1. Introduction: 5 minutes
Who would you choose to run “The Amazing Race” with? Why?
Leader note: If your group doesn’t know about the reality program “The Amazing Race”, give them this brief summary. Teams of two take part in a race around the world. At each destination they must complete a task (usually based on the culture of their current location), figure out transportation, clues that direct them to various locations, usually on very little sleep and very little money. The last team to arrive at each destination is eliminated and the winner of the race wins $1 million.
2. Observation: 10 minutes
Read 1Kings 17:1-24. What do you learn about faith from Elijah? The widow? God?.
Leader Note: A good way to look at this question is to go first through the passage looking at Elijah and all of his actions of faith. Then go through it looking at the widow. And finally, look at God in the passage – his demands, his provision, his faithfulness.
From the passage:
Elijah:
- He was obedient – delivering the messages God gave to him.
- He followed the directions of the Lord where to live and how to survive – by faith.
- He was faithful again when he left the dried up riverbed and went to Zarephath.
- He was bold in his declaration of the Lord’s reassurance to the widow and in his demands.
- He took the boy’s lifeless body in an act of faith, upstairs and pleaded with God for the boy’s life to return. He believed the Lord had the power to do it or he wouldn’t have asked.
The Widow:
- By going to get water during a draught she did show compassion for Elijah, but not enough to bring him bread.
- She believed the words of the Lord as told to her by Elijah and obeyed him.
- When her son was ill and died she blamed Elijah for pointing out her sins and killing her son – her faith completely waned.
- When she saw her son alive again she proclaimed her faith.
God:
- Made what seemed to be, difficult and unusual requests of Elijah.
- Rewarded Elijah’s obedience with daily provision.
- When the river dried up he asked Elijah to show his obedience again.
- He awarded Elijah’s obedience again, with daily provision. This time displaying his provision to the widow and her son as well.
- He allowed the death of the son.
- In response to Elijah’s faithful plea He performed a miracle and brought the boy back to life.
3. Understanding: 15 minutes
What tests people’s faith today?
Commentary: There are so many things that test people’s faith. Encourage your group to think of specific people (without naming names) that are going through things that seem to have shaken their faith to the core.
Some things to consider would be sickness, troubled marriages, kids making bad choices, career shake ups, reversals of fortune,. It seems to be mostly the “how can bad things happen to good people” mindset that shakes people’s faith, but sometimes it can be “how can good things happen to bad people”.
4. Application: 20 minutes
How has your faith been tested in the past and how was God faithful?
Leader note: Help your group remember how God has been faithful during times their faith was tested. If there were things that you have happened while your group has been meeting you can prompt them with those situations. Maybe they were tested in a time of unemployment and God provided for them during that time. Or maybe they were losing faith during a time of illness, but God saw them through to regained health. Or possibly they experienced a huge loss, even a death, but they saw God work in their lives afterwards and in the lives of others to show his faithfulness and goodness.
What situation is testing your faith right now?
Leader note: You may want to share first on this question as it can be very personal and may bring up vulnerable situations. Maybe you have huge financial problems right now and are having problems keeping faith that God will provide, it may fell like God isn’t paying attention. Perhaps someone in your life is struggling with illness and you are losing hope for recovery.
Pray: This week you will have spent your time together remembering God’s provision and faithfulness through testing times. However, the last question brings up current faith testing situations in your groups’ lives, so spend time responding to a faithful God and asking for His provision, healing hand, supernatural power, whatever is required to meet the needs of your group specifically. It may be a good idea to assign certain prayer requests to members of the group to pray for these needs throughout the upcoming week.
5. Live it Out:
Who is someone you know personally who is going through a challenging time and how might you encourage them?