God Speaks To Elijah In A Whisper - Group

Lesson 11111God Speaks to Elijah in a Whisper1 Kings 19:9-18During third and fourth grade, kids begin to understand the importance of friendshipand having friends. Many of them have best friends, or at least a few close friends.They enjoy visiting one another and playing together at school or church. Many kids feelthey must limit their friendships solely to other children their own age. They may feelthat a close relationship with God is impossible because they cannot see him or talk tohim face to face. It’s important that kids understand they can develop a friendship withGod just as Elijah and other great men and women of the Bible did. Remind kids thatGod talked to Elijah in a still, small voice, and can speak to them as ued)WHAT CHILDREN DOSUPPLIESEASY PREP1 plastic cup perchild, one 3-foot pieceof string for every 2children, paper clips,sharpened pencilsMake a “phone” ahead of timeto show kids how to makethem.Bible, electric fan, tape,paper, 2 pieces of posterWind, Earthquake,board, 20 craft sticks,and Firefire-colored tissue paper,(about 20 min.)scissors,Form three groupsmarkersand make props to tell Teacherthe beginning of thePack:Bible passage.“Wind,Earthquake,and Fire” posterSet up three different stations.Set up the first station near anelectrical outlet, and set outthe electric fan and paper. Setup the second station with theposter board and craft sticks.For the third station, set outthe tissue paper, scissors,and markers. Cut apart the3 sections of the “Wind,Earthquake, and Fire” poster,and put the sections at thecorresponding stations.Phone Call(about 10 min.)Try to speak to eachother through plasticcups.Grades 3 & 4Lesson 11Bible Point When we feel alone,God is with us.Key Verse“So do not fear, for Iam with you; do not bedismayed, for I am yourGod. I will strengthenyou and help you; I willuphold you with myrighteous right hand”(Isaiah 41:10).Weaving FaithInto LifeKids will turn to God forcomfort when they feelalone.Fall Quarter

112LESSON2BibleExploration(continued)WHAT CHILDREN DOTrust Your Fears toGod(about 10 min.)Turn over their fears toGod, and learn the KeyVerse.SUPPLIESEASY PREPBible, sticky notes, pens,CD player, 1 copy perperson of the lyrics page (atend of this lesson)Teacher Pack: “In God’sHand” poster, CD: “So Do NotFear” (Isaiah 41:10) (track 20)Listening to God(about 10 min.)3Pray silently, listeningto God speak to theirhearts.WeavingFaith Into Life No Need to Fear(about 10 min.)Write ways they knowGod is there for them.Bible Truth Sleuth,markersDaily Challenges(about 5 min.)4LastingImpressionsChoose a DailyChallenge to applyGod’s Word.Weaving Faithat Home(about 2 min.)Talk about how to sharewhat they learned withtheir families.Fall QuarterLesson 11Grades 3 & 4Bible Truth SleuthTear out the Lesson 11pages from each BibleTruth Sleuth student book.

113God Speaks to Elijah in a Whisper1 Kings 19:9-18BIBLe BACKGROUNDFOR LEADERSElijah Runs for His LifeGod Encourages ElijahQueen Jezebel had vowed to kill Elijah for showing upher idol Baal. After the events on Mount Carmel, Elijahmay have been physically and emotionally exhausted.Rather than relishing another chance to prove God’spower over Jezebel, he tired of the fight. Alone andprobably in fear, Elijah ran for his life. Even thoughElijah’s faith was apparently weak at this point, Godwas faithful and brought food and drink to him in thedesert. In fact, Elijah hadn’t abandoned God; aftereating and drinking, he began a 40-day journey toHoreb, the mountain of God.After giving Elijah instructions for his next move,God had some encouraging news to keep Elijahgoing—7,000 others in Israel hadn’t worshipped Baal;Elijah wasn’t alone in following God. So Elijah wasassured not only that God was beside him when hefelt alone, but also that thousands of others in Israelwere faithful to God. He would never really be alone.Elijah Prays to GodElijah’s statement recorded in 1 Kings 19:10 revealshis feelings. He felt alone, abandoned by theIsraelites, and was tired of running and hiding toprotect his life. It seemed to him that he was the onlyone in all the world who truly followed God. Elijahshared his feelings with God, and God responded bypromising to bless Elijah with his presence.God Comes to ElijahThe Jesus ConnectionWhen Jesus leads our lives, we are never alone. Evenwhen we’re discouraged or lonely, we can experiencehis presence—and the support and encouragementof other Christians.Think about a time you felt abandoned by God or bypeople. How did you receive strength from God orfrom friends during this trial?Now think of someone you know who needsencouragement now. Pray for that person to senseGod’s presence and know that God is always there.You can write your prayer here.God’s lesson to Elijah in all that happened on themountain may have been in response to somethingwe’re not told. But by coming to Elijah in a gentlewhisper, God showed Elijah that he wanted him tocontinue his mission of speaking to the Israelites forhim. And Elijah was reminded that God was with himeven when the prophet felt utterly alone.After demonstrating his presence, God continued tolead Elijah on his mission, knowing that Elijah wouldeventually understand the lesson of the events he’djust experienced.Grades 3 & 4Lesson 11Fall Quarter

114GETTINGSTARTEDPhone CallSupplies1 plastic cup per childone 3-foot piece ofstring for every 2childrenpaper clipssharpened pencilsPhone CallEasy PrepMake a “phone” aheadof time to show kidshow to make them.Phone CallWhat You’ll DoWelcome kids warmly as they arrive, and ask them how their week went.Have kids form pairs. Give each child a plastic cup.Say: You’re going to use these plastic cups as telephones and try to talk to eachother. One person will hold the bottom of the cup to his or her ear. The otherperson will speak into the cup to give a message to that partner.Give kids a couple of minutes to take turns speaking into and listening through the cups,and then have them set down the cups.Ask:nnWhat was it like to try to talk with each other using these cups as phones?What do you think would make it easier to hear the person speak?Say: Now let’s try something else that may help us hear better.Have kids poke a hole in the bottom of their cups with a pencil. Give each child a paperclip. Then give each pair a 3-foot piece of string, which they’ll thread through the holein each cup to attach the two cups. Have kids tie a knot at each end of the string. Thenhave them attach the paper clip to the string on the inside of their cups.Say: Let’s try to speak to each other again. Pull the string tight, but be careful notto pull the string out of your cups. Then have one person speak into a cup. Theother person will listen by holding the other cup to his or her ear, listening on theopen side of the cup. Have pairs switch roles and speak again.Talk With KidsAsk:nnnWhy do you think it was easier to hear your partner the second time?Why do we sometimes have difficulty hearing God when he speaks?What can help make it easier for you to hear God speak to you?Say: The sound waves traveled over the string and made it easier to hearthrough the cups. We found it easier to hear through the phones because of thestring connecting them together. We also find it easier to hear God when we’reconnected to him. When we can’t hear what another person says, we can feelvery alone.Fall QuarterLesson 11Grades 3 & 4

115In our Bible passage today, we’ll hear about a time Elijah felt very alone andneeded to hear God speak to him. We’ll find out how God spoke to Elijah and learnthat WHEN WE FEEL ALONE, GOD IS WITH US.2 BIBLEEXPLORATIONWind, Earthquake, and FireWind, Earthquake, andFireSuppliesWhat You’ll DoHave kids number off by threes, and send ones to Station 1, twos to Station 2, andthrees to Station 3.At Station 1, kids will make “rocks” from the paper to build a mountain. They will use thefan to show the effects of wind on the rocks and mountain.At Station 2, kids will place the pieces of poster board next to each other on a table.Then they’ll construct a simple building by stacking the craft sticks. After completingthe building, they’ll move the two pieces of poster board back and forth to create an“earthquake,” causing the building to fall down.At Station 3, kids will create flames from the tissue paper and act as the fire, holding upthe “flames” they’ve created and waving them in the air.Say: Each group will help tell the first part of today’s Bible passage. You’ll usethe supplies at your station and follow the directions posted there. I’ll be walkingaround to help you if you need it. When everyone has finished, we’ll retell our Biblepassage.Give kids five minutes to prepare and practice their part of the passage. When everyonehas finished, have Groups 2 and 3 go to Station 1.Say: Just before what happened in today’s Bible passage, Queen Jezebel hadthreatened to kill Elijah for challenging the prophets of Baal and proving that Baalwas powerless. Elijah was afraid, and was hiding in a cave. Now let’s take a look atwhat happens to him.Open your Bible to 1 Kings 19:9-12. Read the passage aloud, stopping at the wind forGroup 1 to present its work, the earthquake for Group 2, and the fire for Group 3. Stopreading midway through verse 12, before you get to the part that says, “And after the firecame a gentle whisper.”After each group has presented its part of the passage, congratulate kids on a job welldone, and have them sit in a circle.Grades 3 & 4Lesson 11Bibleelectric fantapepaper2 pieces of poster board20 craft sticksfire-colored tissuepaperscissorsmarkersTeacher Pack“Wind, Earthquake, andFire” posterWind, Earthquake, andFireEasy PrepSet up three differentstations. Set up thefirst station near anelectrical outlet, andset out the electric fanand paper. Set up thesecond station withthe poster board andcraft sticks. For thethird station, set out thetissue paper, scissors,and markers. Cut apartthe 3 sections of the“Wind, Earthquake,and Fire” poster, andput the sections at thecorresponding stations.Fall Quarter