April 13 2024

The wonderful thing about Scripture and stories is that themes emerge. This week’s lesson is about Elijah passing the mantle of leadership on to Elisha. Through this lesson students will be able to see that good leaders mentor, and good disciples take on the mantle of leadership that has been passed on to them. Jesus did that through His ministry, and what we see by looking at both of these stories is that Elisha did a much better job of accepting a call to ministry than most of Jesus’ disciples

Sometimes it is hard to describe something without seeing it. But even when you have more information about something, it is still sometimes hard to pass that information along clearly.

This week we will be continuing to look at the stories of the prophets and kings of Israel. It is amazing how often the New Testament mirrors stories in the Old Testament. By learning and understanding both we see a fuller picture of God and how humanity relates to God.

Let’s start with the Old Testament story. Elijah knew that his ministry was about to conclude. He had just spoken to God on Mount Sinai after the confrontation with Jezebel at Mount Carmel. Elijah was getting old and knew he and Israel needed a successor to be a voice for God. Let’s read about how his successor was found and chosen.

Read 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NIV).

The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowingwith twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threwhis cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father andmother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned theplowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out tofollow Elijah and became his servant.

Look at the last few words. Some versions say that Elisha became Elijah’s servant. Some say he now assisted him, or ministered to him. Before we see Elisha and Elijah together again chapters (or years) seem to pass, but we don’t know a lot about what Elisha learned—just that he “assisted” Elijah. As we look into the New Testament, we will see that this this model is very similar to the way Jesus called His disciples.

Read Mark 1:16-20 (NIV).

Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and hisbrother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,“and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat,preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boatwith the hired men and followed him. 

One thing that stands out is “at once.” Other versions say “immediately.” The disciples of Jesus, as Elisha did, saw the potential of learning from a master.

After years of Elisha’s following Elijah, the Bible tells us that Elijah was about to be taken to heaven. (Are you starting to see the Easter parallel?) Look at how many times Elijah asked Elisha to stay behind.

Read 2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6 (NIV).

2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely asthe Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

Let’s look at the difference with Jesus’ disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Read Matthew 26:44-45 (NIV).

44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, thehour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

Three times Jesus asked the disciples to pray for Him in the garden and to follow Him, like they had committed to do. Three times, instead of being insistent like Elisha, they fell asleep. It gets worse. When the soldiers came, the disciples—who had promised to stay with Jesus just hours before—turned and fled. I love the details that Mark adds in his gospel. It helps us see just how committed to running the disciples were.

Read Mark 14:50-52 (NIV).

50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

The story of the disciples doesn’t end there. And that’s the wonderful reason why we celebrate Easter. We don’t focus on the garden or even the cross. We focus on a resurrected Lord! Someone who defeats death and sin on our behalf.

Let’s finish our Old Testament story. Elisha never left Elijah’s side. Let’s look at the final conversation between the mentor and mentee.

Read 2 Kings 2:9-12 (NIV).

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

Finally, let’s look at one of our last pictures of a resurrected Jesus before His ascension. There is a story at the end of the book of John. It is a dialogue between Jesus and Peter. Again, a question is asked three times. Jesus asks Peter, one of the disciples who denied Him and fled, “Do you love me?” And now, much like Elisha, Peter is up to the master’s task. He is focused on Jesus.

Read John 21:17-19 (NIV).

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

In both of our stories today, a “discipler” chose one or more disciples. Christianity has followed this model. Yes, the ultimate person to follow is Jesus. But it is also helpful to follow other people who are committed to following Jesus well and to learning from how they are applying their relationship with Jesus to the world we live in today.
Who are your spiritual mentors? Can you think of someone who has been a good spiritual mentor to you and share it with your group?

Note to the leader: Please be ready to share some of the people who have mentored you.

In the book Faith for Exiles, the authors propose that we are living in a digital Babylon. Their research indicates that the “disciples” most likely to stick with Jesus for their entire lives had found meaningful intergenerational relationships.

When a person feels that isolation (what many of us are experiencing right now) and mistrust (what many teens feel about society, leadership, etc.) are the norms, then it is more important than ever for that person to forge meaningful intergenerational relationships with long-time followers of Jesus.

Why do you think that is true?

Who are the leaders who have spiritually mentored you? Were they a parent, teacher, pastor, relative? 

Perhaps you would like a mentor. Studies show that students who succeed in sticking with their faith in Jesus have five adults, besides parents, who act as spiritual role models. Who are your five? Do you need to add some people to your list? 

This relational Bible study covers the familiar story of the prophet Elijah being taken to heaven in a blazing chariot, leaving Elisha to take his place. It’s ideal to be in small groups (if you have more than six people, divide into even smaller groups) and hold a discussion based on the Scripture passage, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and your answers to the Bible study handout. This study can be done over a video call or social media if that’s how your church is doing Sabbath School this week.

After praying for God’s Spirit to be present, respond to the first question and give each person in your group a chance to respond too. Then read 2 Kings 2, taking turns letting different people read.

It’s important to take some time to fill out your individual responses to the questions on the sheet (two pages, front and back) before starting the discussion. For some of the prompts you may want to mark more than one option. Then open the discussion up to the small group, using the prompts to start the discussion and then following where it leads. You’re depending on the Holy Spirit to direct you and to speak through you as well as through the others in your group. Speak what the Spirit impresses you to say and listen well to what the Spirit is saying to you through others.

While there are several opportunities for personal application in the questions, you’ll have a more specific application section following the lesson that you can use as is or adapt to fit your particular setting. If you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, you may feel a conviction to apply it in another way. Be responsive to the Holy Spirit in your life.

Read 2 Kings 2:1-25 (NIV) together.

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven
1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.”

“No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”

17 But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse. So he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

Healing of the Water
19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”

20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.

21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

Elisha Is Jeered
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!” 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

“This Doesn’t Happen Every Day” Relational Bible Study

Give one example of an unusual day you remember from your childhood (good or bad).
Read 2 Kings 2:1-25.

1.  What could separate Elisha from Elijah?

    A. Nothing.

    B. A message from Elijah.

    C. A message from God.

    D. Students from the schools of the prophets.

    E. A pandemic.

    F. Chariots of fire.

    G. Distractions.

    H. Other.

2.  Who knew Elijah would be taken to heaven without dying?

    A. Elijah.

    B. Elisha.

    C. Students at the schools of the prophets.

    D. Ahab.

    E. Jezebel.

    F. Elijah’s wife.

    G. Everyone in Israel.

    H. Other.

3.  What happened at the Jordan River?

    A. The width and depth of the river changed based on the amount of rainfall.

    B. Moses led the Israelites across the Jordan during flood season.

    C. Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan during flood season.

    D. Elijah divided the waters and they walked through on dry ground.

    E. Elisha divided the waters and walked through alone on dry ground.

    F. Jesus would later be baptized in this river.

    G. Revivals would happen here throughout Israel’s history.

    H. This is the place where the ax head floated (2 Kings 6).

    I. Other.
4.  What did Elisha mean by requesting a “double portion of Elijah’s spirit”?

    A. He wanted to be twice as spiritual as Elijah.

    B. He wanted more power than Elijah.

    C. He wanted to do twice as many miracles as Elijah.

    D. It was a term for receiving the birthright as the firstborn son.

    E. He wanted to be treated like Elijah’s son/family.

    F. He had left a wealthy family; he needed some type of compensation.

    G. He wanted to carry on what Elijah had started.

    H. He was nervous about the idea of taking Elijah’s place.

    I. Other.

5.  What was the strongest proof Elisha had of Elijah’s spirit?

    A. He saw Elijah being taken to heaven.

    B. He parted the Jordan River with Elijah’s coat.

    C. The students at the schools of the prophets confirmed it.

    D. He just had a feeling.

    E. His face radiated that God’s Spirit was in him.

    F. The miracle that sweetened the water at Jericho proved it.

    G. The mauling of the 42 teasing teens.

    H. Other.

6.  What’s your take on the incident with the 42 young people, the two bears, and Elisha?

    A. God doesn’t like young people.

    B. Elisha didn’t like young people.

    C. Bears don’t like young people.

    D. Elijah must have had a bald head.

    E. Elisha had a quick temper.

    F. God didn’t put up with those who mocked His prophets.

    G. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can kill you.

    H. Other.

7.  Are you more like Elijah or Elisha?

8.  When have you tested God for yourself (like Elisha did at the Jordan River after Elijah had been taken to heaven)?
 

Toward the end of Elijah’s ministry (after the dramatic Mount Carmel experience, followed by running from Jezebel and ending up at Mount Sinai), Elijah returned and selected Elisha to mentor and to one day take his place. On one particular day, with expectations it would happen, Elijah got supernaturally swept from earth in dramatic fashion and was taken to heaven—not something that happens every day! And Elisha continued Elijah’s ministry of bringing God’s people back to Yahweh.

Here are four different applications for you based on this Bible study. Choose one or more of these, or follow a fresh prompting from the Holy Spirit to live out what you and your Youth Sabbath School group just discussed about this Scripture passage.

1.  Who is your Elijah—your spiritual mentor who you look up to and from whom you glean spiritual gems and insights to encourage you in your spiritual growth? If you already have one, thank God for this gift and ask for more input from your mentor. If you don’t have one, ask God to lead you to one and then act on that as God brings someone to mind.

2.  Who is your Elisha—a person younger than you whom you will mentor in spiritual things? Ask God to bring someone to mind, and then act on that by inviting that younger person to join you to do some activity the two of you would enjoy together (keeping in mind appropriate social distancing in this time of the coronavirus pandemic). Let the younger person know that God has impressed you to make periodic contact with them for their spiritual growth and development, just as you are receiving that from someone further down the road of spiritual growth than you are. Tell the story of your life and the role Jesus has played in it over the years, including ups and down. Then listen to their unique story. Pray for each other. Set a time to meet again.

3.  Take time this week to meditate on John 16:12-15—part of Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit to His followers. Dwell on these few verses during your devotional time each day this week and ask for the Holy Spirit to flourish in you.

4.  Reflect on how you respond to spiritual people who bug you. Ask God for a repentant spirit so you can be less judgmental and more open and grateful for God’s activity in the lives of others, even though it might bug you personally. Repent (saying something like, “I’m sorry, and my desire is to change; please help me, God”), and begin looking at that person from God’s perspective rather than your limited perspective.
 

That’s My Jesus / Another Look at Jesus by Steve Case

Two new Revelation resources have been combined into one, spiral-bound booklet.

One side, called Another Look at Jesus, serves as a follow-up to Revelation 101: Finding Jesus in the Book of Revelation. These follow-up studies explore 12 topics in Revelation rather than the verse-by-verse style utilized in Revelation 101. The 12 topics are themes throughout Revelation and can be used individually, in small groups, or as a church. Following the 12 studies is the teacher’s guide for all 12 studies.

The other side of the book, called That’s My Jesus, is a chapter-by-chapter study of Revelation designed for small groups. The relational emphasis of these studies depends on an active Holy Spirit rather than a Revelation expert to explain each chapter. Discussion questions include prompts from which to choose potential answers that spark discussion and personal applications.

PURCHASE