Curriculum
Jonah Runs From God
Memory Verse:
“‘Go to Nineveh and proclaim to it the message.’” Jonah 3:1
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
God wanted Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh about Him. The first time, Jonah ran away and hid from God. But we can’t hide from God. God found Jonah, and Jonah had a change of heart. The second time God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah obeyed. And the entire city was saved.
Scripture Summary
This was the second time God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to the wicked people there. The first time, Jonah ran away from God to hide. God knew exactly where Jonah was and caused him to be swallowed by a large fish. Jonah spent three days inside the belly of a fish until the fish spit him out onto dry land. Jonah had a change of heart.
The second time God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, Jonah responded right away. God knew that Nineveh was a powerful city, and He wanted the people of Nineveh to follow Him. Jonah was just the right person to proclaim God’s good news.
Jonah was in Ninevah for three days. On the first day, all of the Ninevites listened to Jonah, repented, and fasted. God told Jonah exactly what to say to the Ninevites—that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days.
God performed a miracle in that every person in Nineveh who heard Jonah’s preaching turned from their ways and repented. This act showed God that there was hope in Nineveh. So much hope, that God changed his mind and didn’t bring destruction to the city of Nineveh.
Why Is This Important
God doesn’t give up on us. When we ignore or disobey Him, God often finds a way to get our attention—even by repeating Himself. Just like Jonah, we can’t hide from God. God’s way is best—always.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
There are many accounts in the Bible when God repeats Himself. Almost always, it’s because the listener is, well...not listening. Before Noah built the ark, He invited people time and time again to turn from their wicked ways and toward Him. God called Jonah to Nineveh multiple times. Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” three times.
One of the most common phrases or commands in the Bible is, “Do not fear.” In fact, this command occurs 365 times throughout scripture. Did you catch that number? 365. The same number of days in each year. Could it be that God knew we’d need this reminder every single day of the year?
Are we listening to God when He speaks? Or does He need to repeat Himself in order to get our attention?
Even though God calls us to not fear, we are often tempted by fear. Think of ways you’re fearful today. Could it be that you’re fearing:
- Failure
- The future
- A daunting task
- Being left out
- The success or failure of a child
- A diagnosis
- The weight of parenting
- Fulfilling God’s calling
Though God commands (yep, a strong word, here) us to not fear. God, and God alone, has overcome the world, sin, and anything bad that comes our way. We still might experience pain, consequences, or unfavorable outcomes, but we’re to stand strong without fear.
What is keeping you tied up with fear? Take some time today to talk with God about that circumstance or situation. He is the only one who can transform the situation or transform your heart. What does it look like to live without fear?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for overcoming the world. Even though I’m tempted to fear, I don’t need to be bound by fear. Please help me remember just how powerful You are. I trust in You and your mighty hand. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Dowel Rods - one per small group, Construction paper, Paper clips, Rope, Magnets - one per small group
Get Ready: Before class, create one fishing pole per small group by tying rope to the dowel road. At the end of the rope, tie a string magnet. Make a set of fish for each small group by cutting fish shapes out of construction paper and writing a word or phrase from today’s Bible memory verse on each fish. Place a paperclip on each fish. Scatter the fish on the floor.
“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.’ ” Jonah 3:1
- Read aloud Jonah 3:1.
- Invite teams to send one player at a time to the fish and try to “catch” the fish that has the word/phrase that goes next in today’s Bible memory verse.
- Once a team has “caught” all their fish, instruct kids to put them in order of the Bible memory verse.
- After the verse is in order, challenge the kids to read the verse using the fish.
- After each round, take a fish away until kids can say the whole memory verse.
SAY: You all were great fishermen. We are used to catching fish, but in today’s true story a fish caught a person. I can’t wait to tell you more about how Jonah ran from God.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bibles - one per child, Brown paper bags - one per child, Markers, Yarn, Glue, Fabric pieces
Follow these steps for the experience:
- Give each child a brown paper bag.
- Explain that if their birthday is in January, February, or March they are going to create a Jonah puppet. If their birthday is in April, May, June, July, or August they are going to create a Ninevite puppet. If their birthday is in September, October, November, or December they are going to create a king puppet.
- After they have completed their puppets, explain that you are going to read through the Scripture of what happened after Jonah was spit out of the fish and obeyed God.
- Invite the kids to make their puppet act as you read Jonah 3:1-10.
ASK:
- What do you think about Jonah’s message to the Ninevites?
- What do you notice about how the Ninevites reacted to Jonah’s message?
- Tell about what you do when you learn something new about God.
SAY: God had a very important message for the people. After spending three nights in a fish, Jonah got the chance to obey God and deliver the message. How amazing to see how the Ninevites and their king heard God’s message and turned from their evil ways.
Snack
Gone Fishin’ Snacks
You’ll Need: Blue jello - one serving per child, Swedish fish - one per child, Goldfish crackers, Spoons - one per child
- Give each child some Jello, a spoon, and some candy and crackers.
- Invite kids to put their fish in the water.
- Have kids retell the Bible story with their snack ingredients.
- Enjoy.
SAY: Jonah obeyed God in the end. ASK:
- What are some ways we can obey God the first time we hear from Him?
SAY: What happened to Jonah may seem a bit crazy, but obedience is very important to God. We simply can’t hide from God. Jonah found that out the hard way, didn’t he? We want to obey God the first time we learn what He’s asking of us.
Game
Pin Jonah on a Fish
You’ll Need: A blindfold, Poster board, “Jonah Runs From God” handout - one for every four kids, Tape, A blue marker, Scissors
Get Ready: Cut out one Jonah for each child. Draw a big, blue fish on the poster board, and tape it on the wall.
- Give each child a Jonah cut-out, and have them label theirs with their names.
- Give them each a piece of tape to roll up and put on the back of their Jonahs.
- One by one, place the blindfold on each child, spin them around three times, and challenge them to place their Jonah on the fish.
- Everyone gets a turn.
- The winner is the one who places their Jonah closest to the middle of the fish.
ASK:
- How well did you do in this game?
- How was that like or unlike how you obey God most of the time?
SAY: Like Jonah, sometimes we mess up. The great news is that like Jonah repented, we can too. And like him, we can focus on God and obey Him again. When we do, God might use us to do something great, like He did when He sent Jonah to give the message to the Ninevite people and their king.
Craft
Stuffed Fish
You’ll Need: Blue felt - two sheets per child, Hole punch, Yarn, Markers, Tissues, Scissors, Paper slips
To make the stuffed fish, have kids follow these steps:
- Give each child two blue sheets of felt.
- Show them how to draw a fish shape on one piece of felt, as big as the felt will allow.
- Have kids place the second piece under the first and cut out the fish shape so they have two identical fish.
- Invite kids to write, “You can’t hide from God” on both sides of their fish.
- Have them place the two fish together and hole punch around the edges of the fish.
- Have kids write a confession to God on a paper slip.
- Let children use yarn to lace the fish together and stuff them with tissues and their confessions, before sealing them off.
SAY: Today we learned from Jonah that we can’t hide from God. Even though God already knows what’s in our hearts, it’s good to talk to God all the time-whether we are thanking Him, confessing, or asking for help. God knows what you stuffed in your fish, and He is glad that you confessed it to Him. Take your stuffed fish with you as a reminder that you cannot hide from God.
Prayer
Prayer Puzzle
You’ll Need: Blue poster board, Scissors, Markers
Get Ready: Cut out the shape of a large fish from the blue poster board. Then cut the fish into puzzle shapes, one for each child.
- Give each child a puzzle piece and a marker.
- Invite them to write a prayer request about how God can help them obey Him.
- After they write their requests, invite them to hold their puzzle pieces in their hands and silently pray to God about their requests.
- After they have prayed, invite kids to put together the fish puzzle.
- When the puzzle is complete, challenge kids to pause and silently pray for two more requests on the fish.
PRAY: Dear God, we know we don’t always obey You. We sometimes run from You like Jonah. Help us to see how important it is to obey You. Give us hearts to want Your way more than our way. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
