Scripture: I Kings 18:1-19:18
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn God is the only god we should worship.
- Students will learn that just like Baal, false gods like money, beauty and even power have no strength or value compared to God.
- Students will learn sometimes God shows himself to us in quiet ways like the whisper to Elijah.
- Students will learn how to actively take notes when someone is speaking.
Guiding Question: How do distractions turn our focus away from God?
Materials: Paper, pencils
Procedure: Review the story of Elijah and Mt. Carmel from the scriptures above. Emphasize the people’s dependence on idols and how the idols distracted them from the true God. Explain that idols are not just statues like the story. Idols can be anything that distracts us from God or becomes a priority in our life. Idols can be a multitude of things – a job, other people, TV, video games, sports, etc. Remind the students that there is nothing wrong with enjoying things like our jobs and TV but they should never come before God. Distractions can keep us from the important things in life. Listening to God requires attention and focus on Him, not on distractions and idols.
Introduce the activity. Review with students how to take crucial notes when listening to someone speak. Have students interview “Elijah”(You would play the part of Elijah), Have students take notes from the interview and afterwards they will compare notes. Check to see if some students miss Important information, add their own spin, mishear or misunderstand what was said, etc. Discuss strategies for more accurate note taking.
Additional Questions: How can students practice listening to their friends?
Supplemental Activity: Have students partner up and share stories about their favorite vacation, school memory, activity, etc. One partner will share and the other will take notes. After the story is over, have the story telling partner check the notes to see the accuracy of the notes. Then repeat with the other partner.