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The God Who Whispers

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The God Who Whispers SESSION 2 The God Who Whispers Summary and Goal After the events on Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah succumbed to discouragement and despair. In response to Elijah’s circumstances, God revealed Himself. The God who sent down fire from heaven in a bold and spectacular display of His power is the same God who whispered to Elijah in a quiet moment of sustaining grace. God strengthens us in our despair, challenges the lies we believe, and then ministers to us through His Word and through His people. As the recipients of God’s grace, we, in turn, rely on His power to deliver His message of comfort. Main Passage 1 Kings 19:1-18 Session Outline 1. The God who whispers strengthens us in our despair (1 Kings 19:1-9a). 2. The God who whispers challenges our wrong assumptions (1 Kings 19:9b-14). 3. The God who whispers reveals Himself through His faithful people (1 Kings 19:15-18). Theological Theme God is gracious to reveal Himself to His people. Christ Connection Elijah was a prophet who faced persecution and opposition from those who rejected God. His example points forward to Jesus, the greatest prophet, who endured opposition for delivering God’s Word. Missional Application God calls us to rely on Him for the strength we need to deliver His message. Date of My Bible Study: ______________________ 19 © 2016 LifeWay Christian Resources. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute within the license agreement with purchaser. Session Plan The God Who Whispers Session 2 Introduction Introduction Option Use the writer’s example of disillusionment or one of your own to begin the Write on a board or on session. Experiencing disappointment and disillusionment can lead to a a large sheet of paper the heading “Elijah on distorted perspective on life (leader p. 22; personal study guide [PSG] p. 19). Mount Carmel.” As group members arrive, What circumstances in your past have led you to periods of ask them to write 1-2 disappointment or disillusionment? adjectives to describe Elijah as he faced off with the prophets of Baal (see the What impact did these circumstances have on your previous session). relationship with God? As you begin the session, refer to the comments from this activity and say Connect the theme of disillusionment with the story of Elijah by contrasting that Elijah’s experience and his encounter with the prophets of Baal in the previous session with Elijah’s response in this session is drastically different. experience we learn about in this session (leader p. 22). Use the session summary to assist in doing this (leader p. 23; PSG p. 20). 1. T he God who whispers strengthens us in our For Further despair (1 Kings 19:1-9a). Discussion Emphasize that the spectacle at Mount Carmel did not result in ideal What are things we circumstances for Israel and Elijah (leader p. 23). Read 1 Kings 19:1-9a. do or say that aren’t Point out that Elijah fled for his life in response to Jezebel’s threatening helpful as we try to encourage one another in message. But even in his despondency, the Lord continued to meet his needs tough circumstances? (leader pp. 23-24; PSG pp. 20-21). What are some ways we might encourage each Can you remember a time in your past when God other more effectively? ministered to you and allowed you to rest? Describe the circumstances. Note how depression can skew how we see truth. Churches must find ways to help that go beyond sound-bite statements and spiritual to-do lists. Point out how God was with Elijah, ministering in truth and love even as he fled his situation (leader pp. 24-25; PSG p. 21). What are some ways we may accidentally add to the pain of people around us who are suffering? 20 Leader Guide 2. The God who whispers challenges our wrong assumptions (1 Kings 19:9b-14). Point 2 Option As a continuation of the Read 1 Kings 19:9b-14. Show how Elijah’s answer was honest but narrow and Introduction Option, misinformed. Elijah lacked hope for Israel and instead hurled accusations and write on a board or on disgust. Say that hopelessness can make the light around us look dim a second large sheet of paper the heading “Elijah in (leader pp. 25-26; PSG pp. 22-23). the Wilderness.” Allow group members Elijah’s disappointment and despair contributed to his a moment to write 1-2 inability to correct his wrong assumptions. Why do you adjectives describing Elijah think we get stuck in poor reasoning and wrong thinking? based on the Scripture passages read thus far. Then ask a volunteer How can we correct wrong assumptions? to read the “Essential Christian Doctrine” God Is Immanent (leader p. 26; Note that rather than arguing with Elijah, God showed that He doesn’t PSG p. 23). Have groups always work in fantastic displays but also in small, subtle ways. Stress why of 2-3 discuss how this doctrine of God an informed, growing knowledge of God is important for avoiding wrong should shape the way assumptions (leader pp. 26-27; PSG pp. 23-24). we understand our circumstances in life, whether highs or lows. How does your church/group teach or demonstrate that Allow a moment for groups God works in still, small ways? to share with everyone some of their thoughts and reflections. How can we help people struggling with belief in God to gain a better understanding of the evidence of God from His work in smaller ways, not just in spectacular or miraculous displays? 3. The God who whispers reveals Himself through His faithful people (1 Kings 19:15-18). Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:15-18. Point out Elijah’s new role. God calls us to be faithful in the small things that may not make sense to us. Similarly, Jesus calls us to die to ourselves and obey (leader pp. 27-28; PSG pp. 24-25). What are some ways God currently uses your life to affect your community (family, friends, coworkers, church members, etc.)? Christ Connection: Elijah was a prophet who faced State that God is free to work in ways we may not expect nor observe in this persecution and opposition Ask group from those who rejected life—consider Jesus on the cross (leader pp. 28-29; PSG pp. 25-26). God. His example points members individually to answer the questions using the table in the PSG. After a forward to Jesus, the couple of moments, ask them to group up and share their experiences; then call for greatest prophet, who endured opposition for some responses for the whole group (leader p. 29; PSG p. 26). delivering God’s Word. ........................................................ Conclusion Missional Application: God Remind the group that our labors matter to the Lord, and exhort them to calls us to rely on Him for the strength we need to trust in the God who whispers (leader p. 29; PSG p. 26). Apply the truths of deliver His message. this session with “His Mission, Your Mission” (PSG p. 27). Session 2 21 Expanded Session Content The God Who Whispers Session 2 Introduction Voices from I once had a good friend tell me, “My life isn’t what I expected at all. It Church History is much more disappointing than I would have imagined. Over the years, “Faith in Christ is far from I became angry with God for my situation. So I walked away from Him simple and easy because he is an astounding and from the church.” king, who, instead of My friend dreamt of being a stay-at-home mom. However, she defending his people, [seemingly] deserts them… became the long-term, steady provider for her household. She felt cheated He is a strange king who and abandoned. Worse yet, after many years at her job, a younger is nearest when he is [seemingly] far.” 1 administrator began to verbally abuse her, writing trumped-up, negative –Martin Luther (1483-1546) evaluations of her performance. As a result, my friend struggled with loneliness and bitterness. Often in speaking with Christians and non-Christians, I have heard stories of exhaustion and disillusionment, stories that lead to a distorted perspective on life. What’s more, people often feel confused when they realize that many of their victorious moments with God, or “mountain-top experiences,” take place right next to some of the hardest and most painful experiences of life. What circumstances in your past have led you to periods of disappointment or disillusionment? What impact did these circumstances have on your relationship with God? As we pick up the story of Elijah, we find the prophet of God in a similar situation. In the previous session, we witnessed Elijah’s spectacular contest with the prophets of Baal. The people had proclaimed Yahweh as Lord! Surely Elijah expected spectacular results after such a miracle. However, neither Israel’s king (Ahab) nor queen (Jezebel) had undergone a heart change after the fire came down from heaven. Instead, Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life. 22 Leader Guide Session Summary In this session, we see how the prophet Elijah succumbed to Further discouragement and despair. In response to Elijah’s circumstances, God Commentary revealed Himself. The God who sent down fire from heaven in a bold and “Jezebel’s rejection of spectacular display of His power is the same God who whispered to Elijah God’s signs and the determined, defiant way in a quiet moment of sustaining grace. God strengthens us in our despair, in which she later faced challenges the lies we believe, and then ministers to us through His Word death (2 Kings 9:30-31) demonstrate her character and through His people.
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