Elijah

Split the children into small groups. Stand in the middle of the room and call out 'Bring me a...' followed by something they might find nearby or on themselves — like a black sock, a red pencil, or a hair tie. The first child to bring that item and place it in your hand wins a point for their group. Play a few rounds with different items. Just like the ravens brought exactly what Elijah needed, right when he needed it, this game is all about bringing exactly what's asked for, as fast as you can!

• Elijah was alone in the wilderness with no way to get food for himself. How do you think he felt waiting there?
• Why do you think God chose ravens — of all things — to bring Elijah his food?
• Has there ever been a time you needed something and it showed up in a way you didn't expect?
• What does the story of the ravens teach us about trusting God to provide, even when we can't see how He's going to do it?

Before the session, hide a stash of snacks somewhere unexpected — behind a curtain, under a chair, in a bag the children haven't noticed. Ask them: if you were somewhere with no food and no way to get any yourself, what would you do? Let a few children answer, then reveal the hidden snacks. Explain that you already knew they'd want something, and prepared it ahead of time, before they even asked. That's exactly what God did for Elijah — He knew what Elijah needed before Elijah even realised he needed it, and He'd already sent the ravens to provide it. God still provides for us that way today, often before we even ask.

Dear God, thank You for the way You provided for Elijah when he had no way to provide for himself — sending ravens to bring him exactly what he needed, morning and evening. Help us trust that You see what we need too, even before we ask. When we feel like we're in a wilderness with no way forward, remind us that You are always providing, even in ways we'd never expect. Thank You for taking care of us. Amen.

Hide your snacks somewhere unexpected before the children arrive — this only works as a surprise if it's set up in advance, so build in a few minutes of prep time before the session starts. Watch the finger bird tutorial video yourself beforehand too, start to finish, since it's not content we made ourselves — better to know exactly what the folding steps look like before demonstrating it live. Have your paper ready to go so the craft doesn't eat into discussion time. As you lead the session, keep bringing it back to the heart of the story: God provided for Elijah in a way nobody would have guessed — through ravens, of all things — and He knew what Elijah needed before Elijah even asked. Encourage the children to think about times God has provided for them, even in ways that felt surprising or unexpected at the time. God still provides today, even when we can't see how it's going to happen.