Elijah and the Big Showdown

Cooking Workshop

Grades  4-6

Summary of Lesson Activities:

Making graham cracker altars.

Scripture Reference:

1 Kings 18:20-45

Memory Verse:

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”  Bible Basis: 1Kings 18:20-45

Lesson Objectives:
The students will learn the meaning of the word prophet.

1. The students will learn about a prophet named Elijah who gave a message to the wicked king Ahab.
2. The students will learn that there is only one true God and he sometimes shows his power in amazing ways.

Leader Preparation:

• Gather the materials
• Read the scripture ahead of time.

Materials List:

• 1 Bible for each student
• graham crackers
• chocolate frosting
• miniature marshmallows
• pretzel sticks
• animal crackers
• thin red licorice whips
• one per child of the following: paper plate, plastic knife, napkin

Presentation

Opening-Welcome and Lesson Introduction:

Welcome each of the students to the cooking theme room. Invite the students to take a Bible.

Say: Today, our story is about a prophet named Elijah. Ask: Does anyone know what a prophet is? (A prophet is a person sent by God to give the people of Israel an important message.)

Say: Let’s read about the prophet Elijah and hear the message that he brought to the people of Israel.

Dig-Main Content and Reflection:

Set the Story:
Say: Elijah was sent by God to give a message to the wicked King Ahab. King Ahab didn’t worship the true God. He worshiped an idol god named Baal. King Ahab even built a temple to honor this god. King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, was determined to get rid of the worship of Israel’s God. She tried to put to death all the prophets of the true God. But God was still in charge. He had chosen one special man-Elijah-to show the people that he was still the true God, and to bring them back to him. One day, God’s prophet Elijah went boldly to King Ahab and said, “I tell you, in God’s name, there will be no rain in the land for more than two years. None will fall until I give the word. You will learn that my God is the true God.

King Ahab and his wife, Queen Jezebel, were very angry with Elijah and they would have liked to kill him. Elijah was forced to hide from the King and his wife.

Read The Story:

Take turns reading the story from 1Kings 18:20-45. (Remind the students to listen carefully as a short trivia game will follow.)

Elijah Trivia Game:
All students should line up next to the table, facing the same direction as the longer side of the table. You will ask the trivia yes/no questions. If the student agrees with the answer he/she should raise his/her hand. If the student disagrees with the answer he/she should do nothing. For each correct answer, the student may take one step forward. The student who makes it to the end of the table first or who has answered the most questions correctly is the winner.

Trivia Questions

1. A prophet is a person who is sent by God to give a message. Yes or No (Yes.)
2. Elijah told King Ahab that there would be little rain in his land for many years because he worshiped idols. Yes or No
   (Yes)
3. King Ahab challenged Elijah to the altar showdown. Yes or No
   (No, Elijah challenged King Ahab.)
4. After Elijah made the altar blaze with fire, the people of Israel still did not believe in the one true God. Yes or No
   (No, They did begin to believe!)
5. After the altar burned with fire, Elijah ordered the prophets of Baal be put to death. Yes or No
   (Yes)
6. King Ahab’s Wife, Jezebel, worshiped the god Baal. Yes or No
   (Yes)
7. Elijah had water poured over his offering once before God set it ablaze. Yes or No
   (No, Three times.)
8. God told Elijah to challenge Ahab’s god not only to prove to Ahab that he was the one true God, but to also prove it to the people of Israel. Yes or No
   (Yes)

Get Set to Cook!

• Have the students each wash their hands in the sink before beginning.
  -Give each student a plate, napkin and knife.
  
  Say: Let’s create a special snack today to remind us of the altar Elijah built and God set ablaze!-Give each student a ½ of a graham cracker. Each student should frost it and then place the miniature marshmallows on top of the cracker like the stones of the altar.
• Have the students frost the top of the marshmallows and then place the pretzel sticks on top of the marshmallows to look like firewood.
• Each student should pick one animal cracker to be the offering and frost the bottom to stick to the pretzels.
• Finally each student should arrange a piece of licorice whip to look like fire. Use frosting to attach the licorice to the animal cracker.

When the project is complete, eat and enjoy!

Journal Time:

Write, “You are the one true God.” on the chalkboard. Have the students copy the sentence and decorate it with red or and yellow to look like flames.

Closing:

Dear Lord, we know that you are the only true God. We thank you for showing your power to Elijah and the children of Israel. Lord, help us to always let you reign supreme in our lives and hearts. You are awesome, God! AMEN!

Resources:

• (Idea from the Pray and Play Bible 2, Group Publishing (December 1, 2002) ISBN: 0764425145

A lesson written by Alison from: Augustana Lutheran Church

Saint James, MN

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