Sermons on 1 Kings 19:19-21
The various sermons below interpret 1 Kings 19:19-21 as a profound call to faith, commitment, and transformation. They commonly emphasize the radical nature of Elisha's actions, particularly his decision to slaughter his oxen and burn his plowing equipment, as a metaphor for leaving behind one's past and security to fully embrace God's calling. This act is seen as a demonstration of total commitment and a decisive break from the past, ensuring that Elisha could not return to his old life. The sermons also highlight the immediacy and unconditional nature of Elisha's response to God's call, drawing parallels to the concept of going "all in" for God, akin to a poker game where one commits everything without holding back. Additionally, the sermons explore the cultural significance of Elisha accepting Elijah's cloak, likening it to a divine calling and a pivotal moment of destiny, transforming an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.
While the sermons share common themes, they also present unique nuances in their interpretations. One sermon emphasizes the theme that those God uses the most are those who hold on to the least, suggesting that letting go of personal security is essential for being used by God. Another sermon introduces the theme of counting the cost of discipleship, highlighting the necessity of complete surrender to God's will. A different sermon focuses on the importance of recognizing and responding to God's call, even at the cost of personal sacrifice. Meanwhile, another sermon presents full surrender as essential for experiencing the life God intends, drawing a connection between Elisha's actions and the call to deny oneself and follow Jesus. One sermon contrasts Elisha's response with the rich young ruler's reluctance to give up his wealth, emphasizing the lifelong journey of servanthood and learning. Lastly, a sermon highlights the theme of being spiritually aware and ready for divine appointments amidst busyness, encouraging openness to God's calling.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Interpretation:
Burning the Plow: Embracing God's Call with Faith (Lakepointe Church) interprets 1 Kings 19:19-21 as a call to radical faith and commitment. The sermon uses the metaphor of "burning the plow" to signify leaving behind one's past and security to fully embrace God's calling. The act of Elisha slaughtering his oxen and burning the plowing equipment is seen as a symbolic gesture of eliminating any possibility of returning to his old life, thus demonstrating total commitment to his new path.
Embracing the Cost and Journey of Discipleship (River of Life Church Virginia) interprets the passage as a lesson in discipleship and the cost associated with following God's call. The sermon emphasizes the immediate and unconditional response required when God calls, as demonstrated by Elisha's actions. The use of the Hebrew term for "servant" is highlighted to show the depth of Elisha's commitment, equating it to worship and service to God.
Embracing God's Call: Commitment and Transformation (MVMT Church) interprets the passage by focusing on the cultural significance of Elisha's actions. The sermon explains that Elisha's acceptance of Elijah's cloak was a recognition of a divine calling, akin to a king passing his scepter. The act of burning the plows is seen as a decisive break from the past, ensuring that Elisha could not return to his old life, thus fully committing to his new role.
Embracing Full Surrender: Following Jesus Wholeheartedly (The Father's House) interprets 1 Kings 19:19-21 as a call to full surrender and commitment to God's call. The sermon draws a parallel between Elisha's burning of his plowing equipment and the concept of going "all in" for God, emphasizing that true fulfillment in Jesus comes from complete surrender and eliminating the possibility of returning to old ways. The sermon uses the analogy of a poker game, where going "all in" means committing everything without holding back.
Embracing Succession: The Call to Discipleship (Forest Community Church) interprets the passage as a model for discipleship, highlighting the qualities of a true follower of Christ through the acronym F.A.T. (Faithful, Available, Teachable). The sermon emphasizes Elisha's willingness to leave his affluent life and become a servant, illustrating the importance of being available and teachable in one's spiritual journey.
Transforming Busyness into Divine Opportunities and Grace (Cornerstone Church TV) interprets 1 Kings 19:19-21 as a moment of divine appointment, emphasizing that Elisha's encounter with Elijah was an unexpected, life-changing event. The sermon uses the analogy of a "cloak of calling" to describe how Elisha's ordinary day was transformed into a pivotal moment of destiny. The preacher suggests that Elisha's willingness to leave everything behind and follow Elijah symbolizes a readiness to embrace God's calling, even amidst a busy life.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Theological Themes:
Burning the Plow: Embracing God's Call with Faith (Lakepointe Church) presents the theme that those God uses the most are those who hold on to the least. The sermon suggests that letting go of personal security and comfort is essential for being used by God in significant ways.
Embracing the Cost and Journey of Discipleship (River of Life Church Virginia) introduces the theme of counting the cost of discipleship. It emphasizes that following Jesus requires a willingness to give up personal desires and comforts, highlighting the idea that true discipleship involves a complete surrender to God's will.
Embracing God's Call: Commitment and Transformation (MVMT Church) discusses the theme of recognizing and responding to God's call. The sermon highlights the importance of understanding the divine calling on one's life and the necessity of making a decisive commitment to follow it, even at the cost of personal sacrifice.
Embracing Full Surrender: Following Jesus Wholeheartedly (The Father's House) presents the theme of full surrender as essential for experiencing the life God intends. The sermon emphasizes that the life one seeks in Jesus is found on the other side of complete surrender, drawing a connection between Elisha's actions and the call to deny oneself, take up one's cross, and follow Jesus.
Embracing Succession: The Call to Discipleship (Forest Community Church) introduces the theme of discipleship as a lifelong journey of servanthood and learning. The sermon highlights the importance of being faithful, available, and teachable, and contrasts Elisha's response to God's call with the rich young ruler's reluctance to give up his wealth.
Transforming Busyness into Divine Opportunities and Grace (Cornerstone Church TV) presents the theme of being spiritually aware and ready for divine appointments, even in the midst of a busy life. The sermon emphasizes that busyness should not be a burden but a blessing, as it can lead to opportunities for God to work through us. The preacher encourages the congregation to be open to God's calling and to recognize that ordinary days can become extraordinary when God intervenes.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Embracing God's Call: Commitment and Transformation (MVMT Church) provides historical context by explaining the significance of the prophet's cloak in ancient Israel. The cloak was a symbol of prophetic authority and divine calling, and Elisha's acceptance of it signified his recognition of a new role and responsibility.
Embracing Succession: The Call to Discipleship (Forest Community Church) provides historical context by explaining the social spectrum between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah is portrayed as an outsider from a marginalized area, while Elisha is depicted as a wealthy and well-connected individual. This contrast illustrates God's impartiality in choosing His servants, regardless of their social status.
Transforming Busyness into Divine Opportunities and Grace (Cornerstone Church TV) provides insight into the cultural context of Elisha's time, suggesting that Elisha was likely the owner of the farm, not just a worker. This interpretation highlights the significance of Elisha's decision to leave his prosperous life behind, indicating a deeper level of sacrifice and commitment to follow Elijah.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Cross-References in the Bible:
Burning the Plow: Embracing God's Call with Faith (Lakepointe Church) references the story of Peter in Luke 5, where Jesus calls Peter to follow him, leading to Peter leaving everything behind. This is used to illustrate the idea of leaving one's past to embrace a new calling.
Embracing the Cost and Journey of Discipleship (River of Life Church Virginia) references John 10:7-10, where Jesus describes himself as the door for the sheep, emphasizing the idea that following Jesus leads to abundant life. This passage is used to support the concept of entering into God's provision and purpose through discipleship.
Embracing God's Call: Commitment and Transformation (MVMT Church) references Luke 14:26 and Luke 9:62 to emphasize the cost of discipleship and the necessity of prioritizing Jesus above all else. These passages are used to highlight the commitment required to follow Jesus fully.
Rekindling Faith Through Godly Relationships (Living Faith Brick, NJ) references several biblical relationships to illustrate the importance of godly companionship, such as Moses and Aaron, and Jesus and Peter. These examples are used to support the idea that godly relationships can rekindle faith and provide strength in times of weakness.
Embracing Full Surrender: Following Jesus Wholeheartedly (The Father's House) references Mark 8:34, where Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. This passage is used to draw a parallel with Elisha's actions and emphasize the theme of full surrender.
Transforming Busyness into Divine Opportunities and Grace (Cornerstone Church TV) references Genesis 3:17-21 to draw a parallel between the toil of Adam and the busyness of modern life, suggesting that work is a part of the human condition. The sermon also mentions 2 Thessalonians, which states that if a man will not work, he should not eat, reinforcing the idea that busyness is an integral part of life. These references are used to support the notion that while busyness is inevitable, it can be transformed into a divine opportunity when approached with the right mindset.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing the Cost and Journey of Discipleship (River of Life Church Virginia) references Dallas Willard, who described discipleship as the process of becoming who Jesus would be if he were you. This quote is used to emphasize the transformative nature of discipleship and the personal change that occurs when following Jesus.
Rekindling Faith Through Godly Relationships (Living Faith Brick, NJ) references Chuck Swindoll, who is quoted as saying that God not only gave Elijah a successor but also a close personal friend in Elisha. This highlights the importance of companionship in ministry and personal growth.
1 Kings 19:19-21 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Burning the Plow: Embracing God's Call with Faith (Lakepointe Church) uses the historical example of Cortez burning his ships upon arriving in Mexico to illustrate the concept of eliminating the possibility of retreat and fully committing to a new path.
Embracing God's Call: Commitment and Transformation (MVMT Church) references the movie "A League of Their Own" to illustrate the idea that the difficulty of a task is what makes it valuable. This analogy is used to emphasize the challenges and rewards of following Jesus.
Rekindling Faith Through Godly Relationships (Living Faith Brick, NJ) uses the story of Derek Redmond from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics as an analogy for godly relationships. Redmond's father helped him finish a race after an injury, illustrating how godly relationships can provide support and encouragement in difficult times.