unit 14 • session 1 jonah, prophet to nineveh · jonah, prophet to nineveh unit 14 • session 1...

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Use Week of:

TEACH THE STORY

1520 MINUTESPAGE 52

EXPERIENCE THE STORY

2530 MINUTESPAGE 54

REVIEW THE STORY

10+ MINUTESPAGE 56

Jonah, Prophet

to Nineveh

Unit 14 • Session 1

BIBLE PASSAGE:

Jonah

STORY POINT:

God loves all people.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Peter 3:9

BIG PICTURE QUESTION:

Why should we obey God? We should

obey God because He made us, He loves

us, and His plans are good.

48Preschool Worship Guide


1

LEADER Bible Study

Jonah lived during the time Jeroboam II was king over Israel, mere

decades before the Northern Kingdom of Israel was destroyed. Jonah was

a prophet—and while he is best known as the man who was swallowed

by a big fish when he tried to run away from God, his story continues

beyond chapter 2 to reveal what Jonah knew all along: God is “a gracious

and compassionate God” (Jonah 4:2b).

Jonah’s account centers around the compassion of God, not only for the

people of Israel but for people throughout the earth—even Israel’s worst

enemies!

Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, and the rulers of Nineveh were

notoriously evil and cruel. That was the very reason God called Jonah

to go to them: “their evil has come up before me” (Jonah 1:2). God is

the Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25), and He is sovereign over all the

nations.

Jonah discovered that no one can flee from God’s presence. (Ps. 139:9-10)

Through a storm and some time in the belly of a fish, God got Jonah’s

attention, and Jonah went to Nineveh. For three days, Jonah walked

around the city. His message to the Ninevites was brief: “In forty days

Nineveh will be demolished!” (Jonah 3:4)

The people of Nineveh immediately repented, and God withheld His

judgment. “Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious” (Jonah 4:1).

God rebuked Jonah. He left Jonah—and the reader—with a question to

consider: “May I not care about the great city of Nineveh?” (Jonah 4:11).

Emphasize to preschoolers that Jesus is greater than Jonah. (Matt. 12:41)

Jesus came calling all sinners to repentance. He submitted to God’s will

with joy and laid down His own life for our sins. God shows His mercy

in the gospel, forgiving those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. God

sends us out, like Jonah, to share the good news of salvation.

49!e Northern Kingdom of Israel

The BIBLE Story

Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh

Jonah

Jonah was a prophet. One day, God told Jonah, “Go to Nineveh. Tell the people there to stop doing wrong things.”

The people in Nineveh were very mean! So Jonah did not go to Nineveh like God told him to do. Instead, he got on a boat

to go far away.God sent a storm. The sailors on the boat were afraid! They discovered the

storm came because of Jonah, so the

sailors asked him, “Who are you?

What are you doing here? Where

did you come from?”

Jonah said, “I worship

the one true God who made

everything.”

Jonah told the sailors to throw him into the sea so that the storm would calm down. So the sailors picked

up Jonah and threw him into the sea and the storm stopped.

From that moment on, the sailors

worshiped the one true God.

God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish

for three days and three nights. He prayed to

God and thanked Him for sending the fish. Then the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land.

God said, “Jonah, go to Nineveh. Tell the people My message.” This time, Jonah went to Nineveh. He walked into the city and



Bible Storytelling Tips

• Use props: Show

items, such as a toy

boat, a picture of an

ocean, a large toy

fish, a plant, or a

picture of a worm,

as you tell the Bible

story. Hold up each

item when you come

to that part of the

Bible story.

• Dramatic conversation: Use

a dramatic voice to

emphasize the fear

of the sailors, deepen

your voice when God

speaks, and use hand

gestures for the

storm and wind.

shouted, “In 40 days, God will destroy Nineveh!”The people in Nineveh listened. They stopped doing

wrong things. They showed God that they were sorry, so God decided not to destroy Nineveh.

“I knew You would do this!” Jonah said to God. “You

are gracious. You do not give people what they deserve. You

are slow to get angry, and You love people. I am so mad!”“Is it right for you to be mad?” God asked Jonah.

Jonah went outside to watch what God would do. Then

God taught Jonah a lesson. First, God made a plant to shade Jonah from the sun. Jonah was happy. Then God sent a worm. The worm ate the plant, and the plant died. Then God sent wind. Jonah was so hot, he almost fainted.

He was not happy.God asked, “Are you mad that the plant died?”“Yes,” said Jonah.God said, “You cared about the plant, but you did not

take care of it or make it grow. The city of Nineveh has many people. I made them, and I care about them. There

are many animals too. Aren’t people and animals more important than a plant?”

Christ Connection: God told Jonah to go to his enemies and

tell them to stop sinning. Jonah did not want to go. Later, God

sent His own Son, Jesus, to go to His enemies and tell them to

stop sinning. Unlike Jonah, Jesus wanted to obey God. He died

on the cross to save us from sin.


TEACH the Story

SESSION TITLE: Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh

BIBLE PASSAGE: Jonah

STORY POINT: God loves all people.

KEY PASSAGE: 2 Peter 3:9

BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why should we obey God? We should obey God

because He made us, He loves us, and His plans are good.

Welcome and worship with songGreet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing

an action song such as “You Are Good” to engage them

and help them feel welcomed. Begin worship by leading

preschoolers in the theme song “God Is in Control.”

Watch or tell the Bible storyShow preschoolers a fish in a fishbowl or a picture of a fish.

Ask preschoolers to tell you what they know about Jonah.

SAY • What most people remember about Jonah is that

he was swallowed by a big fish, but that isn’t the

most important part of the story. What I want us to

remember today is that God loves all people. Listen

to the Bible story to hear how God showed His love.

Open your Bible to Jonah. Show the video or tell the Bible

story using the provided storytelling tips. Use the bolded

version of the Bible story for young preschoolers.

Practice the key passage and a Bible skillPlace the key passage marker at 2 Peter 3:9. Invite a child

to open your Bible to the key passage. Create motions for

preschoolers to use as they say the key passage. Use the key

passage song video for inspiration.

SAY • God loves all people. He wants everyone to turn

• “You Are Good” song

• “God Is in Control”

song

• fish in fishbowl

• picture of a fish

(optional)

• Bible

• “Jonah, Prophet

to Nineveh” video

(optional)

• Bible Story Picture

Poster

• Story Point Poster

• Giant Timeline

• Bible

• Key Passage Marker

• Key Passage Poster

• “The Lord Is Patient

With You” song



from their sin and follow Him. He was patient

with both Jonah and the Ninevites and gave them a

chance to stop sinning. God is patient with us too.

Instead of punishing us like our sin deserves, He sent

Jesus to be punished in our place. When we trust in

Jesus, God forgives our sin.

Sing the key passage song “The Lord Is Patient With You.”

Learn the big picture question and answerSAY • Our big picture question asks, Why should we obey

God? We should obey God because He made us,

He loves us, and His plans are good. God created

everything, so He knows how life works best. God

gives us rules for our good and our joy.

Respond through song and prayerSAY • God loves all people, so He told Jonah to go to his

enemies and tell them to stop sinning. Jonah did not

want to go. Later, God sent His own Son, Jesus, to

tell His enemies to stop sinning. Unlike Jonah, Jesus

wanted to obey God. He died on the cross to save us

from sin.

Sing “God Is in Control” and “Return” as preschoolers

move with the music. Prepare for prayer by singing “Jesus,

Thank You.” You may also collect an offering.

SAY • God, thank You for loving us. Even though we sin,

You are patient with us. You sent Jesus to rescue us.

Help us to trust in Him so that we can be forgiven

for our sin. Help us obey You. Amen.

Transition to experience the story

• Big Picture Question

Poster



song

• “Return” song

• “Jesus, Thank You”

song

• offering basket

• countdown video

(optional)


EXPERIENCE the Story







Share a messageGather preschoolers in a circle. Whisper a message to a

preschooler. Guide him to whisper the message to the child

beside him. Continue sharing the message around the circle.

Lead the last preschooler to tell the message to the group.

SAY • God told Jonah to give the Ninevites a message: stop

sinning! God loves all people. God sent His own

Son, Jesus, to earth to rescue people from sin. Jesus

died on the cross to save us from sin.

Play out riding in a boatSet up a “boat” by arranging chairs in short rows. Invite

children to sit in the chairs and play out what it would be

like to be on a boat in different conditions, such as calm

water, rough seas, choppy waves, rain, or wind.

SAY • Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah got on a boat

to go far away. When God sent Jesus to earth, Jesus

obeyed. Jesus was punished for people’s sin even

though He never sinned Himself. Jesus died on the

cross to save us from sin. God loves all people.

Build a cityEncourage preschoolers to build the city of Nineveh with

blocks. Invite them to use people figures to play out Jonah’s

Suggested

messages:

• God loves all people.

• God is patient.

• God’s plans are good.

• chairs

• blocks

• people figures



shouting to the people, “God will destroy Nineveh!”

SAY • God cared about the people in the city of Nineveh.

God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people

to stop sinning. God loves all people. God sent His

own Son, Jesus, into the world to tell people to stop

sinning. Unlike Jonah, Jesus wanted to obey God.

Jesus gave His own life to save people from sin.

Make a big fishGuide preschoolers to color a paper bag. Help a preschooler

stuff her bag halfway full with newspaper. Secure the paper

inside the bag with a rubber band to create a fishtail. Guide

her to glue a googly eye on each side of her fish’s head.

SAY • God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah prayed

to God and thanked Him for sending the fish. When

the fish vomited Jonah onto dry land, Jonah obeyed

God and went to Nineveh. Jonah learned that God loves all people.

Plant a seedCover a table with a plastic tablecloth. Help each

preschooler fill a small cup with potting soil. Show children

how to place a seed in the soil using a spoon to manipulate

the soil. Guide preschoolers to spray the soil with water.

SAY • God made a plant grow to teach Jonah a lesson.

Jonah learned that God loves all people. God made

the people in Nineveh, and He cared about them.

God made the people around us, and He cares about

them too. We can show them love because God loved

us and sent Jesus to save us from sin.

Transition to review the story

• paper lunch bags,

1 per child

• markers or crayons

• newspaper

• googly eyes,

2 per child

• glue

• rubber bands,

1 per child

• plastic tablecloth

• cups, 1 per child

• spoons

• potting soil

• seeds

• spray bottle

• water

• countdown video

(optional)


REVIEW the Story







ReviewPoint to the giant timeline as you review today’s Bible story.

Ask the following review questions:

1. Who does God love? (God loves all people.)2. What did God tell Jonah to do? (Go to Nineveh and

tell the people to stop doing wrong things.)

3. What did God send to swallow Jonah? (a big fish)

4. Did the people of Nineveh listen to Jonah? (Yes,

they stopped doing wrong things.)

5. Was Jonah happy God decided not to destroy

Nineveh? (No, Jonah was mad.)

6. Why should we obey God? We should obey God

because He made us, He loves us, and His plans

are good.

SAY • Jonah did not like the Ninevites. He did not want to

obey God and tell them to stop sinning. Jonah tried

to run away, but no one can run away from God or

His love. God used a storm, a big fish, and a plant

to teach Jonah about His love. God loves all people. God sent His very own Son, Jesus, to earth to rescue

people from sin. Jesus obeyed God and died on the

cross so we can have life with God forever.

Sing the theme song “God Is in Control” or key passage

song “The Lord Is Patient With You.”

• Bible

• Bible Story Picture

Poster

• Giant Timeline


• Big Picture Question

Poster

• Key Passage Poster


song (optional)

• “The Lord Is Patient

With You” song

(optional)



PrayInvite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have.

SAY • God, thank You for loving us and taking care of us.

No matter what we do, You never stop loving us.

When we turn from our sin, You are quick to forgive

us. Thank You for showing us that when we pray,

You listen. Please help us to obey You. Amen.

Missions momentShow the picture of Bill Wallace.

SAY • Bill Wallace obeyed when God sent him to China

to tell the people there about Jesus. Some people

in China didn’t like Bill Wallace telling them about

God, but he didn’t stop. He wanted to obey God no

matter what. He stayed in China his whole life.

Throw Jonah in the seaGive each preschooler a piece of paper. Instruct them to

crumple the paper into a ball and pretend it is Jonah. Place

blue construction paper in various places around the room.

Invite preschoolers to pretend to throw Jonah in the sea by

tossing their crumpled paper at the blue construction paper.

SAY • When Jonah tried to run away, God sent a storm.

The sailors were afraid and threw Jonah into the

sea. God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. After the

fish vomited Jonah onto dry land, once again, God

told Jonah to go to his enemies and tell them to stop

sinning. This time Jonah obeyed. Later, God sent His

own Son, Jesus, to go to His enemies and tell them

to stop sinning. Jesus obeyed God. He died on the

cross to save us from sin.

• “Bill Wallace Photo”

printable

• copy paper

• blue paper


unit 14 • session 1 jonah, prophet to nineveh · jonah, prophet to nineveh unit 14 • session 1...

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