Running From Jezebel

Running From Jezebel

With one short sentence from Jezebel, Elijah runs for his life. He’s gone from the mountain top of spiritual revival on Mt Carmel to the depth of despair, ready to quit. God meets him in the wilderness and provides a snack and a nap, and he’s enabled to carry on. As he arrives at Horeb, he’s still spiritually uncertain and feeling abandoned by God — but God meets him and gives him fresh direction. Elijah is renewed by time away and time in God’s presence. The gospel assures us of God's unfailing love and grace, which sustains us through every trial and empowers us to overcome fear with faith in Him. When we face fear and discouragement we can find comfort and strength in Jesus, who promises to never leave us nor forsake us.

Community Practice: A Community of Sabbath Rest
Read 1 Kings 19:1-18

1. As strong as Elijah was, he was also vulnerable. How do we see his weakness in this story?

2. What is God’s response to Elijah in his weakness, fear, and despair? What did Elijah need?

3. Rest is a gift God gives to his people. What habits of rest and refreshment do you have?

4. How will we as a community practice rest, play, and renewal together?

May 19, 2024 - Gabe Shippam

Praying the Promise

Praying the Promise

Elijah prays for the rain to come and... nothing happens. But Elijah persists in prayer until a breakthrough comes. Like Daniel in Babylon, or the widow before the unjust judge, there is a persistence and tenacity in his prayer life. We likewise are called to be consistent and tenacious in our prayers, trusting in God's goodness, and recognizing prayer as an act of war. James says Elijah is a man just like us, and we too can approach the Lord in faith, trusting Him for great things.

Planning for Missional Community Life

We’re continuing to grow as a praying church, and this week we highlight the need for all our communities to be eagerly dependent in prayer. In community, we practice the ABCs of prayer: Audible, so everyone can hear; Brief, so everyone can participate; Clear, so everyone can understand and say, Amen! Learning to pray in community is mostly a matter of practice, but it can be helpful to have a simple framework to keep you on track (see the Lord’s Prayer resource below). Consider ways you all can grow in prayer, such as committing to pray every time you gather or setting aside one night each month for worship and prayer.

Community Practice: A Community of Dependent Prayer

1. Read James 5.17-18. What is James telling us about Elijah? About ourselves?

2. What does your prayer life — weight and length — reveal about your belief in God?

3. How will we cultivate and grow a habit of dependent prayer in our community?

4. Use the Lord’s Prayer resource, and practice praying for 10-15 minutes. Resource: Praying the Lord’s Prayer

May 12, 2024 - Matt Deisen

YHWH is God

YHWH is God

In this famous story of Elijah's bold challenge to the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, we learn the importance of confronting idolatry and false gods in our lives and society with unwavering faith in the one true God. In particular, we're looking this week at political idolatry, and the ways in which political partisanship has gained our allegiance, deformed our faith, and tarnished our witness. In Elijah's prayer, we see God's true goal: to have the allegiance and affections of our hearts.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Kings 18:17-40

1. Discuss the 4 political idols/ideologies. How does each reflect Kingdom priorities?

2. Bring your lean: Toward which quadrant are you most drawn, and why?

3. Submit your bow: What happens when you make that quadrant ultimate?

4. Read the 10 Political Commitments, and commit to living them together.

Apr 28, 2024 - Steve Hart

Stretched Out

Stretched Out

In a surprising twist of events, the widow to whom Elijah was sent finds her son near to death, and blames Elijah! Elijah moves in faith and prayer and puts his life on the line to give life to the widow’s son. How can we go to the places where death is currently reigning, and stretch out like Elijah to bring life and wholeness? How does the gospel empower us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Kings 17:17-24

Watch the  "3 Commands of Jesus" video together.

1. Consider Elijah’s actions in the face of death. What is his response to the suffering woman and her son?

2. What areas of the brokenness all around us are you most unsettled by, and why?

3. What resources have we been entrusted with as a community? For what purpose?

4. How will we as a community stand in the gap and contribute to the restoration of shalom? Is there a way we all can serve together once a month? (The key is to think sustainable and simple and start small. For example, you could learn about a particular need in your community).

Apr 21, 2024 - Jon Schuler

Sent In Weakness

Sent In Weakness

Elijah is called out of "Babylon”, but also sent back in, on mission. God sends him to a widow's house, in weakness and vulnerability. As he steps out in faith, God does a miracle. This isn't a one-off, it's a pattern for how God wants us to live. We're sent into Babylon, on mission, in weakness and vulnerability, and it's in this context that God will supply the bread.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

Community Conversations: A Common Allegiance

1. What was the relationship between Elijah and Israel? In what ways is it different than our situation today?

2. What does it mean to be called out of Babylon, and sent back into Babylon? Where are you in that journey?

3. Who is God calling you to? Are there people or places we can draw near to together as a community?

   (Where does your calling overlap? - Constellation Video)

   (Equipping for Gospel conversations)

   (Commit to praying as a community)

4. What does it look like to go to them without bread? Why would Jesus do that, and direct his disciples to do the same?

5. Finally, read the Allegiance Prayer together, and do so whenever you gather.

Apr 14, 2024 - Matt Deisen

The Call of Elijah

The Call of Elijah

Elijah found himself in the middle of one of the worst national apostasies in Israel’s history and yet was determined to be faithful to YHWH. Elijah is willing to be out of step with his cultural moment in order to be faithful to God and the Covenant He’s made with Israel. And that makes him a Trouble Maker (1 Kings 18:17). In this series, we’ll consider 7 Practices that help anchor our allegiance to Jesus and his Kingdom in the midst of our own cultural moment.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read 1 Kings 16:29-17:7

Community Conversations: A Common Allegiance

1. How do you perceive the cultural moment we're living in, compared to Elijah's time?

2. What most distracts you from being attentive to God, his voice, and his Kingdom priorities?

3. Discuss the Digital Detox. How will we engage it together as a community?

4. Review the Daily Bread process (BREAD). When and how will you engage the process?

5. Preview the daily readings from the Sermon on the Mount. On Sundays, read from 1 Kings.

6. Finally, read the Allegiance Prayer together, and do so whenever you gather.

Apr 7, 2024 - Steve Hart

Easter: Rejoice! Jesus Is Better!

Easter: Rejoice! Jesus Is Better!

Our study in Hebrews comes to a close with an incredible one-sentence summary of the entire book: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Over 13 chapters, the author of Hebrews has shown us the sufficiency and uniqueness of Jesus, urging us to leave behind all the substitutes and distractions and to press on in faith and obedience. In this Easter message, we celebrate all Jesus has done in history, his personal presence with us today, and his future renewal of all things. Because Jesus alone is "yesterday and today and forever," we can trust him completely and worship him unceasingly!

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Hebrews 13:8

1. Memorize Hebrews 13.8!

2. Who is Jesus yesterday, in his life and death?

3. Who is Jesus today, in his victory over death?

4. Who is Jesus forever, in his future eternal reign?

Mar 31, 2024 - Steve Hart

Bear the Reproach!

Bear the Reproach!

This Palm Sunday, we look at a savior who entered the holy city, only to leave it again. The shouts of the crowds and the bustle of the elite's religion didn't entice Jesus to stick around. Jesus was compelled by a deep compassion for all people, especially the lost. Jesus was constantly finding his way to the margins. He constantly drifted toward the outsiders on the edges of society. Hebrews 13 tells us that he "suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people through his own blood." Likewise, we should go to him outside the camp, bear the reproach he endured, and there find our hearts encouraged by his grace.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

Read Hebrews 13:1-9

1. Read all of Hebrews 13

2. What makes you weary? How has trying to keep up with the culture expended your energy?

3. What risk do you need to take to love the outsiders? What broken part of the world do you feel drawn toward?

4. What keeps you from it? What do you need to repent of?

Mar 24, 2024 - Gabe Shippam