WELCOME TO WEEK 1

When we fly kites they can sometimes go really high in the sky. They might even get lost in a tall tree! Sometimes our dreams for the future can seem as far away as our kite in the sky. They may seem so big we will never be able to reach them, but with God we can. God can help us reach our dreams, even when they are really high. This month we will look at Elisha and see the impossible things God did through him. God can use our big dreams to help others too.

II Kings 2:1- 2, 6-14; Psalm 66:1-9

BIBLE STORY

Cotton balls often remind me of clouds. They are white and puffy and when you put multiple ones together they can begin to look like a design. I’m going to give everyone 10 cotton balls and we are going to see what cloud designs we can make with our cotton balls. Give everyone 10 cotton balls including yourself and then start a timer for about 1 minute and see what creative things they can design with their “clouds”. To make the cotton balls look more like clouds, gently pull the cotton ball apart and stretch the cotton until they are thinner and fluffy like a cloud. Repeat the activity as desired.

What creative images we were able to make with our cotton balls. I enjoy looking up in the sky to see the clouds and then pretend I can see different images in the clouds. This month we are looking at the life of Elisha. He was a prophet of God and God used him to do unbelievable things! Sometimes we have big dreams of doing great things for God, and we can with God’s help! Our big dreams may seem too high, like the clouds in the sky, but we can remember that God is able to help us do achieve those dreams.Let’s look at some big things Elisha was able to do as well as witness in our story this week.

Materials: cotton balls

Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: II Kings 2:1- 2, 6-14

Where were Elijah and Elisha on their way? (Gilgal)

What did Elijah know was about to happen? (He was going to die)

What did Elijah tell Elisha to do? (Stay there and wait)

What did Elisha refuse to do? (Leave Elijah’s side)

What did Elisha request of Elijah before he died? (To give him a double portion of his spirit)

What did Elijah use to get across the Jordan River? (He rolled his cloak, struck the water with it and the water split for him)

How did Elijah say Elisha would know he received a double portion? (If he sees Elijah being taken)

How did Elijah get taken to heaven? ( in a horse and chariot of fire fire, went up to heaven like a whirlwind

How did Elisha use Elijah’s cloak? (In the same way Elijah used it to part the Jordan River)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Activity

Elijah was a great prophet of God’s and Elisha was to follow in his footsteps. Elisha wanted to have a ministry that was as great as Elijah’s, so he asked for a double portion of God’s spirit. God did grant his request and God used Elisha to do many great things for the people of Israel and deliver hard news sometimes. God wants us to dream big for his kingdom and he can use our dreams and passions to do it. Think of something you are passionate about. How can you use that passion to minister to other people? List out 3 steps you can follow to begin the ministry.

Materials: paper, pencil

Alternate

We might dream big, but God can do big things. The dreams we have that may seem out of this world, He can do! The Bible tells us of things God is able to do that we can not begin to do. Listen to these examples and see if you can tell what story or when God did them.

Turn the sea into dry land

Turn water into blood

Turn water into wine

Send fire down from heaven to consume drenched stone

Cause the sun to stand still

Make a bush burn without consuming it

Cause city walls to fall with the sound of trumpets

Raining food down from heaven

Materials: pencil (optional)

Independent activity:

Complete this activity sheet. God has plans for us that we can not even imagine. What do you dream of doing one day? Draw a picture of your dreams. God can use our dreams to do big things.

Materials: printed activity sheet, crayons, pencil

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Create a chariot for Elijah using a plastic cup, construction paper and pipe cleaners. Draw and cut out a small horse, an Elijah figure or make Elijah’s face on a plastic spoon, and 2 construction paper wheels for the chariot cup. Glue on the 2 wheels to the plastic cup and attach the pipe cleaner to the cup and to the horse. Place Elijah in the plastic cup. See the instructions on the following webpage to see how to construct your chariot.

Materials: construction paper, plastic cup, plastic spoon, pipe cleaner, scissors, glue

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read or listen to Psalm 66:1-9

The Psalmist is describing the wonderful works of God and the awesome deeds He has done. Who else can turn water into dry land? Think of the miraculous deeds God has done in your life or for your family. Think of a time you didn’t have an answer to a problem you were facing or you didn’t see a way out of a difficult situation, and how did God deliver? Some people call good things that happen to them ‘good luck’, but we don’t believe there is good luck but a Good God. The blessings and miracles we have experienced are from God. Our big dreams and our big problems can be solved by God, because his ways are higher than ours. His answers are bigger than our answers and He has solutions we never think of.

How was Elisha’s request a big one?

Have you ever asked for something big and questioned if you would ever get it?

Are there any requests we can ask for that are too big?

When we dream big, who should we remember to keep at the center of our desires?

How can we keep from making our big dreams ones that are self-centered?

How did God show Elisha he would grant his request?

Was Elisha’s request for himself or to bring glory to God?

Do the dreams you have for the future include God?

Practical Application at Home

This week we’ve talked about how our dreams may be as high as the clouds in the sky, but God can help us reach them. Psalm 103:11 says "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him”. We can be sure that God loves us and wants us to trust Him with our big dreams. Complete the following statement or print and complete the following card. Then leave it as a bookmark in your bible to view later.

Lord bless my gift of _______. Help me to use it for you one day. Today help me to use it towards blessing the people in my life by ________________.

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?