Complementary Old Testament Passage:
1 Kings 21:1-24
Sermon Outline:
- The king uses the blood of Christians to gain the approval of the people
- Peter is sound asleep
- The king’s best is no match for the hand of God and a courageous praying church
- The king is eaten by worms, but the Word of the Lord of lords was fruitful and multiplied
Family Discussion Questions:
- What bad thing did Herod do that made the people happy?
- What was Herod’s plan to do with Peter?
- What was Peter doing in prison when the angel rescued him?
- What was the church doing while Peter was in jail?
- Why did God kill Herod?
- What happened to the church after Herod died?
- Who won - God of Herod?
- Why was Herod motivated to kill Peter and what perspective does that give us in our own day?
- Why was Peter sound asleep the night before his execution, but Jesus was sweating drops of blood before His?
- How does the surprise of the church at Peter’s rescue help to better understand the meaning and importance of prayer?
- What providential similarities are there between Jesus’ crucifixion and Peter’s arrest and imprisonment and what does that reveal about the church’s victories until the Lord returns?
- Compare 12:22-23 with 10:25-26 and John 20:28-29. What wonderful theology do we learn comparing and contrasting these events?
- Verse 24 could have been phrased in many different ways to say the same thing. Why was this particular wording chosen?
- How should this passage fuel the church’s desire and commitment to preach the Word and boldly live as citizens of Christ?
