God's Call to the "Dones" and "Worn Out"

1 Kings 19: God Calls Elijah Out of His Cave

How to Use This:

1. Use this quick outline of the story to retell or act out the story with children as a children's sermon or in a classroom lesson. I've put some "acting/performance notes" at the end of this post.
   
   I've also preached this story to adults beginning with Elijah's flashy fiery "win" on Mt Carmel. What kind of "cave" are you hiding in -- and "passing on your mantle of faith" are great metaphors and Fall Renewal themes.
   
   
2. After telling the story to children, you can invite various older church leaders to come forward and "fling their mantle" to the kids who try to catch it. (object lesson!)   Or, you can use the "fling the mantle" activity in a classroom lesson if you want to extend Elijah's "cave" scene to him going and getting the help he needed (Elisha).
   
   Elijah's mantle is a terrific metaphor for "why" Sunday School is important and should be a personal priority (and not just a programmatic one).
   
   

1 Kings 19: God Calls Elijah Out of His Cave, a Story Outline

I love the story of Elijah running off to hide in the cave of Horeb in 1 Kings 19. If ever there was an obvious parable for most churches, older members who think their turn is over, and worn-out leaders who aren't good at recruiting or letting go -- this is it.

Elijah had won the battle on Mt Carmel. Called down fire on the Ba-al bull (literally) and dispatched the prophets of Ba-al, only to find himself run off the mountaintop by none other than the notorious King Ahab. And now here he is alone, exhausted, and holed up in the holy cave of quits -- until God comes looking for him.

"What are you doing here?" God says to our worn-out hero. And after hearing Elijah's excuses, God calls him out of the cave for a little earthquake, wind, and fire therapy before whispering to him what every leader needs and dreads to hear: go recruit some help.

Now the funny thing is...  when Elijah goes recruiting at the end of chapter 19, he doesn't find Elisha at church. Instead, Elijah finds the next great prophet of Israel at his parent's home cutting their lawn with oxen. Know anybody like that?

And several chapters later in 2 Kings 2 -- when after mentoring young Elisha, old Elijah lets go of his mantle and leaves it behind for young Elisha to pick up, (let me say that again: "when old Elijah lets go") the Bible says Elisha became twice the prophet Elijah ever was.

As Jesus would say, "let them with ears HEAR."

Flinging the Mantle: an Activity

The following activity was used in ONE version of the children's sermon I've done for Elijah/Elisha (I've done several different versions over the years). This one took place in the sanctuary after I'd told the story of Elijah and Elisha but could easily be adapted as a classroom activity too.

After telling the story, have the children call with a loud voice "Elijah, come out of your cave!" The second louder time they did this, several pre-positioned elders stood up and walked forward. Each had been given a large piece of FELT which was their "mantle."  They grouped on one side of the chancel about 5 feet from the kids. One by one I introduced them to the kids and they told the kids what they DID in the church and needed help with.  (We purposely chose elders from the CE, Building, and Mission committees.)  Each had a very short request for help, then turned around with their backs to the group of kids and "on the count of three" FLUNG their felt mantle toward the kids (like a bride throwing their bouquet). The kids scrambled to catch it, and the elder asked their name and said "I'll be calling you!" (That sent a chuckle through the congregation until that elder turned to the adults and said, "the rest of you can call me."

The FLING THING I always wanted to do:

I always wanted to have an elder throw a whole bunch of mini-mantles -- enough for each kid to grab. Didn't matter if some fell on the ground because, in 2 Kgs 2, Elijah's mantle fell on the ground too. "Elisha had to DECIDE to pick it up. Will you?"   

This idea also makes me think about having the kids CREATE a bunch of "mini-mantles" cut from FOAM paper and place them all over the church for church members to pick up.  On each mini-mantle would be something they could do to serve God (including helping at church).   

Re-enacting the Story with Kids in Class or in a Children's Sermon

Having the kids pose in victory on Mt Carmel, but then get chased and end up hiding in the Horeb Cave is a fun addition to your storytelling that will really help them remember the story. (Adults loved seeing the kids do this too.)

We also stepped out of the cave, jumped back from the fire, pretended to lose our balance during the earthquake, and blew around in the wind, then sat back down and cupped our ears to hear God's small voice  (because God wasn't in those dramatic displays, God prefers the still small voice to talk to us.)

When I did this version of the storytelling as a children's sermon, I whispered God's voice deeply but VERY quietly into my microphone with my hand cupped over it for effect. My first words were extremely quiet because you have to BE quiet in order to hear God speaking to you sometimes!

Story graphics above come from the Elijah and Jonah software, a free download at Rotation.org for its Supporting Members! This software program teaches the story of Elijah, Ahab and the Prophets of Ba-al, The Still Small Voice, and the Call of Elisha, and the passing of the mantle to Elisha during the "Chariots of Fire" scene.