Jonah--Ocean

Scripture: Book of Jonah

Memory Verse for this rotation: “But you, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 86:15

Concepts to be learned by children:
* Even when we don’t understand God’s plan, we should still obey.
* God will not give up on you even if you disobey.
* God has power over all of nature.
* Jonah was a reluctant prophet and had trouble accepting God’s mercy and love for his enemies.
* God wants all people to turn to Him and know Him.

Materials:
• Doughnuts & water for participants (found in the kitchen)
• Memory verse prompts
• Journals (Shepherds have)
• Pencils for journals (Shepherds have)

Objectives:
* Students will review the story of Jonah
* Students will participate in a reflection/closing prayer time.

Presenter Preparation:
Prior to Sunday Morning:
1. Read the scripture passage and do the Leader’s Bible Study
2. Read through the lesson plan provided and ask Stacy about any questions you have.
3. Plan your opening and closing prayers, if you decide not to use those provided.
4. Consider the age group you’ll be working with each week and any adjustments you’d like to make to the lesson.

Sunday Morning:
1. Retrieve doughnuts, a pitcher of water, cups, and napkins from the kitchen
2. Be sure the room is set up as you desire
3. Feel free to try a project o familiarize yourself with the process.
4. Look through supply box to familiarize yourself with its contents
5. Do any other preparations you feel necessary.
6. Know that we are thankful you are teaching!

Procedure:
A. Welcome & Introductions at approximately 9:50 a.m.

1. Have the appropriate number of snacks available for each of the participants prepared before they arrive.
2. Greet the children and introduce yourself, wear a name tag if possible. Shepherds have name tags for the children in their bags. If necessary, ask the shepherd to supply children without tags with a temporary badge.
3. Open with a brief prayer. An example might be: God, we thank you for your son, Jesus, who became like us and lived on the earth. Please help us to learn more about Jesus today. Amen.
4. Give the students their snack

B. Story Review/Telling at approximately 9:55 a.m. (This can be done as they enjoy their doughnuts)

Part 1

This is the story of Jonah. Jonah was a prophet (a prophet is someone who tells others about God) who didn’t want to do his job of carrying a message form God to the people who lived in the city of Nineveh. Nineveh was a city in the ancient country of Assyria and a dreaded enemy of Israel. These people were powerful and cruel and Jonah hated them. But, God wanted them to know that he would forgive them and bless them if they repented by changing how they behaved. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn them that God had seen their sins and they would be punished unless they changed and were good.

Part 2

But Jonah didn’t want to obey and thought that he could escape from God by fleeing in a ship. While the ship was sailing on the sea and Jonah was asleep below, God sent a great storm with strong winds. The sailors were frightened and after they had done everything possible to keep from sinking, they decided that someone on the ship was the cause of their troubles. When Jonah awoke, he told the sailors that he worshipped the God of Israel. The sailors remembered that he had earlier told them that he was running away from the Lord. They decided that God sent the storm to punish Jonah and that they might be saved if they followed Jonahs’ request to throw him overboard.

Part 3

Well, they threw Jonah out, but he didn’t drown. Instead, God sent a big fish to swallow him. Inside the fish for three days, Jonah prayed to God. The fish swam towards shore and, at God’s command, spit Jonah out on land. At last, Jonah obeyed and went to Nineveh. He warned the people that God would destroy their city in forty days unless they stopped doing evil things. The people listened and obeyed and prayed to God. God aw this and decided not to destroy them. Jonah was angry that they had been forgiven. He didn’t think it was fair that God showed love for Jonah’s enemies. He told God that he wished to be dead.

Part 4

Jonah might have hoped that God would change his mind and punish the people of Nineveh after all. Jonah went outside the city to watch and see what would happen. He took shelter form the sun. God made a vine grow up to provide more shade. Jonah was happy with this. He still hoped that God would destroy Nineveh. But early the next morning God sent a worm to eat the vine and it withered. Then God sent wind and scorching sun. Jonah again wished he could die. God showed Jonah that he care fro Jonah by not letting him die and telling him that instead of being disappointed the vine died, he should be happy that a city filled with people and animals had been saved.

C. Application:

1. Wow! There is a lot that happens to our Jonah, doesn’t it? One of the parts of the story that I have trouble believing at first is that a huge fish swallowed Jonah! It makes me wonder what Jonah saw inside that fish, how about you? Today we’re going to explore and think about the inside of a fish.
2. Let’s start at the mouth of a fish.
EXPLORE FISH INSIDES…POSTER? PLASTIC DISECTION KIT? PRETEND THAT THE OCEAN IS DIFFERENT PARTS OF A FISH? In the past we've had a science teacher from the high school come and bring a real fish.
AMAZING THAT JONAH SURVIVED; ONLY BECAUSE OF GOD’S GRACE THAT HE DID.


D. Reflection/Closing beginning no later than 10:18 a.m.:

1. Let’s try saying the memory verse together: You may use the prompt cards provided in your box. : “But you, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” Psalm 86:15 You may repeat as many times as you like, stopping to have the repeat pieces of the verse as you see fit. You may also ask them how God was merciful and slow to anger with Jonah and discuss the application of the verse to the story.

OPTIONAL: If time, you may utilize the children’s journals to reflect on what they’ve learned. Journals are carried by the shepherds; they also have pencils. Have the students draw their own fish, with Jonah inside.

4. Close with a prayer.
Encourage children to offer petitions, if they’d like. It is helpful that with younger children you give them a prompt to go off of: Example: “Is there any person you’d like to ask God to bless” or “What is something you’re happy God created?” Using the last prompt, here is an example of a closing prayer: Lord, thank you for your love and care for the world and everything in it. Help us to be kind and obedient. We especially thank you for these things you’ve made ___kids can name things they are thankful for ____ Amen.

E. Tidy and Dismissal:

Be sure that they find a responsible person and that everyone has found one such person before you depart. Please take all supplies and put them in the box and return the box to the white cart found in the hallway. If you have any questions, concerns, or need additional supplies, please contact Stacy during the week (507-626-0356 or stacyathope@yahoo.com) or put a note in her mailbox, which is located by the office. Thanks!

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!