance of the word in the passage. Also, what do you think 1 Kings 15:4 is talking about when it refers to the "lamp in Jerusalem"?
4. Read 2 Chronicles 13:12-22 and pay special attention to every time the narrative mentions God doing something in the story. What do you think it means for God to be "sovereign"? What are some other passages in Scripture that speak to God's sovereignty?
5. As 2 Chronicles 13 shows, Abijam actually did some righteous and noble acts. Nevertheless, his heart ultimately did not belong to God. What about you? If you are honest with yourself, are there any areas of your life that you have not given fully to God? Spend some time discussing and confessing those things to each other. Then go to God, confessing and praying for one another.