Connect
What’s one unique role you had growing up in your family? (For example: the oldest, the baby, the comedian, an organizer, peacemaker, black sheep, etc.) Looking back, how did that role influence the person you’ve become?

Pray
Spend time praying for each other.

Reflection and Discussion
Don’t rush through this. The goal is not to answer all the questions, but to cultivate meaningful conversations with God and each other. Be prayerful as you reflect and grow together.

Insight: This week’s passage shows how deep idolatry was in Judah. There were idols dedicated to Baal, to Asherah, and to all the host of heaven in the very temple itself. Many of the priests were corrupt, and there was widespread drunkenness and prostitution.

While the word idolatry isn’t a commonly used word in our day, it can be defined as the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God. It’s rooted in our deep commitment to do life apart from God.

1. What/who do people in our culture worship other than the God of the Bible?

2. What did Josiah risk by confronting idolatry so aggressively?

3. How would you feel if you witnessed what Josiah was doing in the Temple, Jerusalem and Judah?

4. Josiah not only removed sinful things but also the sinful people who promoted and permitted these sinful things. Josiah’s treatment of the wicked priests was severe. How can you love someone without condoning their behavior?

5. How would you describe the relationship between character and behavior?

Rather than focusing on not being sinful, it’s often more helpful to consider ways to be holy (righteous, pure or Godly). In other words, focus on the positive rather than the negative.

The main idea behind holiness is separation. God is separate from all sin. He is perfect in His nature. His character is one of flawless moral perfection.
Don Stewart, Blue Letter Bible

6. Scripture tells us …just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV). How does Jesus’ work on the cross enable sinful people to be holy?

7. Ephesians 4:22-32 calls us to a life of holiness and clearly illustrates what this looks like. Make a list of the commands provided in this passage.

8. Which of these is most challenging for you?

9. How can you cultivate this aspect of holiness in your life?

10. How can you balance dependence on God and personal responsibility as you seek to cultivate a life of holiness?

11. What does it look like to be holy in a world like this?

The Big Takeaway
Silence allows us to attend to and listen to God, freeing ourselves from the addiction to and distraction of noise. Spend a few minutes quietly allowing your heart and mind to settle. Trust that God is near and desires to meet you where you are. Ask Him what He wants you to know or do from this week’s study and discussion. Write down what you sense God is saying to you. Share this with the group and pray for each other.

Scripture Memory
One way to keep Jesus at the center of your life is by keeping the words of Scripture at the center of your heart. May you carry the life-shaping words of God in you at all times and in all places.

This week, commit to memory this verse about holiness:

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:21 (NLT)

For Further Study
What’s the difference between hypocrisy and integrity? Reflect on this by yourself and/or discuss this with your group.

◾ HYPOCRISY
◾ INTEGRITY

Expand your understanding of holiness by reading and reflecting on the following passages:

1. Exodus 15:11-13

2. 1 Peter 1:13-16

3. Hebrews 12:12-17

4. 2 Timothy 1:9-10

5. Revelation 4:1-8

Josiah in the Bible
• Josiah’s name means God helps, supports, or even heals. This series focuses on ways God worked through Josiah to strengthen His people in a culture and kingdom of chaos and destruction. Josiah’s faithfulness is a model for us today.

• Josiah’s story is recorded in 2 Kings 22:1-23:30, then is retold more than 100 years later to the Jews who returned to Israel, directing them in the restoration of the kingdom. This second account is in 2 Chronicles 33:25-36:1. Group Guides in this series are based on material from both accounts.

• Of the 19 kings who led the Southern tribes, Josiah was only 1 of 7 described as good. Of the 19 kings who led the Northern tribes, not one of them was considered good. Disobedience and evil spread throughout the land, resulting in oppression and hardship beyond what words can describe.

• Josiah was a good king. He reigned from 640-608 BC and spent his life leading people back to God. May his faithfulness draw our hearts to the One who is perfectly faithful. His name is Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.

Major Themes in the Life of Josiah
1. Breaking the family pattern (generational cycle).
2. Seeking God with urgency and passion.
3. Trusting God with all you are and all you have.
4. Pursuing a life of holiness.
5. The importance of God’s Word.
6. Finding strength in humility.
7. Remembering and celebrating who God is and all He’s done.

Outline of the Story of Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-23:30)
1. Beginning of Josiah’s Reign (22:1-2)
2. Repairing the Temple (22:3-7)
3. The Word of God (22:8-20)
4. Josiah’s Reforms (23:1-20)
5. Passover (23:21-27)
6. Closure of Josiah’s Reign (23:28-30)

Messages in this Series
1. October 6 NOW IS THE TIME TO BE FAITHFUL
2 Kings 21:19-24; 2 Kings 23:25

2. October 13 SEEK HIM FIRST
2 Kings 22:1-2; 2 Chronicles 34:3

3. October 20 TRUST IN GOD
2 Kings 22:3-7

4. October 27 HOLINESS
2 Kings 23:4-24

5. November 3 GOD'S WORD
2 Kings 22:8-13

6. November 10 HUMILITY
2 Kings 22:14-20

7. November 17 REMEMBER
2 Kings 23:25-30

May this be the prayer of our hearts:
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law. Psalm 119:18 (NIV)

Why Jesus?
If you've never experienced God's forgiveness and grace, we'd love the opportunity to talk with you about life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

App and the Daily Devotional
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Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.