Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Rev. Kenny Stidham
Scripture: 1 Kings 5:1-18
Sermon Title: “As You Go… Share Your Story”
Date: November 1, 2026
1 Kings 5:1-18 (NIV)
When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. 2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:
3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’
6 “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”
7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”
8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon:
“I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. 9 My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.”
10 In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors[b] of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths[c][d] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. 12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. 14 He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, 16 as well as thirty-three hundred[e] foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. 17 At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. 18 The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.
3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’
6 “So give orders that cedars of Lebanon be cut for me. My men will work with yours, and I will pay you for your men whatever wages you set. You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.”
7 When Hiram heard Solomon’s message, he was greatly pleased and said, “Praise be to the Lord today, for he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.”
8 So Hiram sent word to Solomon:
“I have received the message you sent me and will do all you want in providing the cedar and juniper logs. 9 My men will haul them down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea, and I will float them as rafts by sea to the place you specify. There I will separate them and you can take them away. And you are to grant my wish by providing food for my royal household.”
10 In this way Hiram kept Solomon supplied with all the cedar and juniper logs he wanted, 11 and Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors[b] of wheat as food for his household, in addition to twenty thousand baths[c][d] of pressed olive oil. Solomon continued to do this for Hiram year after year. 12 The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, just as he had promised him. There were peaceful relations between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty.
13 King Solomon conscripted laborers from all Israel—thirty thousand men. 14 He sent them off to Lebanon in shifts of ten thousand a month, so that they spent one month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor. 15 Solomon had seventy thousand carriers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hills, 16 as well as thirty-three hundred[e] foremen who supervised the project and directed the workers. 17 At the king’s command they removed from the quarry large blocks of high-grade stone to provide a foundation of dressed stone for the temple. 18 The craftsmen of Solomon and Hiram and workers from Byblos cut and prepared the timber and stone for the building of the temple.
Naaman’s experience is an encouragement to believers to share how God brought us to faith. It traces seven links in the conversion process: spiritual poverty, strategic placement, seed planting, sovereign provision, surrendered pride, saving profession, and sharing your story.
This passage shows us that God uses personal needs, relationships, and circumstances to draw people to Himself—and can use your testimony to encourage others.
Prepare a 2–3-minute testimony using the Testimony Worksheet below. Practice with other believers, then share with someone who does not know Christ.
Testimony Worksheet
Use these questions to prepare a 2–3-minute account of how you came to trust Jesus Christ. Tell your own story honestly; you do not need a dramatic experience or an exact conversion date.
1. Your life before Christ
What was your life like before you trusted Christ? What needs, struggles, or questions helped you recognize your spiritual poverty? How did you try to meet those needs?
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. How you came to trust Christ
Who helped point you toward Christ? What did you come to understand about your sin, Jesus’ death for you, and salvation as God’s free gift? What obstacles or pride did you need to surrender? Describe how you responded in faith.
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. Your life after trusting Christ
What difference has Christ made in your life? Describe specific changes in your attitudes, relationships, priorities, or response to difficulties. Be honest about ongoing struggles and how you now depend on Him.
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Put your story together
Choose the most important details from each part. Connect them into a short, natural story that emphasizes what Christ has done rather than only what you have experienced.
My opening sentence: __________________________
The main difference Christ has made: ______________
Practice and share
Someone I will pray for: _________________________
Someone I will practice with: _____________________
This passage shows us that God uses personal needs, relationships, and circumstances to draw people to Himself—and can use your testimony to encourage others.
Prepare a 2–3-minute testimony using the Testimony Worksheet below. Practice with other believers, then share with someone who does not know Christ.
Testimony Worksheet
Use these questions to prepare a 2–3-minute account of how you came to trust Jesus Christ. Tell your own story honestly; you do not need a dramatic experience or an exact conversion date.
1. Your life before Christ
What was your life like before you trusted Christ? What needs, struggles, or questions helped you recognize your spiritual poverty? How did you try to meet those needs?
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. How you came to trust Christ
Who helped point you toward Christ? What did you come to understand about your sin, Jesus’ death for you, and salvation as God’s free gift? What obstacles or pride did you need to surrender? Describe how you responded in faith.
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
3. Your life after trusting Christ
What difference has Christ made in your life? Describe specific changes in your attitudes, relationships, priorities, or response to difficulties. Be honest about ongoing struggles and how you now depend on Him.
My notes:
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Put your story together
Choose the most important details from each part. Connect them into a short, natural story that emphasizes what Christ has done rather than only what you have experienced.
My opening sentence: __________________________
The main difference Christ has made: ______________
Practice and share
- Read your story aloud and time it. Aim for 2–3 minutes.
- Use everyday language and explain unfamiliar church terms.
- Practice with a believer. Ask: Is my story clear? Is the gospel clear? What could I shorten?
- Pray for someone with whom you can share. Listen to their story and look for a natural opportunity to tell yours.
Someone I will pray for: _________________________
Someone I will practice with: _____________________