May 18, 2025 – 1 Kings 19

Lesson Date: May 18, 2025

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Kings 19:1-21

AIM: To lead students to discover the ways God encouraged Elijah when he was afraid and discouraged, and to use those methods to encourage themselves and others.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Kings 19 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Courage” on the board or screen.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Courage” written on the board.  Ask: “What does the word ‘courage’ mean?”  Allow time for some responses, which should include things like bravery, moral strength in the face of danger, fortitude, valor, heroism, etc.).

Add the prefix “Dis” to the beginning of the word, so that is now says, “Discourage.”  Tell the class that “Dis” is a negative prefix that makes the word mean to take away or lack courage.  Ask: “What does it mean to be discouraged?”(to lose confidence, be disheartened, feel like giving up, feel defeated, etc.).  Ask: “Have you ever been discouraged?”(certainly everyone has).  Tell the class that when we are discouraged we might feel that our efforts are useless, we might feel like quitting, or we might even fall into self-pity and want to isolate ourselves from others.  Tell them discouragement is a bad feeling.

Erase the prefix “Dis” and replace it with the prefix “En,” transforming the word on the board into  “Encourage.”  Ask: “What does the word ‘encourage’ mean?” (to fill with courage, to lift the spirits, and to motivate to action).  Tell the class that when we are discouraged, it is helpful for someone to come alongside and encourage us.

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Encouragement.  Tell them we will discover the ways God encouraged Elijah when he was afraid and discouraged, and learn how we can use those methods to encourage ourselves and others.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. 1. Review.
      • Remind everyone that we are studying the Old Testament book of 1 Kings.
      • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Choose You This Day!; we examined the choice the prophet Elijah challenged the ancient Israelites to make, and examined ourselves so we can make right choices).
      • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (1 Kings 18:21).
   2. Elijah’s Fear and Isolation.
      • Read 1 Kings 19:1.
      • Tell the students that evil King Ahab told his wicked wife Jezebel what Elijah had done.
      • Ask: “What had Elijah done?” (after his showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah killed all the prophets of Baal; 1 Kings 18:40).
      • Remind the class that Jezebel was devoted to the false god Baal.
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:2.
      • Ask: “What did Jezebel do?” (sent a message to Elijah, promising to kill him).
      • Read 1 Kings 19:3-4.
      • Ask: “How did the bold prophet react to Jezebel’s threat?” (he fled for his life).
      • Explain the following:
        • Locate Beer-sheba on the Map.
        • Elijah was so afraid of Jezebel that he traveled southward from Jezreel all the way through the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the southern extreme of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, a distance of 95 miles!
        • Elijah left his servant at Beer-sheba and traveled on alone.
        • Fear and discouragement often cause us to isolate ourselves from others.
      • Ask: “What did he ask the Lord at the end of verse 4?” (to take his life away).
      • Explain the following:
        • Discouragement sometimes causes people to feel hopelessness and even suicidal.
        • Remember, Elijah had just bravely faced down 850 false prophets and a wicked king.
        • Satan’s attacks often come on the heels of a great victory or a mountaintop experience with God.
      • Summarize: When wicked Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life, he ran for his life. His fear led to isolation, despair, and hopelessness.
   3. God Met Elijah’s Immediate Physical Needs.
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:5-8.
      • Ask: “According to verse 5, what did Elijah do?” (fell asleep under a juniper tree).
      • Tell the class that fatigue is a mark of depression and discouragement.
      • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did the angel provide for Elijah?” (food and drink).
      • Ask: “According to verse 6, what did Elijah do after he ate?” (went back to sleep).
      • Tell the class that we need sufficient rest and proper nourishment to keep our heart and mind right.
      • Ask: “What happened next?” (the angel again awakened Elijah and told him to eat).
      • Ask: “Why did the angel say he needed to eat?” (because the journey ahead was great).
      • Ask: “Where did Elijah go after he ate?” (he traveled on alone for forty more days until he reached Mount Horeb).
      • Tell the students that Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai) is 200 miles farther south, near the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.
      • Ask: “Why do you think Mount Horeb is called the mount of God?” (it is where God first met with Moses [Ex. 3], and where God delivered His Law to the Israelites [Ex 20]).
      • Summarize: When Elijah was discouraged, God encouraged him by meeting his immediate physical need for food and rest, enabling him to continue his journey.
   4. God Encouraged Elijah With His Word.
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:9.
      • Ask: “What happened when Elijah got to Mount Horeb?” (God spoke to him).
      • Tell the students that when we feel discouraged, the most important thing we can do is listen to God by reading the Bible.
      • Ask: “What did God ask Elijah?” (“What are you doing here?”).
      • Explain the following:
        • Remind the class that God had called Elijah to be a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, but he was hundreds of miles out of his “territory” in the Sinai Peninsula.
        • This question is reminiscent of God asking Adam, “Where are you?” in Genesis 3.
        • The purpose of the question was to make Elijah think about where he was and realize that he was not doing what God called him to do.
      • Read 1 Kings 19:10.
      • Ask: “How did Elijah answer God?” (he said he was the only faithful person left in Israel, and now they were trying to kill him).
      • Tell the class that when we feel discouraged, it is easy to slip into self-pity and feelings of “poor me.”
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:11-12.
      • Ask: “What happened?” (the Lord revealed Himself to Elijah in a still, small voice).
      • Explain the following:
        • God is all-powerful and can do awesome and mighty acts (like He did on Mount Carmel in chapter 18), but He can also speak to our heart in a gentle whisper.
        • God’s whisper can be louder than a strong wind, an earthquake, or a raging fire.
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:13-14.
      • Tell the class that Elijah realized he was in the presence of God, so he covered his face with his robe.
      • Ask: “What did God ask Elijah in verse 13?” (the same question he asked in verse 9, “What are you doing here?”).
      • Ask: “How did Elijah answer?” (with the same self-pity he expressed in verse 10).
      • Summarize: When Elijah was discouraged, God encouraged him with His Word, speaking to His heart, and helping him realize that he was running away from his responsibilities.
   5. God Told Elijah to Get Back to Work and He Was Not Alone.
      • Read 1 Kings 19:15-17.
      • Ask: “The last thing Elijah expressed was self-pity; how did God respond to his self-pity?” (he ignored it and told Elijah to get back to work).
      • Tell the class that fear and discouragement can leave us frozen in a state of inactivity, but when that happens we must get back to work for the Lord.
      • Ask: “What work did God give Elijah to do?” (he was supposed to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria, Jehu to be king of Israel, and Elisha to replace him as prophet).
      • Stress the fact that Elijah was tasked with calling and anointing his own successor.
      • Explain that of those three, Elijah only personally anointed Elisha, but then Elisha later anointed the other two under Elijah’s authority.
      • Remind the students that Elijah thought he was the only faithful person left in Israel.
      • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Kings 19:18.
      • Ask: “What did God tell Elijah?” (you are not alone; God still had 7,000 faithful people in Israel).
      • Tell the class that when we are discouraged, it is important to remember that we are not alone (1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Pet.5:9).
      • Read 1 Kings 19:19-21.
      • Ask: “Did Elijah obey God’s commands and get back to work?” (yes).
      • Tell the class that Elijah called Elisha.
      • Ask: “What does the last sentence of verse 21 says Elisha did?” (he followed Elijah and ministered to him).
      • Stress the fact that in his discouragement Elijah wanted to be alone; now he had a companion to help him and learn from him.
      • Tell the class that when we are discouraged, we need the courage and strength that come from the companionship of godly friends.
      • Summarize: When Elijah was discouraged, God ignored his complaining, gave him a job to do, told him he was not alone, and provided a companion to walk with him.

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct the students’ attention once again to the word “Encourage” written on the board.  Remind them that the root of that word is “Courage,” and that the addition of a few letters as a prefix can turn that word into either “Discourage” or “Encourage.”

Tell the students that the title of today’s lesson is Encouragement.  Remind them that Elijah was a discouraged prophet who ran away in fear, chose to isolate himself, and fell into despair and self-pity.  Tell them that God encouraged Elijah by meeting his immediate physical needs of rest and nourishment, speaking to him, revealing Himself to him, giving him work to do, assuring him that he was not alone, and providing a companion to be with him.

Ask: “Did God’s remedy for Elijah’s discouragement work?” (yes).  Tell the students that God modeled an excellent method of helping ourselves or others out of discouragement.  Tell them the key elements of God’s method are:

1. 1. • Meeting immediate physical needs (we must rest and eat).
      • Speaking to and revealing Himself (we must read the Bible).
      • Giving an assignment to fulfill (we must get back to work).
      • Assuring that others experience similar problems (we must remember we are not alone).
      • Providing a companion (we must not isolate ourselves).

Ask: “Do you need encouragement?  Do you know someone who does?”  Tell the students to follow God’s remedy for discouragement for themselves and others.  Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to either admit their own discouragement and ask for God’s help, or pray for someone they know who is discouraged.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Suggest that everyone memorize Psalm 56:3, which says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,” and then recite it whenever they feel discouraged, alone, or hopeless.