BIBLE—Jonah Runs from God

Activity: After Elisha died, God spoke to a prophet named Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach to the people there. Jonah did not like the people of Ninevah. He didn’t want to obey God, so he decided to run away. Do you think Jonah could hide from God?? Let’s read in our Bibles and find out. Read/tell the story of Jonah found in Jonah 1:1–17. Where did Jonah go to hide? (v3: On a ship going to Tarshish.) What happened on the ship? (v4: God sent a huge storm and the ship nearly sank.) What finally calmed the storm? (v15: The men threw Jonah overboard.) What happened to Jonah? (v17: A huge fish swallowed him.) How do you think Jonah felt inside the big fish? (Scared; guilty for not being obedient; thankful that God saved him; curious about how/if he would get out; amazed at what the inside of a fish looked like; etc.) Why do you think God caused the fish to swallow Jonah? (Because he didn’t obey; because he was trying to run from God; God wanted to get his attention; God wanted to save him from drowning; etc.) Why was it important for Jonah to obey God? (God had plans for Jonah; God knew what was best for him; so the people of Ninevah could hear about God; so the people of Ninevah wouldn’t be destroyed; etc.) Why is it important for us to obey God? (God has plans for us, too; God knows what is best for us; to show God we trust Him; etc.) Does God speak to us in the same way He spoke to Jonah? (No.) How does he speak to us? (Primarily through the Bible.) While Jonah was inside the fish, he praised God for saving his life. He promised to obey God and go to Ninevah. So God caused the fish to spit him out onto dry ground. Jonah finally went to Ninevah to preach to the people there. Soon the people of Ninevah quit their evil ways and began to worship God. Do you think Jonah wished that he would have obeyed God the first time??

Additional Activity: Help your child make a stuffed fish as a reminder of the story of Jonah and the whale.  Stuff a small paper bag with crumpled newspaper until it is half full. Gather the sack at the opening and put a rubber band tightly around it. Draw in the fish's eyes (one on each side), mouth (on bottom of bag), and fins (one on each side).

Prayer Focus: Help me to obey your word.

GOD'S WORLD  Theme: ______________________________________

LANGUAGE SKILLS  Opposites

Activity: Say the following words and ask your child to say its opposite:

up (down)    happy (sad)    bottom (top)    low (high)    over (under)    big (small)
fast (slow)    below (above)    more (less)    many (few)    old (young)    cold (hot)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION  Activity: ____________________________

MATH—More, Less, and Equal

Activity: You will need dice and a bowl of raisins or other small snack for this activity. Put the bowl in the center of the table and give a die to each player. Roll the dice simultaneously, and whoever rolls more (the higher number) gets to take a snack from the bowl. If you both roll the same number (an equal number) you can each take a snack. Let your child determine more and equal. Keep playing until your run out of snacks!

ART  Activity: _______________________________________________

CHARACTER BUILDING—Humility 1

Activity: Humility means "recognizing that we are nothing without God." God is the Creator of the universe! God created everything—including you! He has given each of us special gifts and abilities, but it is only through His power that we are able to use them. If we use our gifts and abilities to glorify God, it pleases Him. If we use our gifts and abilities to glorify ourselves, it angers Him. Proverbs 18:13 says, "...I hate pride and arrogance." We must remember never to be boastful and to give God the credit for all that we are and do.

MEMORY VERSE—Proverbs 11:2; When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

SNACK—____________________________________________________

dice
(crayons or markers)
small snack
(small paper bag)
(old newspaper)
(rubber band)