Lesson theme: obedience
Supplies:
Story of Jonah, several coins, candy
Ahead of time: tape pieces of candy or prizes under the seats of the kids. Collect several coins
When they arrive
Read the story of Jonah and ask questions. Divide the kids in groups. Give the team that can get the most answers wrong 10 cense. Give 25 cense to the team that gets the most right.
Ask them to do a bunch of really dumb looking things.
Shake the persons to the left hand
Jump in a circle three times
Sit down Walk around the table once, and sit down again
Go stand up, move over one seat, and sit down in the seat next to you
Hold one hand up in the air and say yoga
Sit stand up and say boogie
Stand on one leg and say goo
Sit down again and say gash
Look under your chair.
Wait for the kids to find the prizes under the chairs. Say this;
That was some pretty crazy things I asked you to do right? If you would have said oh this is just dumb, I’m going to leave class and never come back because all she does is a bunch of boring games, and then you wouldn’t have got that nice little prize.
Some people in the bible were told by Jesus to do very odd things but they did them anyways.
Tell the story of Jonah while the kid color a picture. Give a second prize to the best picture. This helps make the kids color for a longer amount of time.
The story of Jonah
Long, long ago there was a man named Jonah. He lived a good life and always obeyed god’s laws. He thought of himself as a true man of God. He was a hard worker. Through his labrs he had been able to purchase a few chickens, a donkey, and a goat.
One day God spoke to Jonah. “Jonah, Jonah” “what? Oh who was that?” “Jonah, I am the lord God: there is a city called nenevah far away. It is filled with people who tell wicked lies. They have forgotten about kindness and helping others.” “ why are you telling me about them god?” Jonah asked. “Because I want you to go there and tell those wicked people I am going to destroy them and their city because of their wicked ways.” God responded. Um uh, yes Lord. I’ll go but they wouldn’t listen, they are evil!”
The more Jonah thought about it the more uneasy he became. That night Jonah couldn’t sleep well. He thought, “No! They’ll hurt me! Nineveh is so far, they’ll laugh at me! No!” Jonah was denying God’s plan for him and disobeying him. “Those people don’t even care about God. Why would they believe me? They might event try to (gulp) kill me! AHHH”
The more Jonah thought about those people the more frighten he became. He decide to run away from God. That very night he packed his clothes and headed to the sea port.
The next morning he found a ship headed FAR, FAR away. “Who goes there?” the captain said. “Um Jonah sir. Uh please captain let me go with you! I’ll give you all my money for a place on your ship!” “Looks like trouble to me. I wonder what he is running away from” whispered the captain, “well, I guess we can gin a place for him.”
Jonah boarded the ship and hid deep in the hold as far away from god as he could. At last he saw the anchor being pulled up and the ship headed out to sea. “At last, we’re heading out to open sea. I have disobeyed God but he will never find me now. Ash... now, I’ll have a new life for myself” he said.
As soon as the ship was far away from land, God sent a huge storm; for no one can hide from God. God sent huge gust of wind flying over the sea and great waves of freezing water tossing over the tiny ship. “All men on deck, we’re taking on water!” “Captain we’re sinking! We need to throw the cargo overboard” all the sailors went inside the ship and saw Jonah fast asleep. “Look” they cried” he’s sleeping! We need all hands on deck, wake him”
Outside it was as dark as night. The sailors began to throw the cargo overboard. “NO!” Jonah cried, “Save the ship. Stop! Stop! You must throw me in instead.” The sailors gasped, “What are you saying? We cannot throw and innocent mad overboard!” “Listen!” Jonah cried, “God had sent this storm to punish ME!” The captain screamed over the thunder, “punish? Why?” “I tried to run away from god and disobey him and now he has found me!” Jonah said. “If we throw him over now, he’ll surely die” said the frightened crew. “But the win and the wave are too much for us. We have no choice.” Replied the captain. The sailors grabbed Jonah and threw him overboard. The sea became calm. Down, down, down, into the sea sank Jonah.
But god was not yet finished with Jonah. He send a giant fish to swallow Jonah whole. Jonah found himself in the belly of this giant fish! “Oh, It’s so dark in here, and slimy and AHHH, a slimy green thing on my head! What will become of me? I wonder, if I pray and ask god to forgive me for disobeying him, if God will still hear me?
Jonah turned to the Lord. “Lord thank you for saving me”. Inside the fish Jonah prayed for three days. “I’m sorry Lord for disobeying you. Please let me out of this terrible prison.” God herd Jonah and knew he was sorry. He made the fish spit Jonah out onto t=dry land. “Thank you lord for saving me” he prayed.
But god hadn’t forgotten about what he had asked Jonah to do. “Jonah, remember what I asked you to do? Go to Nineveh and tell those evil people about me.” “Yes Lord. I will obey you” Jonah went to Neveah and told the evil people of god. The people repented of their sins and turned to God. God spared the people of Nineveh and Jonah had finally learned his lesson. The end.
Questions:
When God first asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, did he obey right away?
No
What are some things we can do to obey God?
_______
When we disobey our parents, who are we really disobeying?
God
How long was Jonah in the belly of the whale for?
3 days
Did God love the evil people of Nineveh?
Yes
How did Jonah try to escape from god?
By hiding in the ship
What did God send to save Jonah after he was thrown overboard?
A big fish
What was Jonah doing when the captain found him?
Sleeping
Did the people of Nineveh turn from the evil things they were doing?
Yes
What was the city that god asked Jonah to go to?
Nineveh
How did Jonah get out of the fish?
It spit him out
