INCREDIBLE
WELCOME TO WEEK 4
Have you ever seen something unbelievable with your own eyes? Maybe you’ve seen a shooting star. Maybe you’ve seen a mama bear with her cubs. Maybe you have seen a double rainbow. God wants to show us amazing things. God did something amazing with Elijah that Elisha was able to witness. This week we will see how God can show us amazing things!
BIBLE STORY
Have you ever been shocked by something before? I am going to say a few statements, and if you think that is amazing or shocking, I want you to make a shocked face. If you don’t think it is amazing, I want you to keep a straight face and shake your head. Are you ready?
—Elephants can’t jump
—The heart of a shrimp is in it’s head
—slugs have four noses
—It takes a sloth 2 weeks to digest its food
—an ostrich’s eye is bigger than its’ brain.
—a grizzly bears bite could crush a bowling ball
—some worms can jump
—tigers have striped skin, not fur, and the pattern is unique to them
—butterflies taste with their feet
Did any of those animal facts amaze you? God made all of these creatures and He made them to be amazing animals. God can do amazing things! This week we are continuing in our story of Elijah. Elijah has been a faithful servant and has obeyed God. Now his time on earth is coming to an end. God has found someone to continue in Elijah’s place. Let’s listen to our story and see what amazing thing God did for Elijah.
Read or listen to the scripture 2 Kings 2
Where did Elijah and Elisha travel to? (Bethel)
Why did Elisha want to stay with Elijah the entire trip? (He knew the Lord was about to take away his master)
What places did God send Elijah and Elisha followed him? (Bethel, Jericho, Jordan)
How did God take Elijah? (A chariot of fire, and horses of fire that took Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven)
What did Elisha ask to have of Elijah’s? (A double portion of Elijah’s spirit upon him)
What came upon the 42 children that mocked Elisha? (2 she bears)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
In our story for this week, Elijah has finished his work on earth and God has found the person who will continue on His work. God has given Elijah a man who will continue to tell the people God’s words. Elisha is willing to do this and has asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha knows that God has been with Elijah and he wants God to be with him as well.
Activity
Elijah had become old and he was tired. He knew his time on earth was coming to an end. God had a special plan for Elijah, and he also had someone to continue on in Elijah’s place. Let’s play a form of pictionary. I am going to start drawing a picture, but then I want you to finish the drawing it. You have to guess what I am drawing and then finish what you think it is supposed to be. When you are finished we will both guess what the picture is. Let’s see how many pictures we both guess to be the same.
Materials: pictionary cards, markers, white board or paper and pencil
Alternate
Create a whirlwind/tornado in a bottle. Use a bottle, water, glitter and funnel (optional). Place a good amount of glitter into the bottle, then fill the bottle 3/4 of the way full with water. Secure the lid on tightly. Then spin the bottle in a circular motion. Once the bottle stops spinning, watch the glitter continue to spin the bottle and form a funnel in the center of the bottle. Watch this demonstration of the experiment.
Materials: bottle, water, glitter (or sand), funnel (optional)
Independent activity:
Create a picture of what God did for Elijah and what God will do for us one day. Take a sheet of construction paper and fold it in half. On one half day Elijah being taken to heaven the the chariot of fire. Write at the top “Elijah taken to heaven”. On the other half of the sheet, draw a picture of what you think it will be like when Jesus comes back to take us to heaven. At the top of this picture draw “______(your name) taken to heaven”
Materials: construction or drawing paper, crayons, pencil, markers
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Complete the following Elijah and his chariot craft. Print the chariot and Elijah, then follow the directions to color, cut, fold and glue the chariot together.
Materials: White cardstock, Chariot Pattern ,Paper Brads, Hole Punch, Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils, Glue, Cotton Balls
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
How did Elijah get to heaven?
What did Elisha do after Elijah was taken to heaven?
What part of today’s story did you think was amazing?
How do you think Elijah felt while he was riding in a chariot of fire?
Although we haven’t seen anyone whisked away in a fiery chariot, when Jesus returns, the Bible says we will meet him in the air.
What are some amazing things the Bible says will happen when Jesus returns? (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Practical Application at Home
God has done amazing things in the past and he continues to do amazing things now. God wants to take us to heaven to dwell with him and it is amazing there. The bible describes what heaven will be like and what it will look like. God wants it to be amazing for us! What things are you looking forward to? Read Revelation 21 and then discuss some of the amazing things you will see in heaven.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.