Bible Text: 1 Kings 1:1-10 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Kings, Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

1.  The lesson of 1 Kings is well summarized in the following quote from The Daily Devotional Bible: “The book of 1 Kings is all about the necessity of wholehearted devotion to the one true God, keeping focused on His finishing line.  If we divide our loyalties between God and something else, that something else will almost always steal our heart away—and bring us to ruin.” 

2.  In the first verses of chapter one we’re introduced to:

-King David, who is advanced in years and in failing health (vv. 1-4)

-David’s son, Adonijah, who attempts to take advantage of David’s situation to ascend the throne (vs. 5)

-the fact that David was an indulgent father, who flunked Disciplining Children 101 (vs. 6)

3.  We discipline our children: to shape their will, to counter their sin nature, to save them from death, to lead them to Christ. 

4.  Discipline involves both instruction (training and guidance) and correction (verbal and physical).