Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
The ancient story of Ahab’s compromises in the leading of Israel and the evil influence of his
wife Jezebel offers numerous lessons for us today.
In times of uncertainty, there are only two constants: God and Satan. God is responsible for everything good that happens and Satan is responsible for the rest. Sin is a disease. It is spread when people don’t follow God’s leading. Most of you who are studying this lesson are probably under a “shelter in place” recommendation by the Center for Disease Control. However, as one watches the news, it is easy to see that many people are flouting that recommendation and are going about life as usual by traveling, having parties, and basically ignoring the recommendations to stay at home and not spread the COVID-19 virus. Sin works in a similar fashion. God tells us to stay away from sin, not the sinner, but many people ignore this advice. As you will see in the story today, Ahab made a choice to live contrary to the will of God. It infected him and as he continued to ignore God’s guidance, he continued to feel the consequences of his actions.
OPENING ACTIVITY: SCAVENGER HUNT
Since most people are stuck at home right now, a scavenger hunt could be a fun and creative activity for everyone.
Create a list of items that people might have around the house. Announce over text message what you are looking for and have the students either retrieve the item and show it on their device, or take a picture and text it to you. The first one to present the item wins.
What was the craziest item on the list?
How difficult has it been to be stuck at home this week?
What have you missed the most?
How has God been working in your life?
What is selfishness? It comes in many forms. People can be selfish with their time, emotions, and love. In today’s lesson, we will explore where selfishness can lead.
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read 1 Kings 21:1-7 (NIV).
Naboth’s Vineyard1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”
3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
What are your first impressions of the details of this story?
Who are the characters?
Did Naboth have the right to refuse King Ahab? Why or why not?
How did Jezebel continue to flout God’s law?
Read 1 Samuel 8:10-18 (NIV).
10 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
What does this passage say about how a king will treat his people?
Read 1 Kings 21: 11-14 (NIV).
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
Did Jezebel’s plan work? Why or why not?
How do you think Ahab felt when he was able to take possession of the vineyard? Was he really happy?
Read 1 Kings 21:25-26 (NIV).
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
Why did Ahab continue to do evil?
Do other people’s views of God impact our lives?
Read Matthew 26:57-68 (NIV).
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. 58 But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. 60 But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward 61 and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
62 Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
67 Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
How is this story similar to the story of Ahab and Naboth?
What issue was the cause of lying in both stories?
Can you think of any other stories in Scripture where people used similar methods?
Read 1 Kings 21:23-24 (NIV).
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
Read 2 Kings 9:32-37 (NIV).
32 He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33 “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
34 Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36 They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37 Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”
What were the prophecies about Jezebel, Ahab, and their families?
Read 1 Kings 21:27-29 (NIV).
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”
How did Ahab change?
Does this seem fair? Why or why not?
Read Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV).
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
How do these stories make you feel about God?
Isn’t it amazing how God works? For some people, Ahab may be one of the most frustrating people in Scripture. God had shown up and demonstrated His power so many times, but Ahab continually refused to remain faithful. However, God didn’t give up. Again, He sent Elijah the prophet to rebuke Ahab. Finally Ahab repented and followed the Word of the Lord, which allowed God to hold off on His plan to destroy Ahab’s family until after his death. God is continually offering a way of escape to those who are willing to change!
What can you learn from this story and apply to your life?
How does this story change the way you look at the influence others have on your life?
This story shows how desperately God wants us to follow Him. How does this knowledge affect your desire to make Him your best friend?
Being stuck at home for a long period of time isn’t usually a lot of fun. Our lesson today was about how selfish Ahab was and how he took advantage of his neighbor. What three things could you do that are the opposite of what Ahab did? How could you help your neighbors or church members while they are stuck at home for the next few weeks?
Now that you have thought of those three ideas, do them! Helping others does a lot of good for them and will make you feel better about being stuck inside so much too.
Here’s a relational Bible study based on 1 Kings 21:1-29—the story of Naboth and his vineyard (and a few other key people who got involved as well). Rather than asking students to look for correct answers like they would for a Bible quiz, relational Bible studies invite discussion by providing prompts based on the story in Scripture. You can do this by yourself, but you’ll think of more possibilities if you’re in a group, especially if you take time to think, to listen, and to dialogue. If your group has more than five or six people, you may want to divide into smaller groups so more people get a chance to give their input.
If you depend on the Holy Spirit to be active and present during your relational Bible study, God can speak through any of the people in the group.
The youth themselves can lead the discussion. You are dependent on the activity of the Holy Spirit in your group. That is far more important than having a teacher lead your group. Let the Holy Spirit be your teacher, and don’t be surprised if the Holy Spirit speaks through someone in your group, and quite possibly even through you! While the prompts give multiple options (including “other”), don’t be too surprised if you find more than one right answer.
We recommend that the passage be read aloud in the group. Then give some time for individuals to note their responses on the handout (best two-sided). That gives people a head start to think through some of the questions before launching into the discussion. When you finish discussing one item, move on to the next one.
While discussing, keep going back to how you can live out the messages God is revealing to you and your group as you consider the passage from Scripture.
You can copy and paste this study so that it all fits on one sheet (front and back). A printable handout is also provided. We recommend after the opening question that you take turns reading a few verses aloud in the group until you finish the passage. Then take a few minutes to individually jot down your responses to the questions (you may choose more than one answer to some of the questions). That way when you start your discussion, people have already invested some thought into the topic and are ready to discuss it.
While there are several opportunities for application in the questions, you’ll have a more specific application section following the lesson.
Read together 1 Kings 21 (NIV).
Naboth’s Vineyard1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”
3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote:
“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”
“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”
“Mine”
What did you do as a child when you didn’t get what you wanted?
Read 1 Kings 21:1-29.
1. Who owned the land known as “Naboth’s vineyard”?NabothAhabJezebelGodThe governmentNaboth’s family lineWhoever was strongest at the timeWhoever had paid the most for itOther
2. What complicated the land Naboth owned?Naboth owned itThe king of Israel wanted itThere had been a great crop of grapes that particular yearIt was right next door to Ahab’s palaceThis land had been in Naboth’s family for centuriesNaboth refused a fair price, and even an inflated priceJezebel wanted it for AhabIsraelite law had kept land in the family from generation to generationOther
3. What do you consider most offensive about Jezebel’s actions here?Pacifying Ahab’s selfishnessActing on her own selfishnessEliminating people in her kingdomDevising a plan to smear Naboth publiclyArranging for the government leaders to carry out her planContributing to God’s decision to destroy Ahab and his houseShowing a type of leadership that is the opposite of “servant leadership”Not standing up for Naboth or for justiceOther (over)4. What does a king have the power to do?Anything he wantsNever dieTake from some and give to others—his choiceInstruct and engage in justice throughout his kingdomTake the best of everything for himselfMake people like himLead his people to GodOvercome all enemiesOther
5. Give a one-word description for these characters in the story: Name One-Word Description Naboth _______________________ Ahab _______________________ Jezebel _______________________ Elijah _______________________
Do you identify with any of these characters?
6. How would you describe God’s response to Ahab and his actions?Quick F. DirectDelayed G. AngryJudgmental H. ResponsiveFair I. DisappointedForgiving J. Communicative
7. What do you admire in this story? What do you not?
8. Who owns you—all you are, have, and will be? How does that influence your decisions now?
For those who expect a “happily ever after” type of story, you won’t find it in 1 Kings 21. Ahab’s repentance delayed the punishment, but he continued down the same pathway. This story illustrates that being part of God’s people doesn’t mean you automatically live like God’s people (see verse 26). God’s judgment on Ahab and his house can be read in gruesome detail in 2 Kings 9. Everyone benefits from following God and doing what’s right. The story of Naboth’s vineyard shows the opposite and demonstrates the reality that we can indeed go against God, but it results in disaster instead of our intended good.
APPLICATION
Choose one of the following options to apply to your life this week. Team up with one other person in your Youth Sabbath School and check in with that person during the week to update them (and get their update) on how you lived out your application choice in the coming days (maybe even starting today).
1. Thank God and a godly leader (someone who is the opposite of Ahab and Jezebel) for their service.
2. Have you been selfish this past week? If yes, ask God to forgive you for your selfish attitude and actions (repenting like Ahab did after Elijah confronted him).
3. Ask the person you took advantage of with your selfish attitude and actions to forgive you.
4. Listen to God for His message for you, then proclaim it and live it yourself (like Elijah did by giving Ahab God’s message).
Two new Revelation resources have been combined into one, spiral-bound booklet.
One side, called Another Look at Jesus, serves as a follow-up to Revelation 101: Finding Jesus in the Book of Revelation. These follow-up studies explore 12 topics in Revelation rather than the verse-by-verse style utilized in Revelation 101. The 12 topics are themes throughout Revelation and can be used individually, in small groups, or as a church. Following the 12 studies is the teacher’s guide for all 12 studies.
The other side of the book, called That’s My Jesus, is a chapter-by-chapter study of Revelation designed for small groups. The relational emphasis of these studies depends on an active Holy Spirit rather than a Revelation expert to explain each chapter. Discussion questions include prompts from which to choose potential answers that spark discussion and personal applications.
#Playbook Youth & Young Adult Leadership Convention
You are invited to join the North American Division Youth Ministries Department for networking and leadership training from September 3-5, 2020 in Albuquerque, New Mexico! This event is open to all local church, conference, and union youth and young adult ministry leaders. It will feature a wide variety of seminars plus training for youth Sabbath School, Master Guide leadership, and much more.
