WELCOME ICEBREAKER

What was your highlight in the past week?

WORSHIP

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

WORD

This week we will look at a storm that came into the life of Elijah. He just had one of his greatest victories in his life. After this he slides into a deep depression and in this story we see how God graciously lifts him up.

As a leader take time to read 1 Kings 18 and 19 prior to the meeting.

Share a little of the background to the story before having the group read 1 Kings 19.

• Elijah was from the mountains of Gilead.
• Called by God to help restore a nation that had fallen from His word.
• King Ahab – the most evil king – had married Jezebel from Sidon to form a relationship with her country to prevent attack. She brought the Baal cult practice with her. As a result thousands of innocent lives died who refused to worship, intense sexual perversion was practiced and as the nation followed this dark practice they slid into total poverty.
• There had not been rain for three years. Now Elijah calls for a show down between God and the Baal priests on Mount Carmel. God demonstrates His power on that mountain and the people respond by acknowledging God as God.
• No doubt Elijah was now expecting a great revival in the land and appreciation for all he had done, including praying for rain again.
• Instead Jezebel has sworn to kill him. He is devastated and flees for his life.

Discussion questions:

• Discuss why Elijah ran from Jezebel. Where did he go wrong?
• Discuss how God restored Elijah back to sanity. The same way he loved Elijah at a time in his life when he was experiencing burn out, is the same way he responds to us. Listed below are a few points to help the discussion:
  • God met Elijah where he was at, not where he should be.
  • God took care of his physical recovery first.
  • By asking a key question God got Elijah thinking clearly.
  • God still believed in him and gave him another important assignment.
  • God gave him another friend and associate.

WORK

Pray for those in your group that may need God’s grace like Elijah did.