“The Gentle Whisper” Listening Challenge

Main point: God speaks in a still small voice (1 Kings 19).

You’ll need:

A few noisemakers (clapping, stomping, shakers)
A smart phone or iphone with a whispered voice pre-recorded giving directions to a hidden object.
A gift bag (or paper lunch bag). Inside the gift bag have a rolled piece of paper tied with a string. On the paper should be written 1 Kings 19:11-13.

How to play:

Before the kids arrive, hide the gift bag.
Pre-record your voice giving directions on where to find the gift bag. The recording should say the same directions over and over for 30 seconds.
Choose one child to be Elijah. Explain that he has 30 seconds to find the gift.
Tell the remaining kids they need to start clapping, stomping, and hissing as soon as you say "go" and they are to continue until you hold up your hands and say "stop."
Say "go" and play the directions while the kids are making noise.
After thirty seconds, have them stop.
Ask "Elijah" if he was able to hear the directions.
Now tell them to be completely still and have Elijah listen to the recording again and this time he should easily hear it and find the gift bag.
Have Elijah (or a teacher) read the message in the gift bag.
Discuss how Elijah didn’t hear God in the noise, but in the whisper.

Questions:

What do we have today that makes "noise" in our lives that keeps us from hearing God?
How can we remove "noise makers" out of our lives so we can hear God speaking to us?

Junior Activities