Jan. 20, 2019 God Is the Lord of Life 2 Kings 5 Elisha and Naaman Let

Let them know that you, Jan. 20, 2019 God Is the Lord of Life whose name is the Lord—that DATE PONDER POINT you alone are the Most High over all the earth. 2 Kings 5 Elisha and Naaman Psalm 83:18 THE BIG GOD STORY REMEMBER VERSE

Welcome and Worship (15 minutes) • The large group room will be divided into three sections. Please help kids find which section Begins class creating an inviting atmosphere for kids to feel welcome and engage kids in worship they should sit in according to their grade: 1st- through singing and communion. 2nd, 3rd-4th & 5th-6th.

The Big God Story (18 minutes) • Toward the end of small group time, A/V Tech Creates space for children to hear God’s word and will play the 2 minute warning sound followed prepare respond to the Holy Spirit in small groups by a song. During or immediately following the song please regroup in the large group meeting Small Groups (20 minutes) space (not before). Kids will build relationships with each other and their leaders, and respond to what they learned in • 5th & 6th graders can go directly to Snack the Big God Story as well as how to apply it to their Shack after small group time, rather than lives regrouping in the large group space. Bless & Dismiss (4 minutes)

Bless kids to send them out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others. Host Administrative To Do’s: • Make sure no group is too large • Make sure each group has enough supplies • Close curtains and divider wall for small groups at 9:00 and 10:15 (and re-open after 9:00) • Cue the tech when to play the 2 minute warning with song. • Call names for dismissal after blessing

SCHEDULE Large Small 2 Min Regroup/ Group Group Warn. Dismiss 5th-6th 1st Service (9:00) 9:00 9:33 9:53 10:00

2nd Service (10:15) 10:15 10:48 11:08 11:15

3rd Service (11:30) 11:30 12:03 12:23 12:30

1 GOAL: Worship & welcome is all about engaging kids and helping them enter into worship, letting them know that class has begun preparing their minds for what they are going to hear.

WELCOME (Host): Stage Lights On VIDEO LOOPS: Welcome Loop, 5 Min Countdown, Welcome Image We are so glad you are here today. Welcome the kids in your own words then say the following to the kids: Let’s all stand and hear God’s word and sing our praise to Him…

OPENING WORSHIP SONG (Worship Leader): Turn out main overhead lights REMEMBER VERSE VIDEO WORSHIP VIDEO 1: Glory to God WORSHIP VIDEO 2: Million Reasons (Direct kids to get with their groups and circle up with their small group leader before sitting down)

SMALL GROUP CONNECT IMAGE CONNECT QUESTIONS (Host): 4 MINUTE COUNTDOWN VIDEO • If you were invisible for a day, what would you do? • Would you rather go back in time or into the future? • What do you like better: going to bed, or waking up?

TIMELINE VIDEO

(Storyteller) The Big God Story: Point out that what kids are about to hear is true and is recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Invite kids to open their Bibles and follow along as you storytell. Children respond to what the Holy Spirit is teaching them as they reflect on the day’s portion of The Big God Story. The Prayer of Release: This allows children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. Before you pray, you might ask the kids to hold out their hands, palms up, in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them today. Then encourage the kids to quiet their voices, take a seat, and pray with you.

2 The Big God Story:

Storyteller Script In The Big God Story, the prophet Elijah had two unique encounters with God. In one encounter, God made a fire blaze from heaven. In the second, He spoke gently to Elijah through the whispering wind. Through these two encounters, God showed He is Yahweh, the Most High God. Today, we are going to hear about the prophet who came after Elijah and how God used him to show that He is the Lord of Life. But first, let’s pray. Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds. Elijah had a disciple named Elisha who served Elijah in the same way that Joshua served Moses. For fun, every time you say, “Elijah” and “Elisha,” have the kids say the names with you— emphasizing the “juh” and “shuh” at the end of their names. Amazingly, when Elijah finished his ministry on earth, God took him up into heaven in a whirlwind! (2 Kings 2). Tech: Cue Elijah Going up to Heaven image. Can you imagine watching your friend going up to heaven like that? Amazing! When Elijah went up to heaven, he left his job of being a prophet to Elisha. Elisha’s job as prophet was to continue the work of Elijah: to warn the nation of Israel against worshipping false gods. Because Israel wasn’t being faithful to the Lord, God called Elisha to remind them He is God—the Lord of Life. During the time when Elisha lived, Israel was at constant war with the nation of Aram, a Gentile nation. Tech: Cue Map of Israel and Aram image. What’s a Gentile? Interact with answers. A Gentile was someone who wasn’t part of God’s original chosen people, the Israelites. The commander of the army of Aram was a man named Naaman. Tech: Cue Naaman image. He was a well-respected man who’d won many victories for his country. Unfortunately, he also had leprosy. Who knows what leprosy is? Encourage responses. Leprosy is a skin disease that can cover and eat away at the body! And back in Bible times, people didn’t know how to cure it. Because Naaman had leprosy, he probably wanted healing pretty badly! Naaman’s wife had a servant girl who’d come from Israel. She believed in the Lord and talked to Naaman’s wife. Have children open their Bibles. Read 2 Kings 5:3 aloud. 3 She spoke to the woman she was serving. She said, “I wish my master would go and see the prophet who is in Samaria. He would heal my master of his skin disease.”

Because of what the servant girl said, Naaman went to the king of Aram and asked if he might go to Israel. Read 2 Kings 5:4–5 for the group. 4 Naaman went to see his own master. He told him what the girl from Israel had said. “I think you should go,” the king of Aram replied. “I’ll give you a letter to take to the king of Israel.” So Namaan left. He took 750 pounds of silver with him. He also took 150 pounds of gold. And he took ten sets of clothes.

3 The king of Aram was desperate for his great commander to be cured and even willing to ask his enemy for help to make this happen!

When the king of Israel received the letter from Aram, he got so upset that he tore his robes! That’s because the king of Israel knew he didn’t have the power to cure Naaman. Only God, the Lord of Life, could cure him. The king may have also been afraid that if he wasn’t able to cure Naaman, Israel and Aram might go to war again. Elisha had much more faith that God would be able to heal Naaman. So Elisha said to the king (Tech: Cue 2 Kings 5:8 image), “Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” After Naaman left the king of Israel, he went straight to Elisha’s home. There, Elisha did not greet Naaman, but instead sent a messenger to tell him (Tech: Cue 2 Kings 5:10 image) “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan (Tech: Cue Jordan River image) and you will be cleansed.” Naaman was furious! He had traveled a long way to meet Elisha, and he’d expected that Elisha himself would come and heal him. Naaman said, “Are not … the rivers of Damascus … better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” (2 Kings 5:12). Tech: Cue River of Damascus image. Naaman expected a big show from Elisha in order for him to be healed. Since Elisha didn’t do that, Naaman left in a rage. But, because one of Naaman’s servants convinced him to “wash and be cleansed” (v. 13), Naaman agreed to dip seven times in the Jordan River. Tech: Cue Naaman in Jordan River image. The leprosy covered and damaged Naaman’s skin. But, as he dipped in the Jordan river, his diseased flesh, which had likely been covered in sores, was completely restored and made new—just like the skin of a child (v. 14). You know how a baby’s skin is really perfect and soft? Well, that’s what Naaman’s skin was like after he was healed! God’s healing of Naaman’s leprous skin wasn’t a trick because God Is the Healer, the Lord of Life. After his healing, Naaman went to Elisha and said (Tech: Cue 2 Kings 5:15 audio), “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” Through this declaration, Naaman showed that it wasn’t just his body that had been transformed—his heart had been transformed too. His healing had made him believe in Yahweh, the Most High God. Naaman received a new life physically and spiritually as he trusted in God! Through the healing of Naaman, God showed His people that He alone is the Lord of Life. Naaman, a Gentile, was able to know God through his healing—the lesser healing of his body, and the greater healing of his soul. God still offers us true life today. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to live and die and rise again so we might know Him. When Jesus came to earth, He said He came so that we might have life to the full (John 10:10). He is the Lord of Life, and He offers us the fullest life that we could ever ask for. There is no other place in this world where we can receive life, except through Him. Share about when you first knew God and how He is the Lord of your life.

Tell the kids we are going to close the Big God Story by worshipping him. Ask the kids to wait until they are asked to come forward to take communion.

WORSHIP VIDEO 3: Do It Again

After a time of worshipping have kids come and take communion if they have been baptized, and bring their offering.

4 Fade out song slowly at Worship Leader’s prompting.

(As the song comes to a close Worship Leader tells groups to head to their small group space. Say something like, “Let’s continue responding to what God is teaching us as we dismiss to our small groups. Please follow your small group leader at this time.”)

IMAGE: It’s time for small groups

Turn main overhead lights on

Dismiss for small groups—refer to map for small group locations

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At the end of small groups...

Tech cue: 2 minute warning with exit song, using ceiling speakers, at the host’s prompting

Turn speakers back to wall speakers for blessing, closing song and dismissal.

5 GOAL: Kids build relationships with each other and their leader as they respond to what they heard in the Big God Story.

** Small group activity based on grade today. Please use the activity below and supplies provided that match the grade(s) for your small group. NAAMAN MINI BOOK (1-2 GRADE) SUPPLIES • Crayons • Mini Booklet (one per child)

Place Mini booklets in the middle of the table along with crayons. Have kids get a book. Give them the following suggestions to complete the book: kids can color the cover to show Naaman before he was healed (with "red spots" for the disease and a frowny face) or after (smiley face); the first Naaman should be diseased and unhappy; give the helper an open mouth, since she's talking; color the river brownish - it's dirty compared to the rivers Naaman is used to; show Naaman angry - he doesn't want to wash in that nasty river; show 6 unhappy and diseased Naaman's, and then the last one is happy and healed; they can write their names under the memory verse on the back. Ask the Discussion questions below while kids work on their booklets.

NAAMAN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND WORD SEARCH (3-6 GRADE) SUPPLIES • Bible • Word Search • Markers • Pencils

Ask the following Discussion Questions with the kids. After the discussion questions, If you want you may pass out the word search sheet.

• What does it mean to be a Gentile? • How did God use Naaman’s servant girl to work in Naaman’s life? 2 Kings 5:2–3 • Why do you think the king of Israel became so upset when he received a letter from his enemy asking him to cure Naaman? 2 Kings 5:7 • Why do you think Naaman was mad that Elisha didn’t personally come out and heal him? 2 Kings 5:11–13 • Naaman was so desperate for healing that he went to his enemy for help. Have you ever been so desperate for something in your life? What was it and what did you do? 2 Kings 5:4–6 • How did Naaman receive a new life that day? 2 Kings 5:14–15 • God became the Lord of Life for Naaman, and Naaman came to understand that there was only one true God. Do you have a story of a time you recognized how God Is the Lord of Life? Invite kids to share stories—and, as leaders, share your own.

BLESSINGS Close your small group time reading a final scripture and blessing your kids using the Blessing Card from your supply bin in your cart.

6 GOAL: Bless kids to send them out with a sense of peace so they can be a blessing to others.

CLOSING REMARKS/ANNOUNCEMENTS (Host): Wall Speakers On

TRANSITION ACTIVITIES (HOST):

The videos listed below are 12-13 minutes long. Please play as listed below and feel free to stop the video whenever it’s time to start the next service.

After 9:00 service play - Transition Compilation 4 After 10:15 service play - Transition Compilation 3

DISMISSAL (STORYTELLER): Call names of kids as parent come to pick up and welcome kids who are being dropped off. En- courage parents to enter the room and encourage kids and parents to exit out the middle door (103)

7 One of my favorite places is the zoo. Following a recent trip to the world-renowned zoo in San Diego, I couldn’t stop thinking about the incredible experience. It was like a dream. From the chimpanzee somersaulting on the grass and the polar bear diving backward into the water to the koala hugging the eucalyptus tree, each creature was beautiful and unique. Each animal showed a different facet of the awesome, fearsome, and creative God we serve. It’s overwhelming to consider that God is the Lord of all of this diverse life. I stood in awe at every detail, from the orange stripes of the tiger and the fierce gaze of the bald eagle to the pattern on the diamondback and the black lining of the flamingo’s pink wings. What’s even more amazing is that I get to be in relationship with the creative One who fashioned each creature with its own distinct beauty. Praise God, the Lord of all life, for His majesty, His beauty, His love. Praise God, the One who is more beautiful than anything ever created. : Tori Funkhouser Tru Team

In 2 Kings 5 we see an amazing illustration of how God is the Lord of Life. In the passage, we read how God healed a Gentile warrior named Naaman through the prophet Elisha. Naaman was a Syrian general who went to Elisha for healing from his disease of leprosy. This great army commander had no idea with whom he was dealing. A little background on Elisha can help us understand this prophet of God a little better. Elisha learned his trade from the powerful prophet Elijah. While Elijah was still alive, Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of what Elijah had (2 Kings 2:9). In response, Elijah told his successor that if Elisha could see Elijah while he, Elijah, was being taken up to heaven, Elisha would receive that double portion. As Elijah neared the end of his ministry, he told Elisha to hold back and wait for him while he went on. But Elisha refused to leave his master’s side. Three times Elisha disobeyed his master in this. Because of his persistence and bold spirit, Elisha saw Elijah ascend to heaven in the chariot, and Elisha received the double portion of blessing. In Scripture, Elijah performed 14 recorded miracles, Elisha 28—and one of them posthumously (2 Kings 13:21)! When Naaman approached the house of Elisha, he undoubtedly expected a great and formal welcome because of his role as a great army commander. But Elisha didn’t even bother coming to the door. Instead, Elisha told Naaman through a servant to go wash in a river. Naaman became incensed. Yet God used His prophet to heal the army commander of his leprosy. Elisha was truly a prophet of God—a man whom God, the Lord of life, used to heal and give life to others.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” God is the only One who offers us real life, and He offers us the fullest, most complete life in Him. Spend some time in prayer before the Lord. Ask, “Where in my life am I not going to You—the ultimate Lord of life, satisfaction, comfort, and love?” Then take a piece of paper and write down what a “full life” of knowing God looks like. Put it in a place you see often, such as your bathroom mirror, to give you a constant reminder of the full life Christ offers.