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A wealthy woman had an extra room built onto her house and furnished it comfortably for Elisha. Elisha and his servant used the room whenever they passed through the area of Shunem. In thanks for her help in preaching the word of God, Elisha told the woman that she would give birth to a son even though her husband was very old. She did give birth to a son, but after a few years, he died. The woman placed the boy’s body in Elisha’s special room and then went to find Elisha. Elisha came and raised her son from the dead.

Bible verses used in this episode:

2 Kings 4:8-37

Outline:

1. An important woman shows hospitality to Elisha. (2 Kings 4:8-10)
2. The woman and her husband have a baby boy. (2 Kings 4:11-17)
3. The son becomes sick and dies. (2 Kings 4:18-21)
4. The woman fetches Elisha to save her son. (2 Kings 4:22-37)

Tips for teaching children:

• Discuss how we can bless those we know who preach and teach. Perhaps make cards or prepare cookies for the preacher in your church.
• Craft: Use a box (like a shoe box) to make a bible times house. Create a room on the roof like the woman did for Elisha.
• The boy in the story sneezed. For fun, take turns sneezing and choose who has the funniest sneeze.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read this story dramatically with different class members reading the parts of the different characters in the story. Choose someone to be the narrator, one to read each of the characters in the story.
• Although hospitality is not the main point of the story, it is an obvious component of it.
  • In what ways did this woman demonstrate hospitality?
  • Why is hospitality so important?
  • How does it demonstrate the character of God?
• One of the primary characters in this story is the woman. Spend some time describing her.
  • What does this story tell us about this woman? Especially note verses 25-30.
  • What are some of the qualities of this woman that are worthy of imitating?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Elisha Raises a Boy from the Dead

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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A prophet died, leaving debts his widow and two sons could not pay. The creditor decided to take the two sons as slaves to pay the debt. When the widow begged for Elisha’s help, the Lord miraculously provided them with enough oil to sell and pay off the debt.

Bible verses used in this episode:

2 Kings 4:1-7

Outline:

1. The desperate widow of a prophet approaches Elisha. (2 Kings 4:1)
2. Elisha directs a miracle that multiplies oil and saves the widow’s sons. (2 Kings 4:2-7)

Tips for teaching children:

• Ask the children to think about how they would have felt if they had been the sons in this story.
• Provide olives and olive oil so the children can touch, smell and even taste them.
• Draw pictures of jars in various shapes and sizes.
• Provide jars and water so younger children can reenact the pouring of oil into jars.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read the story aloud from three or four different translations.
• Bring a small jar of olive oil to the classroom and bring various kinds of olives for the class to enjoy tasting.
• Divide the class into groups of three or four and challenge them to write down all the different ways the ancient world utilised oil from the olive tree. Asking Google or AI is encouraged. After a short period of time, ask each group to share what they came up with. Compare each group's answers. Did any group come up with a use that no other group did?
• Discuss the following:
  • God uses what we have to bless – even if it's just one jar of olive oil. How has God used you or what you have to bless others?
  • God protects and provides for the vulnerable. Why is God so concerned for those who are vulnerable, such as widows, children and the poor?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Elisha and the Widow’s Oil

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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We are taking a couple of weeks off to rest, relax and spend time with family. May God grant you a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year.
David and Mary

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Elijah continued to be a prophet in Israel during the times of Kings Ahab, Ahaziah and Joram (7th, 8th, and 9th kings of Israel). Elisha became Elijah’s helper. When Elijah’s work as a prophet came to an end, a chariot and horses of fire appeared, and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah’s special gifts were passed on to Elisha to continue the work of the prophets. Elijah was one of a handful of people in the bible that went straight to heaven without dying.

Bible verses used in this episode:

2 Kings 2:1-18

Outline:

1. Elijah’s farewell tour and departure (2 Kings 2:1-12)
2. Elisha takes up Elijah’s ministry (2 Kings 2:1-12)

Tips for teaching children:

• Take the children outside to look at clouds. Find clouds that like things in today’s lesson (horses, chariot, Elijah or Elisha, a coat). Use this opportunity to talk about heaven.
• Teach young children how to draw loops that increase in size to form a whirlwind.
• Use paints or markers to illustrate the story.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This story can be read during the class time. This can be organized as a dramatic reading, assigning different characters in the story to different readers or one person could read the narrative part, another be the voice of Elijah, another Elisha, and another could be the group of prophets.
• Spend several minutes discussing aspects of this text. You could help start conversation by choosing some of the following discussion prompts:
  • Describe the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. What can we learn from this relationship?
  • Why do you think the fiery chariot and horses come between Elijah and Elisha just before Elijah was taken up in a storm?
  • What does the coat of Elijah represent?
  • When Elisha asks for a ‘double-portion’ of Elijah’s spirit, what is he really asking for?
  • What legacy of faith do you want to leave?
  • What legacy of faith do you want to leave your children and others?
  • What can you do to pass your faith to others who come after you? What can you do now to make this happen?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Elijah and the Whirlwind

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, led his people and wanted them to trust God. Everyone was very afraid when a huge army was about to attack Judah, so King Jehoshaphat called all of the people together to fast and pray. The Lord spoke through a prophet and told the people not to worry because this battle belonged to the Lord. Jehoshaphat sent the army into battle, but, different to other battles, he placed a group of men in front to praise the Lord in song. While the army of Judah was approaching the battlefield praising the Lord, the Lord set the enemy armies against each other. By the time Judah’s army arrived at the battle, it was already over. The enemy armies had killed each other!

Bible verses used in this episode:

2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Outline:

1. King Jehoshaphat leads the people in prayer to God. (2 Chronicles 20:1-19)
2. God defeats the enemies and Jehoshaphat leads the people in praise of God. (2 Chronicles 20:20-30)

Tips for teaching children:

• Recreate the scene in verse 28 by making instruments and having a praise parade.
• Ask the children to share anything they might be afraid of. As a group, pray like Jehoshaphat and the people prayed in verse 18 by lying face down on the ground.
• Guide the children in making up a tune for the words of verse 21, “Thank the Lord. His love continues forever.”

Tips for teaching adults:

• Begin the class by singing, “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” and “Rescue Me.”
• This story can be read during the class time. Use the outline in the show-notes to divide up the reading.
• Here are some discussions questions related to verses 1-4:
  • How did Jehoshaphat emotionally react to the news of a large army coming to attack?
  • How did he respond to this news?
  • What can we learn from him about when we feel overwhelmed by a problem?
• Here are some discussions questions related to verses 5-12:
  • What do you notice about what Jehoshaphat prayed?
  • How can rehearsing God’s character and past actions help us when we pray?
• Hand out pieces of paper to the class members and ask them to write down problems they are facing that feel overwhelming to them. Collect these and designate someone in the class to read these out and then pray about them.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Jehoshaphat and the People Pray

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Elijah had been in hiding for the 3 years of the drought. The Lord now told him to reveal himself to King Ahab. Elijah bravely asked the king to gather all the people at Mount Carmel for a contest to see whose god was real. Priests of the false gods, Baal and Asherah, also attended. The priests prayed and chanted all day, but they could not get their “gods” to send fire down to burn the sacrifices on the altar they had built. Finally, Elijah had his altar doused in water and prayed to the Lord to send fire. Fire immediately consumed the sacrifice, the wood, stones, soil and even the water overflowing into the trenches around the altar. Everyone there now knew God was real. After this time, the rain came, and the long drought ended.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Kings 18

Outline:

1. Elijah summoned King Ahab, the prophets of Baal and the people to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:1-20)
2. In a contest between prophets, the Lord proves he is the only true God (1 Kings 18:21-40)
3. Eolijah prays and God ends the 3 year drought. (1 Kings 18:41-46)

Tips for teaching children:

• Before telling the story, conduct a number of simple contests. These may include simple contests like arm wrestling, who can stand on one foot for the longest time or who can refrain from smiling the longest as everyone else is being silly. This can lead into the story of the contest between God and Baal.
• Make a thaumatrope (simple animation) with alternating pictures of an altar and of fire. Online instructions such as these can be helpful. https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/thaumatrope/

Tips for teaching adults:

• Bring 12 large rocks into the classroom and ask three or four volunteers to build an altar while someone reads v.20-40.
• Ask the following questions: What do you think is the main point of the story? How would you respond to this story? Why would you respond this way?
• Bring a fire lighter. Hand out pieces of paper and ask the class members to write down their answer to the question: “What “Baals” compete for your devotion today?” Then ask them to take the lighter and light their paper. Then throw it into a bowl of water to put out the fire.
• End class with prayer recommitting the class to serving God and God alone.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Elijah and the Contest at Mt. Carmel

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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God sent the prophet Elijah to tell King Ahab (7th king of Israel) that a terrible drought would come upon Israel because of his disobedience. Ahab’s evil wife, Jezebel, was so angry that she started having prophets of the Lord hunted down and killed. The Lord sent Elijah into hiding by a brook of water. The Lord kept Elijah safe. Twice each day, the Lord had bread and meat delivered to Elijah by unusual means – ravens. When the brook dried up, the Lord sent Elijah to the home of a poor widow. When Elijah stayed at the widow’s home, she miraculously had enough flour and oil to make bread. She never ran out. When the widow’s son died, Elijah raised him from the dead. The Lord took care of Elijah.

Bible verses used in this episode:

1 Kings 17

Outline:

1. Elijah prophesied a drought and then went into hiding at God’s command. (1 Kings 17:1-6)
2. God provided for Elijah through a widow from Zarephath. (1 Kings 17:7-16)
3. Elijah raised the widow’s dead son. (1 Kings 17:17-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• For small children, hide a picture of Elijah and find him.
• Provide flour, oil and water and make bread together.
• Guide older children in reflection using the “God’s Story” reflection page.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Bring to class bread, oil and a burner and ask a couple of people to make flat bread in the classroom while you are having the class. Or you can bring to class some bread to share that you have made out of flour and oil. Recipe
• Ask the class to share any stories about drought that they might have experienced and how they and their community coped.
• There are three sections in our story today. Challenge the class to think of at least one way we can respond to each section in the story. Here are some ideas you can give the class to get them thinking: What are the issues of trust in the story? What can we learn about God’s provision and God’s power?
• Here are some further questions to ask: How does Elijah reveal his trust in God? How does the widow? How does God demonstrate his power over the weather? What does this say about the god, Baal, and his power?
• End the class with a prayer thanking God for his provision and empowering the class members to deepen their trust in God, especially when things look bleak.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: God Takes Care of Elijah

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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Rehoboam was officially appointed the new king when his father, Solomon, died. When Rehoboam became king, Jeroboam gathered the people together and asked Rehoboam to be easier on the people and not make them work as hard as Solomon had done. The court elders advised Rehoboam that the people would love and follow him if he did this. Rehoboam ignored this good advice and listened to his young friends’ bad advice instead. They told him to make the people work harder and to treat them more like slaves. Because of this, the people rebelled, and the kingdom was divided into two parts. Rehoboam was king of the smaller part- called Judah. Jeroboam became king of the larger part- called Israel.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• 1 Kings 11:26-43
• 1 Kings 11:41-12:24

Outline:

1. Jeroboam, man of the people (1 Kings 11:20-40)
2. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, is an unwise king (1 Kings 11:41-12:15)
3. God’s nation divides (1 Kings 12:16-19)
4. Israel chooses Jeroboam as their leader (1 Kings 12:20-24)

Tips for teaching children:

• Use a pizza as a way to tell the story. Spread tomato sauce and cheese on the pizza as you talk about Saul, David and Solomon. Cut the pizza into 12 pieces (12 tribes) but keep the pizza together.
  Then, show a jar of hot peppers. Describe Rehoboam’s cruel treatment of the people. The people rejected Rehoboam. Then divide the pizza into two parts (2 kingdoms). One part should have 2 parts to represent 2 kingdoms. One part should have 10 pieces to represent Israel.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This story can be read in class. Use the outline provided in the show-notes for how to divide the reading up.
• There are several questions that this text can generate. Here are a few to think about and possibly use in the classroom. What principles of leadership can we learn from this story? In what ways does Rehoboam reveal his pride? What are the consequences of pride and poor leadership? What can leaders of God’s people today learn from this story about keeping God’s people united?
• In a more general way, encourage the class to brainstorm important 10 pieces of wisdom you believe the young people of your congregation should hear and follow? Follow up by brainstorming ways you can share your wisdom with the youth in a healthy way.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: God’s Nation Divides

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org