Message: “Ch. 23 – What/Who” from Rev. David Ludwig

Chapter 14 of The Story gives us a concrete example of what happens when peoples' hearts are not devoted to the Lord and they turn away from Him. The Kingdom of Israel and Judah, whose borders had been expanded and established under King David and which enjoyed relative peace throughout Solomon's reign, now suffers the consequences of hearts that turned away from the Lord. The kingdom is torn in two, north and south, Israel and Judah. Which brings us to a key question: Wasn't it the Lord Himself who wanted to reign over the hearts, minds, and lives of His people? What would their security, their peace, their hope have been like if they had allowed the Lord to reign, compared what has now resulted from their desire to "be like all the other nations"? On this day when we also acknowledge the beginning of Jesus' public ministry at "The Baptism of Our Lord," it is notable that He declares and delivers the reign of God into the lives of God's people. How are we sometimes like the people in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah? If you and I live under Christ's reign, how does He enlist us to extend that reign into the lives of others?>/em>

Scripture References: 1 Kings 12:1-8

More Messages from Ken Green

From Series: "The Story - Part 2"

Winter & Spring 2015 -- “The Story” is an abridged, chronological version of the Bible laid out in the format of a novel. It can help people get a better sense of the Bible as one continuous narrative of God’s love, centering ultimately on the redemption He has given through His Son. To listen to sermons from chapters 1-11, click here.