VERSES: 1 Kings 19: 19-21
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Kings 19:19 "...and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle on him."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Jeremiah. Write "Jeremiah" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class, so the students can memorize the next book of the Bible.
PRAYER: Pray that we are ready for every opportunity that comes our way to speak to someone about the Bible.
SPECIAL SONG: Elijah (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog)
VISUAL AID: A picture of a mantle and a yoke of oxen. Draw a picture on the whiteboard or chalkboard of Elisha plowing in a field, Elijah passing by as he threw his mantle onto Elisha.
LESSON POINTS: (Since this is a short lesson, perhaps the Bible teacher can review all of the Books of the Bible that the students have learned so far or sing the many songs that the students have learned in Bible class.)
- After God had told Elijah to anoint Elisha to be the prophet who would take his place, Elijah went to find Elisha. Do you know what Elisha was doing when Elijah saw him? He was working and working hard! Elisha was out in the field plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. God always calls busy people and Elisha was busy! As Elijah passed by, he threw his mantle or cloak on Elisha and Elisha knew what that meant!
- That was Elisha's call from God to become a prophet just like Elijah. Many prophets left their homes and families to face the danger of angry kings and queens with always the thought in their minds of being killed by the truth that they spoke.
- Elisha was ready to follow Elijah, but first he wanted to say goodbye to his family. Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah and asked him if he could kiss his mother and father before he left home and followed Elijah. Elijah told Elisha to go back home if he wanted to say goodbye. So Elisha went home, made a feast for everyone, then he got up, and went to follow and help Elijah.
- It was a great honor to follow in Elijah's footsteps and Elisha realized that fact when Elijah threw his mantle on him. There was going to be danger and hard times ahead, but Elisha accepted the job with enthusiasm. What would we have done?
- Definition of 'yoke' - a device made of wood that joins two like animals together when they are working as a team, i.e. a yoke of oxen.
- Definition of 'mantle' - a loose, sleeveless cloak or shawl.
Materials needed: 24" x 36" piece of light-colored fleece or a towel or material (any color), marker. (If there are a great number of students and very little money, you might want to think about paper or second-hand materials.)
- In advance, purchase or find long strips of material, one for each student.
- Hand out material.
- There is no cutting or coloring for this project other than the lettering and the initial cutting of the fabric into strips.
- Write "Elijah's Mantle" and "1 Kings 19" in the very middle of one side of the fabric.
- Students wrap cloth around their shoulders as Elijah might have done with his mantle.
- This is a simple lesson, but that the students will it remember for a long time. Seems like the easy lessons are harder to forget!