Peace lesson 2. Fruit of the Spirit. The Lord Appears to Elijah. Episode 2. 1 Kings 19:9 18 MEMORY VERSE

Transcription

1 Peace lesson 2 Fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is... peace Peace Staying calm and cool knowing that God is in control. Episode 2 The Lord Appears to Elijah 1 Kings 19:9 18 MEMORY VERSE... but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:12 13 (NKJV) KEY POINT You continue to have peace by staying close to Go through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. Lesson 2 page 14

2 Let s Talk EARLY ARRIVAL (before service) Have some upbeat music playing and welcome children warmly. Teachers should take this time to engage the children in conversation. Ask them about their week, school, and home. Begin to establish relationships. BEGIN CLASS (service time) Introduce yourself and your assistants. Before the discussion questions, PRAY that the Lord will bless your time together. RELATE it : : : ask and discuss the following questions 1 Have you ever had someone talk to you but you couldn t hear them? 2 For 3 Where 4 Perhaps 5 If 6 Where 7 Have 8 Do example, have you ever been in such a loud place that you couldn t hear someone next to you talking? were you and who was trying to talk to you? If you ve never experienced this, can you think of a place where it would be too loud to hear someone talk? it wasn t the noise; maybe you were just so distracted you weren t even aware of someone (like your mom) trying to get your attention. would distract you so much? someone had something important to talk to you about, would they take you to a concert or talk to you while you played your favorite video game? Why not? would you go to talk about something important? you ever gone hiking in the mountains and stopped to listen to the breeze? was that like? you think you would have heard anyone talking next to you there, even if they were whispering? lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 15

3 CONNECTit CONNECT it : : : SAY Today we are going to read a great Bible story about a prophet of God who was trying to hear God in the most unusual places. This prophet was in grave trouble and urgently needed God s peace. Let s watch Virtuality and find out how God was able to talk to this prophet and give him the peace he was searching for. WATCH it : : : Go to large group to see the Virtuality DVD, Fruit of the Spirit Series DVD (VOLUME 3, EPISODE 2) lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 16

4 Let s Talk Bible BIBLE STORY : : : The Lord Appears to Elijah 1 Kings 19:9 18 BE PREPARED Read the Bible story and study the background information at home. Before you begin reading today s Bible story tell children the background information in your own words. GAME RULES Divide your class into two teams (boys vs. girls or one half of the room against the other). Have the children take out their Bibles (NIV preferred) to follow along as you read the Scriptures, and so that you can help them find the answers. They may share Bibles, if necessary. Assign a captain for each team whose job will be to give the team s final answer. Award 10 points to the first team whose captain raises his or her hand and has the correct answer. Award 50 points for the bonus questions. If needed, give the verse reference locations. BACKGROUND information : : : SAY IT in your own words Elijah was the first of a long line of powerful prophets of God in Israel and Judah. Elijah was very bold and not afraid to stand up for what was right against the evil kings. King Ahab was probably one of the worst since he did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him (1 Kings 16:30). To top it off, he married one of the most evil women in biblical history, Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had hundreds of other prophets working for them, but these prophets only told them what they wanted to hear not the truth. When Elijah came on the scene, he wanted to prove to them that Baal, the fake man-made god they followed, was powerless. Elijah went right to the king and said, As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word (1 Kings 17:1). This shocked the king and the people because they believed Baal had power over rain, but they were very wrong. This three-year drought was the first of many miracles God worked through the Prophet Elijah. While God withheld the rain and the nation suffered famine, Elijah was miraculously fed by ravens. Then God sent Elijah to a widow and her son. They were about to eat their last meal before starving to death when Elijah asked her to feed him. He told her, The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 17

5 the day the LORD gives rain on the land (1 Kings 17:14). She believed the prophet, and their food did not run out. But that wasn t the only miracle this family experienced. When the widow s son became sick and died, Elijah cried out to God and the boy returned to life! The scene was extreme. None of these miracles convinced Ahab and Jezebel to turn from their evil ways. Jezebel became angry, and instead of turning from evil, she went deeper into sin against God. She went on a killing spree against the prophets of God. Elijah was her main target, but he was nowhere to be found. Then one day he just showed up. Elijah was still committed to proving that the Lord God was the one true God. Elijah challenged 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah to a showdown. (These were all of Jezebel s puppet prophets.) God showed up in a miraculous display of power and the false prophets lost miserably and were all put to death. Ahab told Jezebel everything that had happened, but she still did not bow down to the one true God. She made a vow to kill Elijah. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). You may wonder how Elijah came to be afraid even though he had the power and favor of God. He was probably sure that this last miracle would prove to Jezebel where the real power lay and that she would turn from her evil ways. When she didn t, it rocked his world. Elijah was a powerful prophet of God, but he was still human and he became discouraged. There was no proving anything to this evil woman; she just didn t care. After three intense years, he was tired; he ran; he hid; he was depressed. In fact, he gave up and wanted to die. He probably felt that he had failed God. God was not done with Elijah; He was gentle and loving. Elijah went into the desert to die but God sent an angel to care for him. So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:8). This is where we pick up the story. Elijah reached the mountain and went into a cave to spend the night. He probably wanted to sleep, but God wanted to talk. READ SCRIPTURE READ IT : : : read from NIV Bible Open your Bibles and follow along as I read 1 Kings 19:9 12 out loud. lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 18

6 ASK it : : : award 10 points for correct answer 1 did God want to know from Elijah? Answer: Why was he there v. 9 2 answer did Elijah give? Answer: I ve been serving you faithfully, but it hasn t worked. Now they want to kill me. v Did 8 did God tell Elijah to do next? Answer: Go out and wait for Him to pass by v. 11 was the first thing Elijah felt? Answer: A wind so powerful that it shattered rocks v. 11 was the second thing Elijah experienced? Answer: An earthquake v. 11 was the third thing Elijah experienced? Answer: A fire v. 12 Elijah find God in the wind, earthquake or fire? Answer: No v. 12 happened after these very powerful displays? Answer: A gentle whisper v. 12 BONUSQUESTION BONUS QUESTION : : : award 50 points for correct answer 9 Elijah had spent the last three years experiencing God s mighty power over nature. He withheld the rain, sent fire from heaven and even raised a boy to life. Why do you think God decided that what was needed now was a whisper? Answer: There s no solid answer to this question. Just let the children think about God s power. Give points for all answers. READ it : : : read from Bible Elijah s heart was no doubt racing from the wind, earthquake and fire. Then suddenly everything stopped. It became quiet enough for him to hear a whisper. God had already asked Elijah a question; lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 19

7 READ SCRIPTURE let s continue reading and find out what He wanted to know this time. Follow along as I read 1 Kings 19:9 18 out loud. ASK it : : : award 10 points for correct answer 10 Elijah cautiously went outside the cave and listened. did God ask him this time? Answer: are you doing here, Elijah? v How is this question different from the first question? Answer: It s not, God asked the same exact question v. 9, 13 God asked the same question because He didn t get the answer He was after the first time. Did Elijah change his answer? Answer: No, he gave the same exactly answer v. 14 READ SCRIPTURE READ it : : : read from Bible God asked the same question twice and Elijah answered Him the same way both times. Elijah just wasn t getting it. God knew exactly where he was and why he was there God knows all things. He wanted Elijah to think about his situation. Let s finish the story and find out what God asked Elijah to do next. Follow along as I finish reading 1 Kings 19:9 18 out loud. ASK it : : : award 10 points for correct answer Where did God tell Elijah to go now? Answer: To the same place he had just left v did God want Elijah to do when he got there? Answer: Anoint Hazael and Jehu as kings and Elisha as the next prophet of God v else did God say that would have completely surprised Elijah? Answer: There were 7,000 left who had not turned to Baal v. 18 BONUSQUESTION BONUS QUESTION : : : award 50 points for correct answer Why was that important for Elijah to hear? Answer: He thought he was the only one left. This gave him hope. 16 lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 20

8 CONNECT it : : : SAY Elijah had been busy doing the Lord s work, but he had reached the end of his rope and felt that all the work was useless. In spite of all his efforts, he thought no one had turned to God. Elijah needed hope and peace to continue doing God s work. KEYPOINT MEMORYVERSE Three years earlier, Elijah had the peace of knowing he was doing God s will. Then everything came crashing down because things didn t turn out as expected. Elijah probably thought that the big miracles would stir the king and queen to turn from their evil ways they didn t. God came in a soft, gentle and peaceful voice to let him know that it was okay. Elijah needed to stop and just listen for the Lord. Elijah needed to regain the peace of God. You continue to have peace by staying close to God through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. Elijah ran from Jezebel in fear of his life, but he didn t find peace in the desert nor the mountains. Peace was not to be found in the earthquake, the wind or the fire. He found peace in the soft whisper of God s gentle voice. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8 Elijah thought he was done, but God told him to get up and keep going. Some people, like Jezebel, make the choice not to follow God. We can t force anyone, but that doesn t mean you give up and stop sharing Jesus. Next time you feel discouraged, disappointed or just a plain lack of peace, get in your quiet place alone with God and pray. Just sit there and wait quietly for the Lord to speak to you. You may not hear anything audibly, but you ll feel His gentle whisper and a peace only He can give. LET S PRAY : : : SAY Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your gentleness and love. Thank You for peace and encouragement. We pray that we may be able to sit quietly enough to hear Your sweet voice, especially when we feel like giving up. As long as we have Your peace, we can continue to do Your work. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen. lesson 2 2 nd 5 th grade page 21

9 Let s Review This Month s Verse PEACE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS... PEACE Staying calm and cool knowing that God is in control. TODAY S LESSON Bible Story The Lord Appears to Elijah Location 1 Kings 19:9 18 Memory Verse... but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:12 13 (NKJV) Key Point You continue to have peace by staying close to God through prayer, worship, and reading His Word. TIME FILLERS Ask if anyone would like to play the teacher and review today s lesson with the class. Play games to help children memorize today s Bible memory verse. TAKE HOME SHEETS VIRTUE Quest is the take-home sheet designed for children to do with their parents. The sheet contains information about today s lesson. The goal is to partner with parents to continue and to reiterate the lesson. Be sure to hand all parents a sheet as they pick up their children. lesson 2 page 22