Prayer
Because the primary goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for or anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together?
Opening Question
What is your favorite movie to watch in the summer?
Strengthened by that food, [Elijah] traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”– 1 Kings 19:8-18
Why was Elijah stuck in life?
Theologians disagree about why God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?” Some believe it was a rhetorical question in the spirit of “C’mon, Elijah, what’s up with you?” Others propose it is God challenging or rebuking Elijah. And others believe it is a call to self-reflection, asking Elijah to look inside his heart. When you read the story, what kind of question do you think God is asking Elijah?
In the sermon, Pastor Morgan pointed to the pride behind Elijah’s answer to God’s question: Elijah was simultaneously overly optimistic about himself and overly pessimistic about others. How did Elijah’s recent history, performing miracles and surviving by God’s miraculous provision set him up to be prideful in this way? What lessons in humility did Elijah need to remember from those miracles?
When have you tended to be overly optimistic about yourself? When have you tended to feel pessimistic or discouraged about the behavior and choices of other people? What perspectives or practices help you to hold both humility and confidence at the same time?
How does God help Elijah get unstuck?
God arrived before Elijah in a gentle whisper or thin sound. Why do you think God sometimes comes to people quietly and in smallness, while other times he speaks loud and clear words in obvious ways?
When has God spoken to you in a thin sound? When has he loudly communicated something to you?
Is there any “noise” in your life that could be drowning out God’s voice? How can you attune your ear and clear the air so you could hear more easily?
How can we get unstuck?
Pastor Morgan gave three strategies from Elijah’s life for getting unstuck:
- Hide in the Rock: Trust and obey Jesus as Lord and Savior.
- Make disciples: Serve and minister to others.
- Be rooted in community: Nurture and pursue friendships with godly people.
Have you repented of your sins and submitted yourself to Jesus as Lord? If not, what could help you get “unstuck?”
Do you serve, volunteer, or minister anywhere regularly? Is there anything new you feel God asking you to do to serve others, at church or somewhere else?
What helps you feel connected to others? Is there anything you could do to foster deeper, more rooted relationships with your family, friends, neighbors, or the people in this group?
Closing Thought
In your final five to ten minutes, open the floor to share any needs or prayer requests and end your time together praying for one another.