Leader Guide

Teaching

Three Signpost Cards
Three sheets of cardstock or paper
Optional: tape
Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

Discipleship Challenge materials:

Flat Raven Pattern for Grades 1–3, OR Folded Raven Pattern for Grades 4–6
Cloud Hanger
String or yarn—four 12-inch lengths for each child
Sample craft made in Lesson 1

Copy the three Signpost Cards onto cardstock if possible, in color or black and white.

Discipleship Challenge (for children who missed Lesson 1):

Make copies of the Cloud Hanger, one per child; plus the Flat Raven Pattern for Grades 1–3, OR Folded Raven Pattern for Grades 4–6. See Lesson 1 for details.

A Man of Truth: Elijah’s life points to Jesus.

Have a child select the first Signpost card and read it aloud. Tape the card to the wall or prop it up so children can see it. Lead a discussion with the information below. Repeat for the other two Signpost cards. Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

Signpost 1 Prepare the Way for Jesus

The widow expressed her belief that Elijah was a man of God and that He spoke God’s truth.

What two miracles did Elijah perform that caused her to believe this? 1. The endless supply of flour and oil until it rained again. 2. He raised her son back to life after his death.

In many ways, Elijah’s life pointed to Christ. Jesus was sent by God to speak God’s Words. John 12:49 says:

“I don't speak on My own authority. The Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.”

Elijah was filled with God’s Spirit and power—as Jesus was, centuries later. John 3:34 says this about Jesus:

“For He is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit.”

The Old Testament prophet Malachi predicted that Elijah would return before the coming of Jesus the Messiah. Before John the Baptist was born, an angel told his father that John would be filled with God’s power and Spirit to prepare the way for the Lord. Jesus explained to His disciples that John the Baptist filled the role of Elijah. John the Baptist and Jesus were not recognized or respected by the religious leaders who abused and persecuted them. Both John the Baptist and Jesus suffered and were put to death on earth.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Kings 17:24 (NKJV):

Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth.”

Malachi 4:5 (NKJV):

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”

Matthew 17:11–13:

¹¹Jesus replied, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. ¹²But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer.” ¹³Then the disciples realized He was talking about John the Baptist.

Mark 13:26 (NKJV):

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

Signpost 2 Jesus Provides For Our Needs

Elijah’s life also points to how Jesus provides for us. God cared for Elijah while he was in hiding. Who was he hiding from? King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.

God miraculously provided food and water during the drought. God then provided for Elijah and the widow who was running out of food for her family. God told Elijah that He had instructed a widow to feed him. Because of her obedience, God performed a miracle, feeding her family and Elijah for many days. Jesus also performed a miracle feeding people—giving food to a crowd of over 4,000, and another time to a crowd of over 5,000.

In both instances, Jesus fed the crowds by multiplying two things; do you know what they were? Loaves of bread and fish.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Kings 17:14:

“For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!”

Matthew 14:18–21:

¹⁸“Bring them here,” He said. ¹⁹Then He told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, He gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. ²⁰They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. ²¹About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Matthew 15:34–38:

³⁴ Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?” They replied, “Seven loaves, and a few small fish.” ³⁵ So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. ³⁶ Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to the disciples, who distributed the food to the crowd. ³⁷ They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. ³⁸ There were 4,000 men who were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children.

Signpost 3 Jesus Gives Life

Elijah’s life points us to Jesus by how he prayed for the widow’s son who got sick and died. God answered Elijah’s prayer and restored life to the boy. Jesus healed many people in different ways. He restored sight to the blind, healed leprosy and other diseases, and healed people who were crippled. He also brought dead people to life! Jesus restored life to a 12-year-old girl, to a widow’s son who was in a coffin at the funeral, and to his friend Lazarus who had been dead 4 days! Jesus defeated death when He willingly suffered and died on the cross and then rose again on the third day. Jesus gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. John 3:16 says:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Only Jesus can give us eternal life—and only He can forgive our sins! 1 John 1:9 says:

But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Jesus will take care of all of our physical and spiritual needs; our part is to learn to trust Him.

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6

1 Kings 17:20 (NKJV):

Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?”

Mark 10:52:

And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Mark 5:41–42:

⁴¹Holding her hand, He said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” ⁴²And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around!

Luke 7:13–15:

¹³When the Lord saw her, His heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” He said. ¹⁴Then He walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up.” ¹⁵Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

John 11:43–44:

⁴³Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

It’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where you will be challenged to trust God to provide for your needs.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Last time, part of our challenge was to memorize Luke 6:38. If you did, say it aloud?

“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.”

The other part of our challenge was to share something with someone else. Would anyone like to share what happened when you did that?

Did anyone experience God giving back to you as it says in Luke 6:38?

Why can it be difficult to share at times? We can be selfish or the item can be very valuable to us and we are concerned it will be broken or lost. We may not like the person God has asked us to share something with.

Our final challenge for this course is on Raven #3. Ask God for something you need, then thank Him. Pray for God to provide something that you really need. Then thank Him for it by faith—even before you receive it. Like Elijah, be persistent in prayer each day; don’t doubt, and don’t give up!

The second part of your challenge is to memorize Philippians 4:19 and discuss it with your family, if possible. Let’s start working on that right now.