Elijah – Wk 1

1 Kings 17:1-7 (NLT)

17 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

1 Kings 16:32-33 (NLT)

32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. 33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

1 Kings 17:1 (NLT)

1. Elijah’s purpose was to serve God.

1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV)

17 And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

Ephesians 1:4-6 (NLT)

4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

1 Kings 17:2-7 (NLT)

2. Walking in courageous faith starts with obedience.

1 Kings 17:5 (NLT)

5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.

1 Kings 11:38 (NLT)

38 If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.

1 Kings 14:8 (NLT)

8 I ripped the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you. But you have not been like my servant David, who obeyed my commands and followed me with all his heart and always did whatever I wanted.

John 8:29 (NKJV)

29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

John 14:31 (NLT)

31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.

Luke 1:11-17 (NLT)

11 While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”

1 John 2:3-6 (NLT)

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

1 Kings 17:8-9 (NLT)

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

– Elijah’s mission was to awaken the Israelites to their abandonment of belief and to call them back to loyalty to the God of Israel.

3. Obedience is our responsibility. The outcome is the Lord’s.

Ephesians 3:19 (NLT)

19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE

Where your faith intersects with real life!

Reconnect:

Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.

Explore:

Review the message notes.

Big Idea: The story of Elijah helps us understand the character of God and is an example for us to learn how we can grow in obedience, faith, and courage.

Consider:

Choose one or two questions for your Group to discuss as time allows.

▶ Read 1 King 17:1. Note how Elijah says, “the God I serve”. There were a lot of options for other gods in Elijah’s day. What are some options of gods people could choose today?

▶ Read Ephesians 4:4-6. Believers have all been adopted into God’s family. Were you adopted as a child or an adult? How has having an identity of being a part of God’s family changed how you view yourself? How has it changed how you live your life?

▶ Read 1 Kings 17:2-7. Share about a time God asked you to do something courageous and what happened as a result.

Activate:

Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.

Read Luke 1:11-17. What would having more of the Spirit of Elijah look like in your life?

Prayer:

Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.

Read 1 John 2:3-6 and Ephesians 3:19. Pray and that we experience the love of Christ, and that we all have courage to walk our lives out in the way God is asking us to.