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Jun 05, 2022

Return to Me

Return to Me

Passage: 1 Kings 18:36-46

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Easter Egg, the hidden figure of Elijah in the life of Jesus

Keywords: grace, repentance, putting to death the deeds of the body

How is one changed–an inner shift from a way of loss to a way of gain? Some have an approach they’ve either thought through or unconsciously adopted. Others may have given up on the possibility of change entirely–and a long time ago. Elijah has come on the scene for the purpose of calling Ahab and Israel to change–in the biblical sense, repentance. What from these old, odd accounts can we learn about change for good in the present?

Readings & Scriptures

PREPARATION: Psalm 32:1-2
LEADER: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.

ALL: Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH/SCRIPTURE READING/CORPORATE PRAYER: Romans 7:15-25

LEADER: For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

ALL: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

CENTRAL TEXT: 1 Kings 18:36-46
1Kings 18:36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

1Kings 18:41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

BENEDICTION: Jude 24-25
LEADER: Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever..

ALL: Amen

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

  • Deuteronomy 4:35, 39
  • 1 Samuel 8:11; 1 Kings 1:5
  • Psalm 32:2
  • Matthew 5:29-30
  • Acts 11:17
  • Romans 2:5
  • Romans 7:24-29
  • Romans 8:13-19
  • Colossians 3:5
  • 2 Corinthians 7:10
  • Hebrews 7:27

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What’s some change you’ve made–significant or slight–in recent years you’re grateful for?
  2. Refresh your memory: what brought Elijah to the event with the altars?
  3. How is the people’s response in verse 39 the true point of Elijah’s entire ministry? 
  4. Did the rains come because Israel confessed anew their faith in the LORD, or because Elijah prayed? Discuss.
  5. Can you describe an instance of repenting of something–of realizing the offense and the need for change? Would you be willing to share if not about the sin, at least about the experience of repenting? What prompted it, do you think?
  6. Now, given what someone–maybe you–might’ve shared in the preceding question about an experience of repentance, what followed after it? Both difficult and beneficial?
  7. How do you think repentance and confession are related? Do you ever confess your sins to someone–other than God? Why or why not? If you do confess to another, what has been the experience like?

ILLUSTRATIONS:

 

QUOTES: 

 

  • When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said “Repent”, He called for the entire life of believers to be one of penitence. Thesis 1 of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses
  • Monday, 23 November, feast of St. Clement, . . .FIRE. GOD of Abraham, GOD of Isaac, GOD of Jacob not of the philosophers and of the learned. Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy. Peace. GOD of Jesus Christ. My God and your God. Your GOD will be my God. Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except GOD. He is only found by the ways taught in the Gospel. Grandeur of the human soul. Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you. Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy. - Blaise Pascal

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