1. Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Bad Examples
July 2, 2017
Unit 1, Study 5
Trust God’s Infinite Grace (Manasseh)
Study Texts: 2 Kings 21:16; 2 Chronicles 33:1-20;
Ezekiel 18:21-23; Romans 2:4-11

2. Acknowledgements Material adapted from
Radiant Life: Adult Teacher Guide
June-July-Aug 2017
Unit 1, Good Lessons from Bad Examples
Unit 2, Good Lessons from Good Examples
Volume 91 Number 4
Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802
@2017 ISSN
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International NIV, Copyright 1973 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
All Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the bible.

3. ?Question?
Are there any sins deemed unforgivable?.

4. Trust God’s Infinite Grace (Manasseh)
Key Verse: Ezekiel 18:21
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (KJV)
21 But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. (NIV)
Focus: To recognize God can forgive any sin and trust Him to forgive
Central Truth: No one who repents is beyond God’s willingness to forgive

5. The Worst of the Worst-Manasseh 2 Chronicles 33:1-8 (NIV)
33 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his children in the fire in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger. 7 He took the image he had made and put it in God’s temple, of which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, “In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites leave the land I assigned to your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them concerning all the laws, decrees and regulations given through Moses.”

6. Manasseh Rejects His Legacy
Manasseh inherited a great legacy
His father, Hezekiah, had brought reform to God’s people, tearing down the idolatrous high places, destroying all the alters to false gods built by kings before him, restoring Jerusalem to a place of spiritual vitality
Manasseh was only 12 years old when he began to reign in Judah. He reigned 55 years, but instead of continuing he legacy of Hezekiah, he reversed all the good that his father had done (v 1-2)
Manasseh reestablished the high places of Baal worship, built alters to the false gods of the Canaanites in the temple of God. He sacrificed his children as burnt offerings, an abomination to God
He placed his trust in various forms of witchcraft, rather than see God for guidance
God was filled with anger over Manasseh’s acts (v 3-8)

7. ?Question?
What do you think motivated Manasseh to act in such an evil way especially given his godly heritage?
Evil is inherent in the human condition
There is a constant pull in the heart of all people to do things they want to do rather than live in submission to God
Evil that is not rejected will multiply over time
When we reject God’s authority, there is no one to stop the progression of evil
Where are we today as a nation before God?
Was his age at becoming king a significant factor?

8. Manasseh Corrupts Judah 2 Chronicles 33:9-10 (NIV)
9 But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites. 10 The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.

9. Manasseh Corrupts Judah
Manasseh led the nation in active rebellion against God
They did more evil than the pagan nations God had previously destroyed because of their sinfulness
Just as the Northern Kingdom was to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians, the kingdom of Judah deserved the same

10. Manasseh Corrupts Judah 2 Kings 21:16 (NIV)
16 Moreover, Manasseh also shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, so that they did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

11. Manasseh Corrupts Judah 2 Kings 21:16 (NIV)
Manasseh had no regard for human life
He not only offered his own children's lives in pagan sacrifice, he shed innocent blood to accomplish his personal goals
Innocent blood flowed from one end of Jerusalem to the other
Those who are filled with evil will often seek to destroy innocent life.
History is rife with scenes of mass executions and ethnic cleansing in nations around the world.
Societies that fail to respect human life ultimately have no respect for the Creator of that life

12. ?Question?
Why do you think God did not remove Manasseh and destroy Judah?
God is longsuffering
He offers grace to everyone, no matter how evil
God showed His extravagant love by reaching out to Manasseh and Judah through His prophets
God desired they would turn from their wicked ways
Instead, they paid no attention to God, and lived as if their sin had no consequence

13. Judgement,Repentance,Restoration 2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (NIV)
11 So the Lord brought against them the army commanders of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh prisoner, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. 12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.

14. Manasseh’s Cry What was the price Manasseh paid for his sinfulness?
He was taken into captivity and driven to Babylon
What was his response?
He sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God
Why do you think it sometimes takes difficult situations to turn our hearts toward God?
People do not change until the pain associated with their behavior grows to exceed the pain associated with change

15. Manasseh’s Repentance 2 Chronicles 33: 14-20
14 Afterward he rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David, west of the Gihon spring in the valley, as far as the entrance of the Fish Gate and encircling the hill of Ophel; he also made it much higher. He stationed military commanders in all the fortified cities in Judah. 15 He got rid of the foreign gods and removed the image from the temple of the Lord, as well as all the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem; and he threw them out of the city. 16 Then he restored the altar of the Lord and sacrificed fellowship offerings and thank offerings on it, and told Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. 17 The people, however, continued to sacrifice at the high places, but only to the Lord their God. 18 The other events of Manasseh’s reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the seers spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, are written in the annals of the kings of Israel. 19 His prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness, and the sites where he built high places and set up Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself—all these are written in the records of the seers. 20 Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace. And Amon his son succeeded him as king.

16. ?Question? What is true repentance?
Repentance is more than being sorry
Repentance involves a change of heart that leads a person in a new direction
Manasseh called out to God when he found himself in trouble
His words reflect more that a desire to escape consequences
He had a truly penitent heart, as seen in his actions
He began to live in obedience to God
He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, removed the foreign gods and idols from the temple, and tore down the altars he had built
He restored the altar of the Lord, and re-established the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving
Now he used his power to command the people to return to the Lord

17. God Will Forgive Anyone Ezekiel 18:21-23 (NIV)
21 “But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

18. ?Question? How do you react to the outcome of the Manasseh story?
Why is it important to keep in view that God will forgive even the worst of sinners?
Some Christians live in constant condemnation over sins they have committed. They may feel they are disqualified from service to God because of past actions
Confession and repentance brings redemption, God does not remember the offenses we have committed, He does not hold them against us.
God forgives all who repent

19. No Respecter of Persons Romans 2:4-11 (NIV)
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
[a]Psalm 62:12; Prov. 24:12

20. ?Question? What is the way to redemption?
Romans 2:4 teaches that God offers a path of repentance
If people reject it, they will justly pay the penalty for their evil actions (v 5-6)
Judgement is coming, those whose evil actions have been forgiven by God find eternal life, while those who have not sought God’s forgiveness will experience eternal punishment (v 7-8)

21. God is No Respecter of Persons
No amount of education, good will toward others, or good standing in the community will let a person bypass God’s grace as the means of eternal life (v 9-11)
the only way anyone can experience eternal life is to recognize the evil deeds they have done and ask God to forgive them based on the work of Jesus on the cross
Based on Romans 2:4-11, how should we treat people who were deeply entrenched in sin but are now saved by grace?
We should view all Christians as holy and justified in God’s eyes, no matter the past

22. Practical Application
We should ask ourselves how our actions and attitudes are impacting our testimonies in our communities and neighborhoods
Do we harbor sin and evil, are we disobedient to God?
While we may not be outwardly as evil as Manasseh, God does not tell us to evaluate the degree of evil we allow, but demands that all evil be dealt with
Have our actions brought honor and praise to God?
Have we hurt someone through our actions even though we felt justified?
Have we been truly repentant of our evil actions?

23. Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Bad Examples
July 9, 2017
Unit 1, Study 6
The Danger of Pride (Nebuchadnezzar)
Study Texts: Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 16:5, 18-19; Daniel 4:1-37; 1 Peter 5:5-7