Class: 8-10 year olds

BIBLICAL REFERENCE

Psalms 34.17-19 and Kings 18.20-40

PURPOSE OF THE LESSON

Teach the kids that God listens and answers His children’s cry out.

VERSE TO MEMORIZE

" The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles". (Psalm 34.17)

INTRODUCTION

Start asking the class: Who here, when you called someone, you had no answer, because the person didn’t listen to you, or because he/she refused to answer? (Wait for their participation). How did you feel then? (Wait for their participation). Today we will learn about some prophets who cried out a lot. Let’s find out if they were answered? Then listen carefully.

THE ANSWERED PRAYER

Elijah was a prophet of God. Do you know what a prophet is? Prophet is the one who proclaims the message of God, teaching the people the ways of God. Elijah was a man who feared God, and many miracles happen through him. He prayed for the rain and so it happened, he blessed a widow who was going through many problems.

But some day, something great happened, Elijah challenged eight hundred and fifty prophets who worshiped other gods. Children, many of the people of Israel were following these prophets, doing wrong things. They could not decide whom they wanted to serve and it ended up displeasing to the true God.

Elijah commanded the King together with the prophets who followed other gods, and all the people of Israel to meet at Mount Caramel. Thus did the king, and in the day and at the appointed time all went to Mt. Elijah was so shocked to see the Israelis doing the wrong things that he said: "How long will you be left with doubts about what to do? If the Lord is God, adore Him: but if Baal is God, Baal worship. “And he made a challenge with the prophets of Baal saying, "raise an altar to your gods and offer a sacrifice to them, cry out their names, and I'll do the same with my God. The one who answers by fire on the sacrifice, this is the true God. "

What a hard challenge, right? Elijah had great faith and certainty that God would respond, as were eight hundred prophets against him. Do you know what happened? (Wait for their participation). The prophets of Baal were left crying out from morning until noon, shouted, but nothing happened. Then it was Elijah’s time to make his prayer and so he said: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! Show now that you are God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and I did all this according to Your order. Answer me, Lord, that this people may know that You, Lord, is God and you are bringing this town back for You. “In the Bible it says: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; delivers them from all their troubles." (Psalm 34.17), and that's what happened. God heard and responded to Elijah with fire falling from the sky upon the altar of sacrifice. After that all the people of Israel knelt down, put their faces on the ground and shouted: "Oh Lord God! Only the Lord is God! And then recognized that Elijah was a man of God and followed the true God.

God answered Elijah because he was a sincere person, a true man of God. Ehen we are honest, sincere, God will always answer us and He will never allow us to be ashamed. Just ask in faith and God will make the miracle that we need. Do you all understand?

FUN CHAT 

Educator, start by choosing two children now (Note: they cannot have the same name). Ask them to walk in the opposite direction. Educator, you will have to walk behind one of the children, but calling the name of the other. Continue until someone notices that you are calling the wrong name. Ask the chosen children to sit and tell the class: Children as I was following (say the name of the kid you were following) and calling (say the name of who you were calling) and the prophets Baal were calling a god who wasn’t God. In this challenge, Elijah proved that there is only one God, and our true God, our true and powerful God who answers our prayers and bless us.

Kids, we must be determined like Elijah, who was trying to please God, didn’t get contaminated with the wrong things, as did the other prophets of Baal and the people who were undecided about who they wanted to follow. Remember: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears..." (Psalm 34.17). So if we want to be answered we must be sincere and live in a way that pleases Him.

Make a prayer asking God to teach everyone to walk according to His will, then ask the kids to sit down. Ask some questions such as: 1. What do you think about the prophet Elijah’s attitude? 2. In your opinion, how do you think God must have felt when he saw the people of Israel full of doubts, wanting to follow other gods? 3. Do you think it's important to say no to the wrong things in order to please God?

ACTIVITIES

Sunday

Mixed message- Explain in your own words what it means to be sincere with God.

Bible Search- Search in the Bible references and find other passages on prayers and answers.

Saturday

Game- Educator, take two different colored bags to the class. If you prefer, you can take two balloons (also of different colors). You also need a radio with a CD/ children's music (gospel). Arrange the class in a circle and give balloons to two children who are seated far

Explain to the class that the one holding the colored ball (choose one of the balloons) when the music stops playing, must exit the game, and whoever is holding the other balloon must answer a question related to the story. Start the game.