God wants us to take a stand for him.

Praise Jesus! Elijah Stands Up for God Against the Prophets of Baal Lesson 5 Bible Point God wants us to take a stand for him. Bible Verse For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes the Jew first and also the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Growing Closer to Jesus Students will n identify fears that keep them from taking a stand for God, n commit to taking specific risks for God, and n recognize how they can demonstrate God s power to others when they take a stand for God. Teacher Enrichment Bible Basis n Elijah stands up for God against the prophets of Baal. 1 Kings 18:20-46 Elijah s challenge was intended to publicly prove that the God of Israel is the one true God so that the people would turn from their worship of Baal and once again worship God. Elijah wanted to ensure that there could be no doubt of the contest s fairness, so he asked that all of the prophets of Baal and Asherah be present to plead with their god. Before Elijah s demonstration of God s power, the people refused to commit themselves to either God or Baal (1 Kings 18:21). After quite some time had passed without a response from Baal, Elijah began taunting the false prophets, revealing his knowledge of existing myths about Baal. When it was his turn, Elijah once again wanted to ensure that the contest couldn t possibly be seen as slanted in God s favor. That s why he had the altar and sacrifice drenched with water. Baal was thought to be the god of water and fire; Elijah wanted to show that the God of Israel is the one true God. When God responded as Elijah knew he would, the people made the right choice. With the people on his side, Elijah took advantage of the moment and got rid of the false prophets, and Ahab didn t stop him. God proved his power and then released the rain to end the drought in Israel. Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Daniel 6:1-23; 3:8-29. Prayer Read Deuteronomy 6:4-5. How do your words and actions show that you believe in God and put him first in your life? Pray: Dear Lord, please help me to make you number one in my life. Help my faith to shine before my students as I 61

Lesson 5 Before the Lesson n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed on the chart. n Make photocopies of the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for your students and for God s direction as you teach the lesson. This Lesson at a Glance Attention Grabber What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies Hands and Stands Try to stand against opposition. Bible Exploration & Application Always Right Play a fun game about predicting the future, and learn that the prophets were special messengers. Fire and Water Don t Mix or Do They? Try to make a fire with wet sticks, discuss 1 Kings 18:22-39, and ask God to wipe out fears about taking a stand for him. Daniel Versus the Lions Escape from lions, and discuss Daniel 6:1-23. CD player, paper, pencils, newsprint, markers Bibles, pitcher, water, paper, pencils, chalk, chalkboard, sticks, stones, bucket or plastic box Bibles, several rolls of toilet paper Closing Seeing Clearly Play catch, discuss Daniel 3:8-29, affirm how they see God in one another s lives, and learn the Bible verse. Stand-Up Prayer Think of times they need help standing up for God, and say a prayer. Bibles 62

Welcome Elijah Stands Up for God Against the Prophets of Baal As kids arrive, ask them how they put last week s lesson into action. Ask questions such as In what unusual places did you pray? and How did praying at different times and places make prayer different for you? Tell kids that whenever you sound the giggle hammer, they are to stop talking and focus their attention on you. Explain that it s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible. Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help the children remember it and apply it to their lives. Help children learn one point that will stay with them for days and even years to come. Attention Grabber n Hands and Stands SUPPLIES: none Form two teams the Hands and the Stands. Have the teams line up so each person is facing a member of the opposite team. Have each Stand member squat and each Hand member put his or her hands on the shoulders of the opposite Stand. Say: When I sound the giggle hammer, the Stands will try to stand up while the Hands try to hold them down. Keep trying until I give the signal a second time. Sound the giggle hammer to signal kids to start. After about 10 seconds, give the signal again for kids to stop. Repeat two more times, and then have the teams switch roles. Give the new Hands three tries to hold the Stands down. After the third try have everyone sit down. Ask: What went through your mind when you were trying to stand up? (I don t have a chance; the other person is so big; I like this because I m strong; I need to move more quickly than the other person.) Why was it so hard to stand up? (Someone was pushing against me; the other person was too strong; I couldn t get my balance.) How is this game like standing up for something you believe in? (It isn t always easy; sometimes other people try to put you down for what you believe; you feel really good about yourself when you do stand up for what you believe in.) Say: God wants us to take a stand for him. Today we re going to learn from the examples of people who took a stand for God even when it was a risky thing to do. Your students may be more comfortable if you pair boys with boys and girls with girls. But if your class doesn t divide evenly along gender lines, don t worry the physical contact in this game is wholesome and nonthreatening. 63

Lesson 5 Bible Exploration & Application n Always Right SUPPLIES: CD player, newsprint, markers, paper, pencils Before class, write the following color chart on a sheet of track 11 newsprint: Red=Yes; Green=No; Blue=Maybe; Yellow=Never. Say: Today we re going to start looking at some of the adventures of the prophets in the Old Testament. Play The Books of the Bible Song (track 11) on the CD several times until kids can sing along. Lyrics are at the back of this book. After the song, turn off the CD player. Say: The prophets were a group of people who had a really important job. They were God s spokespeople they passed on messages from God to the people. They told the people what God wanted them to know and do. Sometimes God s messages even told the future. Let s see how good we are at being prophets. Have the kids form pairs or trios. Give each group a pencil and a sheet of paper. Have partners write two or three yes-or-no questions about the future; for example, a child might write, Will people live on Mars in my lifetime? When the kids are finished writing their questions, show them the spinner from the Learning Lab. Display the color chart you made before class. Choose a volunteer to be the prophet. Have kids take turns asking their questions aloud. Have the prophet spin the spinner after each question and announce the answer. Have the kids write the answer the spinner gives for each question. When all of the questions have been answered by the spinner, ask: How good do you think the spinner is at predicting the future? Explain. (Not very good it s impossible to know the future; I don t know because I don t know what will happen in the future.) If someone told you that he or she knew for certain what would happen in the future, what would you think? (I d think the person was crazy; I d think the person was wrong because God s the only one who knows the future.) Say: The prophets were special people. God did tell them certain things that would happen in the future. And guess what? Everything God said would happen did happen! Today we re going to look at two prophets Elijah and Daniel. We ll see that they took a brave stand for God. We ll learn that God wants us to take a stand for him, too. Let s get started! 64

Elijah Stands Up for God Against the Prophets of Baal n Fire and Water Don t Mix or Do They? SUPPLIES: Bibles, paper, pencils, sticks, stones, bucket or plastic box, pitcher, water, chalkboard, chalk Say: Sometimes it seems almost impossible to take a stand for God. But we re going to find out what God can do even when something looks impossible! First we need a few supplies. You ll have two minutes to find one stone and one stick and bring them back here. Ready? Go! When the kids return, have them use all of their stones to make one pile in the bucket or box. Invite volunteers who consider themselves good fire builders to arrange the sticks on top of the stones. When the sticks are arranged for a fire, say: Raise your hand if you think you could set these sticks on fire if I gave you a lighted candle. After kids respond, pour about a pint of water over the sticks, making sure they re all wet. Then ask: Now how many of you think you could light these sticks? (Most kids won t raise their hands.) Why wouldn t you be able to light the sticks now? (They re wet; it s impossible to light something that s wet; it wouldn t work.) What would you think of someone who still insisted that the sticks would burn? (I d think he was crazy; I d think he knew something I didn t know like maybe the water was really gasoline or lighter fluid.) Say: We re going to read about a man who believed that a pile of wet wood and rocks could turn into a big bonfire. Have kids form groups of no more than three. Give each group a Bible. Have each group select a Reader to read the Scripture, a Recorder to write the group s responses, and a Reporter to share the responses with the rest of the class. Give each Recorder paper and pencil. Have the Readers read 1 Kings 18:22-39 to their groups. Instruct the kids to discuss the following questions within their groups. Then invite groups to share their answers with the rest of the class. Ask: If you had been Elijah, how would you have felt during this contest between God and Baal? (Worried that God wouldn t send the fire; scared about what the prophets of Baal might do to me.) Why do you think Elijah had the courage to take a stand for God? (He knew that God could do anything; he knew that God is the only true God.) What do you think Elijah learned from his experience? (He could rely on God; that God would come through for him; God can do anything.) What do you think the prophets of Baal learned? (That God is the only true God; that God is powerful; that they had been following a false god.) Say: Elijah stood up for God in a big way. But sometimes it s hard for us to stand up for God, isn t it? Have each person in your group name one situation in which it might be hard to take a stand for God. Your Reporter will write your answers. For example, when you hear someone at school using God s name improperly, it might be hard for you to say, Please don t talk like that. I don t think it s right. If possible, do this activity outside with adequate adult supervision. Otherwise, gather sticks and stones before class. Have kids pile the stones in the bucket or plastic storage box to protect the floor from water. If you have access to a kitchen, you can pile the stones in a sink. Encourage kids to choose small sticks and fist-size rocks. Larger, heavier rocks could cause injury. The expandable sponge might foam during this first use. Don t worry the foaming is merely soap suds. Bible Insight The name Elijah means my God is Yahweh, yet some scholars speculate that Elijah s family may have come from a non-israelite background. Thus it is possible that Elijah chose his name to reflect his life s motto. 65

Lesson 5 When the groups are finished, have the Reporters share their groups responses. As they share the situations, write each on a chalkboard. (If more than one group mentions the same situation, write it each time it s mentioned.) Make sure you have as many situations as there are students in class. Point to the list of situations on the chalkboard, and say: God wants us to take a stand for him, even in tough situations like these. We can have the courage to take a stand because God is strong enough to help us, just as he was strong enough to send fire to help Elijah. Hold up the expandable sponge. Say: If you think you know what this is, stand up and tell the rest of us. After kids have offered ideas, have them sit down again. Say: The prophets of Baal found out that things aren t always what they appear to be. Neither is this! Pour water on the expandable sponge, and let kids watch it turn from a flat, skinny object into a sponge. God can wipe out our fears in the situations we listed on the board. When someone hands you this sponge, choose one of these situations, pray silently about it, and wipe that situation off the board. Then hand the sponge to someone else. Give the sponge to a student to start the silent prayer. When everyone has had a turn, close the prayer by saying: We thank you, God, because you can overcome any situation. Please wipe out our fears and give us the courage to take a stand for you. In Jesus name, amen. Put the expandable sponge out of sight. After class, rinse the sponge. Then put it away for use in later lessons. Caution kids to be careful not to step on any Daniels who have been tagged. n Daniel Versus the Lions SUPPLIES: Bibles, several rolls of toilet paper Have students form two teams, the Daniels and the Lions. Have the Daniels line up on one side of the room and the Lions scatter in the middle of the room. Say: When I sound the giggle hammer, the Daniels must try to reach the other side of the room without getting tagged by the Lions. If you re tagged, sit down right where you are and play dead no getting up to escape! Sound the giggle hammer and let the game begin. After a minute or so, stop the game, and have the Daniels use several yards of toilet paper to tie the Lions hands together. Then sound the giggle hammer and play the game again. When the game is over, untie the Lions and have kids throw the toilet paper away. Distribute Bibles. Have the two teams move to the center of the room and face each other so each Daniel is paired with a Lion. Instruct the Daniels to read Daniel 6:1-10 to their Lion partners. Then have the Lions read Daniel 6:11-23 to their Daniel partners. When kids have finished reading, say: Discuss my first question with your partner. Then move one position to the left to answer my next question with your new partner. If you re at the left end of the line, simply move around to the other end. Keep moving and answering each new question with a new partner. Ask: How was your experience in this game like Daniel s experience with the lions? (The first time we played, the lions could catch me, but after they were tied up there was nothing to worry about; I was a little nervous at first, but when we tied the lions hands I wasn t.) 66

Elijah Stands Up for God Against the Prophets of Baal How do you suppose Daniel felt when he knew he was going to be thrown to the lions? (Scared; upset; sure he would die.) When he learned about his punishment, do you think Daniel was sorry he had taken a stand for God? Why or why not? (Yes, because he must have thought he would die; no, because he knew God could save him; no, because it was better to die for God than to worship the king.) How do you think Daniel felt when God closed the lions mouths? (Relieved; thankful.) What are some risks you face when you take a stand for God? For example, if you refuse to cheat on a test, you risk getting a lower grade than all the people who are cheating. (Sometimes if you pray before lunch at school, people take your food while your eyes are closed; if you don t use swear words, people say you think you re better than they are.) In what specific way could you take a stand for God this week? (I could tell my friends I m not going to make fun of the kids they pick on anymore; I could tell my friend I won t pass him the answers during the quiz this week.) Say: God wants us to take a stand for him. And just as God took care of Daniel, God will take care of you! If you have enough time, play both rounds of this game twice. Switch roles so that everyone gets a chance to be both a Daniel and a Lion. n Seeing Clearly SUPPLIES: Bibles Have kids form a large circle around the perimeter of the room, facing outside the circle. Say: One at a time, we re going to catch and sail this flying flipper back and forth across the circle. You have to keep your feet in one place, facing outside the circle, and you may not throw the flipper to the people on either side of you. Let s see if we can do it without letting the flipper touch the floor. Join the circle, and toss the flipper to someone opposite you. Keep track of how many times the flipper falls to the floor. If you have time, repeat the game to see if kids can do it with fewer mistakes. Then put the flying flipper away for use in later lessons. Have the kids move closer together and sit in a small circle. Ask: How did facing outside the circle with your feet planted make this game more difficult? (It made it hard to see, so it was hard to catch the flipper; it was hard to see where to throw it next; I was so busy trying to keep my feet in place that I couldn t keep track of the flipper.) What are some difficult things you have to do in real life? (Homework; chores; go to school; eat spinach.) How was facing away from the circle with our feet planted like difficult things in our lives? (We couldn t do our best; it was a pain; difficult things make it hard to see life clearly.) Why do difficulties make it hard to see life clearly? (When you re really sad, you don t notice any of the good things around you; when you re mad at somebody, all you see are her bad points; when everything is going wrong, you feel confused and can t figure out what to do.) 67

Lesson 5 Research shows that kids remember about 90 percent of what they do, but less than 10 percent of what they hear. Kids need to be actively involved in lively experiences that bring home the lesson s Bible Point! Say: Although hard times can be confusing, we can use those difficulties to let others see God clearly in our lives. In the following story, three men went through a really rough time, but their trouble helped others see God. Distribute Bibles. Form trios, and have each trio member read seven verses from Daniel 3:8-29. Then have trios share their responses to the following questions with the rest of the class. Ask: At the beginning of the story, do you think King Nebuchadnezzar saw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the way God did? Explain. (No, he didn t see them as faithful, he saw them as disobedient; no, he didn t love them like God did.) Why do you suppose King Nebuchadnezzar didn t want Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to stand up for God? (He didn t want to hear about God; he wanted to be more important than God; he thought he was the best.) What do you think made King Nebuchadnezzar praise God at the end of this story? (He saw what God could do; he saw how much Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to risk for God; he saw that God was more powerful that he was.) Can you think of a time you saw God working in the life of someone going through a tough time? (My grandpa told me about God s goodness just before he died; my friend s parents were getting a divorce, but they prayed and got back together; my dad read the Bible even when he lost his job.) How was that person standing up for God? (By being strong in a difficult time; by not turning against God just because of what happened; by showing God to others instead of getting angry.) Say: God is at work all the time. We need to be watching for God in action. Sometimes it takes looking at things in a special way. I m going to pass this mask around the circle. When the mask comes to you, put it on, look at the person to your left, and tell that person one way you see God acting in his or her life. For example, you could say, Allison, I see God acting in your life when you take time to listen to people, or Grant, I see God acting in your life when you welcome new people to class. Pass the mask around the circle. When everyone has had a turn, say: God wants us to take a stand for him. When we do, others can see God in our lives. We never have to be ashamed of our faith or afraid to show it. That reminds me of our Bible verse for today. Let s look at what it says. Have kids turn to Romans 1:16 in their Bibles, and have everyone read the verse aloud with you several times: For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes the Jew first and also the Gentile. Ask: Why does this verse say we shouldn t be ashamed of the good news about Jesus? (Because it saves everyone who believes; because it s God s power at work.) When is it hard for you to share your faith openly? (At school; when kids make fun of me for my faith; when people talk about God in a bad way.) How can remembering this verse help you the next time you want to share your faith? (It can help me remember how important believing in Jesus is; it can help me remember that believing in Jesus can save people.) 68

Elijah Stands Up for God Against the Prophets of Baal Say: Sometimes it s hard to tell others about Jesus. We may be afraid of how people will react, or we may not know what to say. But Romans 1:16 says that believing in Jesus is what saves people. And there s nothing more important than that! Without faith in Jesus, no one can go to heaven. Helping someone accept that awesome gift from God is way more important than our own feelings. Just think, maybe the person you want to tell about Jesus will never hear about him if you don t say something. So don t be ashamed spread the good news! HANDS-ON BIBLE Say: Let s do an experiment that will help us remember this important verse! Set out plastic bags, straws, tape, and books. Have kids turn to the Pure Power activity on page 1108 in their Hands-On Bibles. Lead kids in performing the experiment. Ask: Before we started, did you think the bag would hold up the book? Why or why not? (No, because it was flat; no, because it was too weak.) How did the bag surprise you? (It was stronger than I thought; I never thought it would hold up the book.) How is the bag in this experiment like believing in Jesus? (It s strong; it s powerful; it s amazing.) Say: Faith in Jesus is so powerful that it s the only way we can get to heaven. Make sure to do this experiment for someone else this week so he or she can learn this important verse, too! Closing n Stand-Up Prayer SUPPLIES: none Have kids sit in a circle on the floor. Say: We re going to say a prayer together. I ll start the prayer, asking God to help us stand up for him in a place or situation where it might be tough. For example, I might say, at school or with my neighbors. Then we ll take turns around the circle. Each person will add another place or situation where you might need God s help in standing up for him. After you say your place or situation, stand up as though you re taking a stand for God! I ll give you a moment to think of what to say. Give kids about half a minute to think of a response, and then begin the prayer. After everyone is standing, close by thanking God for always being ready to help us stand up for him. 69

Lesson 5 End class by saying: God wants us to take a stand for him. God is worth taking a stand for so let s stand up for God this week! Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week s topic. 70

LESSON 5 God wants us to take a stand for him. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes the Jew first and also the Gentile (Romans 1:16). How would the lions in Daniel s den have looked when God s angel shut their mouths? Using a paper plate, markers, and pieces of yarn, make a lion head to remind you that God can overcome all your problems. Keep a close eye on your Christian friends this week. When you see someone standing up for God, fill out a coupon like the one below, and give it to him or her. Read 1 Kings 18:21. What choices lure you away from taking a stand for God? How can you make the right choices? Read Daniel 6:13. How could praying help you take a stand for God? Read Daniel 3:28. What do you think people learn about God from the way you live your life? (Name) Today I saw you stand up for God when you. Your actions encourage me to stand up for God, too. Sincerely, Permission to photocopy this handout from Group s Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use. Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 71