About this episode

Matthew Destry discusses the contrast between performance and surrendered worship through the biblical narrative of Elijah and Baal worship.

19/04/2026 - Matthew Destry 1 Kings 18:36–39 (ESV) “At the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, ‘The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.’” the wider narrative: a nation with a divided heart two visions of worship: performance vs surrender – Now let’s lean into the contrast. B aal worship: exhausting religion… E lijah’s altar: quiet, costly, surrendered worship a bigger story: what is actually happening here? the timing of the sacrifice the prayer itself: God-centred, not self-centred the water: r emoving all human explanation the fire: substitution, not spectacle some of us are still trying to control the outcome Acts 2:1–4…

Topics covered

• worship
• surrender
• sacrifice
• faith
• spirituality
• religion

Keywords

• worship
• Elijah
• Baal
• sacrifice
• Pentecost
• faith
• spirituality

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