1 .The bible encourages us to =)

POWER VERSE:

(can play a game that the kids say this verse whenever the teacher says "We worship a big God")

1 Chronicles 16:29b-30a (New Living Translation)

 
   “Worship the LORD in all His Holy Splendor.”

2. Another reason to worship is because God is awesome…HE IS A REALLY BIG GOD ………

WE WILL ATTEMPT TO DRAW THIS FROM THE BIBLE AT THE END OF THIS LESSON AT CRAFT TIME…

(This prayer is adapted from the book:

"Praying the Bible, by Wesley and Stacey Campbell...and awesome resource. Praying the bible out loud somehow ushers in God's presence in a noticable way)

The Throne in Heaven- Revelation Chapter 4

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven.

And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said,

"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

And the one who sat there had the appearance of

 jasper and carnelian.

A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled (went around) the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and

had crowns of gold
on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning,

rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

(v10-11)

…the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
   for you created all things,
      and by your will they were created
      and have their being."

C.    What happens when we worship?

Have YOU ever been in a sticky situation…what do you usually do?
Paul and Silas were in a rough situation , they were doing stuff for God THEN GOT ARRESTED FOR IT ….

(exercise)

Acts 16:23-26 (kids act out as you read it) Need 2+ guards, Paul, Silas, 2+ Jailers & audience to preach to….

Narrator (teacher) reads:

“After they had been severely flogged, (2 guards pretend to arrest them and walk them oveer to prision area) they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. (the guards pretend to lock their feet and arms in chains and then stand near the “door” of the prision).

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God (Paul and Silas raise hands to praise God), and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake (pretend to shake alot and then be free) that the foundations of the prison were shaken. (guards shake and fall out of the way) At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.” (prisioners rejoice)

*Instead of complaining they sang & worshiped….GOD THEN RESPONDED AND HELPED THEM OUT!!

One of things that HAPPENS WHEN WE WORSHIP IS .....God helps us when we worship Him & He ENJOYS being with us."

D.    What Does Worship LOOK like?

CLAP & Wave hands 

(Show large hands)

Warriors actually used clapping to scare off the enemy...it was a fighting strategy.

We can do the same as we clap to the Lord we are fighting off the devil our enemy.

(A volunteer comes up to read the scripture…..and helps lead in a clap pattern for the class to repeat).

 Psalm 47:1
Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!

FLAGS

Many use flags to worship God...the bible speaks mostly of banners. God seems to enjoy when we make beautiful flags and streamers and ribbons and banners to worship.

(show and demonstate using a flag, ribbon, banner or streamer to worship)

The colors of flags can also symbolize different things...can you guess what these flag colors could represent?? 

red = blood of Jesus, redemption, atonement, war

Purple = royalty, power, majesty,kingdom authority

Blue= revelation, Heaven

INSTRUMENTS : TAMBOURINE

Can read the verse...or .Have several volunteers come up to do a simple tambourine pattern (should be mede up in advance)

2 Chronicles 5:13
The trumpeters and singers performed together …(with) trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord …

At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord.

It is really cool to see that God REPONDED TO THEIR PRAYER....with His PRESENCE!! He enjoys being with us....that is a great thing!!

E. ART TIME

At this point there is an option to continue with the different forms of worship OR move into an art activity (recommended).

Now kids we will draw. I will re-read (skim) Revelation 4: 1-11 and I want you to imagine what it would look like....this scripture is from John who God showed many things.

Re-read passage passionately...asking God to draw the kids in so they can really imagine it.

You may draw what you wish from this passage OR a picture about worship.

___________________________________________________________

WORSHIP LESSON 2  

THIS LESSON HAS MANY USEFUL PARTS- IDEAL FOR SPREADING OUT OVER SEVERAL SESSIONS or PICK & CHOOSE WHICH ELEMENTS WOULD BE BEST FOR YOUR GROUP

Materials:Tape or tacks to hang up items, BIBLES 2 or 3 depending on class size, classical music of stringed instruments, cd player, Kirk Franklin CD or other fast worship music kids like, Hillsongs' Supernatural DVD (optional), red folder for each student with a few white &  lined pages inside + pre-printed psalm scripture page, masking tape (optional for Dance E)

**Optional props for the Joshua Skit for the kids to act out in the "shouting" section D include pretend swords, trumpets, an arc or bible, and something to carry the arc/bible on.

 

CLASS Prep: Print out review Power verse and hangup, and Picture version of Revelation 4 (in lesson 1) put next to art. Hang up an art gallery from last lesson’s work if you chose to do the art activity.

 PUT LIST ON BOARD ON WAYS TO WORSHIP:

Clapping and waving hands, flags, streamers & banners, instruments, SHOUTING, singing, writing, art, dance, mime, bowing down and worshiping him in everyday life

A. Activation

This is probably the most important step! Give the group time to worship together with the leader using flags, streamers, ribbons, scarves, banners, instruments......whatever. Fast worship songs that the kids really like are recommended. 2-3 songs are a fair amount of time. We used 2.

 As you worship, pray and ask God to fill the kids hearts and touch them with His presence.

B. Art Review

Now LETS look at the art from last week…..(have kids come up and describe what they drew and what it symbolizes about the scripture or worship. Remind them of Revelation 4: 1-11 by having it hang close to the drawings)

C. General Review

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WORSHIP?

Who can remember the bible story that described what happened when Paul and Silas worshipped God? God freed them from the prision they were in.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE WORSHIP GOD WE DISCUSSED?

Clapping, Instruments we used the Tamborine, Flags, Streamers & Banners

Does anyone do any of these things at home or school? Can you see how you can use your talents for God?

D. SHOUTING & SINGING & Writing

READ POWER VERSE FOR THE DAY WHICH CAN BE RANDOMLY REVIEWED SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE LESSON:

Psalm 100:1-2

SHOUT with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.

SHOUTING is a fun form or worship…..you can be glad to know that SHOUTING to God is one thing we are called to do!

Who can shout to the Lord really loud? (ask the whole class to make a loud shout to God)

----------OPTIONAL SKIT EXERCISE to compliment shouting----------- 

This segment is optional but a good choice if you have kids that really like to stay active. Have the kids act out as you skim/read the bible Joshua 5: 13 through 6: 20. Ideally, older kids can follow along in their bibles even though the text skip around a bit for the sake of time.

**Props:

Fake swords,

pretend trumpets,

“Ark of the Covenent”- golden box on a flat board or a bible laying open to the 10 commandments ,

a large board, box, chair or person to represent the wall of Jericho that falls down at the end.

Volunteers needed:

Joshua

Commander of the Lords Army

2 Armed Guards with fake swords

1-2 priests with pretend trumpets (there were actually 7 in the bible)

1-2 priests to carry the "ark" (which could be a beautiful golden box or an open bible carried on something)

Jericho= People in the audience who act afraid or 1 person acting like the “city” of Jericho with a large board or any prop they can hide behind and drop when the walls come down.

SHOUTING as well as instruments were a form of worship used in a very famous battle in the bible……In the book of Joshua, the Israelites were trying to capture the city of Jericho. God sent the commander of His army to direct Joshua and his army to capture Jericho.

Let’s look at the story: (narrator reads)

Joshua 5:13-6:20 (New Living Translation) * Shortened for this skit

The LORD’s Commander Confronts Joshua

(Stage right - Commander and Joshua act out this scene with Joshua looking scared and then taking off his shoes)

13  When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

14  “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the LORD’s army.” At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”

15  The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.

Joshua 6

The Fall of Jericho

(Center- Jericho begins to look over its walls and begins to look scared as Joshua’s group assemble and approach the city, pretend to peek out)

 1 Now the gates of Jericho were tightly shut because the people were afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go out or in.

(Stage right- Commander finishes his conversation with Joshua)

2 But the LORD said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors…

(The people of Jericho are frightened as the armed guards, then the priests with trumpets, the priests with the arc, more armed guards march around the “city”, Joshua can march alongside the group)

8  After Joshua spoke to the people, the seven priests with the rams’ horns started marching in the presence of the LORD, blowing the horns as they marched. (Priests make trumpet noises)  And the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant followed behind them. 9 Some of the armed men marched in front of the priests with the horns and some behind the Ark, with the priests continually blowing the horns. 10 “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So the Ark of the LORD was carried around the town once that day, and then everyone returned to spend the night in the camp.

(Stage left - The army goes to stage left to the camp to sleep, wake up the next day & prepare to repeat the march)

12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the LORD, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the LORD. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. 15 On the seventh day the Israelites …. marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times.

(Have the army go around a second time to symbolize the seven times, then Joshua has them all shout as the walls come down, whoever represents Jericho can “fall over”)

16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the town!

(Army gives a loud blast of trumpets and then everyone SHOUTS to the Lord)

20 When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.

In this situation, God directed Joshua and his army using shouting and trumpets to defeat the enemy, the city of Jericho. The walls of the city fell straight down! Amazing power of God!

Even today in everyday life - WORSHIP is a MAJOR part of winning battles we face. Even if things make us feel sad or very hurt, we try our best to worship Jesus to help Him help us!!

---------END OF OPTIONAL SKIT---------------

Now let’s move into singing: