Reference: 2 Kings 2 and 4
Story Summary:
In the Bible, there were prophets who heard messages from God and told them to the people. Elisha was one of them. There were also prophets of false gods. So the people could know the difference between the two, God gave Elisha to perform miracles. When he did them, the people knew that Elisha’s message was true.
In one place, the water was bad and making everyone sick. But Elisha put some salt into a bowl and poured in into the water. Instantly, the water was made good again.
Another time, a woman asked Elisha for help. She owed lots of money and couldn’t pay the people she owed. They would soon come to take her sons as slaves. But Elisha had the woman collect as many jars as she could and fill them with the one bottle of olive oil she had. When she poured, the bottle never went empty until all the jars had been filled. She sold the oil and paid the money she owed.
Another woman told Elisha that her son had died. But Elisha raised him back to life When the people saw Elisha’s miracles, they knew his message from God was true.
Big Idea and Motions: God’s miracles are signs that point to him.
God’s - point up
Miracles - hold your hands above your head and wiggle them in celebration
Signs - hold your palm facing out, pretend to write on it using the other hand
Point - point with your finger straight ahead
Him - point up
Verse and Motions: Psalm 77:14, ESV - You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.
You - point away from yourself
God - points up
Wonders - wiggle your fingers and look up in awe
Known - tap your head
Might - flex your muscles
Peoples - gesture with your palms skyward to other people in the room
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was God’s prophet in today’s story? // Elisha.
How could the people tell the difference between the false prophets and the real ones? // The real ones did miracles and signs
Miracles are signs that point us to who? // God..
What was wrong with the water? // It was bad, make plants and animals sick.
What did Elisha put into the bad water to make it pure? // Salt.
What were they going to do with the sons of the woman who owed money? // Take them and make them slaves.
What did Elisha tell this woman to to and borrow? // Jars from her neighbors.
What amazing thing happened when the woman’s little jar of oil? // It kept filling up jar after jar.
What miracle happened after a woman’s little boy died? // He came back to life.
What big miracle shows us that Jesus is God’s Son? // He rose from the dead.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/Bp6Dx9
Resources - https://goo.gl/pgzgZ5
January 31, 2016
January 24, 2016
OT 64 Elijah is Taken to Heaven
Reference: 2 Kings 2:1-18
Story Summary:
God told his prophet Elijah that he was soon going to take him to heaven. Before he did, God sent Elijah to Bethel. Elijah told Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha wouldn’t leave his side. When they arrived, the prophets there were talking about Elijah going to heaven.
Elijah left for two more places, Jericho and the Jordan River. Both times, he told Elisha to stay, but Elisha wouldn’t leave. When they came to the Jordan River, Elijah struck it with his coat. It parted in two, and they crossed on dry land.
Elijah asked Elisha if there was anything he could do before he left. Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit, God’s power that worked in Elijah. Elijah said that, if he saw Elijah taken away, God would give him what he asked.
Suddenly, a chariot of fire came between them. In a great wind, it took Elijah to heaven. Elisha picked up Elijah’s old coat. He struck the Jordan River, and it parted in two, just like Elijah had done.
Big Idea and Motions: God’s Spirit gives us power to obey him.
God’s Spirit - point up
Gives - pretend to hold something and give it to another
Power - flex your muscles
Obey - form the letter “O” with your arms
Verse / Motions: 1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Do you not - wag your finger “no”
Know - tap your brain
God’s - point up
Temple - form a roof over your head with your arms
God’s Spirit - same as above
Dwells in you - hit your chest one time for each word
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who did God pick to be the next prophet after Elijah? // Elisha
Who was older, Elijah or Elisha? // Elijah
What was God going to do to Elijah? // Take him to heaven
Elijah kept telling Elisha to stay behind; what did Elisha say? // I won’t leave you
When the other prophets said that Elijah was leaving, what did Elisha say? // Be quiet
What happened when Elijah hit the Jordan River with his coat? // It parted in two and they walked across
What did Elisha ask Elijah to give him? // A double share of his spirit, to have God’s power with him
What came and took Elijah to heaven? // A chariot of fire
When Elisha picked up Elijah’s coat and hit the river, what happened? // The waters parted
Did God’s Spirit come and give power to Elisha, just like he did for Elijah? // Yes.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/76mUQt
Resources - https://goo.gl/DwWDTU
Story Summary:
God told his prophet Elijah that he was soon going to take him to heaven. Before he did, God sent Elijah to Bethel. Elijah told Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha wouldn’t leave his side. When they arrived, the prophets there were talking about Elijah going to heaven.
Elijah left for two more places, Jericho and the Jordan River. Both times, he told Elisha to stay, but Elisha wouldn’t leave. When they came to the Jordan River, Elijah struck it with his coat. It parted in two, and they crossed on dry land.
Elijah asked Elisha if there was anything he could do before he left. Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah’s spirit, God’s power that worked in Elijah. Elijah said that, if he saw Elijah taken away, God would give him what he asked.
Suddenly, a chariot of fire came between them. In a great wind, it took Elijah to heaven. Elisha picked up Elijah’s old coat. He struck the Jordan River, and it parted in two, just like Elijah had done.
Big Idea and Motions: God’s Spirit gives us power to obey him.
God’s Spirit - point up
Gives - pretend to hold something and give it to another
Power - flex your muscles
Obey - form the letter “O” with your arms
Verse / Motions: 1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Do you not - wag your finger “no”
Know - tap your brain
God’s - point up
Temple - form a roof over your head with your arms
God’s Spirit - same as above
Dwells in you - hit your chest one time for each word
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who did God pick to be the next prophet after Elijah? // Elisha
Who was older, Elijah or Elisha? // Elijah
What was God going to do to Elijah? // Take him to heaven
Elijah kept telling Elisha to stay behind; what did Elisha say? // I won’t leave you
When the other prophets said that Elijah was leaving, what did Elisha say? // Be quiet
What happened when Elijah hit the Jordan River with his coat? // It parted in two and they walked across
What did Elisha ask Elijah to give him? // A double share of his spirit, to have God’s power with him
What came and took Elijah to heaven? // A chariot of fire
When Elisha picked up Elijah’s coat and hit the river, what happened? // The waters parted
Did God’s Spirit come and give power to Elisha, just like he did for Elijah? // Yes.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/76mUQt
Resources - https://goo.gl/DwWDTU
January 17, 2016
OT 63 Elijah vs the Prophets of Baal
Reference: 1 Kings 18
Story Summary:
Evil King Ahab worshipped the false gods Baal and Asherah. So God did not send rain on the land of Israel for years. Then, he sent his prophet Elijah to Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to have all the prophets of Baal and Asherah, along with all the people, to meet him on Mount Carmel.
Elijah challenged to the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Both of them would made altars of stone and place the meat of a bull on it. Each would pray to their God. The God who sent fire from heaven would prove to be the real God.
The prophets of Baal went first. They prayed all day and into the evening, but Baal didn’t answer. Elijah mocked them, wondering out loud whether Baal was asleep, hard of hearing, or even going to the bathroom!
When the prophets of Baal gave up, Elijah rebuilt the altar of God. He had people repeatedly soak it with water. Elijah prayed and God sent fire down from heaven. It burnt up the meat and wood on the altar. It lapped up all the water around it. It even burnt up the stones of the altar. That day, God proved to everyone there that he was the one and only God.
Big Idea and Motions: The Lord is the one and only God.
Lord - point up
One - hold up one finger
Only - wave your arms back and forth
God - point up
Verse / Motions: Isaiah 45:5, ESV - I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God...
I am - point to yourself
Lord - point up
No other - wave your arms back and forth in a “no” gesture
Besides me - pretend to put your arm around someone beside you
No - wag your finger “no”
God - point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What evil thing did King Ahab do? // Worship the idols of Baal and Asherah
Because Ahab sin, what did God do to the land? // Made it not rain
Who was God’s prophet in today’s story? // Elijah.
Where did the challenge between Elijah and the prophets of Baal take place? // Mount Carmel.
How would the people of Israel know who was the real God? // The God who sent fire from the sky.
How long did the prophets of Baal pray? // From morning to evening
Did Baal answer? Why or why not? // No, because he’s not real.
What did Elijah have people do to his altar? // Pour four jugs of water over it three times.
What happened after Elijah prayed? // God sent fire from heaven that burned up the entire altar.
What did the people of Israel say after God sent the fire? // The Lord is the one and only God.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/aI9Wue
Resources - https://goo.gl/Felq7t
Story Summary:
Evil King Ahab worshipped the false gods Baal and Asherah. So God did not send rain on the land of Israel for years. Then, he sent his prophet Elijah to Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to have all the prophets of Baal and Asherah, along with all the people, to meet him on Mount Carmel.
Elijah challenged to the prophets of Baal and Asherah. Both of them would made altars of stone and place the meat of a bull on it. Each would pray to their God. The God who sent fire from heaven would prove to be the real God.
The prophets of Baal went first. They prayed all day and into the evening, but Baal didn’t answer. Elijah mocked them, wondering out loud whether Baal was asleep, hard of hearing, or even going to the bathroom!
When the prophets of Baal gave up, Elijah rebuilt the altar of God. He had people repeatedly soak it with water. Elijah prayed and God sent fire down from heaven. It burnt up the meat and wood on the altar. It lapped up all the water around it. It even burnt up the stones of the altar. That day, God proved to everyone there that he was the one and only God.
Big Idea and Motions: The Lord is the one and only God.
Lord - point up
One - hold up one finger
Only - wave your arms back and forth
God - point up
Verse / Motions: Isaiah 45:5, ESV - I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God...
I am - point to yourself
Lord - point up
No other - wave your arms back and forth in a “no” gesture
Besides me - pretend to put your arm around someone beside you
No - wag your finger “no”
God - point up
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What evil thing did King Ahab do? // Worship the idols of Baal and Asherah
Because Ahab sin, what did God do to the land? // Made it not rain
Who was God’s prophet in today’s story? // Elijah.
Where did the challenge between Elijah and the prophets of Baal take place? // Mount Carmel.
How would the people of Israel know who was the real God? // The God who sent fire from the sky.
How long did the prophets of Baal pray? // From morning to evening
Did Baal answer? Why or why not? // No, because he’s not real.
What did Elijah have people do to his altar? // Pour four jugs of water over it three times.
What happened after Elijah prayed? // God sent fire from heaven that burned up the entire altar.
What did the people of Israel say after God sent the fire? // The Lord is the one and only God.
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/aI9Wue
Resources - https://goo.gl/Felq7t
January 10, 2016
OT 62 Elijah and the Widow
Reference: 1 Kings 17
Story Summary:
Because Ahab, king of Israel, was so evil, God sent the prophet Elijah to him with the message that it would not rain for years. After this, God told Elijah to head to a valley. While he was there, God made sure there was a brook with water for Elijah to drink. He also ordered ravens to bring food to Elijah day and night.
When the water in the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow to take care of him. Because there was no rain, the widow was preparing to make one last meal of bread for her and her son before they died. But Elijah told her to give him some bread to eat and water to drink. She did as Elijah asked and God miraculously made the widow’s jars of flour and oil never run out. While Elijah was there, they always had food to eat because of this.
Later, the widow’s son got sick and died. But Elijah cried out to the Lord to save him. God brought the child back to life. When she saw this miracle, the woman told Elijah, “Now I know your message from God is true.”
Big Idea and Motions: The word of the Lord is true.
Word - point to your lips
Lord - point up
True - touch your lips with your index finger, then point forward*
* This is the ASL Sign for “true”
Verse / Motions: Numbers 23:19, ESV - God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
God - point up
Is Not - wag your finger “No”
Man - flex your muscles to look “manly”
Lie - point to your lips
Son of man - pretend to cradle a baby
Change his mind - try to turn your head around using your hands
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the prophet who spoke God’s message in today’s story? // Elijah.
Who was the evil king of Israel? // Ahab
Because evil King Ahab worshipped pretend gods, what did God make happen? // Stopping raining.
What did God make the ravens do? // Bring meat and bread to Elijah.
After the brook dried up, whose house did God send Elijah to? // A widow.
The widow and her son thought they would die. Why? // Because they were running out of food.
What did Elijah tell the widow to do? // Make him some bread first.
What happened to the widow’s flour and oil? // It never ended; it kept filling up
What happened after the widow’s son stopped breathing? // Elijah prayed and God let the boy live
Does God ever lie or change his mind? // No
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/F3kAmb
Resources - https://goo.gl/BmTcrI
Story Summary:
Because Ahab, king of Israel, was so evil, God sent the prophet Elijah to him with the message that it would not rain for years. After this, God told Elijah to head to a valley. While he was there, God made sure there was a brook with water for Elijah to drink. He also ordered ravens to bring food to Elijah day and night.
When the water in the brook dried up, God sent Elijah to a widow to take care of him. Because there was no rain, the widow was preparing to make one last meal of bread for her and her son before they died. But Elijah told her to give him some bread to eat and water to drink. She did as Elijah asked and God miraculously made the widow’s jars of flour and oil never run out. While Elijah was there, they always had food to eat because of this.
Later, the widow’s son got sick and died. But Elijah cried out to the Lord to save him. God brought the child back to life. When she saw this miracle, the woman told Elijah, “Now I know your message from God is true.”
Big Idea and Motions: The word of the Lord is true.
Word - point to your lips
Lord - point up
True - touch your lips with your index finger, then point forward*
* This is the ASL Sign for “true”
Verse / Motions: Numbers 23:19, ESV - God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
God - point up
Is Not - wag your finger “No”
Man - flex your muscles to look “manly”
Lie - point to your lips
Son of man - pretend to cradle a baby
Change his mind - try to turn your head around using your hands
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
Who was the prophet who spoke God’s message in today’s story? // Elijah.
Who was the evil king of Israel? // Ahab
Because evil King Ahab worshipped pretend gods, what did God make happen? // Stopping raining.
What did God make the ravens do? // Bring meat and bread to Elijah.
After the brook dried up, whose house did God send Elijah to? // A widow.
The widow and her son thought they would die. Why? // Because they were running out of food.
What did Elijah tell the widow to do? // Make him some bread first.
What happened to the widow’s flour and oil? // It never ended; it kept filling up
What happened after the widow’s son stopped breathing? // Elijah prayed and God let the boy live
Does God ever lie or change his mind? // No
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/F3kAmb
Resources - https://goo.gl/BmTcrI
January 3, 2016
OT 61 Israel is Split in Two
Reference: 1 Kings 11-12
Story Summary:
Jeroboam was a very good worker. Because of his success, Solomon put him in charge of all the other workers. One day, God sent the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam. Ahijah took off his new coat and tore it into twelve pieces, to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Ahijah gave ten pieces of Jeroboam.
Ahijah told Jeroboam that, because of Solomon and his son’s sin, he was going to give ten tribes of Israel to Jeroboam and he would be their king. When Solomon heard this, he tried kill Jeroboam.
After Solomon died of old age, his son Rehoboam became king. Jeroboam and the people asked new king Rehoboam to make their work easier. Solomon had made them work very hard. Rehoboam asked people for advice. The elders of Israel told him to listen to the people. But the young men told them to make the work even harder.
Rehoboam listened to the young men. He told the people that their work would be much harder. He said, “My father whipped you to make you work; I’ll use even bigger whips!” Because of this, ten of the tribes of Israel left and made Jeroboam their new king. Rehoboam was left as the king of only two tribes.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus died to take the curse of sin.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Died - cross your arms over your chest and bow your head
Take - reach out and pretend to grab something with your hand
Curse - put both hands on your cheeks and look scared
Sin - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Galatians 3:13, ESV - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...
Christ - form a cross with your forearms
Redeemed - cross your fingers on both hands, then cross and uncross your forearmm*
Curse - punch your palm
Law - pretend to open a Bible (since God’s Law is in the Bible)
Curse - same as before
For us - point to yourself with two thumbs
* This is the ASL Sign for “redeem”; describe the motion to them as being “set free”
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did God promise to those who obeyed his good Law? // Blessings
What did God promise to those who sinned, or disobeyed, his good Law? // Curses
What was God’s curse, or punishment, for Solomon’s sin? // The tribes of Israel would be split up
Who came to give God’s message to Jeroboam? // Ahijah
What did Ahijah tear into pieces to show how God would tear up the country of Israel? // A coat
Who was Solomon’s son, who was king after him? // Rehoboam
What did the people ask Rehoboam? // Make our work easier
What advice did the elders give Rehoboam? // Listen to the people, make their work easier
Rehoboam took the advice of the young men. What was it? // Make them work harder, whip them
Ten tribes left Israel and picked another king. What was that king’s name? // Jeroboam
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/P7Ll78
Resources - https://goo.gl/XzcyFB
Story Summary:
Jeroboam was a very good worker. Because of his success, Solomon put him in charge of all the other workers. One day, God sent the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam. Ahijah took off his new coat and tore it into twelve pieces, to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Ahijah gave ten pieces of Jeroboam.
Ahijah told Jeroboam that, because of Solomon and his son’s sin, he was going to give ten tribes of Israel to Jeroboam and he would be their king. When Solomon heard this, he tried kill Jeroboam.
After Solomon died of old age, his son Rehoboam became king. Jeroboam and the people asked new king Rehoboam to make their work easier. Solomon had made them work very hard. Rehoboam asked people for advice. The elders of Israel told him to listen to the people. But the young men told them to make the work even harder.
Rehoboam listened to the young men. He told the people that their work would be much harder. He said, “My father whipped you to make you work; I’ll use even bigger whips!” Because of this, ten of the tribes of Israel left and made Jeroboam their new king. Rehoboam was left as the king of only two tribes.
Big Idea and Motions: Jesus died to take the curse of sin.
Jesus - form a cross with your forearms
Died - cross your arms over your chest and bow your head
Take - reach out and pretend to grab something with your hand
Curse - put both hands on your cheeks and look scared
Sin - two thumbs down
Verse / Motions: Galatians 3:13, ESV - Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us...
Christ - form a cross with your forearms
Redeemed - cross your fingers on both hands, then cross and uncross your forearmm*
Curse - punch your palm
Law - pretend to open a Bible (since God’s Law is in the Bible)
Curse - same as before
For us - point to yourself with two thumbs
* This is the ASL Sign for “redeem”; describe the motion to them as being “set free”
Questions to Ask Throughout the Week
What did God promise to those who obeyed his good Law? // Blessings
What did God promise to those who sinned, or disobeyed, his good Law? // Curses
What was God’s curse, or punishment, for Solomon’s sin? // The tribes of Israel would be split up
Who came to give God’s message to Jeroboam? // Ahijah
What did Ahijah tear into pieces to show how God would tear up the country of Israel? // A coat
Who was Solomon’s son, who was king after him? // Rehoboam
What did the people ask Rehoboam? // Make our work easier
What advice did the elders give Rehoboam? // Listen to the people, make their work easier
Rehoboam took the advice of the young men. What was it? // Make them work harder, whip them
Ten tribes left Israel and picked another king. What was that king’s name? // Jeroboam
Google Docs Links:
Lesson - https://goo.gl/P7Ll78
Resources - https://goo.gl/XzcyFB
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