Jonah Gets Time Out1
Lesson 30: Jonahgets time out
Gathering Activity:
Record answers to the following questions on the board as the children arrive . . .
Have you ever traveled to a different state?
How did you get there? Plane, car, boat (Lake Michigan Ferry), train, bus
About how long did it take?
Have you ever traveled to a different country?
How did you get there? Plane, car, boat, train, bus
About how long did it take?
Have you ever been asked to deliver a message? Someone calls and says tell your mother . . .
Who is good at delivering a message? Show of hands.
Memory Work:
We are going to find out how good you are at delivering a message. (Have the class stand up, and spread them out around the room.) I am going to whisper a message to (name a student), who will whisper the message to (name a student), who will deliver the message . . . . . (mapping out a delivery system that has the kids moving about the room). Remind them to whisper the message so that others can’t hear it. Have the last child tell the class what they heard. For message 2, start with the child who was last to receive Message 1. For message 3, start somewhere in the middle
Message: “I am convinced that nothing will be able to separate us from the Love of God.” (Shortened version of Romans 8: 37-38)
Message 2: “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.” (Shortened version from Philippians 4:6)
Message 3: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28 – our memory verse for the week)
Was it hard to deliver a message from memory?
Was it easier to deliver the last message, a verse that we practiced last week?
Delivering a message can be a big responsibility. Now, imagine that you were asked to deliver a message to someone you didn’t like. Imagine it was a message that would lead to good things for this person, but that you would have to work hard to get the message to the person. Would you deliver the message? . . . .What if God asked you to deliver it?
Key Objectives:
- Recognize that God asks us to help people, even if we don’t like them.
- Recognize that disobeying God has consequences.
- Recognize that God may have more faith in what you can do than you have.
- Understand that God’s love and forgiveness is far greater than we can imagine.
Lesson to accomplish objective:
Today we are going to learn about a man whom God asked to be a messenger for him. He asked this man to take a trip and warn a city that the people in it needed to change how they were acting. There was this city called Nineveh (Show Nineveh on the map). The Bible tells us that God was concerned about the wickedness there.
What do you think they mean by “wickedness”? What would you guess the people were doing? See what they have to say. List on board.
God chose a man named Jonah to deliver a message to the people of Nineveh. He wanted Jonah to let the people know that they needed to change their ways, or their city would be destroyed. Turn to Jonah 1(Hints for them: It is in the Old Testament. Jonah is one of the prophets. Write “Jonah” on the board.)
Read (or have volunteer read) Jonah 1: 1-3.
Why do you think Jonah decided to run away? See what they have to say. List ideas on the board so you can come back to them.
Do you think that Jonah can “get away from the Lord?” See what they have to say.
Jonah did not get on a big cruise ship – he took a cargo ship. Cargo ships carried things like grain, animals and lumber from one port to another. The ships had sail, but also had oars for the crew to row when there was no wind. The crewslept on the deck. If a storm came up, the crew could easily be washed overboard.
Does a cargo ship sound like a safe way to travel? See what they have to say
Have volunteers read:
Jonah 1: 4 – 6
At this point, do you think that the captain and the crew know that Jonah is the cause of the storm? See what they have to say.
Jonah 1: 7 – 12
Do you think the sailors will listen to Jonah? See what they have to say
Jonah 1: 15- 17
Why do you think that God arranged for a whale to swallow Jonah? See what they have to say.
Have volunteers take turns reading Jonah 2:1-10. (Note: they should enjoy the fact that the whale “spit” Jonah onto the beach.)
In his prayer, Jonah reviews what has happened. Does he see being in the whale as a punishment or as a gift from God?
Does he believe that God is in touch with him even though he is in a whale?
Does Jonah change his mind about going to Nineveh?
What is he going to tell the people of Nineveh? “Salvation comes from the Lord” (Jonah 2:9b)
What does “Salvation comes from the Lord” mean? See what they have to say.
Jonah went to Nineveh. He went throughout the town warning the people to repent, to change their ways, and return to living according to God’s laws or the town would be destroyed.
Turn to Jonah 3:10. Have a volunteer read to find out what God did.
If you were Jonah, how would you feel knowing that the people listened to your warning, repented, and God spared them? See what they have to say.
According to Jonah 4:1 “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.”
Why do you think Jonah was angry? See what they have to say.
Let’s see what Jonah tells God as his reason for his anger. Have a volunteer read Jonah 4:2-3.
Jonah was angry because he knew God would forgive the people of Nineveh. In Jonah’s mind, these people deserved to be destroyed. He is angry because God is far more compassionate and loving than Jonah.
Why do you think this story was included in the Bible? See what they have to say.
The story is about our relationship to God. God has provided us with guidelines for living.
What guidelines have we learned about? The Ten Commandments; The Shema (“Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength” Deuteronomy 6:5).Jesus added another commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
What happens when you break these rules? See what they say.
There are consequences. Consequences may come from an adult (teacher, parent) or a friend.
What does God expect us to do when we realize we have broken His rules?
You are expected to do something, change your actions, and ask for forgiveness
What does this story say happens when you do that (repent . . . change actions, ask for forgiveness? See what they say
God forgives you. God keeps on loving you.
How many times do you think you can turn to God and ask for forgiveness? See what they say. Jesus died for our sins, our mistakes. We will be forgiven every time we recognize our mistake and ask for help in learning from it, i.e., help learning a better way to do things.
How can you ask for forgiveness? See what they say. Go to the person affected by your action. Turn to God in prayer.
If time remains:
Do the Jonah crossword puzzle.
Prayer: Help, Thanks, Wow
Focus on thanks for the forgiveness and guidance that God provides.