Bible Passage: 1 Kings 17 (Food for Elijah) God Cares REMEMBER VERSE Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11 12 SERVICE SCHEDULE Explore Welcome & Engage 10 15 minutes Discover & Respond Large Group 30 minutes Respond & Bless 25 minutes 1
Inspire When I was in college, I was asked to lead a core group of junior high girls at my church. I was flattered that the youth pastor had thought of me, but I felt very inadequate. As I prayed about whether or not this was a ministry I should jump into, doubts began to creep up. I was working and going to school. Would I have time to invest in the students they were asking me to lead? Did I have the energy the position would take? I was still fairly new in my faith. Would I be able to answer their questions? The more I thought about it, the more reluctant I became. I was unsure about my qualifications, and yet, I continued to feel God leading me to take the position. Though I wasn t sure how it would go, I agreed to give it a try, trusting Him to provide for me as I led the students. The same week, the youth pastor introduced me to his wife, Nancy, and they invited me to dinner. Nancy was warm and friendly, and I immediately felt at home with her. She must have sensed how nervous I was to begin this journey, because she assured me that she would walk alongside me as I grew more confident in my ability to lead. Over the next few weeks and months, my meetings with her became more regular until we were connecting on almost a daily basis. As I poured into the group of girls I had been assigned to, Nancy poured into me. Through Nancy, God cared for me, and as God cared for me, I was able to care for others. Equip During a tumultuous period in the history of Israel and Judah, God continued to care for His people. The kingdom was splitting, and the true worship of Yahweh was under attack. The prophets of God were urging the people against completely abandoning their beliefs. Little by little, Yahweh worship was being replaced by the worship of false gods such as Baal and Asherah. In the northern kingdom, Jeroboam set up his own temples at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:25 33). He hoped to prevent the people from venturing south to Jerusalem to worship. These two false temples were just the first step in the attempt to draw Israel away from the one true God. Twenty-five years later, the king of Israel took the next step by creating a marriage alliance with the king of Sidon in Phoenicia. He had his son Ahab marry princess Jezebel, a priestess of Baal and daughter of the Sidonian king. This ushered in one of the darkest times in Israel s history. When Ahab became king, he allowed his wife Jezebel to convince him to build a temple for Baal and to use Israel s treasury to fund 450 priests of Baal and 400 priests of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19). Jezebel arranged for the deaths of the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4) and furthered the worship of Baal in the southern kingdom of Judah by having her daughter Athaliah marry Jehoram (2 Kings 8:18). It was at this time that God brought Elijah onto the scene. Elijah immediately confronted the evil worship of false gods by declaring a drought (1 Kings 17:1). When the drought was over, he confronted these false prophets and killed them on Mt. Carmel. By the time Elijah finished his work, Jezebel and her children were dead and Baal worship was eradicated from the land. Support Then the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth (1 Kings 17:24). God led Elijah to a place where he was unable to provide for himself. The widow he sought out had little to offer, and yet she served Elijah. When the widow s son fell ill and died, Elijah seized the opportunity to minister to her by praying for her son. She cared for Elijah, and God cared for her by giving her back her son. This week, you may find yourself in a place where others are tangibly or emotionally pouring into you. How might God use you to bless others as you yourself have been blessed? As you read about Elijah from The Big God Story, set aside some time to quietly meditate on the following prayer by St. Francis of Assisi. How might God want to use you to show His care to the children and families you ll serve this week? Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. 2
Lesson Overview: 1 Kings 17 Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare Explore Welcome & Engage 10 15 min. Exploration stations create space intended to transition children to lead them from the external world into an environment where they can commune with God, just as they are with all that they are. Our Daily Bread (per small group) Sealed Freezer baggies of various ingredients (examples: flour, water, salt, sugar, oatmeal, etc.) I Can Care for Others (per small group) I Can Care for Others Clip Art of items (suggestions: baby doll, baby blanket, bottle, diaper, stuffed dog, dog food or dog food bowl, leash, dog bed, potted plant, small shovel, watering can, etc.) Discover Large Group Respond Large Group 30 min. Facilitate interactive games, songs, and storytelling, allowing children to participate in discovering God s Word. Create space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community. Coloring Page (per child) Lesson themed coloring page God Cares Worship songs Mail Time/Remember Verse What sit: Raven The Big God Story Today in the Big God Story we will hear how God provide food for Elijah. Worship through response Respond Review/Bless/ Connect/Create 15 30 min. Further process the story through discussion and interaction with others, and respond to God in worship through creative expression. Wonder Questions Resource (campus optional) Blessing Blessing/Remember Verse Bless 5 min Bless the children that they may experience God fully and be a blessing to others. Create: Caring for Others (per small group) Construction paper hearts (3 per child) Hole punch String or yarn (12 per child) Markers, crayons, or pencils Decorative craft items (suggestions: stickers, glitter, etc.) Engage: Feed Elijah Match Game (per small group) Food images (copied 2 times per group) Card stock Family First Look (hand out) 3
Explore 10-15 minutes Our Daily Bread God led Elijah into a valley where He sent ravens to bring Elijah food. This hands-on experience is designed to help the children connect with exactly what it was that God provided for Elijah. SUPPLIES (per small group) Sealed Freezer bags of various ingredients (examples: flour, oil, water, salt, sugar, oatmeal, etc.) SET UP Place the sealed freezer baggies of ingredients in the center of the table within reach of children. RELATE Welcome children to the EXPLORE station. Encourage them to touch and feel the baggies with the ingredients gently. Ask: What type of food can you make with these ingredients? What do they feel like? Are they soft, cold, hard etc? Do you eat bread at home? Which of these ingredients do you think is in the bread you eat every day? Have you ever made bread? I Can Care for Others SUPPLIES (per small group) I Can Care for Others Clip Art of items (suggestions: baby doll, baby blanket, bottle, diaper, stuffed dog, dog food or dog food bowl, leash, dog bed, potted plant, small shovel, watering can, etc.) SET UP Mix up sets of items and place them on the table, in no particular order. RELATE Welcome children to the station. Begin by sharing with children that God cares for each of the kids in your group, and they can care for others too. Choose one of the items. Ask: How can you care for (a baby, a pet, a plant, etc.)? Allow children to match the items on the table and talk about how they can care for those around them. What other people or things in your life can you care for? What are some other ways we can care for the things and people whom God has given us? Clean up/move to Large Group 5 min. A CD with clean up music will be played. At this time, please encourage and assist the kids with clean up and proceed to the large group programming area. Be sure to model for the kid s large group behavior. Please participate in all aspects of today s large group time. 4
LARGE Group Discover: (22 minutes) Host/Storyteller Children move into a large group setting and participate in discovering God s Word through storytelling, worship, and interactive experiences. - this icon will help the tech or storyteller to know when to advance the slides in the Wonder playlist. Ponder Point God Cares Spot s Rules Mail Time > > SUPPLIES Countdown video w/ theme song (in playlist) Spot s Rules slide (in playlist) Worship music (in playlist) Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11 12 REMEMBER VERSE MOTIONS Look to the LORD: Place right hand like a shade above eyebrows. and his strength: Hold up both arms and flex bicep muscles. seek his face always: Place pointer finger at top of head and move finger in a circle around your face. Remember the wonders he has done: Open up both hands to the sky and look upward. his miracles: Hold open hands in front of you. and the judgments he pronounced: Hit right fist to left open palm. SUPPLIES Remember Verse image or video Bible Wardrobe of Wonder > The Big God Story > What sit: Raven Elijah ran to the desert to seek refuge, as God instructed. While in the desert, God sent ravens to bring food to Elijah. God took care of him. SUPPLIES Storytelling Video Worship Response > SUPPLIES Instrumental worship music Worship music Sticky notes (2 3 per child, large) Markers 5
Spot s Rules (2 minutes) Host Each week children will begin their large group time with the rules of your preschool program. Spot s Rules is a time for simple reminders about how to be a part of a loving community by respecting each other. ENGAGE Welcome children as they re entering the large group meeting area. Direct the children to sit with their leaders in the designated area on the floor. Begin countdown video after the kids have all sat down. Be sure to introduce Spot to the children the first day he appears in your large group time. Say, Okay boys and girls, it s time to go over our rules! Show Spot s Rules slide and go over the two rules, Be Kind and Be Safe Once Spot s Rules are over, cue the Mail Time intro clip Mail Time (4 minutes) Host Each week children will receive mail in the mailbox you ve created. Written on the mail is the month s Remember Verse from the Bible. It s important for children to associate the message written on the mail as words from the Bible, so be sure to have a Bible visible for reference. Invite a child to come up on the stage to help you open today s mail. ENGAGE After the child opens the mailbox and retrieves the mail, ask your volunteer to be seated with their small group. The Host will then read the enclosed Remember Verse as it appears on the screen. Talk about the meaning of the verse while interacting with the children and other leaders onstage with you. Define any unfamiliar words for the children. The Host should lead the large group in reciting the Remember Verse several times together using a variety of engaging methods. Using the hand motions listed below, go over the verse two or three times with the kids. Use as much excitement and enthusiasm as you can! Treat this as a celebration an exciting time of introducing your children to God s Word. Applaud them for a job well done! 6
Remember Verse Motions (Teacher Tip: Take your time, go slowly, break it down and explain the words as you go ) Cue Remember Verse motions video LARGE Group Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11 12 REMEMBER VERSE MOTIONS Look to the LORD: Place right hand like a shade above eyebrows. and his strength: Hold up both arms and flex bicep muscles. seek his face always: Place pointer finger at top of head and move finger in a circle around your face. Remember the wonders he has done: Open up both hands to the sky and look upward. his miracles: Hold open hands in front of you. and the judgments he pronounced: Hit right fist to left open palm. Worship Song: I m So Glad (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist After the Host asks the kids to sit down, cue Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip Wardrobe of Wonder (5 minutes) Host The Wardrobe of Wonder is a fun and interactive entrance point into God s story. Each week a new object called a What sit, which is connected to and sometimes used in The Big God Story, is hidden in the wardrobe. The Storyteller, Host, or Worship Leader will select a child volunteer to assist her with retrieving the What sit. Together as a community, the children will discover the identity of this object as they begin to ask questions from their observations and experiences. What sit Raven Elijah ran to the desert to seek refuge, as God instructed. While in the desert, God sent ravens to bring food to Elijah. God took care of him. SET UP Invite a child volunteer up front to help find the What sit. Along with the child, choose special thinking hats out of the prop or hat box before looking into the wardrobe. ENGAGE After putting on your silly thinking hats, lead all of the children in putting on their imaginary thinking hats and making their special thinking hat sound. Invite your child volunteer to spy on the What sit by peeking into the wardrobe. When the wardrobe is opened, cue the Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect. Have him/her whisper the identity of the What sit in your ear to ensure he/she knows what it is. Together, close the wardrobe, then sit at the edge of the stage (or teaching area) on two small stools. 7
LARGE Group Lead the children in a few questions about the identity of the What sit. Children will guess what the object is by asking yes-or-no questions of you and your assistant (child). You can ask your own questions of your assistant if the kids are struggling with this activity. Once the children have finished guessing correctly, ask your assistant to retrieve the What sit from the wardrobe and bring it to you. Thank your volunteer and encourage her to sit with her small group. ASK (Child s name), what was in the Wardrobe of Wonder today? Show the raven to the children. A black bird called a raven, that s right. Have you ever seen a bird eat? How do they eat? Children answer. I wonder How do you think a raven fits into The Big God Story? Let s find out because it s time for ***NOTE: Today s Big God Story lesson will be told via video on today s playlist. The following lesson dialogue is provided to use only if technical issues arise.*** The Big God Story Genesis 1 Kings 17 PRAYER OF RELEASE The Prayer of Release is a time for children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. If you d like, encourage kids to hold their open hands in front of them in a spirit of releasing worries and distractions, to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them. After the children quiet their voices and still their bodies, ask them to pray with you. RELATE Hi, kids! How is everyone doing today? Allow children to answer. I m good too, except I m a little hungry. I left my house this morning without eating breakfast. My tummy is empty! You know, that reminds me of part of The Big God Story. Would you like to hear it? Children answer. Okay! But before we get started, there s one thing we need to do first. Can anyone guess? Kids answer. That s right! Let s pray and ask God to be the One to teach us today. Lead children in a Prayer of Release. In this part of The Big God Story, there was a man named Elijah, he was a prophet. TEACHER NOTE The lesson is written in such a way that there are interaction opportunities for the kids to participate verbally or with actions. YOU as the large group communicator can decide if you want to include them as you teach or if you want to skip over it. It may depend on how your kids are responding that morning and if you feel it will help or hinder the teaching for that particular day. Elijah was a prophet who helped to show God s care for His people by speaking the words God wanted them to hear. Remember how we learned about the prophet Samuel anointing the boy named David to be king? Allow answers. Well, there were more prophets and more kings after Samuel and David. In this part of The Big God Story, the prophet Elijah was speaking to a king named Ahab. Elijah brought a warning from God to the king. He said there was a drought coming to the land there would be no rain for the next few years. This was not good news. Without rain, there would be no way for the people to grow the food they needed to eat! And without food, the people would be very hungry! The king wasn t very happy when he heard news of a drought. So, after Elijah gave the king the message, God told him to leave the land of King Ahab. He told Elijah to go hide in a place called Kerith Valley. God cared for Elijah by providing water from a small river called a brook. And God provided food for him in a very unusual way! Tech: Cue Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect. 8
LARGE Group Friends, what was that sound? Kids answer. That s right. It was the Wardrobe of Wonder. Open wardrobe and take out Raven. What did we find in the wardrobe today? Children will answer. Yes, a bird called a raven. Tech: Cue What sit image. God sent ravens to bring meat and bread to Elijah. Isn t that amazing? Elijah stayed by the brook for a while, but when the rain stopped, the little river dried up. But God continued to care for Elijah. He told Elijah to go to a new place, where there was a woman who would provide food for him. Elijah listened to God and did exactly what God said. Elijah found the woman. She was collecting sticks to take back to her home. Elijah asked her to get him a drink of water, and she did! But when Elijah asked her for a piece of bread, do you know what she said? (pause) The woman explained to Elijah that she didn t have any bread! She only had a little bit of flour and a little bit of oil. She told Elijah that what she had wasn t even enough to feed herself and her son. She was afraid they were going to starve. If she didn t have enough food to feed her own family, there was no way she would be able to provide food for Elijah too. Elijah knew this was the woman God had sent him to see. He knew God didn t want her to go hungry, so Elijah asked her for some bread again. Elijah knew that God was going to provide a miracle! The woman did exactly what Elijah asked her to do. Even though she only had a little bit of flour and oil, God made sure it didn t run out. She and her son were able to eat every day because she listened to the words God gave Elijah. You know what happened next? Well, one day the woman s son became very sick, and he died. It was sad. Elijah prayed to God for the woman and her family. He asked God to bring her son back to life. That s a really big thing to ask of God. Something happened that doesn t always happen, but God gave Elijah a miracle. God answered Elijah s prayer. God brought the boy back to life! The woman knew that Elijah was a man of God and that Elijah s words about God were truth. Isn t that good news? Friends, God cares for us too. Just like God gave Elijah people who cared for him, God puts people in our lives to care for us too! Our parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, leaders, and others care for us and help us to grow. God always cares for His people. Next week we ll hear how God took care of His people through a King named Jehoshaphat. For now, let s worship God together for His care. Worship Song: God is so Good (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist 9
LARGE Group Respond: 10 15 min. RELATE Begin your time of response by playing some quiet worship music. Encourage children to sit quietly. This may be a challenge for some groups, so vary the length of time depending on the age and needs of your group. God cared for Elijah. God showed that care by providing for Elijah when he wasn t able to find food for himself. God had the ravens bring food to Elijah, and then He continued to provide care for him through the woman. God cares for us too. How has God cared for you? Encourage children to think of the ways God has cared for them. Then, allow children to draw or write how God has cared for them on a sticky note. (Suggestions: mom, dad, grandparents, enough food, siblings, friends, house, school etc.) They can adhere their sticky note to the Response Wall or near the room entrance so families can see them when they pick up their children. Worship Song: I Can Hear You (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist *Close with a corporate prayer of blessing and dismiss to small groups. 10
Respond 30 min. Snack/Wonder Questions Today in The Big God Story, God showed His care for Elijah by sending ravens and a woman to care for him. God also used Elijah to perform a miracle and care for the woman and her son. SUPPLIES (per table/small group) Snacks Resource (campus optional) What do you think it would be like to have birds bringing me food? What food do you think they would bring? What did the Widow learn about God? How does God show He cares for you? Who has God given me to care for? Extra Resource: (Campus Optional) Each week additional questions/images are provided for your group to go a little deeper in its exploration of The Big God Story during your snack time. You can show this picture to your group to help remind them of the story as they are answering the Wonder questions listed in your curriculum. If time allows, there are also questions on the back of the picture. Please use your own Bible or the Bible provided in your small group bin to look up the specific verses that correspond with the questions. The kids will be challenged to listen for the answers while you read scripture as well as helping them learn how to look for truth in God s Word! Bless Today, send your little ones out with a blessing by praying Scripture over them. The time of blessing is an opportunity for children to practice another physical posture of worship. Have children place their hands out in front of themselves, palms up as if cupping them together to hold water. This is a posture that demonstrates our expectancy in receiving what God has for each of us. Read the Remember Verse over the children and then close your time with a prayer of blessing from John 10:1 18. You may choose to read the Scripture more than once as God s Spirit leads you. The Bible tells us that Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and He takes good care of us. Encourage children to follow along with the motions. Children, may you know and love our God who leads us (stretch out one arm high in front of you), calls us (put your hands around your mouth), finds us (put one hand horizontally above your eyes), protects us (encircle your arms in front of you, like a mother bird), and cares for us (cross your arms across your chest). 11
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced. 1 Chronicles 16:11 12 REMEMBER VERSE MOTIONS Look to the LORD: Place right hand like a shade above eyebrows. and his strength: Hold up both arms and flex bicep muscles. seek his face always: Place pointer finger at top of head and move finger in a circle around your face. Remember the wonders he has done: Open up both hands to the sky and look upward. his miracles: Hold open hands in front of you. and the judgments he pronounced: Hit right fist to left open palm. Create: Caring for Others SUPPLIES (per small group) Construction paper hearts (3 per child) Hole punch String or yarn (12 per child) Markers, crayons, or pencils Decorative craft items (suggestions: stickers, glitter, etc.) PREPARE AHEAD Cut out three to four hearts for each child from the sheets of construction paper. Punch holes in the top and bottom of each heart. Cut pieces of yarn or string long enough to allow the hearts to be strung together. Place supplies on the table for children to use. RELATE Just like God has put people in our lives to show His care for us, God has given each of us people and things to care for. Today, we re going to think about the people God wants us to care for. We can create something to help us remember them. The first thing we re going to do is write the name of or draw a picture of a person we can care for. That might be a little brother or sister, one of your parents, a friend, or someone else. Allow time for children to do this; most will need help writing names. Next, we re going to think of ways we can care for this person. That might be by sharing toys with him, helping by doing chores, drawing him a picture if he s sick, or even something else. Using the other hearts, draw some pictures to help you remember these ideas you think of. Allow time for children to create and decorate their hearts. When they re finished, tie their hearts together, creating a hanging garland they can take home. 12
Engage: Feed Elijah Match Game SUPPLIES (per small group) Food images (printed 2 times for each group) Card stock PREPARE AHEAD Print Food images onto card stock (2 times for each group) and cut the cards apart. RELATE As we heard in today s part of The Big God Story, ravens brought food to Elijah. Place the cards face down in the middle of your group. Now we are going to play a game of match. Have one child turn over 2 cards. If they match as a group shout God Cares for Us. If the two cards drawn don t match place the cards back face down where they were and have the next child try and make a match. You can continue to play until all the matches have been found, shouting God Cares for Us each time a match is found. When the game is done you can shuffle the pictures and play again. Family First Look Be sure to hand out this week s Family First Look to the parents as they pick up their child. This resource will help parents review this week s lesson with their child and look ahead to next week s lesson. It also has this week s Blessing and the current Remember Verse their kids are learning. 13