Sermon Study Guides

September 27 / 28, 2025
Elijah and Elisha
Dr. Henry Schorr

In this ‘Kingdom Era’, which includes 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, and 1-2 Chronicles, the Israelites asked God for an earthly king, and God granted their wish, reluctantly Israel becomes a full-fledged nation ruled sequentially by: King Saul, King David and King Solomon. In 1st/2nd Kings, written between 562 and 536 BC, 1 Kings tells the story of the life/reign of King Solomon, and the kings who followed him. Beginning with his son, Rehoboam, who was not only evil, but made major leadership blunders resulting in civil war, dividing Israel into 2 territories: the northern Kingdom of Israel, and the southern Kingdom of Judah.

Despite God giving each kingdom hundreds of years to repent and follow Him, they failed. In 722 BC, God allowed Israel to be conquered by Assyria, while Judah was conquered by Babylon in 586 BC. In the book of 1 and 2 Kings, we focus on the two bright spots in 1st/2nd Kings, Elijah and Elisha.

Ever since Adam and Eve rebelled, God’s mission has been to restore people to Himself. He worked through Abraham and his descendants, ultimately through Christ, who passed the baton to His disciples—and now to us. Elijah passed it to Elisha, Jesus passed it to His followers, and today it’s our turn to carry and share the mission of faith.

Passing the baton of faith requires:

1. A humble heart. Elijah had to accept that his season was ending and that God was raising up someone else. Humility means holding our roles and successes with an open hand, focusing on God’s mission rather than our ego. Like Elijah, we must celebrate others’ success and invest in them without envy.

2. A surrendered heart. Elisha demonstrated total surrender by leaving his wealth and security behind. He burned his plows and slaughtered his oxen—no plan B. Jesus calls us to the same mindset: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross” (Mark 8:34). Passing the baton requires saying “yes” to God, whatever the cost.

3. A mentoring heart. Elijah didn’t just call Elisha; he walked with him for years, teaching and modeling faithfulness. Mentoring is about encouragement, accountability, and sharing life—not having all the answers. Who are you mentoring? Who are you inviting to walk with you?

4. A servant heart. Before leading, Elisha served Elijah—fetching water, doing menial tasks for a decade. Greatness in God’s kingdom begins with serving (Matthew 20:26). Often, God uses these seasons of service to shape our character for future assignments.

5. A loving, gracious heart. Elisha’s ministry reflected God’s love in practical ways—helping a widow in need (2 Kings 4) and even showing mercy to enemy soldiers (2 Kings 6). Passing the baton isn’t just about words; it’s about demonstrating God’s grace to others and even to those who oppose us.

All we can take to heaven is our faith in God, how we assisted others in Christ’s name, and the joy that we obeyed God. Pray for knowledge about God’s leading, and He will direct you to those to whom you need to pass on the baton of your faith and mission. In his powerful song, Find Us Faithful, Steve Green sums it up with these words: “May all who come behind us find us faithful!” Let us pray to the Father and seek His will in our calling!

IN - PURSUE RELATIONSHIP

1. What positive habits did you learn from teams or groups you have belonged to?

2. If you were to pass on a skill or hobby to someone, what would it be and why?

UP - PURSUE GOD

1. Read 1 Kings 19:13-16, 19-21; 2 Kings 3:11. What impresses you most about both Elijah’s and Elisha’s responses? How do these passages reflect the kind of heart needed to give and receive the baton of faith?

2. Read 2 Kings 6:8-23. How does Elisha demonstrate mentoring and God’s gracious love? Discuss in what ways Elisha grew spiritually from his original calling.

OUT - PURSUE MISSION

1. Who first passed the baton of faith to you? How did they do it?

2. Who are your successors? To whom might God be calling you to pass the baton of faith? Share with the group what heart quality you most need to do this. Pray for one another.

Personal Reflection

Pastor Henry said, “Your focus is to give your best to the part of the race you’ve been called to run and to pass the baton of what God has called you to, to the next person.” And, “Church, please don’t waste your life. Don’t waste it.”

Consider your life and ask God where and in whom you need to invest in order to run the God-honoring race He has called you to.

The Word (NIV)

1 Kings 19:13-16, 19-21

13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother 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 the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.

2 Kings 3:11 

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?”

An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.

2 Kings 6:8-23

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

11 This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.

20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.

21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?”

22 “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

This Week's Writers: Asha Phillips, Elsa Henderson, Jorel Quemuel, Sandi Somers, Gene and Karen Gibbs