City Kids Parent Take-Home
Jonah 1-4
Big truth: God’s people should reflect the mercy of their God.
Christ connection: Jesus rose after 3 days, to gladly show mercy to His enemies.
Faith Response: Children who don’t grumble but gladly show mercy when it’s hard.
Memory verse: Proverbs 30:5 song
Every word of God proves true;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Dinner-table questions
- How was Jonah different to some of the other prophets? Where was he sent? Why did he run?
Jonah was sent to Nineveh in Assyria, an enemy of Israel. Jonah ran because he knew God was merciful and forgives when people repent. - How did Jonah respond when God showed mercy to him in the stormy sea? How did he respond when God showed mercy to Nineveh?
Jonah was thankful when God showed mercy to him, but he was angry when God showed mercy to Ninevah. - Jesus said the story of Jonah was a sign about him. How does Jonah point to Jesus? How is Jesus different from Jonah?
Jonah was thrown into the sea to save the sailors, and came out of the fish 3 days later. Jesus really rose from the dead 3 days later to save us. Jonah didn’t want to go to Ninevah, but Jesus gladly shows us mercy. - When we feel grumpy about someone who’s difficult to love, what can we remember? How can we pray?
Discuss! We need to remember God’s mercy to us, and ask His Spirit to make our hearts merciful.
Family Activity: sailor, sailor, Jonah.
You will need: a small cup of water or bottle.
This is “duck, duck, goose” with a twist, or you might know it as “drip, drip, drop”.
Sit in a circle on the floor, choosing one person to be “it”. They sprinkle a drip of water on the first person’s head and say “sailor”. They continue dripping water on the sailors, until they drop all of it on someone’s head and say “Jonah”. That person then chases him/her around the circle, trying to beat them back to their space. The next player then takes a cup of water and play continues.
Remind the children that Jesus is better than Jonah. He gladly gives us mercy.
Link love
The Biggest Story podcast: Spotify / Apple
This week’s Bible story video: