Let's Talk about Depression

Let's Talk About Depression  

Study Guide 

Message for Sunday September 29, 2019

This Week Reading:  1 Kings 19:1-18 

Main Themes:  Discouragement, Depression, Hope, Reorientation, Hearing from God 

Background Information:

Elijah is a prophet of God. he has been used by God to perform miracles and to speak God's word to people. He has just had a confrontation with 400 false prophets. In the confrontation God used Elijah in a powerful way to overcome the false prophets. It was a great victory. Immediately after the victory The King and Queen threaten to kill Elijah and he gets discouraged and depressed and runs away.

1. 
   

Key Verse: Then a voice (God's voice) said to him, :What are you doing here Elijah?"

Point of Light Group Guide: 

A. Welcome: Welcome everyone especially new persons and read out loud the purpose of your group:

Our goal is to grow as disciples of Jesus and to make disciples of other people by inviting them to our group. Each person here has the potential to start and be the leader of a new group and multiply God's kingdom. 

B. Worship Time: Spend a few minutes singing a worship song. Here is one you may want to use Your Presence is Heaven to Me  (or pick your own on YouTube make sure it has the lyrics on the screen)

C. Opening Question: 

D. Read Background Information

E. Word: Read 1 Kings 19:1-18 aloud together. (Goal is that everyone understand the Bible story or verses - keep at it until everyone knows the story or verses)

1. What key (important) words do you see in these verses?

2. Tell in your own words what happened with Elijah.

3. What details can you add to what others in the group have said? .

F. Discuss the following general questions together (Goal is to use these general questions to guide a discussion. Use the general questions and the digging deeper questions however you see fit and whatever order you think best)

1. What new thing did you discover in the story or verses that you did not know before?

2. Put yourself in Elijah''s position throughout his journey. How do you think he felt? What was he thinking? Can you relate to him? ?

3. What did you learn about God from the story? 

4. What do you learn about people from the story?

5. What important lessons for us do you see in this story?

6. What will you take away from this discussion?

7. What will you do with what you have learned? (make sure everyone answers this)  

E. Digging Deeper Questions: (You may want to divide into 2 groups men and women separate): 

1. What are some of the causes of discouragement and depression? When have you experienced these things.

2. What were Elijah's symptoms - read verses 19:3-5; and verse 10   

3. What do you think it means that God speaks in a still small voice and not the wind, earthquake or fire? - verse 11-13
4. God tells Elijah to do 2 things - Get up and to Go Back - discuss how these apply to your life
5. Discuss the importance of having hope. What is hope? How does hope overcome depression and discouragement?   

F. Prayer Time: 

                 1. Pray for an empty chair representing new people who you want to join                                     the group. Name names of people specifically.

                 2. Pray for the needs of the members of the group. It is best to divide into 2                               groups one of male and the other female.

G. For Next time:

                 1. Assign group members to do different parts of the next meeting as you prepare them)                      (Opening Question; Prayer Time; Read Background info; lead group)

                 2. Ask each person the name of a person they will invite to the group for next week.