Life is noisy—metaphorically, in our busyness, if not literally. It can be hard to stop; it can feel impossible to stop, tough to deal with silence. Like Elijah, we keep running, motivated by fear and anxiety. But God says to stop and listen; God will show up not in the noise, but in the quiet. His quiet leads us into a response of faithful mission and apprenticing others. We will look at God’s questions, hearing God, having appropriate community, moving out on mission by raising up others.
Key passages: 1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 46:10
Sermon Outline
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Elijah Caught in the Rush (1 Kings 18-19)
- The rush of success (1 Kings 18:20-46)
- The rush of threats (1 Kings 19:1-3)
- The rush of running away (1 Kings 19:4-9a)
- The rush of the divine (1 Kings 19:9-18)
Learning Stillness before God
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- When was a time that you most needed to hear from God? What did you do to hear from Him?
- This week is the second in our two-part series, “Still.” Today, we will look at the life of Elijah in 1 Kings 18 and 19 in order to learn how best to hear from God. Whether you are on your own or with a small group, begin your study in prayer, and then read 1 Kings 18:16-19:21.
- Summarize in your own words what happened in Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18. What do you think Elijah learned most about God from that experience?
- Read 1 Kings 19:1-3. Do you get the sense that this is a different Elijah than 1 Kings 18? What do you think happened to him in the midst of this rush of events?
- When have your circumstances lead you to act in a way that is inconsistent with your beliefs? What happened?
- In 1 Kings 19:3-9, Elijah rushes by foot to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God, which is another name for Mt. Sinai (see Exodus 3:1; 17:6; 33:6; Deuteronomy 4:10; 5:2; 1 King 8:9), where God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses. Why do you think that Elijah rushed to that spot?
- God asks Elijah a question twice (1 Kings 19:9, 13). Why do you think God does this?
- What do you notice about the appearance of God and the voice of God in 1 Kings 19:11-13?
- What does God speak back to Elijah and what does this tell us about what God wants from Elijah after his long journey to Mt. Horeb?
- What is one specific thing that God is speaking to you through this study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then take extended time to pray about what you share. If you are studying on your own, write it down, pray about it, and share this with someone during the next few days.