Unbreakable Courage

• Session 1: God's Divine Boot Camp

  Watch: God’s Divine Boot Camp (17 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. The culture of Elijah’s day was notably immoral, in part because the king and queen promoted Baal worship and other forms of idolatry. When are some times that you felt pressured by modern culture to move away from God’s values and priorities?
  2. Elijah’s statement to King Ahab was bold: “There will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1). But that proclamation was rooted in God’s promises from Scripture, including Deuteronomy 11:13–17. What might be some reasons why the Israelites failed to take those promises from God seriously?
  3. Ask someone to read 1 Kings 17:2–6. Elijah was hidden from King Ahab in the Kerith Ravine but also isolated from his people. What are some seasons of loneliness or solitude you’ve endured in the past? What lessons did you learn from those seasons?
  4. Instead of resisting seasons of isolation, it is possible to embrace them as opportunities to recognize God’s closeness and provision in your life. When you feel cut off from others, what practical steps do you take to seek God for your needs?
  5. Ask someone to read James 1:2–4. Boot camps are uncomfortable—even painful—yet serve an important purpose. What does James say about the purpose of facing trials? As a follower of Jesus, how might you retrain yourself to embrace the hard seasons of spiritual basic training rather than long for the comfortable spiritual “spa days”?

• Session 2: Pray It Through

  Watch: Pray It Through (18 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. At the Kerith Ravine, Elijah enjoyed a season of provision and then watched as the waters ran dry. Why do you think God allowed Elijah to feel the effects of the drought? What further training was God giving to Elijah in learning how to trust in him?
  2. Ask someone to read 1 Kings 17:7–9. Zarephath was a center of Baal worship and—for good measure—the hometown of Jezebel. It seemed like a terrible place for a wanted man like Elijah to hide. What does it say about Elijah that he obeyed God anyway? When has God asked you to do something like this that at first did not make sense?
  3. Elijah told the widow, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land’ ” (1 Kings 17:14). What part do you think Elijah’s remembrance of how God had just provided for his needs played in his making this pronouncement to the widow?
  4. Ask someone to read Luke 11:9–10. The Greek verbs used in this passage imply continuous and repeated action: “keep asking,” “keep seeking,” “keep knocking.” How did Elijah demonstrate persistence (and passion) in his prayers for the widow’s son? What does his example say about the importance of fervent and faithful prayers?
  5. Elijah wasn’t the offspring of angels or embedded with spiritual superpowers at birth. He became great in God’s kingdom because of his fervent prayers and courageous obedience. How does that truth inspire you today? If you were to pray an Elijah-level prayer today over a situation that you want to be resolved . . . what would you say?

• Session 3: Behind Enemy Lines

  Watch: Behind Enemy Lines (17 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. To say that our world is “enemy territory” is to recognize Satan’s influence across the globe—not to mention across human history. In your own words, how would you describe who Satan is and what he desires to do in our world?
  2. Ask one or two volunteers to read aloud 1 Kings 18:25–40, which describes the confrontation between Elijah and the false prophets. What do those verses teach about the values and the worldview of those who worshiped Baal and Asherah?
  3. Where do you see similar values or a similar worldview on display in our culture?
  4. Read aloud John 3:16–18. God sent Elijah behind enemy lines because he wanted to rescue his people from depravity. How does Elijah’s mission compare with that of Jesus? In what ways was Jesus sent behind enemy lines to rescue us from depravity?
  5. Confrontations such as those we read about between God’s prophets and false prophets might seem like a thing of the past, but it is also necessary for modern believers to demonstrate real courage as we live behind enemy lines. When have you recently had an opportunity to take a stand for your faith? What happened as a result?

• Session 4: Behind Enemy Lines

  Watch: A Storm on the Horizon (17 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. God allowed the drought that devastated Israel to occur, but he also set a time limit on its duration. Both acts demonstrated his sovereignty. How would you explain the concept of God’s sovereignty in your own words? What does it mean for us today?
  2. Ask someone to read 1 Kings 18:41–46. Elijah had demonstrated incredible courage in the face of adversity and prevailed. He could have allowed the victory to go to his head. Instead, what does he do in this passage? What does this say about his character?
  3. What else did Elijah do in this passage that reveals his steadfast faith? What does this story emphasize to you about the importance of persisting in prayer?
  4. Now ask someone to read 1 Kings 19:1–10. What contrasts do you see between Elijah’s actions here and those in the previous chapter? What are two reasons (presented in the teaching) as to why Elijah might have responded to Jezebel’s message in this way?
  5. When Elijah came to the end of his rope, God gave him a season of nourishment and rest. He also encouraged Elijah by telling him there were seven thousand people in Israel who had not “bowed down to Baal” (verse 18). When has the Lord given you a similar season of nourishment, rest, and encouragement? How did it change your outlook on the situation you were facing?

• Session 5: Don't Kiss the Snake

  Watch: Don’t Kiss the Snake (16 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. Think about the concept of “kissing the snake”—keeping ourselves in proximity to temptation or sin. How does the culture encourage us to cozy up with what we know is wrong? What are some specific examples of this that you see in today’s world?
  2. Ask someone to read aloud Ephesians 4:22–27. What does it mean to “put off your old self”? What does it mean to “give the devil a foothold” in your life?
  3. Now ask someone to read 1 Kings 21:20–26. Ahab and Jezebel had “bought into the business of evil” (verse 20 MSG). When you reflect on everything we’ve covered in this study, what chances had God given them to change? Why do you think, after his initial repentance, Ahab went back to the business of doing evil?
  4. We would like to believe that the death of King Ahab brought Israel to a widespread return to the Lord. But alas, Ahaziah was a chip off the old demonic block. How did Elijah demonstrate unbreakable courage in his confrontation with this particular ungodly king? Where do you see an opportunity right now to stand courageously for good in your community?
  5. Paul wrote that the weapons we have at our disposal “have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Which of these weapons—such as prayer, worship, and the Word—are you using today to battle against the enemy? Which of these weapons do you need to pick up or wield more effectively in the fight?

• Session 6: Waiting on the Whirlwind

  Watch: Waiting on the Whirlwind (16 minutes)

  Discuss:

  1. Ask someone to read 1 Corinthians 15:51–57. Death is a subject that most of us want to avoid, but we know that an “extraction” from this world is coming. Growing up, how was the subject of death dealt with in your family? What does Paul say about death in this passage—and what comfort does it bring to you as a follower of Christ?
  2. Jesus, on the night before his death, told his disciples, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2). What comes to mind when you picture the “house” with “rooms” that Jesus is preparing for you? How does that imagery bring you hope?
  3. Ask someone else to read 2 Kings 2:1–14 out loud. What is the significance of Elijah visiting Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan regions on the last day of his life on earth? What are your impressions of Elisha based on his actions in this passage?
  4. James said, “Life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away” (James 4:14 NCV). You cannot control the inevitability of death, but you can decide what you will do between now and then. For those of us who are not prophets like Elijah, what does God expect from us as we live, work, play, and minister each day?
  5. At the end of the day, what is your biggest takeaway from Elijah’s life? What have you learned from his story that will help you to have unbreakable courage?