Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
Commentary:
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Followers of God experience ups and downs in varying degrees. Celebrate the ups when they happen, knowing God is good, God is real, and the wonderful feelings will go away with time. But when things go down, persistently make your way toward God and wait for him even as he sustains you. This is where faith matters—trusting God when you’re not feeling it. Then actively live out what God has already communicated to you through the helpful guidance in His Word.
The Bible story this week is about the prophet Elijah. He’d just called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel and had shown evidence of the one true God. His sacrifice was a roaring success! All was well, right? Not really. You see, right after this episode, Elijah experienced overwhelming feelings of discouragement, fear, and sadness. But God met Elijah where he was and strengthened him to get through this moment.
OPENING ACTIVITY: TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE (0:14)
Ask students to write down two truths and a lie about themselves.
After everyone’s done writing, have them share their three statements, one person at a time. When a person has shared their statements, the class will discuss them and determine which statement is a lie.
This is a lighthearted activity that can help seamlessly transition into the lesson.
The story we are discussing today emphasizes the fact that all God’s followers will face times of discouragement and despair as well as mountaintop experiences such as the triumph on Mount Carmel. When the angel steps in and guides Elijah to care for his physical needs, including rest and food, it reveals how the physical and emotional aspects of our lives affect each other.
BIBLE STUDY: BIG IDEAS (1:36)
This story is found in 1 Kings 18:41-19:18 (NIV).
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Use this story to explain the difference between faith and feelings to your students. To have faith means to trust that reality is what God says is real, through Scripture. In this context, feelings are a response to our experiences.
Throughout his high and low experiences, Elijah had faith in God. But he didn’t feel good because of his emotional response to what happened to him. Note that he continued to trust in God even though he felt alone.
Apologist Ravi Zacharias mentions that we live in a culture that encourages us to “think with our feelings.” Remind your students that holding onto their faith even when they feel sad and discouraged is an important part of growing in Jesus.
The Bible says that “the angel of the Lord” helped Elijah during his depression by feeding him, comforting him, and encouraging him to rest.
Fun fact: Did you know that every time you see “the angel of the Lord” in the Old Testament, that’s actually the pre-incarnate Christ? In other words, that’s Jesus before He became incarnated as a human! This is a cool point to bring out, because it shows that if God personally cared about Elijah’s mental and emotional health, He deeply cares about ours as well.
That being said, be careful not to “spiritualize” mental illness. Things like clinical depression and suicidal ideation are realties that require professional attention, and cannot be “prayed away.”
Provide the teens with a handout listing these signs. Let them know that if they are experiencing one or more of these signs for more than two weeks at a time, they should consider talking to their parents, guardians, or a trusted adult.
APPLICATION: LIFE SKETCH (5:39)
Invite the students to draw a life sketch of their lives. Have them title the y-axis “Emotion” and the x-axis “Time in Years.” Then tell the students to indicate high and low points in their lives, especially as they relate to their spiritual experience.
High points can include times like when they gave their hearts to Jesus, being baptized, going to summer camp, attending a youth rally, etc. Low points can include times when they felt doubt, discouragement, or sadness. Assure them that they can keep their maps private.
After the students are done, share one or more of the following promises from Scripture to remind them that God is with them in every stage of their life journey—in the high points as well as the low ones.
Encourage them to choose one of the following texts to claim as a promise in prayer every day this week.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Here’s this week’s teaching tip: Follow up with your students.
Recent studies show that one of the most significant factors in kids having lasting faith is a network of caring adults outside of their family. So when you check up on them during the week, either through a text message or a call, they may not show it, but it means the world to them.
Your experience inside the classroom is elevated by the relationships with your students outside the classroom.
The shouts of Baal worshippers and the fire of God’s approval have died down. Strewn across the valley, the bodies of Baal’s prophets lie motionless as Elijah, the lone servant of God, climbs back up to the top of Carmel and humbly kneels asking God to once again demonstrate His faithfulness by sending rain to a parched earth. In his tent, the king is quietly eating, reviewing the preceding day’s events. So much has happened and so much is still left to come. Today’s lesson is about victory, defeat, and redemption.
OPENING ACTIVITY
Mark off a space approximately 10 x 20 feet representing a desert. Have your students imagine that in this desert there are snakes, wild animals, sinkholes, and many other dangerous obstacles. The only way to survive this desert is to cross it by stepping on the plates. In the first attempt, only allow them to use three plates as places to step. If any part of their body touches the ground, the whole group must start over. If this becomes too difficult, allow them to add a plate until all five are in use. This is an exercise in creativity and teamwork.
Have you ever felt isolated? At times it is easy to think that you are the only one going through a tough situation, or that you’re the only one who has ever felt a certain way. Today’s lesson will explore what it was like when one of God’s prophets felt that way and how God responded to him.
Let’s read 1 Kings 18:41-46 (NIV).
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
The Bible doesn’t say much about Ahab’s reaction to the day’s events. He allows Elijah and the people to kill the prophets of the false gods and seems to accept Elijah’s guidance to prepare for a coming storm.
Elijah and his servant climb back to the top of Mount Carmel and Elijah prays for rain.
Now let’s read 1 Kings 19:1-4 (NIV).
1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
Now let’s read 1 Kings 19:5-8 (NIV).
5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
At this point, Elijah is feeling afraid and depressed.
QUESTIONS
Now let’s read 1 Kings 19:9-14 (NIV).
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
The Lord Appears to Elijah
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
Mountaintop encounters with God are incredible. There are numerous examples of people who have had these experiences. Moses, for example, spent so long with God that the children of Israel asked him to cover his face when he came back down the mountain.
Elijah has three: when he kneels as fire comes down from heaven to consume the sacrifice, when God brings a rainstorm to end the drought, and when Elijah stands with his cloak covering his face as God speaks to him.
It might be easy to think that the Christian experience is about being on top of the mountain with God, but one can’t always live there. At some point one has to come down and that is when reality and faith often part ways.
As demonstrated in our lesson for this week, it’s easy to take credit for God when everything is going well, but we are nothing without God. However, even when his humanness shown through, God didn’t leave Elijah floundering in his own mistakes. Instead, He chose to remind him that he was still valued and loved.
God’s love never fails and He never gives up on us!
APPLICATION
QUESTIONS
There are lots of ways to read Scripture. Phones, tablets, and computers make Scripture easily accessible, and Bible reading plans can bring focus to our reading. Choose one of these methods and spend 15 minutes each day for two weeks reading and reflecting on what you’ve read.
At the end of your reading, write a couple of sentences about what God is saying to you through what you’ve read. At the end of two weeks, ask yourself how your view of God has changed.
