Week 346 · about 45 minutes
1 Kings 18
1 Kings 18 · Memory verse 1 Kings 18:37
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Queues the lesson plan, this story’s coloring page (1 Kings 18), the matching word search and answer key (1 Kings 18 word search), the memory-verse tracer, and a parent slip.
Five-minute object lesson
Prop: a cup of water
Hold a cup of water. Read 1 Kings 18 in about four minutes, stopping at 1 Kings 18:37: “Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”” Ask, “What does this prop have to do with 1 Kings 18?” Let two children answer, then say the memory verse together.
Story script
1 Kings 18 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.
Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “You call on the name of your god, and I will call on Yahweh’s name. The God who answers by fire, let him be God.” All the people answered, “What you say is good.”” 1 Kings 18 opens with these words: “After many days, Yahweh’s word came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab; and I will send rain on the earth.”” The line to keep is 1 Kings 18:37: “Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”” Carry the word “hear” from that verse into the rest of the day.
The line worth learning out loud is 1 Kings 18:37: “Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.”” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.
What happens first in 1 Kings 18? Then try this: Read “Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.
Group game
Walk the room as if you are moving through 1 Kings 18. Every time you freeze, a child says one word from 1 Kings 18:37. The last child says the whole verse.
Craft
On a US Letter sheet, draw one picture from 1 Kings 18 and write 1 Kings 18:37 under it. Send it home as tonight’s reminder, not as a decoration contest.
Memory verse
1 Kings 18:37
“Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.””
Take-home prayer
Father, thank you for 1 Kings 18. Help us remember 1 Kings 18:37 when we wake up, and teach us to notice you in an ordinary night. Amen.