What is the purpose of these activities?

Lesson Goal: The children will learn we can trust God to provide for us when we are obedient. Main Point: I Should Trust God To Provide For Me When I Obey Him! Bible Story: Elijah and the Ravens (1 Kings 17). Bible Verse: Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT) What is the purpose of these activities? Animal Games (General Opening Activity) This activity will introduce the Main Point through animal themed games. Zoo Needs Animals (Specific Opening Activity) This activity will teach children that we can trust God to provide for our needs when we obey Him. The General Opening Activity is an added feature in this Elevate series. You can use multiple opening activities or pick the ones your kids will most enjoy. Skit and Bible Story (Large Group Activity) The Skit and Bible Story teach children that they should trust God to provide for us when we are obedient. Bible Story Safari (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children review the Bible Story. Follow the Tracks (Small Group Activity) This activity will help the children find the Bible Verse and help them apply today s lesson. Needs Match (Small Group Activity) This activity will help kids see the relationship between obedience and provision. Do You Need It? (Small Group Activity) This activity will teach the children that it is important to obey God so He can meet our needs. Right Place, Right Time (Small Group Activity) This activity will introduce your kids to the idea of obeying instructions to meet their needs. Sunny Sam s Super Safari (Large Group Activity) This is a strategic time to review and reinforce the content of the lesson. 2007 Fellowship Church

LESSON 2: I SHOULD TRUST GOD TO PROVIDE FOR MY NEEDS WHEN I OBEY HIM! & Co- using Perform DVD Performing the Bible Story and Skit live Purpose Statement: This Skit and Bible Story teach children that they should trust God to provide for us when we are obedient. Materials/Props Needed: Costumes for Elijah, The Soldier, The Widow, The Widow s Son, 1 paper sack with meat and bread, 1 Chinese food container, 1 pizza box, 1 jar of oil, 1 jar of flour, 1 printed or drawn raven. (animal artwork available on the Environmental Graphics CD Rom) 1 # 1 # 1 2 Lead the children through the opening activity Animal Games and/or Zoo Needs Animals. Begin Worship Time. Note: This script uses Soundtrack CD # 1. (CD Track # 1) Welcome back to! Today, we re going to continue to learn about God and the animals He used in the Bible. And, as always, we re going to start things off with a bang! Everybody up! and Co- lead the children in singing the song. (CONT D) (CD Track # 1) (to children) Thank you for that! I really enjoy singing with all of you. It always gets me excited and puts me in a good mood. (to Co-) How about you? CO- (distracted) Um...I m sorry what? I asked if singing with the kids put you in a good mood. CO- Oh...um yeah, usually. 1 2 Well that s good. But not this time. CO- Oh...well, what s wrong? 2007 Fellowship Church

3 CO- I ve been having some serious problems lately. A week ago at my job/school I saw some guys spray paint all over my boss s/ teacher s car. I recognized who they were, too. They were some of the more popular guys and everyone likes them. Well, after they ruined the car most people thought it was funny because my boss/teacher is mean. But everyone knows that I saw it happen and now the boss/teacher has asked me to reveal who did it. I don t know what to do. If I tell on the guys who did it, then everyone will know it was me. They ll start picking on me and I won t be able to hang out with the cool people anymore. If I lie about it then the boss/teacher may get mad at me but at least no one will think of me as a snitch. I might even be thought of as one of the popular people. And that s really important to me. I want to be liked by people. I can see how this is a hard situation for you. And I know that it is nice to be liked by people. However, God is very clear in the Bible about what we should do in these situations. God wants us to tell the truth and we need to be obedient. That doesn t mean that it will be easy, but God will provide for you if you obey, and we need to trust Him in that. This is a huge issue in life and I want you all to remember this. So let s make that our Main Point for today: I Should Trust God To Provide For My Needs When I Obey Him! Let s stand and shout this thing! leads the children by first demonstrating the Main Point with motions. Then have the children repeat the Main Point two or three times. (CONT D) Great job! (to Co-) So what do you think? CO- I think that perhaps our Main Point needs a little work. What about this instead: Life Is Too Short To Be Without People Who Like You! Yeah, that s catchy why don t we use that instead? Okay, everybody up Whoa, whoa, whoa. We re not using that! What s wrong with you? CO- Hey, I m not saying it s right to lie. I m just saying that I want to be liked by the popular kids. And right here, right now, in this situation, that seems like the best choice: do what ever I need to so I ll be happy with lots of friends. But the popular guys liking you may not be exactly what you need right now. It s more important to obey God. And just like our Main Point says, if you do that then you can trust that God will provide for you. 3 2 2007 Fellowship Church

CO- I don t know...what do you mean by God will provide? I mean that God knows your situation and He will provide you with what you need. Maybe that means that you ll get new friends or maybe that means He ll give you the peace to be okay with being alone for awhile. I don t know. I just know that the most important thing is to be obedient to God. CO- I m still not sure. This is a hard situation and you re asking a lot. 4 # 20 5 6 7 8 I m not the one asking, God is. And this situation isn t as hard as what some of the people in the Bible went through. There was a guy named Elijah who found himself in many hard situations. CO- What did he end up doing? Let s check out the story and find out. It s found in 1 Kings 17. Note: Play Bible Story Intro Video chapter 4. Obedience isn t always easy. Knowing the right thing to do is one thing, but actually doing it...that s something else entirely. There was one man who knew this better than most. His name was Elijah. (opens Bible) (CD Track # 20) (5) A long time ago, there was a king in charge of Israel named Ahab. Ahab wasn t a very good king. (6) The Bible says that Ahab,...did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him. God was tired of Ahab s disobedience, so He sent His prophet Elijah to go and confront the king. Elijah obeyed and told Ahab, EliJAH (7) As surely as the Lord the God of Israel, lives - the God I serve - there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word! When it doesn t rain, it s called a drought. Droughts are very serious. If it doesn t rain, the crops won t grow. If the crops don t grow, people don t have enough food to eat. This was the bad news that Elijah told the king. Giving bad news to a king was dangerous. It could get you killed. But Elijah was obedient to God. (8) Then God told Elijah, 4 5 6 7 8 GOD Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring 3 2007 Fellowship Church

9 10 # 21 11 12 13 you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. God was asking Elijah to put his very survival into the hands of birds! (9) Elijah obeyed God and hid by the Kerith Brook. And just as God promised, ravens fed Elijah with bread and meat every morning and evening. God provided for all of Elijah s needs! Eventually the drought took its toll on the land. Rivers and streams started to dry up, including the one that Elijah was next to. (10) God told Elijah, God Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you. (CD Track # 21) Once again, Elijah obeyed and went to find the widow. He was hot and thirsty by the time he found her so he asked her to bring him a cup of water and also a little bit of bread. The widow explained that she only had enough food for one last meal for her and her son. Elijah knew that God had a plan. (11) He said, Elijah Don t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what is left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: there will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again! Thankfully the widow chose to obey. She made some bread for Elijah and just as God promised, there was always enough flour and oil left in her containers. She obeyed and God provided for her needs. Sooner or later we will all face a tough situation where we may be tempted to do our own thing instead of obeying God. (12) When that happens, remember Elijah and remember the widow. They chose to obey God and God never let them down. (story end) I really like the story of Elijah because it shows us many different ways that God provides for us when we obey. Sometimes it s with food, sometimes with shelter, and sometimes it can even be with a miracle. But no matter what form God s provision takes, we know that it s our job to be obedient. And I have a verse that I think will help you with that. Check it out: Philippians 4:19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (NLT) 9 10 11 12 13 4 2007 Fellowship Church

14 # 22 15 Now, like I said earlier, I can t tell you how God is going to provide for you. I only know that God wants you to obey by telling the truth. co- Okay, I get it. I m going to tell the truth to my boss/teacher. But why do I need to trust God for new friends? I could just tell the truth, leave, and start over somewhere new. Because our Main Point says that you should trust God to provide for you when you obey Him. You don t need to take matters into your own hands. Believe me, God knows what is best for you. You should trust Him. Co- You think so? I don t know, it might be better to trust myself rather than trust God. Okay, but bear with me for a few more minutes. Let s think about what might have happened to Elijah if he hadn t trusted God to provide for him. (to children) Okay everyone, we need to use our imaginations for a second. We just heard the real story of Elijah. Now we re going to take a look at what might have happened if Elijah hadn t obeyed. Note: Play Intro Video and Narrator Video 1 chapter 14. NaRRATOR (In Video) (CD Track # 22) This week on, we re going to imagine what the story of Elijah could have been like. What if instead of trusting God to provide for his needs, Elijah decided to take matters into his own hands? Here s what might have happened... Note: Play God s Voice 1 chapter 15. God (In Video) Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. Elijah enters looking tired. 14 15 # 23 (CD Track # 23) Finally here! Kerith Brook? This is Kerith Brook?! Awww, come on! There s nothing here except a little stream. I am starving! I don t want to wait around for any ravens to bring me food. Ravens are dirty, nasty birds that pick at dead stuff. Couldn t you bring mana like Moses or quail for the Isrealites? That s where I draw the line! I m not eating any food from ravens! 5 2007 Fellowship Church

16 # 24 17 # 24 # 25 18 # 26 There has to be a nearby town where I can get some food. Elijah exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 2 chapter 16. NARRATOR (In Video) And God sent ravens to feed Elijah just as he had promised. (CD Track # 24) Raven enters in a delivery outfit. Raven I have a delivery of meat and bread here for an Elijah. Hello? Is there an Elijah here? Um...okay I guess I ll just come back later. Raven exits. Elijah enters looking even more tired. Elijah They had nothing! I don t believe this. I m so hungry. Hmm... maybe I can hunt for something. (picks up a rock) Yeah, that s it! Elijah exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 3 chapter 17. NaRRATOR (In Video) And God continued to send the ravens to feed Elijah. (CD Track # 24) Raven enters. Raven I ve got another delivery for an Elijah. Anyone here by that name? (pauses) Is there anyone here at all? Are you hiding from me? (pauses) Come on! That s really not cool. I had to bring this all the way out here and I guess it s just going to go to waste. (CD Track # 25) Raven exits. Elijah enters stumbling and limping. (rubs leg) I never thought that deer would have thrown that rock back at me. Ow. I don t have enough energy to keep looking for food. (pauses) Maybe there s a fruit tree nearby. Elijah exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 4 chapter 18. NARRATOR (In Video) Once again, God sent the ravens to feed Elijah. (CD Track # 26) Raven enters. 16 17 18 6 2007 Fellowship Church

19 # 27 Raven I ve got a pizza here for Elijah. (looks around) What a surprise... no Elijah. You know, if this is a prank it s not very funny. I m a raven! We re not known for our ability to carry things. It s not easy to keep lugging your food out here if you re not going to eat it... Hello? (sighs) Note: Play Narrator Video 5 chapter 19. NARRATOR (In Video) Soon the drought got so bad, even Kerith Brook dried up. (CD Track # 27) Raven exits. Elijah enters dragging himself along the ground. 19 20 Elijah So tired...so hungry...so thirsty... At least I have this brook to drink out of. (crawls to brook) Hey, wait a second! The brook is dried up! What am I supposed to do now?! Note: Play God s Voice 2 chapter 20. God (In Video) Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you. 20 21 # 28 # 29 I have to go to Zarephath now?! To see some widow?! Why can t this widow come to me? I m sick and tired of this whole runaround game! I m going back home! Elijah exits. Note: Play Narrator Video 6 chapter 21. NaRRATOR (In Video) And foolishly, Elijah decided to go back home where king Ahab was looking for him. (CD Track # 28) Elijah enters. I m glad that s over. It s great to finally be back home. (CD Track # 29) Armed soldier enters. 21 Soldier Aha! If it isn t Elijah. (grabs Eljah and starts tying him up with rope) Huh? What s going on? Let go of me! 7 2007 Fellowship Church

22 # 30 SOLDIER King Ahab has been lookin all over for you. He has got a bone to pick with you. Heh heh heh. Come on let s go. Ahab has a few questions for you about this drought. (starts dragging Elijah offstage) What?! Ahab?! Please, not Ahab! He ll kill me! Elijah and soldier exit. Note: Play Narrator Video 7 chapter 22. Narrator (In Video) And if Elijah never went to Zarephath, even more people would have suffered. Let s see what might have happened with the widow and her son. (CD Track # 30) Widow and Son enter. 22 I m so hungry, mom. SoN Widow I know, son. But we only have enough food for one final meal. After that SoN Isn t there anything that we can do? Widow No there s nothing we could do. I mean it might be nice if something miraculous happened. Perhaps a man of God, a real prophet, could come along and make it so we never ran out of food. SoN That doesn t really sound possible. How would he do that? Widow I don t know maybe he could pray and ask God for help. And then maybe God could cause our jars of oil and flour to never be empty, no matter how much we used them! And then we d never go hungry again! I can picture it now. SoN (confused and concerned) I m worried about you, mom. It sounds like the hunger is getting to you. Widow Yeah, maybe you re right. Oh well, it was a nice thought. So how about that last meal followed by a long painful starvation? 8 2007 Fellowship Church

23 # 31 24 # 1 SoN (sighs) Let s go. After all, if it wasn t going to be the hunger that killed me, I m sure I would have been something else. Note: Play Narrator Video 8 and Skit Outro Video chapter 23. NarrATOR (In Video) (CD Track # 31) Hmmm, a truly unfortunate end to this story. Thankfully we know that in the real story, Elijah trusted God to provide for him. Remember that no matter what situation you re in, ultimately things will turn out better if you obey God and trust Him to provide for your needs. (skit end) Note: Play Who s Fastest Video chapter 24. CO- (CD Track # 1) That was an awful version of that story. I m glad that it didn t actually happen that way. 23 24 But do you see now why it is so important to obey God? CO- Yeah, I think so. You re saying that we should obey God because God provides for us when we obey. Yes. We don t know exactly how God will provide for us but we know that it will be exactly what we need. Even Elijah still had to deal with hard situations like the drought. But God took care of him when he obeyed. And I know that if you obey God in this situation that you re dealing with then, if nothing else, you ll be able to look back and know for sure that you did the right thing. CO- You re right. I don t know what s going to happen if I tell the truth. But I know that things will be better in the long run if I obey God by telling the truth and I know I should trust God to provide me with what I need. 25 I m proud of you. And I will be praying for you as you do your best to be obedient. I know that God is looking out for you. (to children) Being obedient is so important because it is the key to experiencing God s blessings and plans for us. We ve already seen how God provides for people who obey. I don t know about you guys, but I want to be obedient to God. One way that we can be obedient is to worship Him. And that s what I want to do right now. Everyone please stand and sing with us. Afterwards we ll enter in to our offering time. 25 and Co- lead the children in singing the song and then begin the offering time. 9 2007 Fellowship Church

# 8 OFFERING 26 26 (CD Track # 8) Thank you for singing with us. We re going to continue worshipping God with our offering. This is a time when we give back to God part of what He has given to us. We do this to say Thank You to God for His many blessings. First, I ll lead us in prayer and then it will be your time to come up and give. Let s pray. # 1 27 28 Lead the children in prayer. If you want to, include elements of the lesson you are teaching today. For instance, today we are talking about God providing for us when we are obedient. So you might say, God, we know that You can provide everything that we need. Please give us the courage to always be obedient to You even if it is hard. Thank You for everything you have provided already. Amen. Take up the offering. (CD Track # 1) Thank you, everyone. And now you re all going to learn a few ways that you can apply today s lesson to your life. It s time for Small Groups! SMALL GROUPS 27 28 greets the kids as they come back from their Small Groups. 29 Welcome back. It s time for our review game, Sunny Sam s Super Safari! Note: Lead the children through the questions. Hit play when achild has given you the right answer. 29 CLOSING # 1 (CD Track # 1) Thanks for coming. It was great to see all of you here. Don t forget our Main Point for today: I Should Trust God To Provide For My Needs When I Obey Him! See you next time. 10 2007 Fellowship Church