The Story
Mar 17, 2019 • Chris Reighley
The Story:
The Bible As One Continuing Story of God and His People
by Mac Lucado & Randy Frazee
The Story tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time!
God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption—and this story’s true!
Solomon’s unfaithfulness leads to a fractured kingdom. Ten tribes follow Jeroboam in the north (Israel), while two remain under David’s line in the south (Judah). The division brings idolatry, instability, and injustice. But in this chaos, God sends prophets—Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea—calling His people to repent, return, and trust in Him alone. When power corrupts, God raises voices to restore.
Passages:
- 1 Kings 12–16
- 1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 2; 4; 6
- Hosea 4–5; 8–9; 14
- Amos 1; 3–5; 9
Main Idea: Disobedience divides. Prophets call us back.
Lesson 10: A Kingdom Torn in Two & God’s Messengers
I. The Split – The Division of the Kingdom (1 Kings 12)
- Rehoboam’s Prideful Leadership – ignores wise counsel (vv. 1–15)
- Ten Tribes Break Away – Jeroboam leads the north (vv. 16–24)
- God affirms: “This thing is from Me.”
II. Calves… Again – Jeroboam’s Idolatry (1 Kings 12–14)
- Golden Calves in Bethel and Dan – false worship centers established (12:25–33)
- Prophetic Warning and Judgment – disobedient prophet, divine discipline (13:1–34)
- Ahijah’s Prophecy – Jeroboam’s dynasty will fall (14:1–15)
III. A Kingdom in Decline (1 Kings 14–16)
- Judah’s Kings:
- Rehoboam (14:21–31)
- Abijam (15:1–7)
- Asa (15:8–22)
- Jehoshaphat follows (not detailed here)
- Israel’s Kings:
- Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri, Ahab (15:25–16:34)
- Constant war, idolatry, and internal power struggles
IV. The Fire of the Lord – Elijah’s Ministry Begins (1 Kings 17–18)
- Drought and Provision – Elijah with the widow (17:1–24)
- Mount Carmel Showdown – God vs. Baal (18:1–40)
- Fire from Heaven – God answers Elijah’s prayer (18:36–38)
- Rain Returns – Elijah prays and the drought ends (18:41–46)
V. Fresh Fire and Faint Faith (1 Kings 19)
- Elijah Flees Jezebel – exhausted and discouraged
- God Reveals Himself in a Whisper – not in wind, earthquake, or fire
- Elijah Called to Anoint Elisha
VI. Chariots of Fire – Elijah Passes the Mantle (2 Kings 2)
- Elijah Taken Up – chariot of fire, whirlwind (vv. 1–14)
- Elisha Succeeds – begins his prophetic ministry (vv. 15–25)
VII. God at Work through Elisha (2 Kings 4, 6)
- Miracles of Mercy and Power:
- The widow’s oil multiplied
- The Shunammite’s son restored
- Stew purified; bread multiplied
- Axe head recovered; enemies blinded
VIII. The Shepherd of Tekoa – Amos the Prophet (Amos 1, 3–5, 9)
- Judgment on Nations & Israel – none are innocent
- Call to Repentance:
- “Seek Me and live” (Amos 5)
- “Yet you have not returned to Me” (Amos 4)
- Restoration Promised – hope beyond judgment (Amos 9:11–15)
IX. Fire on Their Cities – Hosea’s Prophetic Plea (Hosea 4–5, 8–9, 14)
- God’s Lawsuit Against Israel – spiritual adultery and corruption
- Israel “sows the wind and reaps the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7)
- God’s Faithfulness Remains – a call to return in chapter 14
Key Themes & Takeaways
- Disobedience divides what God desires to unite
- Even flawed leaders are accountable to God’s covenant
- Prophets are God’s megaphone to call people back to Him
- Repentance always precedes restoration
- God’s voice is often found not in fire, but in a whisper