Summary of Lesson

This storytelling lesson is about who Isaiah was, how he became a prophet, and what he did as God's prophet. Isaiah teaches Isaiah 9 ("Wonderful counselor....") through hand motions. He encourages students to feel the coal of God touching their lips, just like it did Isaiah's — to tell the story of God coming into the world.

Scripture

Passages:  Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7
Key/Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6

Objectives

See the Bible Background for this set's complete list of objectives.

Objectives for this Workshop

By the end of this workshop, the students will:

Preparation

• An adult or youth volunteer dressed in Bible times clothes prepared to be Isaiah (see script below)
• Extra Props for Isaiah (props that help remind you of things you want to say) and a Scroll for your notes
• A storytelling tent or cozy atmosphere
• Grapes and pita bread snacks
• Fireballs, Red Hots or spicy cinnamon candies
• Illustration supplies for the reflection drawing

Tips for the Storyteller

 Read about Isaiah, especially Isaiah chapters 6, 7, and 9, in several translations of the Bible and children's Bibles to see other ways to tell it.

One great way to remember each part of the story without notes is to HAVE PROPS for each part of the story.  These will serve as a reminder and outline for you. Consider turning the script into a "trip down memory lane" for Isaiah. Pull out a scroll with some notes, pretending that they only have scripture on them.

Below in the script, we've highlighted several key words which could be props you use, and added some "prop notes."

Become familiar with the background notes for this lesson and chapters 6, 7 and 9 of Isaiah. Memorize some key phrases. Summarize the story in outline form. And then tell about "your life" in your own words. Do be sure to cover the information in this story, as it is the basis for the lesson that follows.

However, DO LEARN THE 3 KEY VERSES, ISAIAH 7:14 AND ISAIAH 9:6-7, WORD FOR WORD from the New Revised Standard Version, or read them from a cheat sheet/scroll.

This monologue is written as an intimate and personal story. Tell it in a way that is confiding and friendly, as if you were telling the story of your own life to your grandchildren. You are bringing the Bible to life for the children through your portrayal of a real Bible person.

Consider creating Isaiah's Tent to tell the story in. String some canvas tarps on rope, add a rug, a few baskets, some grapes and bread for snacks, turn down the lights, and let everyone's imagination take it from there!   You might even consider having the kids in costume as well.

Decide why you think Isaiah thought he was lost and why he then decided God could send him. The Bible does not indicate why he makes this decision; he was not required to go. Think about how he felt about people not listening to him. How he felt about the prophecies he was sharing. Once you have decided how you want to interpret Isaiah, let that color how you speak for him. But remember, there are many correct interpretations.

Bring the story to life with your movements and emotions as well as the words. Try to visualize the action, and then include small parts of it in your telling. For example, point to your lips and respond to the hot coal; raise your hands in benediction at the end of the story.

For more help with storytelling, see Amy Crane's manual on Biblical Storytelling in the Rotation Documents: Workshop Manuals section of the IDEA AND LESSON EXCHANGE. https://www.rotation.org/topic/biblical-storytelling

Notes to help with questions that may arise from Isaiah's Story

Lesson Plan

Open

Introduce the plan for today's lesson and give some ground rules. Invite students to play along in helping the scripture lesson come alive.

Isaiah Comes to Your Storytelling Tent

a suggested script

Isaiah enters the tent, takes off his satchel (filled with props) and tells his visitors how glad he is that they found him.

Isaiah asks who they are, where they are from, why they have come to his tent.

My Life

I'm not used to being invited to share with people. You do know that I am a prophet, don't you? Most people tend not to like prophets because they think all we do is go around and shout what's wrong with people. And I guess that's true. YOU: sit up straight. YOU: stop being mean to your sister. YOU: Help the poor!  hahaha, just kidding, but that's sort of what our job is like: to point out what's wrong, and tell people what God thinks about it.  

(Pulls out a scroll) But I wasn't always a prophet. I used to be a WRITER and a historian working for King Uzziah of Judah, oh, about the year 751 BC. What year is this?  Oh, so that was about 2751 years ago!  My how time flies!!

My Vision in the Temple

I was only about 25 years old when King Uzziah died of a terrible disease: leprosy, and I was out of a job. So I went into the temple to pray one day. And there, I saw a vision of the Lord — yes, the Lord God! — sitting on his high throne. The hem of His robe completely filled the Temple!  (Prop: Show a drawing of what you thought you saw)

Seraphs were in attendance. Each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two wings they flew. And they called to one another, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"

The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake! The Temple itself filled with smoke.

And I cried out, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips. Every word that passes my lips is sinful. I live among a people of unclean lips. Yet my eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts!" I was sure that I, a sinful man, would die after beholding the Lord.

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with the red-hot coal and said, "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt is gone and your sin is blotted out."

Then, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Who will be our messenger, a prophet to the people?"

I shouted, "Here am I. Send me!"

And from there on in, God gave me messages to give to the kings and people.

God Promises Immanuel

One day, the Lord gave me the biggest message ever. He sent me with a message to King Ahaz, he was Uzziah's grandson. "Ask the Lord your God to give you a sign. It can be anything — from deep in the world of the dead or from high up in heaven."

King Ahaz responded, "I will not ask for a sign. I will not put the Lord to the test."

I said, "Hear then, descendants of King David. Is it too little for you to wear out the patience of men? Must you wear out God's patience, too? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel, 'God is with us.'"

(Prop: Pull out a scroll with the word "Immanuel" on it, and the translation of what it means: God with us."  Now draw a baby in a crib/manger by the words.)

Isaiah 9:2....Great Light

"Have any of you ever been really, really excited about something that you knew was going to happen, but didn't know when it was going to happen?"

That's how I felt when the Lord gave me this message about a coming child who would actually be God with us.

I got so excited I wrote these words:  (Prop: Scroll and Light a Lamp)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined.

Isaiah 9:6-7  Remembering it with hand motions.

Then God told me to tell the people what this child would be like when he grew up. Maybe you've heard these words before, but let me teach them to you in a new way. They are so important, I don't want you to forget them:

Isaiah Chapter 9, Verse 6 (hold 9 fingers straight up, then 6 fingers pointed sideways)

For a child has been born for us, (rock a baby)

a son given to us; (hold out both hands palms up as if giving something)

authority rests upon his shoulders; (pat both of your shoulders)

and he is named (sign your 'John Hancock' on your hands)

Wonderful Counselor, (start with both hands at mouth, reach them out with palms up as if giving something)

Mighty God, (hold both arms up to show muscles)

Everlasting Father, (both hands start at heart, reach and point out slowly to sides showing eternity)

Prince of Peace. (hold two fingers up in a peace sign).

Let's practice that one more time....

Okay, now you lead it as I say it!

Isaiah Shares Snacks and Asks Questions

(At this point, if you have bread and grapes, Isaiah can pass them out and ask questions while everyone is snacking.)

What year is this again?  Oh, so the Messiah has already come, hasn't he?

Do you know who I am talking about?

Have you met the Messiah?

Jesus!   Yes, tell me something about him. What do you know about him?

Was he the Wonderful Counselor and Teacher I predicted?  (yes, of course he was)

Did he talk a lot about bringing Peace on earth?  (how are you helping bring peace?)

And did you GET that he was actually GOD WITH US?  The Emmanuel? The Ever-lasting Father?  

Some people don't believe that. They think Jesus was just a good teacher. But God gave me plenty of clues and I wrote them down on my scrolls. Should have been quite OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE !!  Jesus is Lord, He's God with us.

How many of you figured out Jesus' real identity?

That's great.

But let me ask you, how many of you have told OTHERS about Jesus?

That's important too. 

How do you do that?  (Words and actions.)

Well I must be going. I have a few other people to talk to today.

But I want to leave you with this memory....

Isaiah Gives Red-Hots and then Leaves

I want each of you to take one of these "red-hot" coals and put it in your mouth. Let it touch your lips. If it gets too hot, put some bread and grapes on it to cool you off.

When I was young, I had a vision of an angel touching my lips with the burning coal from God's Temple.

God was setting my lips on fire to tell his truths. He was purifying my mouth to speak of the glorious coming of the Messiah.

And God touches your lips to go out and tell his truths too.

It burns a little bit, but it is to help us remember.

What God has done for us by coming into the world as the Baby Emmanuel — the Messiah Jesus, we must never forget, and must never forget to share.

(Isaiah leaves)

Reflection

After Isaiah has left, invite the students to draw an illustration of the angel touching Isaiah's lips with a burning coal from the altar of God.  This can be whimsical!  You can glue red-hots together to form the coal.

The point: God wants us to speak his truths and tell his story too. Don't let God's message get lost this Christmas.

Pass out some more red hots and close with prayer.

Written by Amy Crane and Neil MacQueen

Copyright 2015, Rotation.org
Printed from https://www.rotation.org

Photos courtesy of Barbara Little of The Church of the Epiphany, Glenburn/Clarks Summit PA (2016).