This lesson plan will introduce students to the prophetic books of the Old Testament and the main messages they brought to God’s people.
For additional resources including 21 worksheets about each of the Old Testament Prophets, check out The Religion Teacher’s Prophet’s worksheet Pack.
Prophets Lesson Objectives
- Students will be able to (SWBAT) differentiate between the major and the minor prophetic books.
- SWBAT summarize the main message of the prophets.
- Students will feel inspired by quotes from the Old Testament prophets.
Prophets Lesson Plan Activities
I. Major and Minor Prophets Video
Show students this video overview of the Old Testament prophets with the particular emphasis on the difference between the major and minor prophets:
Provide students with this graphic organize to help understand the video:
II. The Message of the Prophets Meditation Activity
Have students use the brief summary of the message of the prophets as their guide. The prophets spoke to God’s people telling them:
- Be faithful to God.
- Be merciful to others.
Have students fold a paper in half twice to make four sections. Have them label the columns with these two messages: Be Faithful to God / Be Merciful to Others. Then write a plus sign in the boxes at the top and minus sign in the boxes on the bottom.
- Top Left: Write all the ways people your age can be faithful to God.
- Bottom Left: Write all the ways people your age can be unfaithful to God.
- Top Right: Write all the ways people your age can be merciful to others.
- Bottom Right: Write all the ways people your age can be merciless to others.
III. Prophet Quotes Reflection Activity
Assign a prophetic book to each of the students. Send them to a website like BibleStudyTools.com or TopVerses.com. Have them search for their prophet to find some of his most popular quotes.
Provide these instructions:
- Pick a quote that inspires you the most.
- What do you like about this message?
- What can you do to live out this quote today?
- Be prepared to share with the class.
Have each student share their quote and personal connection in small groups or with the entire class.
IV. An Old Testament Litany of Saints Prayer
Lead your students in an Old Testament Litany of Saints. Just like we would pray for the intercession of the saints in the traditional Litany of Saints, so too can we turn to the Old Testament prophet to ask for their prayers.
A Litany of the Prophets
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, our redeemer, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us
Moses and Elijah, pray for us.
Samuel and Nathan, pray for us.
Isaiah and Jeremiah, pray for us.
Ezekiel and Daniel, pray for us.
Hosea, Joel, and Amos, pray for us.
Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah, pray for us.
Nahum, Habakuk, and Zephaniah, pray for us.
Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
Christ, hear us. Christ hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
Lord God,
you know our weakness.
In your mercy
grant that the example of your Saints
may bring us back to love and serve you
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Old Testament Prophets Lesson Assessment
- Scan and print copies of the table of contents in your students’ Bible.
- With two different markers or highlighters, have them label the Major and Minor prophetic books.
- On the back of the printout, have the students draw a picture of a billboard with one of the most important messages from the prophets that they learned about in this lesson.
The Religion Teacher’s Prophets Worksheet Pack
The Religion Teacher’s Prophets Worksheet Pack includes printable handouts with biographies and reflection questions about the lives of each of the Old Testament Prophets. Students will learn about the lives of all the major and minor prophets of Israel and Judah.
