Good Kings
Resisting the Irresistible
King Josiah
August 6, 2017 • Kevin Harney
Visiting pastor Kevin Harney leads us through the reign of King Josiah. The writer of 2 Kings says, “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the Lord as he did” (2 Kings 23.25a). Kevin shares five truths that help us see how we can use Josiah’s life as a model to pursue God.
King Hezekiah
July 30, 2017 • Gary Burge
Calvin College Professor Gary Burge leads us through the reign of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah guided God’s people in the midst of a significant crisis. The major world power of the day, the Assyrians were sweeping through the Middle East. How Hezekiah navigates the crisis shows us three important areas where we can grow through a crisis in our life.
King Uzziah
July 23, 2017 • Bob King
East Paris Campus Pastor Bob King takes us through the reign of King Uzziah. Uzziah was the longest reigning “good king,” taking the throne at the age of 16. Because of one thing, Uzziah enjoyed incredible success: he sought God. However, we also see a major turning point in his life that led to a surprising end to his story. Uzziah’s story teaches us a really important lesson about how to respond to our success and when we are challenged.
Asa
July 16, 2017 • Aaron Buer
Pastor of Student Ministries Aaron Buer takes us through King Asa’s rule in 2 Chronicles. Asa inherits a tenuous kingdom fraught with idol worship. How he responds to the different events of his reign highlights five important practices to grow our faith. These practices show how Asa manages to resist the magnetic pull of the culture around him. They help us see how to live for God in a world drawing us in the other direction. His life is also a warning that starting strong doesn’t always mean we will finish well.
David
July 9, 2017 • Brad Holmes
Union Pastor Brad Holmes takes us to the story of David. David’s interactions with Saul help us see how his trust in God helps him navigate a difficult relationship with Saul. Though David’s relationship with Saul is complicated and messy, David chooses to trust God with the relationship. Through the story, we see how David responds when presented with two opportunities to get even.
Magnetic Pull
July 2, 2017 • Bob King
East Paris Campus Pastor Bob King explains three simple instructions God gives to his people about their future king. As we unpack these instructions, we see the importance of resisting the magnetic pull toward the worldly culture around us. We learn about the draw toward human power, compromise and accumulating things. Bob helps us understand God’s instructions through Moses to the future king about how to resist the draw. Though the instructions about resisting the magnetic pull of culture were for the king, we are just as drawn to the pull today. The instructions for resisting the pull toward human power, compromise and accumulating things are pertinent to our world as well.