God Has a Plan
1 Kings 1–2
This week, we began our study in 1 and 2 Kings by looking at the final days of King David and the beginning of Solomon’s reign.
Big Idea: God has a plan.
Question: Are you willing to trust Him?
To understand 1 Kings, we first stepped back into the larger story of Scripture. God created humanity for love, joy, and life with Him. But because of sin, humanity experiences sorrow, brokenness, and death.
The story of the Bible is the story of God’s plan to restore what sin has broken.
The larger story
God made promises to Abraham: land, descendants, and blessing to all the families of the earth through his offspring.
Through Moses, God rescued His people from slavery and gave them His law.
Through David, God gave His people a king and promised that one of David’s descendants would reign forever.
By the time we arrive at 1 Kings, Israel has God’s people, God’s land, God’s law, and God’s chosen king. It seems like everything should finally be right.
But very quickly, we see that even this is not enough.
The story of Solomon’s throne
David is old, weak, and near death. While David is fading, Adonijah exalts himself and says, “I will be king.”
But Adonijah is not God’s chosen king.
Through Nathan and Bathsheba, David is reminded of his promise that Solomon would reign after him. Solomon is anointed king, the city rejoices, and Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne falls apart.
God’s plan moves forward, even through weakness, conflict, failure, and political chaos.
Learning from David
David’s life gives us both wisdom and warning.
As king, he understood the importance of preparing Solomon to lead. He told him to obey God, walk in His ways, and keep His commands.
But as a parent, David’s life also warns us. He failed to correct Adonijah, and that failure bore painful fruit.
Parenting requires love, warmth, and closeness. But it also requires intentional correction, discipleship, and courage.
God’s plan is Jesus
The deepest point of 1 Kings 1–2 is that even the best version of Israel’s earthly kingdom could not solve humanity’s deepest problem.
God’s people did not ultimately need David or Solomon.
They needed Jesus.
Jesus is the promised descendant of Abraham, the true Son of David, and the eternal King who brings His people into love, joy, and life forever.
God has a plan. The plan’s name is Jesus.
Lifegroup Leader Guide
God Has a Plan
Text: 1 Kings 1–2
Big Idea: God has a plan.
Key Question: Are you willing to trust Him?
Group Goal
Help your group see 1 Kings 1–2 within the larger story of Scripture and consider what it looks like to trust God’s plan in their own lives, families, and future.
Icebreaker
Have you ever had a situation where things looked chaotic in the moment, but later you could see how God was working?
Read the Passage
Read 1 Kings 1:1–10, 1 Kings 1:28–40, and 1 Kings 2:1–4.
If time allows, summarize the rest of chapters 1–2 together.
Discussion
1. The big story
Before looking closely at Solomon’s rise to the throne, we traced the larger story from creation to Abraham, Moses, and David.
- Why is it important to understand Old Testament stories within the larger story of the Bible?
- How do God’s promises to Abraham help us understand the rest of Scripture?
- What did God promise David about his throne and descendants?
Leader note: Help the group see that 1 Kings is not just political history. It is part of the story of God’s plan to restore what sin has broken.
2. God’s plan in the middle of chaos
Adonijah tries to make himself king, but God’s plan was for Solomon to reign.
- What does Adonijah’s attempt to take the throne reveal about human ambition?
- Where do you see chaos, uncertainty, or competing “plans” in this story?
- How does this passage remind us that God’s plan is not threatened by human weakness or rebellion?
Follow-up: Where do you need to remember right now that God has a plan?
3. Learning from David as a parent
1 Kings 1:6 tells us David had never displeased Adonijah by correcting him.
- What stands out to you about that detail?
- Why do you think correction is sometimes difficult for parents?
- How can parents pursue both warmth and correction?
Leader note: This may be tender for some people. Keep the tone pastoral, not condemning. The goal is not shame, but intentionality.
4. Living in light of the end
David’s weakness reminds us that every one of us will eventually face death.
- Why do we often avoid thinking about death and the end of our lives?
- How would living in light of the end change the way we parent, work, lead, or make decisions?
- What would you want to be true of your relationships at the end of your life?
5. Pointing to Jesus
Israel had God’s people, God’s land, God’s law, and God’s chosen king. But it still wasn’t enough.
- Why wasn’t David enough?
- Why wasn’t Solomon enough?
- How does this passage point us forward to Jesus?
Leader note: Land the gospel clearly here. God’s plan is not ultimately David, Solomon, or earthly kingship. God’s plan is Jesus.
Application
Have each person answer one of these:
- Where do I need to trust God’s plan right now?
- Where do I need to be more intentional in parenting, discipling, or leading?
- What decision would look different if I lived more clearly in light of the end?
Prayer
Pray for:
- Trust in God’s plan
- Wisdom for parents and grandparents
- Faithfulness in everyday decisions
- A deeper love for Jesus, the true King