Hearing God’s Voice-Week 2

Memory Verse

Younger Kids

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

John 10:27

Older Kids

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”

John 10:27-28

Day 1- God’s Still, Small Voice

  • Pray.
  • Practice the memory verse. I added a video of the sign language for the verse. https://when-you-rise.com/hearing-gods-voice/
  • We will be reading from 1 Kings 19 today. It tells the story of Elijah running away from Jezebel in fear of his life and how God gently spoke to him and reassured him of His sovereignty. If you have not recently read the previous two chapters (1 Kings 17-18), please spend a couple days reading them with your kids. They also show how Elijah listened to God’s voice and obeyed him, and it helps if they know the background story before reading 1 Kings 19.
  • Spend a few minutes reviewing and summarizing 1 Kings 17-18. Remind your kids how God had revealed Himself in a big and powerful way when he sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice in front of hundreds of people.
  • Guide your children into today’s lesson by explaining that God can speak and act in very powerful ways, but many times (maybe most times nowadays) He speaks in a still, small voice.
  • Read 1 Kings 19:1-4.
  • Ask, “Why was Elijah so afraid?”
  • Read 1 Kings 19:5-8.
  • Ask, “What happened when Elijah was asleep? Why?”
  • Read or tell in your own words 1 Kings 19:9-14, 18.
  • Discuss
    • Younger Kids
      • Where did Elijah hear God’s voice?
        • Was it in the great, strong wind?
        • Was it in the earthquake?
        • Was it in the fire?
        • Or was it in the gentle breeze?
      • How did Elijah have to be to hear God’s voice-loud or quiet?
      • How do we need to be to hear God’s voice?
      • Does that mean we have to be quiet all the time? No!
        • It just means that we need to have quiet spirits, calm hearts, and practice having quiet and still times so we can learn to listen for God’s voice as He speaks gently to our hearts.
    • Older Kids
      • What happened when Elijah was at the cave (verses 9-10)?
      • How was he feeling? Try to pry some more descriptive words out of them; not just, “He felt sad.”
      • When did Elijah hear God’s voice?
      • What do you think it sounded like? Maybe have them say the words that God spoke in verse 13 in the way they hear God saying it.
      • How can we learn to hear God’s still, small voice? What do you need to do?
      • How does reading this story encourage you?
      • Do you feel more confident that God is working even when things can seem so loud and out of control sometimes?
  • Activity
    • Sometime today, listen to “Be Still and Know” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Day 2- God’s Words to Jeremiah

  • Pray.
  • Practice the memory verse.
  • Explain to your kids that Jeremiah was a prophet to the people of Judah. He lived during the reign of king Josiah (remember the 8 year old who became king?) and the reigns of his sons. A prophet was someone to whom the Lord spoke, and they were to deliver that message to the people. God had a hard message for the people to hear, and Jeremiah was to deliver it. God wanted the people to know that judgement was coming because of their disbelief and disobedience.
  • Even in giving Jeremiah such a hard task, God speaks words of hope and encouragement to Jeremiah.
  • Read Jeremiah 1:4-10.
  • Discuss
    • How do you feel when you read that God knew Jeremiah even before he was formed, and that He already knew what job He had for him to do?
    • Is the same true for you? Did God know you even before He formed you? Does He already know the plans he has for you to do?
    • Why was Jeremiah apprehensive/nervous?
    • How did God’s words change Jeremiah’s attitude? They give him courage and confidence and comfort.
    • How does God want to use these words in your life right now?
  • Pray. Ask God to give your kids confidence in knowing that He is with them and will give them the words they need for every situation. Thank Him for being with your kids everywhere they go.

Day 3- Abraham Hears, Obeys, and Worships

  • Pray,
  • Review the memory verse. Who can say it the quietest? Who can say it the loudest?
  • Read Genesis 12:1-8.
  • Ask
    • Who is involved in this story?
    • What did God say?
    • When did this happen? When Abraham was ____ years old.
    • Where did God tell Abraham to go?
    • Why did Abraham build an alter?
    • How did Abraham show that He had faith in God? He obeyed.
  • Apply it to our own lives.
    • What should we do when we hear God’s voice speaking to our hearts or when we feel Him leading us to do something?
    • Moses built an alter to worship God. How can we worship God?

Day 4- Jonah

  • Pray.
  • Practice the memory verse.
  • Ask, “When you are asked to do something by your teachers or parents or others in authority, what should you do? What happens if you don’t do it?”
  • Summarize the story of Jonah or have your kids tell you what happened. Jonah 1:1-17, 2:1, 2:10.
  • Read aloud Jonah 3.
  • Discuss
    • What caused Jonah listen and obey?
    • How do you think things would have gone differently if he had listened and obeyed the first time?
    • What do we learn about God’s?
    • How did the people of Ninevah respond after they heard God’s words spoken through Jonah?
    • How should we respond when we hear God’s instructions to us?
    • When should we obey?
  • Remind your kids that God gives us instructions because He loves us and knows what is best for us.

Weekly Activity Ideas