In short
Themes: Obeying rules; trust; obedience; decisions.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on a story from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. It tells the story of Jonah, who refuses God’s command to go to the city of Nineveh. It can be found in the Tanach (Scripture Trei Asar), the Old Testament section of the Bible (Book of Jonah) and in the Qur’an (Surah 10).
Resources: ; an image to display of ; examples of different rules either written on the board or projected.
The video
JONAH: Hello, I'm Jonah, and this is the incredible story of another man called Jonah who was friends with his God. It's called Jonah and the Big Fish.
Once there was a city called Nineveh, where the people didn't follow God's rules. They were very disobedient and very naughty.
Now, Jonah was one of God's messengers and one-day God said to Jonah…
GOD: Jonah, go tell the people of Nineveh that I love them and they should stop being naughty. The rules I've given them are good. If they start being obedient, they will be much happier.
JONAH: But God, I don't see the point. The people of Nineveh are really naughty. They'll never learn to be obedient.
GOD: Now, don't you start being disobedient! Please, do what I've told you to do.
JONAH: Okay, God, I'll go tell the people of Nineveh they should stop being naughty. Though, I still don't think it'll work. But just as soon as Jonah thought that God wasn't looking, he decided he wouldn't do what God had told him to do.
STORY NARRATOR: And then Jonah got into a boat with some sailors…
JONAH: And sailed away in the opposite direction. Suddenly, there was a huge storm, the wind howled and the waves were enormous. The boat was tossed this way and that.
JONAH: Ah, this storm is all my fault! It's because I wasn't obedient. I believe if you throw me into the sea, the storm will stop and the boat won't get smashed by the waves.
STORY NARRATOR: So the sailors threw Jonah into the sea.
JONAH: Amazingly, the storm stopped. The waves became calm and the wind died down. But now, Jonah was just bobbing in the sea and all he could see was water, water, water. How was he ever going to get to shore?
STORY NARRATOR: Then, something amazing happened! A giant fish swallowed him whole.
JONAH: But don't worry, God didn't send the giant fish to eat Jonah; he sent it to save him so that he wouldn't drown.
STORY NARRATOR: Jonah camped out in the belly of the fish for three whole days, which gave him lots of time to think about how good God had been to rescue him.
JONAH: And then God told the fish to take Jonah to the shore.
JONAH: God had saved Jonah, though he must've smelt terrible! Jonah was very thankful and decided to be obedient and do what God had asked him to do.
So, Jonah went to Nineveh and said to the people…"God says, 'Please, stop being naughty.' You should obey his rules, they're really good.
And to his surprise, all the people of Nineveh said sorry for the things they had done wrong. They decided to be obedient. Jonah was amazed.
Thanks for helping me tell this treasure story. It's from the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament. See you again soon, bye!
The people of Nineveh refused to follow God’s rules. Jonah was a messenger of God and was instructed to go to Ninevah and tell the people that God wanted them to be obedient. Jonah set off to do God's bidding, but then changed his mind: he boarded a ship and sailed in the opposite direction. There was a mighty storm and Jonah explained to the sailors that this was probably his fault and that they should throw him overboard, which they did. The storm settled, but Jonah was swallowed by a giant fish, which had been sent by God to help him. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, and had plenty of opportunity to consider his actions, before being taken to the shore. Jonah obediently continued to Nineveh to pass on God’s message. The people listened and were obedient. This can help us to reflect on the value of obedience.
Duration: 3' 58"
Final words: 'See you again soon! Bye!'
Video questions
- Where did God tell Jonah to go? (Nineveh)
- Why did God want Jonah to go to the city? (People were disobedient and naughty and didn't follow God's rules)
- Why did Jonah ask the sailors to throw him in the sea? (He thought the storm was his fault as he had been disobedient and he thought the storm would stop if they threw him in the sea)
- What happened after the sailors threw him in the sea? (The storm stopped and a giant fish swallowed Jonah)
- How long did Jonah stay inside the fish? (Three days)
Key links
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Click for the full size image.
Suggested framework
1. Entry
Play your chosen music (you might use the instrumental version of ‘Keep the golden rules’) and display a focus image if you wish and / or have a selection of rules on the board or displayed (school rules / commandments / laws / etc).
2. Introduction
Ask the children to try to work out what links all of the statements. Explain that they are all types of rules. Tell the assembly that the short video they are going to watch is about somebody who doesn’t want to follow what is asked of him and chooses not to be obedient. Explain that it is a very old story.
3. Play the video.
The duration is 3’ 58” and the final words are: ‘See you again soon! Bye!’
4. After the video - Time to talk
Ask some or all of the video questions to help children recall the events of the story and to consolidate their understanding of it.Then lead a discussion about obedience as follows:
- What does obedience mean? (Following the rules; doing things the right way; doing what your parents say at home).
- What rules can you think of and what is their reason?
- Are rules important? Why / why not? Should people follow rules?
- What should happen to people if they don’t follow rules?
- How does obeying rules make us safer at school?
- Jonah had a second chance to be obedient to God. Can you think of a time when you’ve had a second chance?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from 鶹Լ collections below.
6. Opportunity to reflect
Be still now as we think about some of the things we’ve thought about today…
We’ve heard how Jonah had a second chance to be obedient to God. Think about a time when you needed a second chance…
Perhaps you didn’t tidy your room, fell out with a friend or forgot about your homework…
We can all make mistakes, which is why second chances are so important…
But it’s even better if we can do what is right the first time round…
Think quietly to yourself about the value of rules and the value of obedience…
7. Opportunity for prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for the story of Jonah to teach us about obedience.
Help us to make the right decisions today and to follow the rules.
When we make a mistake, help us to say sorry to those we may have hurt and to take that second chance, just like Jonah did.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Keep the golden rules' (All about our school, no 5. Vocal version)
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
Verse 1:
They’re all there for a reason,
So everything is cool,
And every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules!
Chorus:
Verse 2:
There are rules for playing every sport
And every kind of game,
To get along together
We need rules just the same!
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
'Keep the golden rules': Instrumental - All about our school, no 5 (© Paul Field / 鶹Լ)
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
Verse 1:
They’re all there for a reason,
So everything is cool,
And every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules!
Chorus
Verse 2:
There are rules for playing every sport
And every kind of game,
To get along together
We need rules just the same!
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
'Our school' - All about our school, no 9 (© Kate Walker / 鶹Լ)
In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We think of others,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We make good friends,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.
In our school
A happy place to be!
Related links
See also:
鶹Լ Teach Assemblies - Saying sorry: Jonah and the Whale