Connect
If your life was a book, what would you name a couple of the chapters?

Pray
Spend time praying for each other.

Read

Read this together as a group:

God used Josiah to bring restoration to the kingdom of Judah. He began reconstruction of the temple, returned God’s Word as a centerpiece among the people, cleansed the land of idol worship, and renewed the covenant God made with Moses. One of Josiah’s final efforts toward restoration was to reinstate the celebration of Passover.

Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the slavery of the Israelites in Egypt and their ultimate exodus to freedom. This is the central story of redemption for the Jews and also a picture of God’s salvation offered to us.

You can read the full story in Exodus 11-12, but here is a summary: God commanded Moses to tell the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and mark their doorframes with its blood. God was going to send the Angel of Death to bring judgment on Egypt. But when the angel saw the blood on the Israelites' doorframes, he would pass over their homes so the plague wouldn’t enter.

In other words, it was because of the blood of the lamb that God spared His people from judgment and freed them from slavery in Egypt. And in the same way, it’s because of the blood of Jesus that we are spared from judgment and given freedom from our slavery to sin. That’s why Paul described Jesus as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV). And John declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b ESV)

Jews celebrate Passover to remember the blood of the lamb and their exodus from Egypt. Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remember the broken body of Jesus and His blood poured out for our salvation. The difference is that the exodus from Egypt was only temporary. Freedom in Christ is forever.

Reflection and Discussion
Take your time with 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.

1. The Israelites hadn’t celebrated Passover for generations. What would it have been like for them to observe this celebration again?

2. How do you think this impacted the people as a community?

Insight: The two sacred rituals (sacraments) given to us in the New Testament are the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remember Jesus’ death. We participate in the ceremony of baptism to declare that His death has brought us new life!

3. What’s it usually like for you when you participate in the Lord’s Supper? What thoughts enter your mind? How do you usually feel?

4. What do you think God wants you to think about or experience when participating in the Lord’s Supper?

5. How does celebrating the Lord’s Supper help you grow?

6. What are ways you’ve experienced new life in Jesus?

7. Celebrations and observances in the Bible were almost always done as a community. Why is it important for us to remember together what Jesus did rather than just by ourselves?

8. What are some burdens you’re carrying right now you wish someone knew and cared about?

Insight: The word remember is used more than 200 times in the Bible. Many of these are commands for us to remember something significant, but just as many talk about how God remembers us.

9. Describe a time you felt forgotten or dismissed.

10. How will it help you this week knowing God hasn’t forgotten about you?

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 remembering Jesus:

In the same way, He took the cup of wine after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood. Do this to remember Me as often as you drink it." 1 Corinthians 11:25 (NLT)

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
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

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