You Are Going to Die. How Are You Going to Live?
Text: 2 Kings 1-2
This week, we continued our study through 1 and 2 Kings and watched the transition from Elijah to Elisha. Ahab has died, his son Ahaziah is now king, and Elijah’s ministry is coming to an end. In these chapters, we are reminded of a sobering but clarifying truth:
You are going to die.
Unless Jesus returns first, every one of us will eventually die. We do not know how much time we have, but we do know this: we get to decide how we will spend the minutes God gives us.
How Will You Live?
The sermon contrasted two ways to live.
- Ahab’s way: pursuing worldly power, pleasure, comfort, and false gods.
- Elijah’s way: living before the one true God, even when obedience is costly and uncomfortable.
Every human heart is naturally ordered with me first, others second, and God last. Some people may reorder their lives enough to put others first, and that can be admirable. But Christianity calls us to something far greater:
God first. Others second. Me last.
Jesus calls His people to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Following Jesus means self-denial, cross-carrying, and a reordered life.
Elijah to Elisha
In 2 Kings 2, Elijah is taken up into heaven, and Elisha receives the prophetic mantle. Elijah parts the Jordan River, and after Elijah is taken, Elisha does the same, showing that the God of Elijah is now with Elisha.
Elisha’s ministry begins with three signs:
- He parts the Jordan River, showing that God’s power is with him.
- He heals the water at Jericho, showing that God’s word brings blessing and life.
- He confronts the rebellion at Bethel, showing that rejecting God’s word brings judgment.
How Do You Respond to God’s Word?
Jericho and Bethel give us two very different responses to God’s prophet.
- Jericho says: “Come close. We need help. We believe God can bring blessing.”
- Bethel says: “Go away. We do not want God’s word here.”
That leaves each of us with an important question:
Which city best represents your posture toward the Word of God?
Jesus Took the Fire
In 2 Kings 1, soldiers come to arrest Elijah, and fire falls from heaven. But when soldiers came to arrest Jesus, He did not call down fire. He willingly went with them.
Jesus even told Peter that He could call down legions of angels if He wanted to. But He did not. Why? Because Jesus knew that the fire of judgment was not going to fall on the soldiers.
It was going to fall on Him.
At the cross, Jesus took the judgment sinners deserve so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven and reconciled to God.
Big Idea: You are going to die. How are you going to live?
Because Jesus took the fire, death is not the end for His people. For everyone who belongs to Christ, death becomes the doorway into eternal life.
Lifegroup Leader Guide
You Are Going to Die. How Are You Going to Live?
Text: 2 Kings 1-2
Big Idea: You are going to die. How are you going to live?
Icebreaker
What is one thing you hope people remember about the way you lived?
Read Together
Read 2 Kings 2:1-25.
For additional context, summarize or read 2 Kings 1.
Sermon Recap
- Ahab has died, and his son Ahaziah continues walking in rebellion against God.
- Ahaziah seeks answers from Baal-zebub instead of seeking the one true God.
- Elijah confronts Ahaziah’s rebellion, and fire falls from heaven on the soldiers sent to capture him.
- In 2 Kings 2, Elijah is taken up into heaven, and Elisha receives his prophetic mantle.
- Elisha parts the Jordan, heals the water at Jericho, and confronts rebellion at Bethel.
- The contrast between Ahab and Elijah reminds us that every person must decide how to live.
- We are naturally bent toward living with ourselves first, others second, and God last.
- Jesus calls us to a reordered life: God first, others second, and ourselves last.
- The good news is that Jesus took the fire of God’s judgment at the cross so that sinners can be forgiven and reconciled to God.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Passage
- What stood out to you most from 2 Kings 1-2?
- How does Ahaziah’s decision to seek Baal-zebub show the condition of his heart?
- What does Elijah’s confrontation with Ahaziah teach us about the seriousness of rejecting God?
- Why do you think the transition from Elijah to Elisha includes the parting of the Jordan River?
- What do Elisha’s first miracles show about his new role as prophet?
Priorities
- The sermon reminded us, “You are going to die.” Why is that such an important truth to remember?
- How does remembering death help clarify how we should live?
- The sermon described the natural order of the human heart as me first, others second, God last. Where do you see that tendency in yourself?
- What does it practically look like to live with God first, others second, and me last?
- Which is more tempting for you: pursuing comfort, pleasure, power, approval, or control? Why?
Responding to God’s Word
- How did the people of Jericho respond differently to God’s prophet than the people of Bethel?
- Which response better describes your current posture toward God’s Word: “come close” or “go away”?
- What makes it difficult to receive God’s Word when it challenges or confronts us?
- How can we cultivate a heart that welcomes God’s Word as a source of life and blessing?
Calling and Ministry
- Elisha received Elijah’s mantle and stepped into a new ministry calling. How should believers respond when they sense God may be calling them to serve in a new way?
- Why is it important for the church to help identify, encourage, and develop people for ministry?
Gospel Connection
In 2 Kings 1, soldiers came to arrest Elijah, and fire fell from heaven. Elijah was not taken by the soldiers because God’s judgment fell on them instead.
Centuries later, soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Jesus could have called down legions of angels. He could have stopped them. But He willingly went with them.
Why? Because Jesus knew that the fire of judgment would not fall on the soldiers that night.
It would fall on Him.
At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment sinners deserve. He took the fire so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven, reconciled to God, and given eternal life.
Because Jesus paid it all, death is not the end for His people. For those who belong to Christ, death becomes the doorway into life with God forever.
Prayer Time
Spend time praying:
- That God would help each person live with eternity in view.
- That our lives would be ordered God first, others second, and ourselves last.
- That we would receive God’s Word with humility and faith.
- That God would raise up more people for ministry and mission.
- That we would rejoice in Jesus, who took the fire of judgment in our place.
