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    Elijah on Mount Carmel: Sunday School Lesson

    1 Kings 18

    Ages 7–12 ~45 min Memory: 1 Kings 18:21

    Print this page straight from your browser — the story, memory verse, discussion questions and craft all fit on one sheet.

    Big Idea

    There is only one true and living God, and He answers.

    Story Summary

    Elijah challenged four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel: the God who answers by fire, let him be God. Baal's prophets cried all day and nothing happened. Elijah drenched his altar with twelve barrels of water, prayed one short prayer, and the fire of the LORD fell and consumed everything — even the water in the trench.

    Read the full retelling →

    Memory Verse (KJV)

    “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”

    1 Kings 18:21

    Discussion Questions

    1. Why did Elijah pour water on the altar before he prayed?
    2. How long did the prophets of Baal cry out, and what answer came?

      Teacher hint: From morning until evening — 'there was no voice, nor any to answer' (1 Kgs 18:29).

    3. Elijah's prayer was short. What does that teach us about prayer?
    4. What are the 'two opinions' people limp between today?

    Craft Idea: Tissue-Paper Altar Fire

    Supplies

    • Small stones or paper 'stones'
    • Red, orange and yellow tissue paper
    • Card stock base
    • Glue

    Steps

    1. Glue twelve paper stones into an altar shape — one for each tribe.
    2. Scrunch tissue paper into flames and glue them above.
    3. Write 1 Kings 18:21 across the base.
    4. Read verses 36–38 while the altars are held up.

    Printable Worksheet

    Print the lesson page as the worksheet; pair with the Elijah coloring page.

    Coloring page This Sunday's lesson

    Lesson flow (45 minutes)

    1. Welcome (5 min): Pray, then read the memory verse aloud three times together.
    2. Story (10 min): Tell the story summary in your own words; open a KJV to 1 Kings 18.
    3. Discussion (10 min): Walk through the questions above. Let every child answer at least once.
    4. Craft (15 min): Make the tissue-paper altar fire.
    5. Wrap-up (5 min): Hand out the worksheet to finish at home and recite the memory verse one last time.

    More Sunday school lessons

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    2 Kings 4:1–7

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    2 Kings 5

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    Nehemiah 1–6

    Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall

    Ages 8–12 · ~45 min

    Job 1–2 · Job 42

    The Testing of Job

    Ages 9–12 · ~45 min

    Where to go next

    Teaching Elijah on Mount Carmel? Here is what to grab next for your class.