Elijah and the Chariots of Fire 2 Kings 2:1-8 - Saxe Gotha and the... · Elijah and the Chariots of Fire 2 Kings 2:1-8 Kids will understand: • Elijah was taken away by the chariots

Elijah and the Chariots of Fire2 Kings 2:1-8Kids will understand:

•Elijahwastakenawaybythechariotsoffire.•ElishalearnedfromElijah.•Everyoneneedsaspiritualmentor.

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2013February 24

Copyright 2012KidzMatterAll Rights Reserved.

Editor/Writer: Tina HouserDesign: Nicole IronsIlustrations: Emily Jenness

432 East Val LaneMarion, IN 46953kidzmatter.com

This iKnow kidzmatter.com2

SUPPLIES•PowerPointslides–“GetAround”

•paper•pencils

Give the kids paper and pencil (or individual dry erase boards and mark-ers). Each child will write down five things people ride in or on … and don’t limit yourself to the ordinary ways! Then, view the PowerPoint pictures we have provided. Each time a child sees one of the ways he has recorded on his paper, they can give themselves 25 points … and let out a whoop and a holler!

After you’ve viewed the slides and heard the kids’ answers, see how many other ways you can name. Check out this list! Some of them were in the slides and others weren’t. (Skateboard, wagon, bicycle, car, double-decker bus, hot air balloon, race car, snow skiis, bobsled, uni-cycle, mini-bike, tractor, One, golf cart, scooter, kayak, camel, elephant, tour tram, ski lift, ostrich) Elijah was transported to heaven on some-thing even stranger, more EXTREME, than any of these. Wonder what it could be?

Story

Teach the kids this little rhyme:

Notonyourlife.(thighs, thighs, hands)

Notonyourlife.(thighs, thighs, hands)

I’mnotlettingyou(thighs, thighs, hands)

outofmysight.(thighs, thighs, hands)

Go through it several times, so they feel very comfortable with the words before adding the claps. Now, can you say it while pounding your hands against your thighs twice and then clapping? It should sound a lot like the rousing cheer you hear in a stadium, “We will, we will, rock you!”

As you watch the video of this story, “Elijah Leaves Elisha,” there are children who will appear to lead this rhyme. Encourage your kids to enthusiastically join in and rock the place!

* If you’d like to present the story live, we have included an option at the end of the lesson.

ACtIvIty

This is one of the most fun techniques for reviewing a story—the story re-enactment relay. You can use one set-up for one child at a time or duplicate the set-up and run it like a team relay. The object of this exercise/game is to do an action and make a short statement at each of four stations. By the time the kids have completed the route of all four

ACtIvIty

SUPPLIES•Video–“ElijahLeavesElisha”

•alternative:scriptatendoflesson

SUPPLIES•maskingtape•lightbrownconstructionpaper

•rice•smallscoop•2buckets•jacket


stations, they have reviewed the main points of the story in sequence.

Let’s discuss the set-up for the four stations.

Station#1: put down three masking tape lines about 18” apart and about a foot in length

Station#2: place a couple of pieces of light brown construction pa-per on the floor labeled “Muddy Jordan River” and a rolled up piece of newspaper next to it

Station#3: a bucket of rice with a small scoop in it and an empty bucket

Station#4: lay a vest or coat on the floor

Now, here’s what the kids will do at each station.

Station#1: Name 3 places that Elijah told Elisha he was going to go. Hop on one line and say the name of the first town (Bethel), hop to the second line and say name of the second town (Jericho), hop to the third line and say the name of the third place (Jordan).

Now … run, run, run to the next station!

Station#2: Roll up a piece of newspaper and smack a piece of light brown paper. (The Jordan River was muddy.) The kids will say, “They walked across on dry land.”


Station#3: The kids will use a scoop to move two portions of rice (sand, dirt, anything little) from one bucket to the other and say, “Elisha asked for double the spirit.”


Station#4: Put on a jacket or vest and say, “Elisha put on Elijah’s cloak.”

As soon as this round is over, start the next round of children. The chil-dren watching can coach the runners if they need help with the phrases they are to say at each station, but MAKE SURE they make the state-ment at each station.

GAmE

Run copies of the Yes/No cards at the end of the lesson. Each kid needs one of each. If you have enough flyswatters so that each kid can have one, this is a really fun thing to use … just kicks it up a notch! (Flyswat-ters can be purchased at dollar stores.) If the flyswatters aren’t available, give each child a couple of sheets of newspaper. They will roll these into a tight tube and then wrap the tube with a piece of tape to keep it rolled.

SUPPLIES

•flyswattersornewspaper

•tape•copiesof“Yes”and“No”cards(fromtheendofthelesson)


When Elijah and Elisha reached the muddy Jordan River, what did Elijah do with his robe? He took it off and smacked the water with it. Why did he smack the water? To separate the water and to show God’s power. What did Elisha do with Elijah’s robe when he reached the Jor-dan River? He smacked the water with it. And, what happened?

We’re going to smack something with these flyswatters (or paper rolls) … but not each other! Give each child a “Yes” card and a “No” card run from the Yes/No sheet at the end of the lesson. The kids will sit on the floor and place both cards in front of them.

Make each statement below. After each one pause, and then say, “Jor-dan!” The pause will give the kids time to figure out if the statement is correct or if it is incorrect. If it is correct, then they will smack their “Yes” card when you say “Jordan!” If the statement is incorrect, then they will smack their “No” card when you say “Jordan!” Whenever the answer is “No”, the kids will correct the statement so that it is correct.

QuestionsandAnswers

•Elijah took off his hat when he got to the Jordan River. (No. He took off his cloak.)

•A prophet is someone who takes care of horses. (No. A prophet is someone who speaks God’s message.)

•The young prophets kept warning Elisha that Elijah would be taken away that day. (Yes)

•Elijah and Elisha went to Tarsus and Rome to visit with the young prophets. (No. They went to Bethel and Jericho to visit with young proph-ets.)

•Elisha followed Elijah everywhere he went. (Yes)

•Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. (Yes)

•Elijah went to heaven in a cloud. (No. He rode away in a chariot that was on fire.)

•Elisha stayed back when Elijah told him to. (No. Elisha followed Elijah.)

•Elijah’s staff was left on the ground when he was taken to heaven. (No. Elijah’s cloak was left on the ground.)

•Elisha swam across the Jordan when he got back to it. (No. He smacked the water and it parted so he could walk across.)

•The young prophets looked to Elisha as their new master teacher. (Yes)

•Elijah told Elisha there was no way to know if God had given him a double portion of spirit. (No. Elijah said if Elisha saw how Elijah was taken away, then he would know that God was giving him a double portion.)


SUPPLIES

•asmallsnack

SnACK

Give each child one portion of a snack the kids really like, but can be served in a small portion (such as pudding or a small cookie). If you use pudding, then have one serving spoon of pudding already in cups. Before the kids begin to eat, ask if anyone would like a double amount—an extra spoon full. Most of the kids will. As the person serving goes around with more pudding, instruct each child to request more by say-ing, “I’d like a double portion, please.”

What other things do you usually ask for more of? This can be food, but don’t limit it to that. You may ask for more time before you have to go to bed. You may ask to watch another video or stay at a friend’s house another hour.

In our story today, Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, but it wasn’t because Elisha wanted to be twice the man that Elijah was. He didn’t ask to be twice as powerful. He didn’t ask to be twice as rich. He didn’t ask to be twice as strong. He didn’t ask to be twice as smart. He asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. There’s a special reason he made this request and we have to understand a little about how things were done at that time to really get what’s going on here. At that time, the oldest son inherited twice as much as any of the other sons when the father passed away. If a younger son got two camels, then the oldest son got four camels. If the younger son got 20 gold coins, then the older son got 40. If the younger son got one dip of pudding, the older son got two dips! Elisha looked to Elijah as his spiritual father and wanted Elijah to bless him like he was his old-est son. What Elisha was saying is that he wanted to know God twice as much as Elijah. Elijah walked close with God, but Elisha wanted to walk even closer if it was possible.

mESSAGE

(show slide #1) WhodoyouWATCH?•When you want to learn how to play football?•When you want to learn how to bake cookies?•When you want to learn more about God?

Elisha followed Elijah everywhere, because he wanted to be like Elijah. Elisha wanted to know everything Elijah knew about God. Elisha wanted to be the kind of man who followed God like Elijah did. Elisha wanted to know God the way that Elijah did. Elisha was kind of saying, “I want to be just like Elijah when I grow up.”

Who do you want to be just like when you grow up?

SUPPLIES

•PowerPointslides


(show slide #2) WhoshouldyouWATCH?

Elisha carefully chose someone to follow. He didn’t draw Elijah’s name out of a hat or do rock, paper, scissors to decide. Elisha saw that Elijah was so much closer to God than Elisha could ever imagine. He would never run out of things to learn from Elijah. Elisha always felt special when he was around Elijah. He always felt like he was being filled up, learning something for the first time, and becoming a better person because he was around Elijah.

Other than your parents, is there someone you know who walks close to God who you would like to be like? Think about the things they say and the way they act. Give the children an opportunity to tell about that person and what it is that makes them feel that way.

(show slide #3) WhatdoyouwanttolearnfromthepersonyouWATCH?

Elisha watched Elijah and learned many things from him. Elijah re-lied on God to give him the words he was to say to the people. Elisha wanted to rely on God for the words he would say. Elijah spoke boldly about God and didn’t care when people disliked him for that. Elisha wanted to speak boldly for God. Elijah was a wonderful teacher, and Elisha wanted to teach others.

What do you want to learn from the person you watch? Choose some-one who tries to live like Jesus. When you choose a person like that, you’ll learn so much about your Heavenly Father. When you watch how other people rely on God, it makes it easier for you to rely on God. You can learn so much about God when you watch the right people.Elisha copied what Elijah did. When he got to the Jordan River he smacked it with the coat. The same thing happened that happened when Elijah had done that. When we have a godly person to watch, we can do what they do and know that God will be pleased with us, just like He is pleased with them. What would you like to copy about the godly person you watch?

Give the children an opportunity to share what they would like to learn from the person they watch.

(show slide #4) WhoisWATCHINGyou?

Oh yes! Someone is watching you, and it’s not just your parents to make sure you’re where you should be. Your friends are watching you. When you don’t get mad when someone runs into you and makes you spill your juice … you are being watched! When you work hard at something you don’t understand … you are being watched! When you treat the outcast kid at school with kindness and respect … you are be-ing watched! When you live like God wants you to live, people notice and they watch you. And then, one day, they may even give you the chance to talk to them about the Lord.

Be aware … you’re being watched by people who want to see how you are different because God is in your life!


PUPPEt SCrIPt

This can also be used as a skit.

Kid: Hey,Mr.Leonard,whatyadoin’?

Adult: Oh,I’mheadingovertotheMcKinneys’tofixtheirlawn mower.

Kid: CanIcomealong?

Adult: Surekid.

(as they walk along)

Kid: Howcomeyougoin’overtotheMcKinneys’tofixtheir lawnmower?

Adult: Well,theotherdaytheysaidsomethingabouttheir grassgettinghighbecausetheirlawnmowerwasn’t workingright.So,IthoughtI’ddropbyandfixitfor them.

Kid: That’sanawfulnicethingtodo,Mr.Leonard.

Adult: Well,kid,that’sthewaytheLordwantsustotreateach other.

Kid: Howdoyouknowthat?

Adult: Well,IreadmyBibleandittellsmethatIshouldtreat otherpeoplethewayI’dliketobetreated.Ifmylawn mowerwasbrokeandIdidn’tknowhowtorepairit,I surewouldappreciateitifafriendwhoknewhowtofix itwouldhelpmeout.

Kid: Howmuchyougonnachargethem?

Adult: Oh,I’mnotgoingtogetpaid.

Kid: Howcome?They’dprobablypayyou.

Adult: It’sjustsomethingIwanttodo,becausethat’stheway theLordwantsustotreatoneanother.Idon’tthinkthe Lordmeansforustogetpaidforourkindnesses.

Kid: YousureknowalotaboutwhatGodwantsustodo.

Adult: ThatcomesfromrelyingonHimallmylifeandstudying HisWord.

Kid: HowoldtoyouhavetobetostartrelyingonHimand studyingHisWord?

Adult: Youcanstartrightnow,kid.Assoonasyourheart wantsmoreofGod,youcanstartrightthen.

Kid: Ido,butI’mnotsurehowtodothat.Couldyouhelp me,Mr.Leonard?Isurewouldliketobelikeyou.

SUPPLIES

•2puppets–kidandman


Adult: I’dloveto.Anytimeyouwanttodropbyorwalkwith me,I’dlovethecompany,andthere’snothingIlike morethantalkingaboutmyLord.

Kid: Mr.Leonard,IthinkIalreadylearnedsomething!I’d bettergo.Idon’tknowhowtofixalawnmower,but Idoknowhowtopullweeds.Myneighborladyloves hergarden,butshe’snotfeelingwelllately.IthinkI hearsomeweedscallingmyname!

PrAyEr

I am going to offer you a special way to pray today. If your answer to any of the statements I make is “yes”, and you would like to pray out loud about that, then I’m going to have you put on a jacket. The jacket probably won’t fit you, but Elijah’s cloak probably didn’t fit Elisha either. Wearing the jacket will remind us that God will give us someone to watch, so that we can learn to be more like Him.

If you would like to pray:

• that you could find a person to watch who loves God … put on a jacket.

• that you would act more like the person you already watch … put on a jacket.

• that you could be a person God is proud of when others watch you … put on a jacket.

You may have to do this several times, but it is important for the chil-dren to physically experience putting on Elijah’s coat as they pray out loud.

BLESSInG

May God give you someone who will teach you how to live for Him.

SUPPLIES

•severalcloaksorjackets

This iKnow kidzmatter.com

SUPPLIES•clearplate•flashpaper•match

SCIEnCE ExPErImEnt

Flash paper can be ordered online at science supply or magician sites. Store it in an airtight container. Place one piece of the flash paper on the clear plate. If we burned a piece of newspaper today, what would be left behind? Lots of ashes. Place the plate with the flash paper in the center where the kids can watch closely. Light the match and touch the corner of the flash paper. It will quickly cause a flame, and the paper is gone. Is there anything left? Very, very little is left behind. If you look closely, you will see just a tiny bit left on the plate.

Can you relate this to the scripture we talked about today? Elijah was taken away in a chariot of fire. Elisha lost sight of him completely just like we lost sight of the flash paper when it burned. But there was just a little bit of Elijah left behind. All that was left to mark that Elijah had been there was his cloak.

SCrIPtUrE mEmorIzAtIon

1 Corinthians 2:9 (The Message) “No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imag-ined anything quite like it—what God has arranged for those who love Him.”

How does this scripture make you think of what happened to Elijah? How does it make you think of what Elisha experienced? Encourage the kids to make as many connections as possible.

We started off talking about different ways that people get around. Elijah left in a chariot of fire. We’re going to use skateboards, though. Form groups and give each group a skateboard. Two kids from each group will play in each round. One person will sit on the skateboard, while the other person pushes them to the other end of the room where they will switch places and come back. The first pair back will say the scripture together. Two new people from each group will travel on the skateboard for the next round. Continue as long as you like!

SUPPLIES

•skateboards

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mUSIC

We’re excited to provide you with two songs by contemporary Christian artist, Yancy, to use in worship. Your kids will love this music, because Yancy presents a Christian message in the style that kids enjoy. It’s not the same music that you grew up with, so relax and enjoy how much your kids connect with it. Throw the graphics on the wall and let your kids loose to have a blast wor-shipping God. The two downloads for this quarter are: “Shout!” and “No Other Name.” If you’d like additional music by Yancy, check out www.yancynotnancy.com.

GAmE

The kids will sit in a circle. If you have more than 20 kids, create additional circles. Give each child two pennies. Before each round begins, each child will choose how they will hold their pennies. They can put both in one hand or put one in each hand. They should not let anyone see how they have arranged their pennies, and clinch their fingers around them. One person will stand in the middle.

Everywhere Elijah and Elisha went, the young prophets asked Elisha a question. Who knows what that question was? (Do you know that the Lord is going to take Elijah today?) What did Elisha answer every time? (Yes, I know.) Elijah and Elisha were TOGETH-ER as they traveled, but when Elijah was taken up in the chariot of fire, then they were APART. In this game, we’re going to practice asking that question and answering it.

The person in the middle (the caller) will face one of the children in the circle and say, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take Elijah today?” and then they’ll say either “together” or “apart.” If the person addressed has the pennies the way the caller guessed, then they’ll say, “Yes, I know.” If the person addressed doesn’t have the pennies the way the caller guessed, then they don’t say anything. As soon as the caller finds someone who matches their guess, then that person becomes the caller and switches places with them.

StorytELLInG tEChnIqUE

Before you start presenting the story, teach the kids the following rhyme. The kids can also clap along with the beat, like “We will, we will rock you.”

Notonyourlife Notonyourlife I’mnotlettingyououtofmysight.

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SUPPLIES•pennies

SUPPLIES•musicvideodownload


Narrator: Elijahwasanoldman,averyoldman.Hehad beenaprophetoftheLordformanyyears.Do youknowwhataprophetis?Aprophetis someonewhospeaksforGod,whosayswhat Godtoldhimtosay.Allthetimehewasa prophet,hetoldthepeopleoverandoverto getridoftheiridols.Butnow,hisworkwasover anditwastimeforhimtogoontoheaventobe withtheLord.

GodhadsomeoneinmindtotakeElijah’splace. ItwasayoungmannamedElisha.Welearn alotbywatchingotherpeopleandthat’show ElishalearnedfromElijah.Elishawentevery wherewithElijahandwatchedhimclosely.

GodtoldElijahtogotoBethelbecausethere wassomethingheneededtodothere.So,Elijah toldElishatostaywherehewas,andElijah wouldgoonahead.But,Elishawouldnothear ofit.Hesaid…(signal kids to come in)

Kids: Notonyourlife. Notonyourlife. I’mnotlettingyououtofmysight.

Narrator: ElijahmadehisverylasttriptoBetheltovisit withthestudentsthere.Theyoungstudents pulledElishaasideandsaid,“Doyouknow thattheLordisgoingtotakeElijahtoday?” Elishasaid,“Yes,Iknow.”Then,Elijahtold Elishatostaythere,becauseGodwantedhimto goontoJericho,becausetherewassomething heneededtodothere.Elishasaid…


Narrator: ElijahandElishathentraveledontoJericho wheretheyvisitedwithsomemoreyoung prophets.Theseyoungprophetsalsopulled Elishaasideandsaid,“Doyouknowthatthe LordisgoingtotakeElijahtoday?”Elisha replied,“Yes,Iknow.”ElijahtoldElishathatGod wantedhimtogoontotheJordanRiver, becausetherewassomethinghewassupposed todothere.ButElishawouldnotstandforit.He said…


Narrator: Thistime50oftheyoungprophetsfrom JerichofollowedalongbehindElijahandElisha allthewaytotheJordanRiver.Whenthey reachedthewater’sedge,Elijahtookoffhis coat,foldedit,andthensmackedthewater. Immediately,thewaterpartedandleftadry

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pathtowalkacrosstheriver.ElijahandElisha walkedacross.

Astheywalked,ElijahaskedElisha,“Whatdoyouwantfromme,Elisha?”Elisha’sanswerwasstrange.Hesaid,“Iwanttwiceasmuchofyourspirit.”ThatwasnotsomethingthatElijahcouldgiveElisha.OnlyGodcouldgivethat.ButElijahtoldElishahowhewouldbeabletotellifGodgavehimadoubleportion.ElijahsaidthatifElishawaspermittedtoseeElijahwhenhewastakenaway,thenGodhadgrantedthisspecialblessingofHisspirit.

Suddenly,astheywerewalkingalong,achariotandhorsesthatlookedliketheyweremadeoffirecameswoopingdown.RightbeforeElisha’seyes,Elijahwastakenawayinachariotoffire.TherewasnothingElishacoulddotokeephimthere,eventhoughhewasprobablythinking…

Kids: Notonyourlife.Notonyourlife.I’mnotlettingyououtofmysight.

Narrator: Finally,thechariotandhorsesoffirecarrying ElijahdisappearedfromElisha’ssight.Whenhe lookeddown,therewasElijah’scoat.Hepicked itupandheadedbacktotheJordanRiver.

WhenElishagottotheriver,theyoungprophetswerestillwaitingontheotherside.ElishadidwhathehadseenElijahdo…hetookthecoatoff,foldedthecoatandsmackedthewater.Thewatersparted,justliketheyhadforElijah,andElishawalkedacross.

TheyoungstudentprophetsnowrealizedthatElishawastheirnewMasterTeacher.Godhadtakentheonewhohadbeenthestudent—Elisha—andgivenhimthespiritoftheteacher.

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nonononono

Documents

Elijah and the Chariots of Fire 2 Kings 2:1-8 - Saxe Gotha and the... · Elijah and the Chariots of Fire 2 Kings 2:1-8 Kids will understand: • Elijah was taken away by the chariots