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Small Group Guide:
Open with prayer.
Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?
If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.
Elisha Purifies the Deadly Stew
38 And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. 40 And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. 41 He said, “Then bring flour.” And he threw it into the pot and said, “Pour some out for the men, that they may eat.” And there was no harm in the pot.
42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord.
Reflection Questions:
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- Have you ever heard this passage of Scripture or topic taught on before? What stood out to you?
- What are you in need of right now? How long have you needed that?
- Read 2 Kings 4:38-40. The one son of the prophets went out looking for things to add to the stew. His intentions were probably fine, but he wasn’t instructed to go and look for things to add to the stew. He was trying to help, when God said He would provide, and he didn’t need to help. Looking at your answers from question #2, how do you try to provide for your needs, when God says He will provide? Are there any particular situations that cause you to do that more so than others? Why?
- Looking at your answers from question #3, how can you better trust that God will provide when He says He will provide?
- Read 2 Kings 4:41. Elisha has an unusual way of fixing the stew. Undoubtedly, someone probably thought about taking out the toxic ingredients, but that would more than likely do little to help. Another solution might be to just toss out the stew, but then they would go hungry in the middle of a famine, which again, doesn’t really fix the problem. God’s solution, although unconventional, was the only way to actually fix the problem. Has there ever been a situation in your life where God’s solution was unconventional but actually fixed the problem? Did you trust that God would fix it this way?
- Looking at your answer from question #5, how can you use that experience to trust in God’s solution in the future?
- Looking at your answers from questions #5 and #6, how can you use your experience to help others to trust in God’s solutions? How can you help others to use their experiences to help others trust in God’s solutions?
- Read 2 Kings 4:42-44. Even though Elisha’s servant didn’t think that they would have enough to eat, God provided enough that there were leftovers. Have you ever had a situation in your life where you didn’t think you would have enough of something, but God ended up supplying more than enough?
- Looking at your answers from question #8, how can you use that experience to better trust in God’s numbers in the future?
- Looking at your answers from questions #8 and #9, how can you use your experience to help others to trust in God’s numbers? How can you help others to use their experiences to help others trust in God’s numbers?
- Is there anything that stops you from fully trusting in God to provide you with all that you need? How does it restrict you from trusting God? How can you deal with it in a Godly way?
- What is your biggest take away about how this passage affects your life? What do you need to work on? Who can you share this with and ask you to keep you accountable to accomplishing this?
Prayer Time:
Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.
Staying Missional:
Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:
Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
What’s next?
Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?