Sermons

How to Interact with Mental Health – 1 Kings 19:1-18 – Livestream for 6/4/23

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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.

1 Kings 19:1-18

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

The Lord Speaks to Elijah

9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a] 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

Message Outline:

In this passage of God’s Word, we see an Elijah going through a very difficult time. In fact, many would consider Elijah to have suicidal ideation during this time. By taking a look at this part of Elijah’s life, we can learn several things about interacting with mental health. This passage of God’s Word helps us to realize:

  1. No one is immune to mental illness

1 Kings 19:4-5, John 11:35, Matt. 16:13-14, 17:2-3, 27:45-47

  1. The enemy often attacks when we least expect it

1 Kings 19:1-2, 1 Pet. 5:8, John 10:10, 2 Cor. 2:10-11, Eph. 6:11

  1. The enemy often attacks us when we are alone

1 Kings 19:3, 10, 14, 18, Heb. 10:24-25, Ecc. 4:9-12, Matt. 18:20, Prov. 27:17

  1. Honestly go to God in prayer

1 Kings 19:4, 10, 13-14, Ps. 139:1-6, James 5:16, Rom. 8:26, Heb. 4:16

  1. Accept God’s rest and provision

1 Kings 19:5-8, Matt. 11:28-30, Ps. 23:1-2, 127:2, Ex. 33:14

  1. God may speak to you in ways that you don’t expect

1 Kings 19:11-13, Ex. 3:1-12, John 10:27-28, Heb. 1:1-2

  1. Trust in God’s timing over your own

1 Kings 19:8, Is. 40:30-31, Ps. 27:14, 2 Pet. 3:8, Lam. 3:25-26

  1. Process the path that led you here

1 Kings 19:15, 1 John 1:9, Phil. 3:13-14, 2 Cor. 5:17

  1. Trust in God’s justice

1 Kings 19:17, Is. 30:18, 61:8, Rom. 12:19, Deut. 32:4

  1. Allow God to remind you of His plan for you

1 Kings 19:15-17, Phil. 3:13-14, Eph. 1:11, 2:10, Prov. 19:21, Ps. 138:8

  1. Allow God to remind you of the fruit of your past

1 Kings 19:18, Matt. 7:18-20, Gal. 5:22-23. Heb. 11:6, Col. 1:10

  1. Be faithful to take the faithful step

1 Kings 19:19, Luke 16:10-12, 1 Cor. 4:2, Phil. 1:6

Reflection Questions:

  1. Have you ever heard this passage of Scripture or topic taught on before? What stood out to you?
  2. How do you feel like going through this passage of Scripture helped you to interact with mental illness in a more Biblical way?
  3. Read 1 Kings 19:4. Have you ever felt like Elijah did in 1 Kings 19:4? If so, what was the context, and what happened to your relationship with God during that time?
  4. The enemy is attacking Elijah hard during this season of his life. Have you ever gone through a similar season of life? How does the enemy most often attack you?
  5. Throughout this passage of God’s Word, the Lord is kind to Elijah. He graciously helps him through the difficult time, giving him rest, food, time with Him, and a pathway out of the difficult season, all without allowing him to stay in his distress. What does that tell you about the way that God interacts with you?
  6. How do you feel like studying and applying this passage of Scripture to your life can help you to help others that are going through difficult times in their life?
  7. 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?