Main Themes: Discouragement, Depression, Hope, Reorientation, Hearing from God
(See background information below.)
Guide for Point of Light Groups
Welcome: Read the purpose of your group:
Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom.
Worship: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Show a video with the lyrics, such as Your Presence is Heaven to Me.
Introduction: Read the background information below.
Word: Read 1 Kings 19:1-18 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story — keep at it until everyone knows the story.)
What key (important) words do you see in these verses?
Tell in your own words what happened with Elijah.
What details can you add to what others in the group have said? .
Discussion: Discuss the questions below together. (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. Use them however you see fit and in whatever order you think best.)
Digging Deeper: For these questions, you may want to divide into two groups for males and females.
Prayer Time:
Pray for an empty chair, representing new people you want to join the group. Think of specific people to pray for by name.
Divide into two groups for males and females to pray for the needs of the members of the group.
Looking Ahead:
Assign group members to do different parts of the meeting as you prepare them (opening question; prayer time; read background info; lead group).
Ask each person the name of someone they will invite to the group for next week.
Background Information
Elijah is a prophet of God. he has been used by God to perform miracles and to speak God's word to people. He has just had a confrontation with 400 false prophets. In the confrontation God used Elijah in a powerful way to overcome the false prophets. It was a great victory. Immediately after the victory The King and Queen threaten to kill Elijah and he gets discouraged and depressed and runs away.
Key Verse: Then a voice (God's voice) said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?"
Discussion Questions
What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?
Put yourself in Elijah''s position throughout his journey. How do you think he felt? What was he thinking? Can you relate to him?
What did you learn about God from the story?
What do you learn about people from the story?
What important lessons for us do you see in this story?
What will you take away from this discussion?
What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)
Digging Deeper Questions
What are some of the causes of discouragement and depression? When have you experienced these things.
What were Elijah's symptoms - read verses 19:3-5; and verse 10
What do you think it means that God speaks in a still small voice and not the wind, earthquake or fire? - verse 11-13
God tells Elijah to do 2 things - Get up and to Go Back - discuss how these apply to your life.
Discuss the importance of having hope. What is hope? How does hope overcome depression and discouragement?