Rest: If you don’t stop now the tension will snap

Matthew 11:28-3

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Ask students if they feel busy?

What sorts of things keep them busy?

Do these things make them feel anxious or stressed?

Do they find it difficult to “rest”?

Set the context for the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel

1 Kings 17 Elijah announces a severe famine, there will be neither dew nor rain for the next three years

Elijah goes into hiding in a ravine and drinks from a brook in the ravine and is brought food by ravens

Then the brook dries up so Elijah leaves and God tells him to go to Zarephath a city on the Phoenician coast which is outside of the promise land just north of Tyre.

In the third year of the famine, Elijah returns and presents himself to Ahab, the king of Israel (northern kingdom)

Read: 1 Kings 18:16-39 outloud

Discuss what just happened and summarize Elijah out running the kings chariot.

Have a student read 1 Kings 19:1-4 outloud

Discuss what stands out about Elijah’s response to the queen’s threat

Rest is needed even when you are doing things for God

Have a student read 1 Kings 19:5-9 outloud

Discuss what stands out about God’s response to Elijah

(Note) distance from Mount Carmel to Mount Sinai is about 260 miles

God wants us to rest

Have a student(s) read 1 Kings 19:10-18 if there is time.

Discuss what God tells Elijah and what’s interesting about how God appears to Elijah

Rest postures us to better hear from God

Pray and send students to their discussion groups.