Preschool Bible Lesson: Elijah Challenges the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40)

Lesson Title: Elijah Challenges the Prophets of Baal
Bible Reference: 1 Kings 18:16-40
Target Age Group: Preschool
Learning Context: Children’s Church
Target Time Frame: 1 ½ hour
Optional Coloring Page: The story of the Prophet Elijah
Gospel Connection: As you read through the Old Testament you will see the Israelites turn from God and then go back to Him over and over again. The story of Elijah vs. the Prophets of Baal is one example of this happening. Whenever the prophets of Baal called upon him there was nothing but silence, but God answered Elijah and left everyone with the realization we should only serve God.
 
Learning Aim: Serve God
Materials Needed:

1. White Paper
2. Glue
3. Gray, Blue, Yellow, Red, Orange Tissue Paper
4. Blocks

Bible Story Elijah and the Prophets

Open your Bible to 1 Kings 18:16-40
Say Elijah was a prophet of God. Whenever God had a special message to give to his people, the Israelites, He would tell the message to Elijah and then Elijah would tell the Israelites. Today, we are going to hear about a time whenever the Israelites forgot that they should only serve God. Every time that you hear the name, Elijah, say, ‘Serve God!’
Elijah knew that you should only serve God, but another man named Ahab believed that you should serve a god named Baal and golden statues. Elijah came up with a plan to show Ahab that God was the only one who is worthy of our praise.
Elijah told Ahab to gather all 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah at the temple. Then they prepared 2 offerings, one for God and one for Baal. Elijah said that the prophets of Baal should pray to him and Elijah would pray to God. Whichever one was able to light the offering on fire was the one true God.
The prophets of Baal and Asherah prepared the altar and prayed to Baal all day long. Nothing happened. Baal did not light the altar on fire.
Next, Elijah prepared his altar to God. Once the altar was ready he poured water all over it. Elijah poured water over the altar 3 times to show that it was completely drenched. Then Elijah prayed and asked God to light the altar on fire. It worked! God sent fire all over the altar. There was so much fire that it dried up all the water.
Now Ahab and the prophets of Baal knew that Elijah’s God was the real God. They learned that they should only serve God.
Lighting the Fire Craft
Each child will need white paper and glue. You will also need blue, gray, red, orange, and yellow tissue paper cut into small squares. You will use the colorful tissue paper to make a mosaic of the altar that Elijah built for God. Glue gray tissue paper in the shape of a triangle to make the altar. Next, glue blue tissue paper around the bottom to signify water. Then add red, orange, and yellow tissue paper to the top of the altar to signify fire.
Say, In our story there were two altars. Whenever the prophets of Baal prayed to Baal nothing happened because he isn’t real. Whenever Elijah prayed to God fire covered the altar. Our God is the only real God and He is the only one who we should serve.
Building the Altar
Elijah built the altar using 12 stones to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. Count 12 blocks together. Work together to see how tall of a tower you can build with those blocks.
Say, An altar is a little bit like a tower. Elijah made his altar with 12 stones because there were 12 tribes of people in Israel. Building an altar is a way of honoring someone. In our story today we learned that we should only build altars to honor God.
Snap, Crackle, Pop
Retell the story together using various sounds and motions. Go through these actions as many times as desired.
Elijah and Ahab built altars    -knock on the table or floor
The prophets of Baal cried out to their gods   -Say wahh or make crying sounds
But there was silence  -hold finger to lips and say, ‘shhh’
Elijah prayed to God  -Wave hands in the air and say, ‘Praise God’
And fire covered the altar       -Snap fingers and say, ‘Snap, crackle, pop’
Serving God
Say, There is only one God. God is the only one who we should serve. What are some ways that we can serve God.
Encourage each child to share one way that they can serve God. Here are a few examples would be: worshiping God, praying, obeying God, obeying parents and teachers, helping others, and being kind.
Closing the Lesson
 
Say, Today we learned that we can only serve God. Our God is amazing! What do you love about our God? Let each child share a few things that they love about God. Close in prayer, asking God to help the kids learn to trust God.