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ELISHA RECEIVES THE MANTLE FROM ELIJAH ROTATION

COOKING

PASSAGE

Scripture Passage: 2 Kings 2:1-15

Key/Memory Verse: Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” 2 Kings 2:9b

PURPOSE

The many miracles of Elisha were possible because Elijah laid a strong foundation. In our own congregations, our current ministries are possible because of foundations that others laid for us. See Bible Background for details.

Objectives

Children will:

Locate the story in the Old Testament portion of the Bible.

Tell the story in their own words.

Define prophet, disciple.

Discuss the relationship between Elijah and Elisha -- teacher/disciple.

Explore the meaning of Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit.

Explore the meaning behind Elijah's passing the mantle to Elisha.

Discuss ways they learn from parents and teachers and pick up their "mantles."

Memorize 2 Kings 2:9b.

Objectives for Cooking Workshop

The children will:

Hear the story.

Make a pie with emphasis on how the crust makes a foundation for the pie.

Learn about Elijah and Elisha’s relative importance.
Gain understanding of the “foundations” of their own congregation

PREPARATION

Read Bible Background and lesson plan.

Pray for the children and your teaching.

Find an elder of the congregation who is willing to talk to the children. Let the person know the point of the lesson and approximately how long he or she will have to speak.

Materials List

• Can Opener [Optional]
  
• Cherry filling for 2 pies
  
• Equipment for preparing and serving pies
  
• Forks
  
• Ingredients for double crusts for 1 pie or 2 pre-made piecrusts
  
• Napkins
  
• Oven
  
• Pictures or documents to support your church foundations discussion
  
• Pie pans, 2
  
• Plates
  

Advance Preparation

Work out how much of the “Open & Dig” discussion you want to begin with and how much you want to suspend until the pies are in the oven.

Meet with the elder and discuss the theme of the discussion. We want to emphasize that the ministry we are doing today is possible because of the foundations laid by others that came before us.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction & Dig – Main Content

If this is not the first week, ask the children to tell you what they might already know about Elijah and Elisha. Thank them for their input.

Help the children remember which prophet came first by giving the rule that Elijah comes first alphabetically and comes first in the sequence of stories.

Help the children find the Scripture passage. Read it in unison.

Explain what “double portion” meant. Elijah didn’t give Elisha double his power, it meant that Elisha was his heir.

Activity

Emphasize: Double portion does not mean Elisha got double power.
Ask: Do you know which prophet performed more miracles – Elijah or Elisha? (Elisha had more than twice as many miracles listed in Scripture.) Does that make Elisha a greater prophet? (Allow differing opinions)

Explain that you are going to make Elijah/Elisha pie.

Ask: What is your favorite pie?

Say: Hmmm, there are lots of cherries (or whatever) in a cherry pie, so let’s make the cherries stand for Elisha since he performed more miracles. The other part of the pie is the crust. We’ll let the crust stand for Elijah.

Roll out the crust for the one pie, add filling, and top with the top crust, crimping to seal the edges. Make some fork pricks to vent it and begin baking.

Say: You know, Elisha performed a lot more miracles than Elijah did. Maybe he was greater. Let’s make a second pie – just an Elisha pie, no Elijah. Place filling in an empty pie pan and place in the oven.

Ask: What do you think our pies will be like? Which will make a better pie? Why?

Reflect – Closure

Say: Any delicious pie needs a crust as a foundation. And Elisha needed a foundation, too.

Ask: If Elijah hadn’t battled Ahab and Jezebel and the prophets of Ba’al, do you think Elisha would have been around to do all those miracles?

Ask: In our church today, we are able to do (list ministry). Did you ever think that (ministry) is possible because someone many years ago laid a foundation?

Introduce a guest, who is going to tell about the “foundation” of a ministry. Give the children a chance to ask questions and model by asking questions yourself.

Bring out the pies and slice some. Ask the children to explain to the guest the difference between the pies.

Emphasize again that Elijah provided a foundation that Elisha built on and that ___ provided a foundation on which (ministry) is built on.

Close with prayer, thanking God for the faithful people who came before us.

CONTRIBUTOR: Lisa Martin