Elijah – Wk 2
1 Kings 17:7 (NLT)
7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
1 Kings 17:8-16 (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.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
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.”
1 Kings 17:10a (NLT)
10 “So he went to Zarephath.”
1 Kings 17:10-11 (NLT)
10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”
1 Kings 17:12 (NLT)
12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”
1 Kings 17:13-14 (NLT)
13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”
1 Kings 17:15-16 (NLT)
15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days. 16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.
1. God’s provision is not tied to any one method.
2. God can meet our needs in unexpected ways.
3. God uses circumstances to test our obedience
– Our obedience opens the door for God to work by his unlimited power within our limited circumstances and resources.
4. God asks us to give first.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (NLT)
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
5. God sees ahead and prepares to meet our needs.
6. God wants us to ask!
Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
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 Kings 17:7. What are common responses when circumstances don’t look favorable?
▶ Read 1 Kings 17:8-9. Have you ever felt like God asked you to do something that didn’t make sense? How did it work out?
▶ Read 1 Kings 17:10-13. How did Elijah know to make that promise to the widow? How can we know if God is prompting us to say or do something?
▶ Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-10. What are some ways we can “plant seeds” in our world today?
Activate:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the Group.
Read Matthew 7:7-8. What is something you feel prompted to ask, and keep asking, God for?
Prayer:
Thank God for the highs and lift up the lows.
Read Hebrews 4:16. Pray together or in pairs for what was shared in the Activate section.