Dear Parents, We hope the following summary of the Sunday School lesson will help you in discussing the lesson with your children and working through this booklet together.
Elijah
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE:
1 Kings 17:9–24,19:4; 2 Kings 1:8; Luke 4:25-26 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: After confronting Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah followed the Lord by “getting out of town”. He stayed in a remote ravine being fortified physically and spiritually by the Lord through the water in a brook and the food that ravens delivered. But it was a time of drought, God-ordained drought, and before long even the brook dried up. Following the Lord’s instruction, Elijah left and traveled to Zarephath (Jezebel’s home country) to be supplied for by a widow and her son. The widow was at the end of her rope due to the drought, but when she showed her faith in the Lord, He provided for her needs and those of Elijah’s miraculously. Her jars of flour and oil never emptied even though she wasn’t able to fill them. After a period of time of seeing the Lord provide through the remarkable image of never-emptying jars, the woman’s son became sick, even to the point where he stopped breathing, the definition of death in that day. God, through Elijah, restored life to the boy, at which point the widow placed her complete faith in the living God of Israel. The Lord provided these additional miraculous signs to further prepare Elijah for the pending encounter with Ahab before the people of Israel.
God Restores Life to a Little Boy
LESSON FOCUS: 1. God’s provision and protection of us is never-ending. Through His provision, we are blessed, often so that we can bless others. 2. When bad things happen to good people, we shouldn’t question God, but instead return to a foundation of faith in Him. WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD:
Elijah watches bad happen to Good people
This Week’s Memory Verse: And we know that in all things God works for
God is always watching out for us and provides in remarkable ways.
God gives us opportunities to strengthen other’s faith and bless them.
the good of those who love Him, who have been called
RESPONSE:
We should be watching for the Lord’s provision in our lives and praising His remarkable supply, sharing with others when possible.
When bad things happen to good people, we need to return to our foundation of faith and help others do likewise. Copyright 2008
according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Berean Baptist Church 309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
September 23, 2012
Monday—God Has A Plan For Elijah and a Widow
Read
For three and a half years, there was a famine throughout the land. What is a famine? A really big family A shortage of food
1 Kings 17:9-14 Luke 4:25-26
Saturday—This Week’s Puzzle
Our study this week shows how God is faithful to Elijah, a widow and her son. God provided everything they needed, just when they needed it!
When Elijah arrived at Zerephath, he saw a widow gathering sticks. What things did he ask her to bring to him? Choose two of four. _______ A blanket
_______ A piece of bread
_______ A little water in a jar
_______ A donkey to ride on
Food was scarce because of the famine. The widow didn’t have bread to give to Elijah, but she had two useful things. What were they? (Circle the picture)
Elijah remembered how God was faithful in taking care of him. He remembered how God had provided everything that he needed. Do you think Elijah trusted in God to keep on providing for their needs?
Yes No Maybe Do you trust in God to take care of your needs?
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BLESSING
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No Maybe Write out a sentence prayer asking God to help you strengthen your trust in him. Dear God, I trust you to
J
_______________________.
AMEN.
Friday—Be a Blessing to Others!
Read 1 Kings 17:9-10, 15-16, 22-23
Let’s review all the ways God blessed Elijah, the widow and her son this week.
Tuesday—Miracles Part 1: God is Faithful When We Trust Him to Provide
Read 1 Kings 17:12-16
Read Luke 4:25 Why was bread and water so hard to find?
God led Elijah to the town of
Z ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ (v.9)
God miraculously provided a jar of that didn’t run out. (v.16)
f ___ ___ ___ ___ and ___ ___ ___
The sky was shut for 3 1/2 years People forgot how to make bread There was a severe (harsh) famine throughout the land
L ___ ___ __ to the boy. (v.22)
Elijah asked her to make him a small cake of bread. The widow had just enough flour and oil to make one last meal for her son and herself. How scared to you think she was?
God is amazing! In what ways has God blessed you? List three things.
0
1. ______________________________________
Not very scared
When the widow’s son became sick and stopped breathing, God restored
2. ______________________________________ 3. ______________________________________
Can you think of someone to bless today? Write that person’s name here:
_______________________________ How will you bless that person? Check as many as you will do today:
_____
Color a picture
_____
Write a letter
_____
Take care of their pet for a day
_____
Play a game with them
_____
Help with the dishes
_____
Say a prayer for them
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What did Elijah say to comfort her? (v. 14) “For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land.’” Do you think she believed Elijah?
_____Yes
_____No _____I’m not sure
She went away to prepare the food. What happened as she made the bread? Put a smiley face next to the correct answers.
_____ She burned the bread and had to start over _____ The jar of flour was never used up _____ The jog of oil never ran dry _____ The birds flew away with the bread God provides a miracle! They had food to eat every day!
Practice memorizing this weeks verse: read it aloud two times, then cover up the verse and try to say it. How did you do?
Wednesday—Obedience Is Important
Read 1 Kings 17:9-16
Thursday—Miracles Part 2: God if Faithful
God gave Elijah important instructions to follow on his journey. God told Elijah to hide safely near a brook at the Kerith Ravine. When the brook dried up, what did God tell Elijah to do?
Read 1 Kings 17:17-24
What happened to the widow’s son? A. He became ill B. His illness grew worse C. He stopped breathing
Stay near the brook for safety, even though the brook has dried up
D. All of the above
Return to Samaria where the evil king Ahab lived Go to Zerephath of Sidon and stay there Did Elijah obey God’s command? YES
NO
Do you think it was easy for Elijah to obey God? YES Did God take care of Elijah? YES
Draw a picture to show how the widow and Elijah must have felt.
(Circle one) NO
NO
Elijah asked the widow for some bread to eat. What did she tell Elijah? Check six of eight things from verse 12. I don’t have any bread.
I am gathering a few sticks to take home.
Go shop at the market down the street.
I am making a meal for myself and my son
I only a have a handful of flour in a jar.
I am too busy to cook.
He always cares
Make your own food.
We are going to eat - and die.
He sometimes cares
The widow was afraid to give away the very last of her flour and oil to make bread for Elijah. Elijah said to her in verse 13, “Don’t be a
___ ___ ___ ___ do as you have said. But first m ___ ___ ___ a small cake of
. Go home and
b ___ ___ ___ ___ for me from what you have and b ___ ___ ___ ___ it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.” Did the widow obey Elijah’s instructions? YES
NO
Do you think it was easy for the widow to obey? YES
He never cares Even though the boy was dead. Elijah still trusted in God. What did Elijah do? Re-read 1 Kings 17:19-22.
He called the doctor He stretched out over the boy three times, crying out to God,”O Lord my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” Did God hear Elijah’s cry?
(Circle one)
____ Yes ____ No _____ I’m not sure
What miracle did God provide? (v.22) “The boy’s
NO
Did God take care of the widow, her son and Elijah? YES
Do you think God cares when bad things happen to good people?
to him, and he L
NO
Will you do your best to obey God and others in authority this week? YES
NO
___ ___ ___ ___ ___.”
L ___ ___ ___ returned