Change Your Way, Jonah! KEY VERSE Jonah 2:9 STICKY STATEMENT U-Turn to return to God. LESSON OBJECTIVE Children will learn that when they repent, their relationship with God is restored because of His love and mercy. CHECKLIST 1. A PowerPoint is available for this lesson. 2. Overboard: The Story of Jonah. https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/6-1/ (0:00-1:35) Younger Adaptation (Introduction) 3. Visual 1 U-Turn Sign (Lesson) 4. Visual 2 U-Turn Cards (Application) LESSON OVERVIEW While Jonah was in the belly of the fish, he cried out to God. Using the concept of taking a U-Turn, we will show children how they can change their direction if they choosing to disobey and return to God. We will study Jonah s prayer to help the children understand how repentance restored Jonah s relationship with God and that God s love and mercy is extended to anyone who repents. Younger Adaptation Teacher s Note: Besides using this for younger children, this video would be very good for your unchurched children or those who were not present for the first lesson on Jonah. The last time we met, we told you that God gave the prophet Jonah a message to give to the Ninevites people that Jonah didn t like. So, Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction from where God told him to go. Let s just say that it didn t go so well for Jonah. However, God gave Jonah another chance to make a U-turn in his life to do right. Let s watch this video to see what happens next. Teacher s Note: Show video Overboard: The Story of Jonah. https://teachersource.wol.org/videos/oly18/6-1/ (0:00-1:35) then continue teaching from the Body of the lesson. 6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 39
Teacher s Note: Prior to teaching the lesson, print the U-Turn cards on card stock, cut them out and have them ready for the application. INTRODUCTION Teacher s Note: If using the Younger Adaptation, use it in the place of this Introduction. The Bible tells us that Jonah was inside the belly of the great fish three days and three nights. [Read Jonah 1:17.] If you were able to speak to Jonah, what questions would you ask him about what it was like in the belly of the great fish? [Allow children to give some thoughts about what may have taken place with Jonah during those three days.] The Bible doesn t give us specific answers for many of the questions you would have asked Jonah, but instead of focusing on what we don t know, let s focus on what we do know. First, our great God is capable of creating a fish to do exactly what God wanted it to do. Second, God showed mercy to Jonah by giving him another chance to change his way. BODY Teacher s Note: Prior to reading the passage, show Visual 1, the U-Turn sign to the children with the arrow from the U pointing downward. Do you recognize this sign? It is a U-Turn sign. As we open the Bible and learn about Jonah, pay attention to how Jonah made a U-Turn in his life. [Read Jonah 2:1-3.] Imagine yourself in this very dark, lonely place that Jonah describes. You are in the belly of a fish. Not only can t you see any way out, you can t see anything at all! But you can feel. Water, digestive juices and whatever else is sloshing around in the stomach of the fish, and seaweed is covering your head. Have you ever been to the beach and felt the strength of the waves hit your body? The force of the waves can be so strong they can knock you over. You try to get up and another wave knocks you down. The waves keep coming; they knock you down again as you try to stand to your feet. When Jonah said, all your billows and your waves passed over me, Jonah was describing this experience in the sea. Let s read how Jonah felt about his relationship with God. [Read Jonah 2:4-5.] Jonah felt cast out from God s sight. Because of his disobedience, God put Jonah in a place where He had Jonah s undivided attention. Jonah had no control over what was happening to him. The only thing Jonah could control was his reaction to his circumstances. [Read Jonah 2:7.] Jonah was a prophet of God, and he knew the Scriptures. About the time Jonah almost lost hope, he cried out to the Lord and the Lord heard him. Even in the dark belly of a fish, God heard Jonah s prayer. As he prayed, he was reminded of his close relationship with God. This is a good reminder to us that even in our darkest times we can pray to God, and He will hear us. Jonah s disobedience separated him from God, not because the Lord had left Jonah, but because Jonah disobeyed God and went his own way. He needed to change his direction from having a disobedient heart to an obedient heart. Jonah needed to U-Turn to return to God. 6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 40
Teacher s Note: As you read Jonah 2:9, turn the upside down U-Turn sign, right side up. Listen to how Jonah made his U-Turn. [Read Jonah 2:9.] Jonah found himself in the belly of the fish because he refused to do what God told him to do. His U-Turn began when he prayed to God and chose to obey. Jonah s prayer was a prayer of repentance. What is repentance? [Allow children to respond. The correct response is to change one s mind or purpose. ] Repentance means, To change one s mind or purpose. By repenting, Jonah was admitting that what he had done was wrong. Because Jonah had sinned against God, he needed to make things right with God. The moment Jonah repented, his relationship with God was restored or made right. Jonah no longer was running from God, but was looking to Him in obedience. He made a U-Turn to return to God. Jonah told God that he would not only obey, but obey with a voice of thanksgiving. What did Jonah have to be thankful about? [Allow children to respond.] True repentance will make us thankful for God s forgiveness. Jonah recommitted himself to doing whatever God wanted. With his relationship with God restored as a result of his repentance, Jonah was ready to do what God told him to do, but he was still stuck in the belly of the fish. Jonah couldn t steer the fish towards Nineveh; only God could do that. Listen to how God delivered Jonah. [Read Jonah 2:10.] After Jonah repented, God commanded the fish to vomit out Jonah on the beach exactly where he needed to be and now he was ready to obey! Wow, what love and mercy God displayed to Jonah by saving him from drowning and then giving him a second chance! APPLICATION Jonah was in the most hopeless situation that anyone could imagine. Although none of you have ever been in the belly of a fish, you may have found yourself in a difficult situation as a result of your poor choices or disobedience. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the trouble you are in? Maybe you have felt as low as Jonah. Maybe you said to yourself, What am I going to do now? You may feel hopeless especially if you are to blame for your own problem. If that is your situation right now, you are not the first one to feel that way. Jonah made some pretty bad choices that got him in his slimy mess. Do you need to U-Turn to return to God? Just like Jonah needed to change direction from disobedience to obedience, what needs to change in your life? You can make a U-turn like Jonah did. The story of Jonah shows us that God is willing to give you another chance. Teacher s Note: Give each child a U-Turn card and a writing utensil. On the back of the card you have just received, write down one area of your life that needs a U- Turn. It may be that you have been disobedient to your parents or teachers, or perhaps you haven t been treating your brothers, sisters, or classmates with respect and kindness. Write down anything that you know you have been doing that does not make God happy. As we close in prayer, will you silently ask God to forgive you so you can restore your relationship with Him? If what you wrote has caused problems with another person, will you commit to make things right with them? Share your U-Turn card with your parents. They will be happy to know that you are wanting to please God. Ask them for their help so that you can make a U-turn to return to God. [Close in prayer.] 6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 41
PERSONAL TRAINING TIME Goal of this Personal Training Time Help the children see that repentance is necessary in order for a relationship to be restored. Discussion Questions 1. What does it mean to repent? (Make sure that each child has an understanding that repentance means, To change one s mind or purpose. ) 2. Do you remember a time when you had to repent because you chose to do wrong over doing right? (It might be good to share a short experience that you had to repent. Make sure that your story does not monopolize the sharing time. Be sure not to force anyone to share because the issue might be private.) 3. How will you help yourself remember to make a U-Turn to return to God when needed throughout this next week? (When you see a No U-Turn Sign, remind yourself of the consequences of sin when you refuse to repent. Ask your parents or a trusted Christian friend to tell you when they see you making bad choices.) PARENT CONNECTION God used a storm and a great fish to help Jonah see that He wanted his obedience. Jonah had to repent in order for his relationship with God to be restored. We used the concept of a U- Turn sign to help your child remember what it means to repent. Repent means, To change one s mind or purpose. As you travel around in the car this week with your child, look for U- Turn signs to help begin a conversation about what it means to repent. If you see a No U- Turn sign, talk about the consequences of sin when you refuse to repent. 6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 42
Visual 1 Visual 2 6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 43
6. Change Your Way, Jonah! (Module 2 Walk This Way) - 44