Big Idea: I can praise God with music.
Bible Basis: 2 Chronicles 5
Key Verse: “Come (motion toward self with hands), let us sing for joy (cup hands around mouth) to the Lord (point up).” Psalm 95:1 (extend hands like you’re holding a book).
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through your Word to me draw near. Let me your Word ever pure retain; Let me your child and heir remain. All this I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BIBLE LESSON VIDEO
ASK THESE QUESTIONS:
What is your favorite part of this Bible lesson?
How can you praise God with music?
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Choose one (or more) of these activities to do with your child.
+ Jingle Jam
- Supplies: Jingle bells (2–3 per child), pipe cleaner (1 per child)
- Directions: LGive each child 2–3 jingle bells and a pipe cleaner. Show the children how to feed the end of the pipe cleaner through the loop on the jingle bell. Bend the pipe cleaner into a circle and twist the ends together to form a handle for the bell. When finished, shake your bell to a rhythm, then ask the children to copy you. Next, encourage the children to take turns leading the group in a rhythm of their own.
- Say: Wow! That sounded so pretty! God loves it when we praise Him with musical instruments. In today’s true Bible story, the people of Israel praise God with instruments too. We’ll hear all about it in just a little bit.
- Question: If you could play any musical instrument, what instrument would you want to play?
+ Praise Shakers
- Supplies: Paper plate (1 per child), rice or beans (½ cup per child), markers, stapler, music player.
- Say: God is so, so good. His love for us never ends. And because of that, we can praise God with music. Let’s make some musical instruments that we can use to praise God.
- Directions: Give each child a paper plate and some markers. Encourage the children to draw a praise picture to God on the bottom side of their plate. Next, pour ½ cup of rice or beans onto the plate, fold the plate in half and staple the outer edges together. Be sure to use enough staples so that rice or beans don’t fall through the seam. When finished, play an upbeat praise song that is familiar to the children. Have the children dance and shake their shakers while singing along. When finished, sit down and ask the question below.
- Question: Why do you think God deserves our praise? In other words, what’s so special about God?
+ Clap Along (Application Activity)
- Supplies: None
- Say: In today’s true Bible story, the people of Israel praised God with music and singing. God loves when we praise Him. Let’s play a game where we clap for God and shout praises to Him.
- Directions: This is a “repeat-after-me” game. Step 1: Create a simple beat to clap to. It could be something like this: clap, clap, clap-clap-clap. Encourage the children to repeat it after you. Step 2: When finished clapping, shout, “The Lord is good!” Encourage the children to repeat. Step 3: Clap the same beat from step one. Encourage the children to repeat. Step 4: When finished clapping, shout, “His faithful love continues forever.” Encourage the children to repeat. (See below for a quick-guide.) For each additional round, let the children take turns creating the beat. If the children become comfortable enough, consider adding some foot stomps to the beat..
- Quick Guide: Clap a beat (Children repeat); Shout, “The Lord is good!” (Children repeat); Clap a beat (Children repeat); Shout, “His faithful love continues forever.” (Children repeat)
- Question: How do you think it made God feel when we were singing and clapping to Him?
+ Bible Balance (Bible Memorization Activity)
- Supplies: Tape (1 roll)
- Today's Bible Verse: “Come (motion toward self with hands), let us sing for joy (cup hands around mouth) to the Lord (point up).” Psalm 95:1 (extend hands like you’re holding a book).
- Preparations: Using painters or masking tape, create a tape line on the floor approximately 10 feet long.
- Directions: Practice the verse together several times. When ready, challenge the children to cross the balance beam while saying the verse and without stepping off. For each additional round have the children cross the balance beam using a different method from the list below.
- Methods of Movement: Giant steps; Tiny steps; Backwards; Hop on two feet; Sideways; Bear crawl; Tippy-toes; Hop on one foot; Crab walk
+ Uh Oh Topher! (Bible Story Review Activity)
- Supplies: “Uh Oh Topher” story review page (1 per group), Topher the Gopher character cards (1 per child)
- Say: I’m going to read you today’s Bible story again, but there’s a little problem. Topher the Gopher got into the story and chewed up some of the words, then he replaced them with the wrong words. Listen carefully to see if you can hear the wrong words. If you hear something that is wrong, hold up your “Topher the Gopher” card, then say, “Uh Oh, Topher. That’s not right!” Then you can tell me what really happened in the story.
- Directions: Use the “Uh Oh Topher” story review page to read today’s story to the children. The page will indicate in bold which words are wrong, followed by the right words. If necessary, help the children remember what really happened in the story.
+ Praise Picture (Response to God Activity)
- Supplies: GO! Home Guide (1 per child), markers or crayons
- Directions: Give each child a GO! Home Guide and some crayons or markers. The sheet will have a space for children to draw. Tell the children to draw a praise picture for God. It can be anything that tells God, “I love you.” While the children are drawing, ask them why they love God so much.
- Say: Today we learned that we can praise God with music. We can also praise Him with our drawings. God loves the pictures you drew for Him. Let’s say a prayer to God and tell Him all of the reasons we love Him.
- Prayer: Begin by asking if any of the children would like to pray. Allow any children who want to pray the opportunity to do so. When they’re finished, close the prayer by telling God some of the reasons shared by the children as well as the reasons why you love Him so much.
+ Coloring Sheet (GO! Deeper Activity)
- Supplies: Bible story coloring sheet, markers or crayons
- Directions: Give each child a Bible story coloring sheet and some crayons or markers. While the children are coloring, ask the following questions to help them go deeper into the story.
- Question: GIf you were at the temple with the people of Israel, what instrument would you want to play for God?
- Question: The people of Israel sang, “The Lord is good. His faithful love continues forever.” What do you think is so good about God?
(Due to copyright restrictions, the printable materials described in the activities above are only available to those who have registered for Our Savior’s Kids. To register your child(ren), click the button below)
CLOSING PRAYER
Dear God, There is no one like you! You are so, so good. Your love for me never stops. And I praise you for that. Amen.
DURING THE WEEK
Read the account of Solomon Building the Temple in your child’s favorite Bible storybook.
Say this week’s Bible verse every morning with the actions (see above).
Read the account of the Building of the Temple from the Bible in 2 Chronicles 3-6 with your child.
Do more of the activities above!
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LESSON?
Leave them in the comments below!