Come Follow Me for Teens: "If The Lord Be God, Follow Him" (1 Kings 12-22)

What this episode covers

This week’s Come Follow Me for Teens episode focuses on 1 Kings 12–22: “If the Lord Be God, Follow Him.” In these chapters, we study three powerful lessons that can help teens recognize what they are really following, how hearts can drift from God, and how the Lord invites us to follow Him with an undivided heart: Rehoboam and Jeroboam’s choices that pulled people away from the Lord, Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, and Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. Rehoboam and Jeroboam teach us that our hearts are always being led somewhere. Rehoboam listened to the wrong voices and made a prideful decision that divided the kingdom. Jeroboam followed fear and created counterfeit worship to keep the people from returning to the temple in Jerusalem. Their stories warn teens that wrong voices, pride, fear, convenience, approval, and false sources of identity or peace can slowly pull us away from God. Elijah and the widow of Zarephath teach youth what can happen when we choose to follow faith instead of fear. During a time of famine, the widow had almost nothing left, yet Elijah invited her to put the Lord first and trust the word of His prophet. As she acted in faith, the Lord preserved her meal and oil. Later, when her son died, Elijah pleaded with the Lord, and her son was restored to life. Her story reminds teens that when we trust God, follow His prophets, and put Him first, He can bless, preserve, heal, strengthen, and restore us in ways we could never provide for ourselves. Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal teaches the danger of living with a divided heart. These were not just pagan priests from a distant nation. They were priests among the Lord’s own covenant people, showing how far Israel had drifted. On Mount Carmel, Elijah asked, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him.” The Lord answered by fire, not just to display His power, but to point His people back to the true God and to the prophet who could help guide them home. This episode invites teens to ask: What voices, fears, habits, or desires am I following? Where do I need to choose faith over fear and put God first? How can I stop wavering and follow Jesus Christ with more of my heart? The message of these chapters is deeply relevant for teens today: our hearts are always following something. God does not want half of our hearts. He wants to lead, heal, strengthen, and save all of us. As we choose to follow Jesus Christ with an undivided heart, He can help us become men and women of God. Get the full Study & Teaching Guide here: https://joshdowns.com/cfm-resources Become a Come Follow Me for Teens member: https://www.joshdowns.com/cfm-membership

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