Single lesson
Elijah Calls Elisha
1 Kings 19:19–21
Children will explore the brief account where Elijah finds Elisha at work. They will order the events, notice the actions each person takes, and describe how Elisha’s later actions show a serious response in this passage.
Before you teach
In these verses, Elijah departs, finds Elisha ploughing with oxen, and puts his mantle on him. Elisha immediately runs after Elijah and speaks to him. After that, Elisha returns, prepares food from the oxen and their equipment, gives it to the people, then goes after Elijah and serves him.
Students will be able to retell 1 Kings 19:19–21 in order and name two actions Elisha takes after Elijah puts his mantle on him.
Welcome: Notice the first movement
5 minAsk children to listen for the first actions in the story. Read verse 19 slowly. Help them hear the order: Elijah departs, finds Elisha, sees him ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and puts his mantle on him. Explain that the lesson begins with Elisha busy at ordinary work.
1 Kings 19:19
Read and explain: Put the passage in order
7 minRead all three verses aloud. Then list the events together in sequence: Elijah finds Elisha, puts his mantle on him, Elisha leaves the oxen and runs after Elijah, Elisha asks to kiss his father and mother, returns, prepares food, gives it to the people, and finally goes after Elijah and serves him.
1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21
Discuss: What Elisha actually does
6 minFocus on Elisha’s actions rather than adding extra details. Verse 20 says he leaves the oxen and runs after Elijah. It also records his request about his father and mother. Verse 21 then says he returned, used the oxen and equipment for food, gave to the people, and later went after Elijah and served him.
1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21
Make and respond: Sequence card line-up
9 minChildren make simple event cards and place them in order. Use labels that stay close to the text, such as found Elisha, put mantle on him, left the oxen, asked about father and mother, gave to the people, went after Elijah and served him. As they order them, ask which verse supports each card.
1 Kings 19:19, 1 Kings 19:20, 1 Kings 19:21
Closing: The final outcome
3 minEnd by reading the last sentence again. Ask children what Elisha does in the final part of the account. Encourage each child to say one true sentence from the passage. Finish with the clear ending the text gives: Elisha arose, went after Elijah, and served him.
1 Kings 19:21
Questions to explore
What was Elisha doing when Elijah found him?
Look at verse 19 for the work Elisha was doing and the detail about the twelve yoke of oxen.
1 Kings 19:19
What did Elisha ask Elijah before he said he would follow?
Use the exact request in verse 20 and notice that it is stated as Elisha’s request.
1 Kings 19:20
Which actions at the end of verse 21 show that Elisha went on from this moment?
Read the final sentence carefully and name the actions that happen after Elisha arose.
1 Kings 19:21
Make, think or respond
Elisha Event Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Make six cards with short words or drawings for events in 1 Kings 19:19–21.
- Suggested labels are: found Elisha, put mantle on him, left the oxen and ran after Elijah, asked about father and mother, gave to the people, went after Elijah and served him.
- Read the passage again and work together to place the cards in order.
- Ask children to match each card to verse 19, 20, or 21 and explain their choice.
This activity helps children follow the order of the account and describe Elisha’s response using the words of 1 Kings 19:19–21.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, reduce the sequence to four main events and let them draw instead of write.
- For older children, ask them to sort the events into Elijah’s actions and Elisha’s actions, then support each one from a verse.
An optional closing prayer
Dear God, thank you for your word. Please help us listen carefully to what this passage says and learn from Elisha’s actions. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Kings 19
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. Elijah went over to him and put his mantle on him.
20 Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me please kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” He said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
21 He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, killed them, and boiled their meat with the oxen’s equipment, and gave to the people; and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.