Ultimate Savior

Week of May 25
1 Kings 17:7-24

OPENER

  • If you had an endless supply of one basic ingredient (like flour or oil), what’s the most creative or simple thing you’d make with it repeatedly?

DISCUSSION

  • God put Elijah in situations where he was desperately dependent, making him weak so that God’s power could be made perfect. Can you share a time in your life when you felt particularly weak or dependent on God, and how you saw (or are seeing) His strength at work in that situation?
  • Read 1 Kings 17:7 Elijah’s initial provision through the ravens and the wadi stopped. Have you ever experienced a time when something you relied on (a job, a relationship, resources, a form of comfort) suddenly “dried up” or changed? How did you navigate that loss and what did you learn from it?
  • Read 1 Kings 17:8-11 God directed Elijah to go to Zarephath, which was Jezebel’s hometown and enemy territory, relying on a widow for provision – a prospect that sounds scary. When God seems to be directing you towards an unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or seemingly risky situation, what are your initial reactions or fears? How do you typically try to discern His leading in those moments?
  • Read 1 Kings 17:12-14 The widow had to step out in faith, giving her last meal without knowing for sure that the God of Israel would come through for her. Describe a time when you had to take a step of faith without knowing the outcome, especially when it involved personal sacrifice or vulnerability. What did you learn from that experience about faith and trust?
  • The widow was an outcast in multiple ways – racially, religiously, by gender, and socio-economically, In what ways, if any, do you resonate with feeling like an “outcast” in certain situations (e.g., in your school, office, family, or friend group)? How does the idea that God runs toward outcasts, not away from them, speak to you personally?
  • Read 1 Kings 17:17-24 Elijah’s action of laying himself on the dead boy can remind us of Christ’s compassion, who laid His body down on the cross for ceremonially defiled people like us. Jesus became like us to have compassion on us. How does experiencing Jesus’ deep compassion, demonstrated by becoming human and sacrificing Himself, impact how your view yourself and engage with others?
  • The ultimate curse is Eternal Death, which only the Ultimate Savior defeated through His own death. How does focusing on God’s victory over the ultimate curse (death) change your perspective on the everyday “smaller curses” (like financial stress, health issues, or difficult relationships) that you face?

    ACTION STEP
  • What is one specific “substitute savior” (e.g., a particular social media app, a comfort food, a specific activity, seeking approval from a certain person) that you often find yourself relying on when you feel stressed, bored, or insecure? This week, what is one step you can take to intentionally seek God instead of turning to that substitute savior in a moment of need?
  • Who is one specific “one more” in your life – someone God has laid on your heart, someone who might feel like an “outcast” or is far from God? What next step can you will take this week to pray for them, connect with them, or show them God’s love?

SERMON RESOURCES

SERIES RESOURCES