Lesson

Elijah and the Widow Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Elijah and the widow of Zarephath Sunday school lesson (1 Kings 17:8–24) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story and prayer.

Preschool–Grade 6

Elijah and the Widow Sunday School Lesson for Kids

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Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: 1 Kings 17:8–24
Bible story: Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath

What you need

A Bible (mark 1 Kings 17:16 and 1 Kings 17:24)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A small empty box or bowl and a cup (opening game and story props, preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (3rd grade and up)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Elijah and the widow word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Elijah and the widow Sunday school lesson teaches kids that God's word is true. In a time with no rain, God sent Elijah to a widow in Zarephath who had only "an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse" (1 Kings 17:12). The meal and oil did not run out, "according to the word of the LORD" (17:16), and when her son died, God gave him life again (17:22). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a Fill It Up! game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth") with a motion, and a drawing of the barrel and the jar.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: a True or Not True? game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Six Strips memory verse game, and a God Keeps His Word thank-you circle.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a Promise Kept? game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story ("Fear not," the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil, "See, thy son liveth"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: students read 1 Kings 17:8–24 out loud themselves, then discuss giving first, daily provision, fear after a miracle, and Jesus' words about this widow (Luke 4:25–26). Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (1 Kings 17:24 and 1 Kings 17:16).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: 1 Kings 17:8–24
Main point: God's word is true. God takes care of us, and God gives life.
Memory verse: 1 Kings 17:24 (KJV), with 1 Kings 17:16 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about what is true, about promises kept, or about filling an empty box.
Bible story: God sends Elijah to Zarephath (1 Kings 17:9), a handful of meal and a little oil (17:12), "Fear not" and a little cake first (17:13), the meal and oil don't run out (17:16), the widow's son dies (17:17), Elijah prays in the loft (17:19–21), the child revives (17:22), "See, thy son liveth" (17:23), and "the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth" (17:24). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn 1 Kings 17:24.
What this means for us: God keeps His word and provides, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Elijah and the widow craft, a God Keeps His Word circle, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Elijah and the widow

Read 1 Kings 17:16 straight from the Bible: the meal and oil lasted "according to the word of the LORD." It is the heart of the lesson.
Tell the son's death simply and gently, and keep the hope big: "See, thy son liveth" (17:23). Each level has a short note for a child who is grieving.
The Bible says "the child" and "her son" and doesn't give his age, so don't guess one.
This story follows Elijah and the ravens in the same chapter (1 Kings 17:1–7). If you teach both, use the ravens lesson first.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Elijah and the widow lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath for kids?

God's word is true. God said the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil would not run out, and they didn't (1 Kings 17:14–16). When her son died, the LORD heard Elijah's prayer and the child lived again (17:22). The widow said, "the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth" (17:24).

How do you teach the widow's son dying to young children?

Simply, gently and with hope. Say the boy got very sick, so sick that he stopped breathing (1 Kings 17:17). Then tell how Elijah carried him upstairs and prayed, and God made the child alive again (17:19–22). Keep the happy ending big: "See, thy son liveth" (17:23).

What did the widow have left when Elijah came?

She told Elijah she had only "an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse" (1 Kings 17:12). Meal is flour, and a cruse is a small jar. She made Elijah a little cake first, and the meal and oil did not run out (17:15–16).