Ice
Breaker: “The Flood”
If you were just
notified that your house was about to be flooded and you had to evacuate; what
are the first three things you would do to prepare for the flood? If you could
only take the clothes on your back, essential toiletries and two personal
belongings, what two personal belongings would you take?
Text: 1 Kings 17:1, 29-33; 1 Kings 18:1-45; James 5:16-17;
Leviticus 26:1-10, 14-20; Isaiah 55:10-11, Hosea 6:1-2; Joel 2:23-29; Zechariah
10:1-2, 12:10; Deuteronomy 11:13-14;
Study Group Discussion Questions:
1.
As
recorded in 1 Kings 17:1, why did God withhold the rain from
2.
In
1 Kings 18:16, Kind Ahab calls Elijah a troubler, meaning
provoker. A provoker brings the real
issues of life to the surface. Has
anyone helped reveal truth in your life and provoked you to righteousness? Explain.
Have you ever been used by God to provoke another to righteousness? Explain.
3.
In
James 5:16-17, we are told that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man
availed much, and Elijah’s prayer to withhold and to bring the rain is
referenced; give an example of a fervent prayer the Lord has answered in your
life?
4.
King
Ahab had set up altars to Baal, the god of fertility; but God refused to allow
the Israelites to produce fruit from anything that does not produce. Read Leviticus 26:1-10,
5.
Just as the rain
softens the earth to enable a planting, the rain of God’s Spirit softens
our hearts and tears down our defenses.
What things in life have caused you to harden your heart or build
up defenses at times?
6.
Tell
of a time when the rain of the presence of God has softened your heart and torn
down your defenses?
7.
According
to Isaiah 55:10-11, what does the rain of His Spirit do for our lives?
8.
Joel
2:23-29 and Hosea 6:3 refer to the early and latter rain of His Spirit. The early prepares for the seed to be sown,
waters the seed and causes it to sprout.
The latter causes the sprout to reach its full potential and produce
fruit. What do you need the REIGN or
RAIN of His spirit to do for you?
9.
In
Joel 2,the Word tells us that the early and the latter
rain will come at once and bring us grain, new wine and oil. What are these symbolic of?
10.
Finally,
pray together for the end time rain of His
Spirit to come upon your life, your group and Cathedral of Life. Pray that He will use you in the harvest.