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1
Worthy of Worship
Your kids are learning about the last days of Jesus’ life (CLEAR curriculum). For the next three months we will discover how Jesus is King and worthy of our worship. Our word worship comes from an Old English word “weorthscipe” that means giving worth to something (dictionary.com). This week’s lesson is about Jesus receiving praise as He rides into Jerusalem.
Have a “praise parade.” John 12:13 says that the people took palm tree branches and shouted, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” Dress up, put the stuffed animals in the stroller, sing, shout, and march around the house singing songs of praise to Jesus.
2
Praise Paperweight
When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the disciples for yelling out this praise, He said that if they were quiet, the rocks would cry out. (See Luke 19:40.)
Make a praise paperweight. Go outside and let each person find a rock (about the size of a fist). Write words of praise on the rock using paint or markers. Some suggested phrases could be: God is good, Amazing God, God Rocks! God, WOW! You could also add stickers, jewels, ribbon, glitter or whatever you have to make it look good.
3
Joyful Shout
Memorize Psalm 100 together as a family. Try to memorize one verse a week. Copy the psalm and post it on the refrigerator. Read it together at least once a day. Play “Radio” to memorize the first verse. Let one person be the adjuster who controls the volume (by moving hands apart for loud and together for quieter) while the others say the verse. Let everyone have a turn being the adjuster.
Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all ye lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
4
How Much Do You Think It's Worth?
While you’re out shopping, pick up an item and ask your child:
Do you think this is worth ________--the dollar amount written on it?
Let them tell you whether they think the item is really worth what they’re asking for it. Repeat for different items.
Ask:
How much is God worth?
Of course, there is no price tag that could describe how valuable He is.
***Another idea would be to look for the most expensive item in the store.
Our word for “worship” came from an old English word, weorthscipe. To worship something means to give it worth–to recognize its value and treat it special. When we worship God, we realize how important and valuable He is and treat Him with honor and respect.
5
"The Closer...The Bigger"
Station one kid as far away as possible in the house and go to the opposite side and hold up a quarter.
Ask:
Can you see what I’m holding? Does it look big or small?
Then instruct him to slowly walk toward you, keeping his eye on the quarter. As he gets VERY close (putting his eye up to the quarter), ask:
How does the quarter look now? (Large)
Did the quarter change? (No, but the closer you got to it, the bigger it looked)
When we worship God, we look at Him and find out what He is like. The closer we get to Him, the bigger He will seem. He is not really getting bigger–He is the same, but worship helps us to draw closer to Him and recognize His greatness. When we focus on God and worship Him, He seems bigger than anything else.
Shout out as many good things as you can about God in one minute. Listen to or sing a song about God’s greatness.
6
Serve, Give, Pray, Etc.
Write each of the following ways to worship on a slip of paper. (Serve others, give money, sing a song, pray, go to church, tell others the good news, play an instrument, help the poor, etc.) Fold and put the slips of paper in a basket or bag. Let each family member take turns picking one and acting it out for the others to guess.
Worship is more than just singing songs. It is valuing God so much that we want to love Him as He deserves and give Him our best. What an honor to worship the great God who created us!
7
Serve, Give, Pray, Etc.
Write each of the following ways to worship on a slip of paper. (Serve others, give money, sing a song, pray, go to church, tell others the good news, play an instrument, help the poor, etc.) Fold and put the slips of paper in a basket or bag. Let each family member take turns picking one and acting it out for the others to guess.
Worship is more than just singing songs. It is valuing God so much that we want to love Him as He deserves and give Him our best. What an honor to worship the great God who created us!
8
“I’m glad God is…”
Items needed: marker and a piece of butcher paper (or poster board or pieces of copy paper taped together) long enough to write the letters of the alphabet vertically
Across the top of the paper write, “I’m glad God is…” Write the letters of the alphabet vertically under the title. Tape the paper to the fridge. Invite the kids to write something they are glad God is on the paper anytime they think of it. (For example: A-always with me; B-beginning and the end; C-caring, etc.)
When you have written one thing for each letter, read the list aloud as a prayer of praise to God.
9
ABC Thank You's
While riding in the car, play Categories. See how many times you can go around and think of things to thank God for. If you have older kids, let one of them pick a letter of the alphabet and then let everyone list things that start with that letter. (For example: T- tootsie rolls, Tara, today, etc.) Choose another letter and keep going.
10
Come Now Is the Time to Worship
Ask one of the older kids to pick his or her favorite worship song and lead the others in singing it at the dinner table (or play it while all listen). Or find a hymnal and teach the family one of the great old hymns you loved as a child. Sing it every night this week as the blessing for the meal and as worship to God.
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