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These are some of my favourite film moments.
This collection came about through the love of film. I love film, you may have noticed already! These particular clips struck me as having a strong spiritual point all to do with individualism and doing your own thing. The question is are you a sheep or are you a goat, do you follow the shepherd or just keep on saying ‘butt, butt, butt’. Following Jesus doesn’t mean giving up your individualism just allowing
Him to use it for His will
Lesson 1 Cops and Robbers
Good Samaritan, Luke 10; 25-37 & Luke 11; 33-36
Monster inc. ch23
Objectives
You can’t always tell good from bad.
The Holy Spirit helps us to tell the difference.
We must be faithful in doing good.
This story is always a good one to act out, maybe changing the characters to modern day contemporaries to help the children understand the principles better. Every boy at some time in their lives like to run about pretending to be a policeman, or a cowboy or a soldier, fighting the bad guys. The problem is that in real life, unlike in games, it’s not always easy to tell who the bad guys are. In the story of the Good Samaritan the guys who were supposed to be the good guys weren’t. The robbers said, ‘What is yours is mine’ and took everything he had including his health. The priest and the Levite said, ‘What is mine is my own’ and didn’t lift a finger
to help the man. The Samaritan, the one who had every right to walk past, said ‘What is mine is yours’ and used all he had to help the poor man in his time of need. It doesn’t matter what we might think of anyone, their colour of skin, and their position in life or whether they are rich or poor. If you are a follower of Jesus then be the good guy and help people in their time of need, if you can.
Object Lesson—The matchbox
Object; Matchbox and candle. Look at this matchbox, how can it light a candle? It can’t! No, it’s the matches inside that light the candle. (Take out a match) But, how can this match light a candle, it can’t spark on it’s own! It needs the matchbox to spark it into flame so as it can light the candle. In the same way we cannot bring light into the world the light must come from within. From the Holy Spirit that lives inside us if we are followers of Jesus we can pass that light on but Jesus uses us to do that. Like the moon that shines at night, Jesus wants us to shine for him in our actions. The moon has no light of it’s own but simply reflects the sun. We have no light of our own He wants us simply to reflect the light from
within, from the Holy Spirit he has placed inside. He wants us, like the moon to reflect the light of the Son, Jesus.
Lesson 2 Digging
The Great Banquet, Luke 14; 15-24
Trailer from LOTR
Objectives
To look at the reasons why people take the easy way out.
Only hard work gains rewards that are worthwhile.
In the film LOTR the hobbits are face with huge choices, they have lived an easy life with simple choices but now they were involved in decisions that would not only change their lives but everyone’s life. In the bible story, people of importance are asked to a wonderful feast. They were asked for different reasons, because they were rich, famous, relatives and supposedly friends. But, they all had excuses why they could not come, so many things in this world stop us from doing God’s work or being God’s friend, so many excuses. God doesn’t ask the rich and famous only to be His friend, He wants everyone to be related to Him to be His friend, once you have said sorry for all the bad things you have done and really meant it then the hard work begins. You have made a decision that will not only change your life but the lives of everyone around you, He has given you the tools to do this. The Bible to read, to be able to pray– talking direct to Him and fellowshipping (meeting) with others who believe. These all help us to live as God intended.
Object Lesson—Gardening tools
Lots of people love gardening, they spend all day weeding, tending, and cutting the grass. Some people get more out of doing the gardening than just sitting in it. Others just like to sit there and admire the beauty, but there would be no beauty if there were not someone doing all the hard work keeping it beautiful. So why do some people not like to do the gardening?
1. Maybe, they’re too busy with something else, maybe they just can’t be bothered. Being too busy, not being bothered means you miss out on so much we need to take time to notice what Jesus wants to tell us in our everyday lives.
2. Maybe, they think that they are too good to be doing gardening; it’s hard and dirty work involving a lot of bending and lifting. In our lives bending our knees in prayers and lifting our friends up to Jesus in prayer asking him to help them in times of trouble. Hard work but needs to be done.
3. Maybe, they don’t have the proper tools. It’s important to have the right tools to do the job properly. The tools needed to follow Jesus are simple, the word of God, our testimony in our words and our actions.
Don’t be afraid to dig for Jesus, help him to tend your garden making you more beautiful inside and helping him to make others more beautiful inside.
Lesson 3 The Magic Spectacles
The Prodigal Son, Luke 15; 11-32
Lilo and Stitch
Objectives
Everyone has done bad things.
Everyone needs to say sorry for the bad things they do
Jesus forgives everyone if they really mean it.
Lilo almost can’t help himself even when he tries to be helpful he makes a mistakes a bit like all of us. Sometimes no matter how hard we try we just can’t do it right. That’s the bad news, the good news, Jesus loves us anyway and will help us do what’s right. The Prodigal son thought that his life with his dad was boring that being the obedient son was not the life he wanted to live. Like a spoilt brat he demanded what was his by birthright so as he could decide what to do with it not having to listen to what others think. He thought the grass was greener on the other side, but when he had spent some time with those who called him friend and the let him down, when
his money had all run out and no-one wanted to know him. With no friends, no money and no where left to go he had to go back to his Dad. Don’t be like this son don’t leave it too late to turn to God, the Father. Don’t leave it till your lives in a mess and you’ve nowhere else to go except God, go to Him now.
Object Lesson - Pair of Spectacles,
Let’s imagine these spectacles are magic, if I put them on then I can see every thought you are having. I can see everything you’re going to do and everything you have done. (Put the glasses on and pretend to see some thoughts, shaking your head saying a few tut tuts and maybe congratulations for some of the good things you are pretending to see) These glasses are not magic, they’re just glasses, but I know someone who can see your every thought, who does know everything you’re going to do and everything you’ve done, both good and bad. No matter how bad it gets He loves us, like a mother with a newborn baby or a father with his son He looks out for you. He always keeps his eye on you, always watching to see that no harm comes to you, always listening to what you have to say, always knowing what the trouble is and how to fix it. He loves you and all you need to do is return that love by following Him.
Lesson 4 Pigeons and Falcons
Rich young ruler, Luke 18; 18-30
Stuart Little 2
Objectives
Life is full of distractions.
Not only bad things distract us from God.
Don’t let stuff distract from getting to know God better.
The rich young ruler had everything going for him, but he knew there was more to life than stuff which is why he came to follow Jesus. He didn’t realise though it would mean having to give up his stuff. He couldn’t do it, could you? God probably won’t ask you to give up all your stuff but we must never put our stuff before Jesus.
What are the falcons in our lives?
1. Lack of attention – we’ve all done it, settling down to do our homework, to do a chore or even to talk with Jesus and this falcon sweeps in and distracts us from the job, stealing our sense of purpose, doing the job half-heartedly. No wonder we don’t succeed because we haven’t done our best.
2. Temptation – It’s easy to be slack and careless, doing the wrong thing is easy, and doing nothing is even easier. A little cheating, a little lie, a little cheek, a little disobedience. It can seem harmless but they soon stop being little and begin to grow into big cheating, big lies, a lot of cheek, and a lot of disobedience. It steals your honesty it steals your best.
3. Sin – We need to tell Jesus of all we have done wrong, anything we keep to ourselves will just stop us getting closer to Him. It will just spoil the good things that Jesus has for us.
Object Lesson—Picture of a pigeon or a feather
Pigeons are well known to be carriers of news. Sometimes good and sometimes bad, but the news they carry is always important. Pigeons have an enemy though and pigeons with the news they carry have been lost to this enemy. The pigeon’s enemy is the falcon, a bird of strength and swiftness and many a pigeon has never reached home because of the falcon swooping down and carrying the pigeon off to feed on it.
Lesson 5 Fruit
Talents, Luke 19: 11-27
Ice Age
Objectives
God looks for availability not ability.
Faithfulness is better than talent.
God gives the talent, He can also take it away.
In the clip they all fight very hard for this precious piece of fruit, the lion could have got it easy with his sharp teeth and claws, the mammoth would have no problem getting the fruit who would argue of win but no, it was the sloth who got the fruit. The least likely to get it got it. God works the same way, he does not look at size or talent. He does not want your ability but your availability, He gives you the talent to do the job He asks of you all you have to do is use that
talent as best as you can not for reward but because its right. God will reward you for being faithful.
Object Lesson - Bunch of grapes.
Hold up a grape and ask if anyone can tell you what it is? Ask if anyone knows where it comes from? In John 15:5 it says, ‘I am the vine and you are the branches.’ If you make Jesus your best friend then you are a branch to his vine, without being attached to the vine, the branch cannot bear fruit. So what is a branch for? To bear fruit, so if you are his follower then your main business is to bear fruit. Of course, by fruit I don’t mean that you are expected to sprouting apples and
oranges or even grapes. No, lets think about what fruit is. Firstly, you always know what type of tree you have by the type of fruit it produces. Apples always come from apple trees, oranges from orange trees and grapes from vines. So, with you people will know if you are truly a friend of Jesus by the way you act. Secondly, fruit brings refreshment; do people seem pleased when they see you? Are you seen as someone who is helpful, kind and considerate or unhelpful, unkind and inconsiderate? Do people see you as someone who behaves or misbehaves? What kind of fruit do you grow? He is the vine, be one of his branches and show his fruit.
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Scottish Martyrs
Ordinary People doing Extraordinary Things
The Covenanters,
A lesson from history
Note to teachers: So many times lessons are based on stories that children can’t always identify with because their about people who are strong, heroes, extraordinary people. This guide is meant to help your children see that God uses ordinary people to stand up the wrongs of this world, God makes ordinary people extraordinary.
The people in these stories didn’t want to be heroes they just wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God. When we think of all the important stories that inspire us we think of all the Bible stories we speak of so often but we don’t have to look to far into our own history to see that there are plenty of examples of inspiring stories from ordinary people that help us to do the right thing.
Memory verse Psalm 52:8
‘But I am like an Olive Tree flourishing in the House of God; I trust in
God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.’
Background
In March 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England, at this point Scotland still remained independent with it’s own parliament. James attempted to unify the church but struggled as Scotland was split between the Catholic Highlands and Protestant Lowlands.
After James’ death his son Charles I was determined to continue his father’s desire to unify the church and in an attempt to do this produced a common book of prayer and insisted that all churches used this book. This was something that the Lowland churches could not agree with as they believed and promoted freedom of worship and disagreed with King Charles’ notion that he was God’s spokesman, as they believed that each person had the right to have direct communication with God and needed no spokesman. They believed in a personal relationship with God and freedom to worship God in the way each person chose.
So on 23rd July 1637 when this Book of Common Prayer was first used in Edinburgh it
caused an uproar, which would prove to have severe repercussions for the people of
Scotland. On 28th February 1638 the Church of Scotland produced the covenant which
declared the church independent from the state, therefore defying the king insistence of using the book of common prayer against the rule of law. 60,000 people signed the covenant that day.
Charles I was executed in 1643 as a result of the ending of the English civil war which resulted in the rule of Oliver Cromwell and brought a period of stability to the church in Scotland. This was short lived, as after the death of Cromwell Charles I’s son Charles II became King in May 1660, which brought about 28 years of persecution and martyrdom for the covenanters. The king reintroduced the book of common prayer appointed his own bishops and ministers with over 400 ministers being thrown out of their churches and attendance at any religious service other than the state organised ones became treasonable and therefore a capital offence.
Lesson 1 – Who were the covenanters?
Jonathan and David - 1 Samuel 20: 24- 42
Objectives
How important it is to do the right thing
Emphasise how easy it would have been for Jonathan to go on his dad’s side but he knew it was wrong.
Simply stated, the covenanters were those people in Scotland who signed the National
Covenant in 1638. The covenant was a public declaration of opposition to the interference of the crown in the affairs of the church. The king believed God had divinely appointed them as rulers not only of the country but also of the church. The Scots could not accept this, as they believed only Jesus could be the head of any church and not any man, not even a king. From 1660 to 1688 was a period of persecution simply for non-attendance of church. Failure to do so could result in instant execution from the dragoon soldiers, which had been drafted in to enforce the law.
A family of martyrs -Just imagine you had been to a church service with your friend, your brother and his friend. Your two brothers had been killed by soldiers 5 years earlier for attending and preaching at an ‘illegal’ church service, your father was in prison in Edinburgh for attending these same church services. This didn’t stop you from what you knew to be right worshiping God the way you choose. It had been a good service, the famous and young preacher James Renwick, only 23 years old, full of fire and excitement about God was there with strong singing and great friendships.
It was 1685 not far from Dalmellington, Ayrshire and Marion Cameron was heading home with her friend Margaret Dun her brother David and friend Simon. They were excited about the whole evening and chatted generally about what James Renwick had been saying. They stopped to rest just outside a local village in a stone enclosure before striking out for home. They were disturbed by the local farmer who warned them that dragoons were close and on the lookout for covenanters so they had better hurry home before they were caught. Only a few miles further on they were caught the
girls momentarily got away but whilst hiding in the heather moss and singing Psalms to calm their fears the soldiers captured them. They offered to let them go if they pledged allegiance to the king and burned their Bibles, the girls refused and the soldiers shot them on the spot. The two boys were dragged to Cumnock, Ayrshire, where they were imprisoned for a few days and then shot as well.
Object lesson -Highway code
Explain that these are the rules for driving and that everyone should follow these rules if they wish to travel on the road safely. If they choose to disobey this code they place themselves and other road users at risk. One rule that everyone must apply, or else on almost every occasion someone will get hurt, is when you approach a roundabout you must always give way to the traffic on the right. If you don’t then you will have an accident. It’s the same in life always give way to the person who is right, if you don’t know they are right then listen to them and as long as what they say is from God i.e. based on the Bible, then you should do what is right.
Lesson 2 – Battles for freedom
David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17: 31-54
Objective
There is always hope, never give up.
It was because Goliath was a giant that the victory was so great.
No one would have told the story if it had been David and the Dwarf.
Challenges are difficult, that’s what makes them worthwhile.
War is never good, fighting is always a last resort but with issues such as freedom of speech, liberty and survival war might be the only solution. In the times of the covenanters life was not just tough but intolerable in many ways even for those who conformed to the King. But, with faith in Jesus, even if all has failed you there is always hope no one can take that from you, unless you allow them to. For many covenanters that is all they had, no home, no family no apparent way to change their destiny of persecution and eventual death. They still had hope. It was this hope, which maintained their faith in fighting against the King. Their struggle resulted in several battles of which there were 2 major battles: In 1666, in Ayrshire, there was rebellion when the dragoon soldiers tortured an old man because he would not
pledge allegiance to the king. They gathered in numbers eventually reaching 900 and marched on Edinburgh to protest. Just outside Edinburgh, on Rullion Green they were met with a force of 3,000 dragoons. The protesters had no chance with 100 being killed in battle, 120 being captured and a further 300 being killed after escaping but caught on their way home. In 1679, 1500 men met beside Loudon Hill near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. 180 dragoons rode out to disperse the gathering and arrest
the ringleaders. They found them in battle formation on the 1st of June, in front was a huge ditch and surrounding them were bogs so after an initial volley of muskets, which was unsuccessful, the dragoons were at a loss as what to do next. A large party of men led by a young man called William Cleland, who would later become a famous soldier came round the side of the dragoons attacking them as they were now dismounted. Bogged down in the marshes attacked at close quarters as well as being outnumbered the dragoons stood no chance. 36 dragoons were killed 7 captured and the rest fled. This same group of men were defeated 3 weeks later at Bothwell Bridge near Glasgow.
Object Lesson– The impossible quiz
Have a list of general knowledge questions, 5 perhaps, make the first 4 really difficult, the point being they can never answer them. The 5th one should be really easy. Have a prize for this. Ask after each question if they wish to give up if they do ask someone else to take their place. The point being that the person who answers the last question, the really easy one got the prize because they did not give up, not because they were brainy. Life can be really difficult but we should not give up with Jesus as our friend there is always hope and the prize at the end is not for how much we achieve in life but for not giving up .
Lesson 3 – Lion of the Covenant
David Dances – 2 Samuel 6:12-23
Objectives
Follow Jesus wholeheartedly
David had no concern about what others thought about him.
Only what God thinks about us is important.
Richard Cameron was called the lion of the covenant amongst the covenanters because of his strong defiance against this persecution. Richard Cameron was no common man. Born in Fife and had been a follower of the king until he saw the suffering and injustice of the new law. So he joined the covenanters forsaking everything for their cause. He was not half hearted in this and saw clearly the truth and had no ideas of compromise. In 1680 near Muirkirk on Airds Moss a large group of men had assembled under the leadership of Richard Cameron, the brother of Marion in the first week’s story. He preached that day and encouraged a group of 60 men who had gathered to worship God when a troop of 120 dragoons surprised them. In realisation that escape was impossible, they resolved to stand and fight. Richard grabbed his brother, Michael’s hand and said ‘Now let us fight it out to the last: for this is the day I have longed for, to die fighting for our Lord.’ The fighting was short but desperate with Richard and Michael being killed as well as 7 others, 5 were severely wounded and taken prisoner whilst the rest escaped over the moors as, if by the providence of God, a thundercloud came over head with torrential rain covering
their escape. 28 dragoons were killed that day. The 5 were taken to Edinburgh and hanged; the head and hands of Richard were cut off and displayed in Edinburgh as a warning. The soldier who carried them to Edinburgh said ‘These are the hands and head of a man who lived his life preaching and praying and died fighting and praying.’ Richard Cameron was not forgotten as a group of covenanters who lived to his ideals formed the 26th regiment of foot in 1689, this regiment fought in
every major war until it was disbanded in 1968.
Object Lesson – Full wellie
Ask for a volunteer sit him on a chair. Ask him to take off his shoes and socks (don’t force anyone to do this). Explain that you have some beans and they have a choice whether to put in a couple of bean into the wellie or the whole tin. Hopefully, they will choose the full tin. Then get them to put their foot into the wellie. Explain how they did not do this half-heartedly with only a couple of beans but they went the full wellie. It should be the same with us when we follow Jesus, He went the full wellie for us and we will gain the fullness of life God has promised if we go the full wellie for Him.
Lesson 4 – The young and the brave
David Chosen 1 Samuel 16: 1-14
Objectives
God can use you
David could have been overlooked because he was the youngest.
God doesn’t look for talent or at age, he looks at obedience
He uses those who are obedient.
In 1688, the fugitive preacher James Renwick was captured and executed at the scaffold in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, the last covenanter to be executed publicly.
He was born in Dumfriesshire, on 5th February 1662, the son of a weaver. He was always interested in religion and it is said that, by the age of six he was able to read and question the contents of the bible. His parents went without to gain James an education and after attending university in Edinburgh in 1681 he began to question the king’s new laws and after seeing a public hanging of covenanters he moved to Lanark to join the covenanters. In 1682 he went to Holland to train in the ministry and was ordained in 1683. He lead his first service in 1683 with many hundreds in attendance. This was the start of many close shaves with the dragoons. In July 1684 he narrowly escaped dragoons by hiding in a hollow on the moors. In the
next few months he baptised over 300 people and performed many marriages and funerals. In September 1684 a warrant for his capture was issued but this didn’t stop him meeting with hundreds of covenanters including ones at Sanquhaur and Dalmellington, Ayrshire, the one poor Marion from the first lesson was attending and walking home from. There was always a horse ready and saddled on which James could escape swiftly if dragoons should appear. His last service took part in Selkirkshire on January 1688, according to James Hogg ‘When he prayed, few hearers cheeks
were dry.’ Renwick was arrested in February 1688 whilst secretly visiting Edinburgh a group of men arrived at the house he staying at where a scuffle broke out with James escaping but then he was caught whilst running down the Castle Wynd. He died at the young age of 26 and had caused the authorities so much trouble the head jailer looked upon him and said ‘Is this boy the Mr Renwick the nation has had so much trouble with?’
Object Lesson – Arm Wrestle
You will need two volunteers one bigger older child and one smaller younger child. After you have chosen them declare that they are going to arm wrestle. Ask who do the children think will win. They should say the bigger and older child. Using a table and chairs get them into position to wrestle, you stand behind the younger child and when you say go help the younger child to beat the older child. This is an example of how unimportant size, age and ability is because if God is behind you he will give you the strength and ability to do the job he has asked you to do.
Lesson 5 – Prophet of the covenant
Saul’s Cloak – 1 Samuel 24
Objectives
David refused to do wrong, he would not harm the Lord’s anointed.
With God’s anointing you will not be harmed.
Live right and He will anoint you.
One of the best-known covenanters was Alexander Peden or ‘Sandy’ as he was called. He
was born in 1626 in Ayrshire. He went to Glasgow University and became head teacher at Tarbolton, Ayrshire. In 1660, he became a minister in Galloway. Due to his allegiance to the covenant he was ejected from his church in 1663. Sandy was known as the prophet of the covenant because of the repeated times things he stated became true. Such as, when he was evicted from his church he left saying that no minister would enter the church unless he believed as Sandy believed. True enough the church remained without a minister for 30 years until a covenanter named William Kyle became minister; Sandy wandered the country having illegal services until in
1666 a warrant for his arrest was issued. He evaded capture for seven years when he was captured in Ayrshire, in 1673. He was sentenced to be sent to America as a slave but again prophesied that there was no boat built that could hold him. Sure enough he convinced the captain to let him and the others go in Gravesend, England. He returned to Scotland always on the run and having many close escapes such as when he and a group of friends were being chased by soldiers on the moors. It
looked certain he would be caught but he prayed. ‘Cast your cloak over old Sandy and these poor souls, save us one more time.’ Almost immediately a cloud of mist hid them and the dragoons passed right passed them. Sandy was best friends with Richard Cameron, the Lion of the Covenant and encouraged James Renwick whom we spoke of last week calling him, ‘God’s faithful servant.’ Sandy had a price of £1000 on his head but died of old age and ended up buried in Ayrshire in 1686.
Object Lesson - Anointing oil
You will need a bottle of olive oil or if stuck, vegetable oil. If you can decant it into a smaller bottle then better if not re-label it ‘magic elixir’. Describe the contents as a potion, which revitalises you when tired, makes you better at everything, faster, smarter, more talented. Then explain, well, not really it’s just oil but in days gone past priests and prophets used this to symbolise those God had chosen for special jobs. Like Samuel did with David to make him King. It represents the Holy Spirit who lives inside you when you make Jesus your friend. He gives you knowledge, wisdom, peace, joy, and so much more. It is impossible to live, as God wants you to unless you have the Holy Spirit inside you.
Lesson 6 – The Wigtownshire Martyrs
Faithful David 1 Samuel 16: 14-23
Objectives
Before David became a mighty king he was just a shepherd.
God wants you to be just you. No faces, no pretence, just you.
He may change you but you shouldn’t try to be different.
One of the most often told stories is the story of the two Margaret’s, Margaret Lachlane,aged 63, and Margaret Wilson in her mid-twenties. The whole 28 years of persecution of the covenanters are about ordinary people, not royalty or soldiers or heroes as we expect them to be but people like you and me. The two Margaret’s were ordinary women who worked and helped out with their families and never did anything particularly exciting, interesting or special. But yet their story is one that is most often told. They were reported for not attending church making them disorderly parishioners. They went into hiding but were soon found by dragoons. They were tried in Dumfriesshire, on 13th April 1685 being sentenced to execution by drowning. They were marched down to the beach, which at that particular part of the Solway Firth can go out almost for two miles leaving the flat sands. Stakes were hammered into the
sand one close to the water and the second about halfway up. Old Margaret was given the chance to change her mind and deny her beliefs but she wouldn’t. She was tied to the first post, as the tide began to overtake old Margaret, drowning her, young Margaret looked on and sang the 25th Psalm as they tied her to the second post half way up the beach. She was asked to reconsider as she saw what lay before her as she watched old Margaret drown. She was not going to deny her faith now, the soldiers looked on as the tide covered young Margaret as well. Once the tide had receded again
they took the bodies and buried them in the churchyard.
Object Lesson – Outward changes
Choose a volunteer, have some dressing up things, a wig, sunglasses maybe a halo.
Explain you are going to try and improve the person, sunglasses will make him cool, a wig will make him better looking, a halo will make him good. Keep going as much as you want until they look a little silly. Start by taking off the articles you put on explaining you don’t have to pretend to be anyone but you. God made you, you are as he intended you to be.
The Covenanters,
A lesson from history
Note to teachers: So many times lessons are based on stories that children can’t always identify with because their about people who are strong, heroes, extraordinary people. This guide is meant to help your children see that God uses ordinary people to stand up the wrongs of this world, God makes ordinary people extraordinary.
The people in these stories didn’t want to be heroes they just wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God. When we think of all the important stories that inspire us we think of all the Bible stories we speak of so often but we don’t have to look to far into our own history to see that there are plenty of examples of inspiring stories from ordinary people that help us to do the right thing.
Memory verse Psalm 52:8
‘But I am like an Olive Tree flourishing in the House of God; I trust in
God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.’
Background
In March 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England, at this point Scotland still remained independent with it’s own parliament. James attempted to unify the church but struggled as Scotland was split between the Catholic Highlands and Protestant Lowlands.
After James’ death his son Charles I was determined to continue his father’s desire to unify the church and in an attempt to do this produced a common book of prayer and insisted that all churches used this book. This was something that the Lowland churches could not agree with as they believed and promoted freedom of worship and disagreed with King Charles’ notion that he was God’s spokesman, as they believed that each person had the right to have direct communication with God and needed no spokesman. They believed in a personal relationship with God and freedom to worship God in the way each person chose.
So on 23rd July 1637 when this Book of Common Prayer was first used in Edinburgh it
caused an uproar, which would prove to have severe repercussions for the people of
Scotland. On 28th February 1638 the Church of Scotland produced the covenant which
declared the church independent from the state, therefore defying the king insistence of using the book of common prayer against the rule of law. 60,000 people signed the covenant that day.
Charles I was executed in 1643 as a result of the ending of the English civil war which resulted in the rule of Oliver Cromwell and brought a period of stability to the church in Scotland. This was short lived, as after the death of Cromwell Charles I’s son Charles II became King in May 1660, which brought about 28 years of persecution and martyrdom for the covenanters. The king reintroduced the book of common prayer appointed his own bishops and ministers with over 400 ministers being thrown out of their churches and attendance at any religious service other than the state organised ones became treasonable and therefore a capital offence.
Lesson 1 – Who were the covenanters?
Jonathan and David - 1 Samuel 20: 24- 42
Objectives
How important it is to do the right thing
Emphasise how easy it would have been for Jonathan to go on his dad’s side but he knew it was wrong.
Simply stated, the covenanters were those people in Scotland who signed the National
Covenant in 1638. The covenant was a public declaration of opposition to the interference of the crown in the affairs of the church. The king believed God had divinely appointed them as rulers not only of the country but also of the church. The Scots could not accept this, as they believed only Jesus could be the head of any church and not any man, not even a king. From 1660 to 1688 was a period of persecution simply for non-attendance of church. Failure to do so could result in instant execution from the dragoon soldiers, which had been drafted in to enforce the law.
A family of martyrs -Just imagine you had been to a church service with your friend, your brother and his friend. Your two brothers had been killed by soldiers 5 years earlier for attending and preaching at an ‘illegal’ church service, your father was in prison in Edinburgh for attending these same church services. This didn’t stop you from what you knew to be right worshiping God the way you choose. It had been a good service, the famous and young preacher James Renwick, only 23 years old, full of fire and excitement about God was there with strong singing and great friendships.
It was 1685 not far from Dalmellington, Ayrshire and Marion Cameron was heading home with her friend Margaret Dun her brother David and friend Simon. They were excited about the whole evening and chatted generally about what James Renwick had been saying. They stopped to rest just outside a local village in a stone enclosure before striking out for home. They were disturbed by the local farmer who warned them that dragoons were close and on the lookout for covenanters so they had better hurry home before they were caught. Only a few miles further on they were caught the
girls momentarily got away but whilst hiding in the heather moss and singing Psalms to calm their fears the soldiers captured them. They offered to let them go if they pledged allegiance to the king and burned their Bibles, the girls refused and the soldiers shot them on the spot. The two boys were dragged to Cumnock, Ayrshire, where they were imprisoned for a few days and then shot as well.
Object lesson -Highway code
Explain that these are the rules for driving and that everyone should follow these rules if they wish to travel on the road safely. If they choose to disobey this code they place themselves and other road users at risk. One rule that everyone must apply, or else on almost every occasion someone will get hurt, is when you approach a roundabout you must always give way to the traffic on the right. If you don’t then you will have an accident. It’s the same in life always give way to the person who is right, if you don’t know they are right then listen to them and as long as what they say is from God i.e. based on the Bible, then you should do what is right.
Lesson 2 – Battles for freedom
David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17: 31-54
Objective
There is always hope, never give up.
It was because Goliath was a giant that the victory was so great.
No one would have told the story if it had been David and the Dwarf.
Challenges are difficult, that’s what makes them worthwhile.
War is never good, fighting is always a last resort but with issues such as freedom of speech, liberty and survival war might be the only solution. In the times of the covenanters life was not just tough but intolerable in many ways even for those who conformed to the King. But, with faith in Jesus, even if all has failed you there is always hope no one can take that from you, unless you allow them to. For many covenanters that is all they had, no home, no family no apparent way to change their destiny of persecution and eventual death. They still had hope. It was this hope, which maintained their faith in fighting against the King. Their struggle resulted in several battles of which there were 2 major battles: In 1666, in Ayrshire, there was rebellion when the dragoon soldiers tortured an old man because he would not
pledge allegiance to the king. They gathered in numbers eventually reaching 900 and marched on Edinburgh to protest. Just outside Edinburgh, on Rullion Green they were met with a force of 3,000 dragoons. The protesters had no chance with 100 being killed in battle, 120 being captured and a further 300 being killed after escaping but caught on their way home. In 1679, 1500 men met beside Loudon Hill near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. 180 dragoons rode out to disperse the gathering and arrest
the ringleaders. They found them in battle formation on the 1st of June, in front was a huge ditch and surrounding them were bogs so after an initial volley of muskets, which was unsuccessful, the dragoons were at a loss as what to do next. A large party of men led by a young man called William Cleland, who would later become a famous soldier came round the side of the dragoons attacking them as they were now dismounted. Bogged down in the marshes attacked at close quarters as well as being outnumbered the dragoons stood no chance. 36 dragoons were killed 7 captured and the rest fled. This same group of men were defeated 3 weeks later at Bothwell Bridge near Glasgow.
Object Lesson– The impossible quiz
Have a list of general knowledge questions, 5 perhaps, make the first 4 really difficult, the point being they can never answer them. The 5th one should be really easy. Have a prize for this. Ask after each question if they wish to give up if they do ask someone else to take their place. The point being that the person who answers the last question, the really easy one got the prize because they did not give up, not because they were brainy. Life can be really difficult but we should not give up with Jesus as our friend there is always hope and the prize at the end is not for how much we achieve in life but for not giving up .
Lesson 3 – Lion of the Covenant
David Dances – 2 Samuel 6:12-23
Objectives
Follow Jesus wholeheartedly
David had no concern about what others thought about him.
Only what God thinks about us is important.
Richard Cameron was called the lion of the covenant amongst the covenanters because of his strong defiance against this persecution. Richard Cameron was no common man. Born in Fife and had been a follower of the king until he saw the suffering and injustice of the new law. So he joined the covenanters forsaking everything for their cause. He was not half hearted in this and saw clearly the truth and had no ideas of compromise. In 1680 near Muirkirk on Airds Moss a large group of men had assembled under the leadership of Richard Cameron, the brother of Marion in the first week’s story. He preached that day and encouraged a group of 60 men who had gathered to worship God when a troop of 120 dragoons surprised them. In realisation that escape was impossible, they resolved to stand and fight. Richard grabbed his brother, Michael’s hand and said ‘Now let us fight it out to the last: for this is the day I have longed for, to die fighting for our Lord.’ The fighting was short but desperate with Richard and Michael being killed as well as 7 others, 5 were severely wounded and taken prisoner whilst the rest escaped over the moors as, if by the providence of God, a thundercloud came over head with torrential rain covering
their escape. 28 dragoons were killed that day. The 5 were taken to Edinburgh and hanged; the head and hands of Richard were cut off and displayed in Edinburgh as a warning. The soldier who carried them to Edinburgh said ‘These are the hands and head of a man who lived his life preaching and praying and died fighting and praying.’ Richard Cameron was not forgotten as a group of covenanters who lived to his ideals formed the 26th regiment of foot in 1689, this regiment fought in
every major war until it was disbanded in 1968.
Object Lesson – Full wellie
Ask for a volunteer sit him on a chair. Ask him to take off his shoes and socks (don’t force anyone to do this). Explain that you have some beans and they have a choice whether to put in a couple of bean into the wellie or the whole tin. Hopefully, they will choose the full tin. Then get them to put their foot into the wellie. Explain how they did not do this half-heartedly with only a couple of beans but they went the full wellie. It should be the same with us when we follow Jesus, He went the full wellie for us and we will gain the fullness of life God has promised if we go the full wellie for Him.
Lesson 4 – The young and the brave
David Chosen 1 Samuel 16: 1-14
Objectives
God can use you
David could have been overlooked because he was the youngest.
God doesn’t look for talent or at age, he looks at obedience
He uses those who are obedient.
In 1688, the fugitive preacher James Renwick was captured and executed at the scaffold in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, the last covenanter to be executed publicly.
He was born in Dumfriesshire, on 5th February 1662, the son of a weaver. He was always interested in religion and it is said that, by the age of six he was able to read and question the contents of the bible. His parents went without to gain James an education and after attending university in Edinburgh in 1681 he began to question the king’s new laws and after seeing a public hanging of covenanters he moved to Lanark to join the covenanters. In 1682 he went to Holland to train in the ministry and was ordained in 1683. He lead his first service in 1683 with many hundreds in attendance. This was the start of many close shaves with the dragoons. In July 1684 he narrowly escaped dragoons by hiding in a hollow on the moors. In the
next few months he baptised over 300 people and performed many marriages and funerals. In September 1684 a warrant for his capture was issued but this didn’t stop him meeting with hundreds of covenanters including ones at Sanquhaur and Dalmellington, Ayrshire, the one poor Marion from the first lesson was attending and walking home from. There was always a horse ready and saddled on which James could escape swiftly if dragoons should appear. His last service took part in Selkirkshire on January 1688, according to James Hogg ‘When he prayed, few hearers cheeks
were dry.’ Renwick was arrested in February 1688 whilst secretly visiting Edinburgh a group of men arrived at the house he staying at where a scuffle broke out with James escaping but then he was caught whilst running down the Castle Wynd. He died at the young age of 26 and had caused the authorities so much trouble the head jailer looked upon him and said ‘Is this boy the Mr Renwick the nation has had so much trouble with?’
Object Lesson – Arm Wrestle
You will need two volunteers one bigger older child and one smaller younger child. After you have chosen them declare that they are going to arm wrestle. Ask who do the children think will win. They should say the bigger and older child. Using a table and chairs get them into position to wrestle, you stand behind the younger child and when you say go help the younger child to beat the older child. This is an example of how unimportant size, age and ability is because if God is behind you he will give you the strength and ability to do the job he has asked you to do.
Lesson 5 – Prophet of the covenant
Saul’s Cloak – 1 Samuel 24
Objectives
David refused to do wrong, he would not harm the Lord’s anointed.
With God’s anointing you will not be harmed.
Live right and He will anoint you.
One of the best-known covenanters was Alexander Peden or ‘Sandy’ as he was called. He
was born in 1626 in Ayrshire. He went to Glasgow University and became head teacher at Tarbolton, Ayrshire. In 1660, he became a minister in Galloway. Due to his allegiance to the covenant he was ejected from his church in 1663. Sandy was known as the prophet of the covenant because of the repeated times things he stated became true. Such as, when he was evicted from his church he left saying that no minister would enter the church unless he believed as Sandy believed. True enough the church remained without a minister for 30 years until a covenanter named William Kyle became minister; Sandy wandered the country having illegal services until in
1666 a warrant for his arrest was issued. He evaded capture for seven years when he was captured in Ayrshire, in 1673. He was sentenced to be sent to America as a slave but again prophesied that there was no boat built that could hold him. Sure enough he convinced the captain to let him and the others go in Gravesend, England. He returned to Scotland always on the run and having many close escapes such as when he and a group of friends were being chased by soldiers on the moors. It
looked certain he would be caught but he prayed. ‘Cast your cloak over old Sandy and these poor souls, save us one more time.’ Almost immediately a cloud of mist hid them and the dragoons passed right passed them. Sandy was best friends with Richard Cameron, the Lion of the Covenant and encouraged James Renwick whom we spoke of last week calling him, ‘God’s faithful servant.’ Sandy had a price of £1000 on his head but died of old age and ended up buried in Ayrshire in 1686.
Object Lesson - Anointing oil
You will need a bottle of olive oil or if stuck, vegetable oil. If you can decant it into a smaller bottle then better if not re-label it ‘magic elixir’. Describe the contents as a potion, which revitalises you when tired, makes you better at everything, faster, smarter, more talented. Then explain, well, not really it’s just oil but in days gone past priests and prophets used this to symbolise those God had chosen for special jobs. Like Samuel did with David to make him King. It represents the Holy Spirit who lives inside you when you make Jesus your friend. He gives you knowledge, wisdom, peace, joy, and so much more. It is impossible to live, as God wants you to unless you have the Holy Spirit inside you.
Lesson 6 – The Wigtownshire Martyrs
Faithful David 1 Samuel 16: 14-23
Objectives
Before David became a mighty king he was just a shepherd.
God wants you to be just you. No faces, no pretence, just you.
He may change you but you shouldn’t try to be different.
One of the most often told stories is the story of the two Margaret’s, Margaret Lachlane,aged 63, and Margaret Wilson in her mid-twenties. The whole 28 years of persecution of the covenanters are about ordinary people, not royalty or soldiers or heroes as we expect them to be but people like you and me. The two Margaret’s were ordinary women who worked and helped out with their families and never did anything particularly exciting, interesting or special. But yet their story is one that is most often told. They were reported for not attending church making them disorderly parishioners. They went into hiding but were soon found by dragoons. They were tried in Dumfriesshire, on 13th April 1685 being sentenced to execution by drowning. They were marched down to the beach, which at that particular part of the Solway Firth can go out almost for two miles leaving the flat sands. Stakes were hammered into the
sand one close to the water and the second about halfway up. Old Margaret was given the chance to change her mind and deny her beliefs but she wouldn’t. She was tied to the first post, as the tide began to overtake old Margaret, drowning her, young Margaret looked on and sang the 25th Psalm as they tied her to the second post half way up the beach. She was asked to reconsider as she saw what lay before her as she watched old Margaret drown. She was not going to deny her faith now, the soldiers looked on as the tide covered young Margaret as well. Once the tide had receded again
they took the bodies and buried them in the churchyard.
Object Lesson – Outward changes
Choose a volunteer, have some dressing up things, a wig, sunglasses maybe a halo.
Explain you are going to try and improve the person, sunglasses will make him cool, a wig will make him better looking, a halo will make him good. Keep going as much as you want until they look a little silly. Start by taking off the articles you put on explaining you don’t have to pretend to be anyone but you. God made you, you are as he intended you to be.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - Character-Building
Note to teachers: This guide is meant to help your children explore “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” while articulating moral themes in the story. Although “The
Chronicles of Narnia” may be read as nothing more than a really good tale of adventure,forgiveness, heroic leadership, and self-sacrifice, it is clear that C.S. Lewis allowed his own experience to colour his writing, as all great writers do. These activities will work best if the children are familiar with the story of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”
C.S. Lewis wrote that he had envisioned an imaginary land where animals talk
and engage in heroic action. Only later did he begin to think about what it might
be like if ethical concepts were applied to this imaginary land.
Memory Verse, John 14:6
‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father
but by me.’
Lesson 1: Mr. Tumnus Makes a Choice
’Peter’s Denial’ - Mark 14: 27-31, 66 –72
Objectives:
To convey that doing the right thing is not always easy and may have unpleasant consequences.
To help develop moral decision-making skills.
To explore the idea of sacrifice as a moral value.
Lucy is an 8 year old girl who enters a magical land and meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun.
He invites her back to his house. After sharing tea and sandwiches with her, he
plays a tune for her that makes her sleepy. He is in the service of the White Witch
and has been told to hand over to her any human children that he meets. As you
know by now, Mr. Tumnus doesn’t turn Lucy over to the Witch. He realizes that he
can’t go through with it. He opens his heart to her, tells her everything, and she
forgives him. And they become very good friends. Mr. Tumnus had to make a
decision. He had to decide if he could do something he knew was wrong because he
was afraid that if he didn’t do it, he would get hurt. The Witch had bullied him (and
many other Narnians) into agreeing to do things that they didn’t really want to do.
Peter had a choice to make and at first made the wrong one just like Mr. Tumnus but he turned it around and did the right thing in the end. If Mr. Tumnus came to you while Lucy was dozing in his parlour and asked you what to do, what would you tell him? Have you ever had to make a choice to do the right thing even though you were afraid that you might get in trouble? What was your decision?
Object Lesson ; HEAD FOR THE WARDROBE!
Materials needed: Pictures of Lamppost cut outs, wardrobe shapes, and a white table cloth or sheet. Cut out enough wardrobe shapes and distribute one to each child.
Ask the children to write their names on one wardrobe door. Separate the group
into four or more teams (depending on the number of children you have). Each
team should go to an opposite corner (or area) of the room. The doors and the lamp
post cut-outs should be scattered onto the “snowy” sheet in the centre of the room.
At the signal, “Head for the wardrobe!” the first child from each team races to the
snowy land to find a lamppost. Once found, they return it to their teams. The next
child then runs out and tries to find a wardrobe door that belongs to someone in his
or her group (but not his or her own); races back to his or her team; and the next
child takes a turn. Continue until all the wardrobes for the teams have been found.
It’s important in life to help one another not just to help yourself, even if it’s means doing something difficult. Even if it means you missing out.
Lesson 2: Edmund’s Temptation
‘Judas Betrayal’ - Mark 14: 43 -51
Objectives:
To introduce the idea of conscience.
To explore the concept that one small mistake often can lead to many more serious errors.
Edmund, an English school boy, found himself transported to a land called Narnia,
a land populated by animals who talk and where it’s always winter. He met a tall
woman dressed like a queen, who seemed to him proud, cold, and stern. He did
not like the way she looked at him and he was afraid of her. But later she began to
speak more kindly and she offered him something to drink and his favourite
sweet, which she produced by magic.
If you were Edmund, would you take the sweet?
When you meet someone and a voice inside tells you not to trust them, what might that mean?
Edmund took it and thought it was the best he had ever tasted. He soon found
himself wanting more sweets very badly, but she refused to give him more. Later,
she let him go and told him she would reward him with more candy if he brought
his brother and sisters to meet her. Judas was also betrayed by people who meant him
and Jesus harm but his inability to see these people for who they were, bad people, and the temptation of 30 pieces of silver. It was all too much and, like Edmund, he made the wrong decision. When we, like Edmund, make the wrong decision, we only need to ask for forgiveness and rectify our mistake by doing what is right.
Object Lesson; Chubby Bunnies
A bag of marshmallows, a bucket and two volunteers. They each take turn putting
one marshmallow at a time no chewing, or swallowing allowed. The child with the
most marshmallows in their mouth wins. (Explain to the children they can spit out the
marshmallows at any time into the bucket especially if they feel sick or are about to choke.) On Edmund’s first trip to Narnia, he found himself in an awkward situation. A stranger he didn’t trust started talking to him. He was being very cautious toward her until she offered him something he liked a lot. Then he made a bad choice – he took what she offered. It didn’t seem like such a bad thing to do, although no one should ever take food from a stranger. But it led him to make more bad choices until he found himself making really bad choices – that left him enslaved and in danger of being killed.
Lesson 3: Choices and Consequences
‘Withered Fig Tree’ Mark 11:12 —33
Objectives:
The student will analyze actions of the characters and make decisions regarding the moral values of those actions.
The student will connect choices and the results that these choices lead to.
Introduce the activity by discussing the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, paying attention to the moral dimension of the story – that four young people just like themselves entered Narnia and, with the help of others, turned a very bad situation into a very good one. Like the fig tree Jesus expects us to produce fruit, that means being Loving, Faithful, Kind, Self-controlled, Generous, Peaceful, Gentle, Joyful,Patient. Jesus wants us to be productive and have purpose in our lives.
Talk about the DESTRUCTIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE CHOICES made by TUMNUS, LUCY, EDMUND, PETER, THE BEAVERS and record them on a flip chart.
Object Lesson
As a large group, encourage the children to look for examples. (They may find it
difficult to find destructive choices that Lucy, Peter, Susan, or the Beavers made, so encourage them to look for subtle actions. For instance, Peter was clearly irritated with Edmund, and that may have contributed to Edmund going over to the White Witch, also Mrs. Beaver delayed the group starting out which could have imperilled them.) In most cases, the characters became aware of their choices and corrected them. How might our choices affect our life in the long term?
Lesson 4: The Ultimate Sacrifice
‘Crucifixion’ Mark 15
Objectives:
To explore the place of sacrifice in life, especially the willingness to sacrifice for others.
To examine the children’s life and her/his willingness to make sacrifices for
others.
Lead a discussion on the place that sacrifice plays in the story. Point out how
sombre Aslan seems after striking his deal with the White Witch. Aslan’s sacrifice
of his life is, of course, a greater sacrifice than any other. Like Jesus, he gave his all in order to set the captives free, in order to pay the price for those who betrayed him, to give back to his people what was rightly theirs and had been taken away from them unfairly. Whereas the others willingly accepted danger and possible
harm, he knew clearly that he would be killed. The Lion, The Witch and The
Wardrobe can be seen as a story about the forces of freedom, respect, and loving
kindness winning out over slavery, disregard for the rights of others, selfishness
and hatred. The children and their animal friends who ultimately triumph over the
White Witch do so because they are willing to sacrifice to help others.
TUMNUS won His freedom, his independence, THE BEAVERS Their home and possessions
PETER, SUSAN, LUCY, EDMUND Their safety (they could have returned through the wardrobe)ASLAN His life, and his people. What are you willing to sacrifice?
Object Lesson; Aslan Freeze Tag
Materials needed: Sheets of sticker dots (available at office supply stores)
Help bring the stone statues back to life! Designate one player to be the White
Witch, and one player to be Aslan. The player who is Aslan should lie on the
ground, pretending to be dead. Start by asking the White Witch to place each team
member wherever desired within his or her kingdom, and then apply a sticker dot
to their backs, turning them into statues. At the “Go!” command, Aslan wakes up.
Aslan may then bring statues back to life by tagging them and removing their dots.
Once a player has been tagged by Aslan, he or she must try to avoid being tagged
once again by the White Witch. The game is over when all players has been
effectively rescued by Aslan. Jesus set us free from all sorts of things when He
died for us, this world is full of things that would bind us, tie us down. Jesus sets
us free.
Lesson 5; Lawgivers
‘The Greatest Commandment’ – Mark 12 :28—34
Objectives:
To introduce the idea that we all have a destiny to be heroes,
To be role models for each other.
To help children gain an awareness of laws and their place in life.
To protect the less fortunate .
Imagine that you have stumbled accidentally into a whole different world, a world
full of wondrous sights and amazing inhabitants. And soon you learn that YOU
are chosen to be a king or queen of that land, and the inhabitants have been
waiting for you to come and take your place on their throne. In The Lion, The Witch
and The Wardrobe, four young people found themselves magically transported to
the Land of Narnia, an amazing place full of excitement and danger. They soon
discovered that a powerful witch was trying to kill them, that a great and righteous
leader was eager to help them, and that they were the long-awaited Kings and
Queens of Narnia. In fact, four thrones were waiting for them in a tall castle on the
edge of the shining sea. As a follower of Jesus you become a king and queen, not of
Narnia but of the Kingdom of God. Like any other Kingdom there are laws and the greatest of these is ‘Love’.
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
2. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Object Lesson
Lead a discussion on what a good and wise king or queen might be like,
How would you feel if you suddenly found that you were absolute ruler of a
magical, far-off land? What laws would you make?
Using a flipchart list the new laws of the kingdom the children make up and shout
to you.
Lesson 6: Kings and Queens
‘The Request of James and John’ - Mark 10:35—45
Objectives:
To introduce the idea that we all, in Jesus, are royalty.
To rescue and save each other.
To help children gain an awareness of responsibility.
To protect others and create a just society.
Explain that being king or queen is not about having your way or gratifying every
whim, and that rulers who acted like that were hated by their subjects and
sometimes overthrown. Lead a discussion on what was spoken about last week
about what a good and wise king or queen might be like. James and John thought
they would like to be in charge, being in charge isn’t all its cracked up to be. Being in charge brings responsibility, a good ruler first thinks about others before themselves, a good ruler knows how to serve as well as being served.
Object Lesson; “Tea for the Royal Family”
Ask a child to volunteer being king for the rest of the evening, sit them on a throne
and instruct them they are king/queen and whatever they say will happen. Follow
their requests, within reason. Explain that being king or queen is not about having
your way or gratifying every whim, and that rulers who acted like that were hated
by their subjects and sometimes overthrown. Provide frosted cupcakes,
blackcurrant juice. Offer a variety of yummies and encourage the children to serve
each other.
Chronicles of Narnia” may be read as nothing more than a really good tale of adventure,forgiveness, heroic leadership, and self-sacrifice, it is clear that C.S. Lewis allowed his own experience to colour his writing, as all great writers do. These activities will work best if the children are familiar with the story of “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”
C.S. Lewis wrote that he had envisioned an imaginary land where animals talk
and engage in heroic action. Only later did he begin to think about what it might
be like if ethical concepts were applied to this imaginary land.
Memory Verse, John 14:6
‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father
but by me.’
Lesson 1: Mr. Tumnus Makes a Choice
’Peter’s Denial’ - Mark 14: 27-31, 66 –72
Objectives:
To convey that doing the right thing is not always easy and may have unpleasant consequences.
To help develop moral decision-making skills.
To explore the idea of sacrifice as a moral value.
Lucy is an 8 year old girl who enters a magical land and meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun.
He invites her back to his house. After sharing tea and sandwiches with her, he
plays a tune for her that makes her sleepy. He is in the service of the White Witch
and has been told to hand over to her any human children that he meets. As you
know by now, Mr. Tumnus doesn’t turn Lucy over to the Witch. He realizes that he
can’t go through with it. He opens his heart to her, tells her everything, and she
forgives him. And they become very good friends. Mr. Tumnus had to make a
decision. He had to decide if he could do something he knew was wrong because he
was afraid that if he didn’t do it, he would get hurt. The Witch had bullied him (and
many other Narnians) into agreeing to do things that they didn’t really want to do.
Peter had a choice to make and at first made the wrong one just like Mr. Tumnus but he turned it around and did the right thing in the end. If Mr. Tumnus came to you while Lucy was dozing in his parlour and asked you what to do, what would you tell him? Have you ever had to make a choice to do the right thing even though you were afraid that you might get in trouble? What was your decision?
Object Lesson ; HEAD FOR THE WARDROBE!
Materials needed: Pictures of Lamppost cut outs, wardrobe shapes, and a white table cloth or sheet. Cut out enough wardrobe shapes and distribute one to each child.
Ask the children to write their names on one wardrobe door. Separate the group
into four or more teams (depending on the number of children you have). Each
team should go to an opposite corner (or area) of the room. The doors and the lamp
post cut-outs should be scattered onto the “snowy” sheet in the centre of the room.
At the signal, “Head for the wardrobe!” the first child from each team races to the
snowy land to find a lamppost. Once found, they return it to their teams. The next
child then runs out and tries to find a wardrobe door that belongs to someone in his
or her group (but not his or her own); races back to his or her team; and the next
child takes a turn. Continue until all the wardrobes for the teams have been found.
It’s important in life to help one another not just to help yourself, even if it’s means doing something difficult. Even if it means you missing out.
Lesson 2: Edmund’s Temptation
‘Judas Betrayal’ - Mark 14: 43 -51
Objectives:
To introduce the idea of conscience.
To explore the concept that one small mistake often can lead to many more serious errors.
Edmund, an English school boy, found himself transported to a land called Narnia,
a land populated by animals who talk and where it’s always winter. He met a tall
woman dressed like a queen, who seemed to him proud, cold, and stern. He did
not like the way she looked at him and he was afraid of her. But later she began to
speak more kindly and she offered him something to drink and his favourite
sweet, which she produced by magic.
If you were Edmund, would you take the sweet?
When you meet someone and a voice inside tells you not to trust them, what might that mean?
Edmund took it and thought it was the best he had ever tasted. He soon found
himself wanting more sweets very badly, but she refused to give him more. Later,
she let him go and told him she would reward him with more candy if he brought
his brother and sisters to meet her. Judas was also betrayed by people who meant him
and Jesus harm but his inability to see these people for who they were, bad people, and the temptation of 30 pieces of silver. It was all too much and, like Edmund, he made the wrong decision. When we, like Edmund, make the wrong decision, we only need to ask for forgiveness and rectify our mistake by doing what is right.
Object Lesson; Chubby Bunnies
A bag of marshmallows, a bucket and two volunteers. They each take turn putting
one marshmallow at a time no chewing, or swallowing allowed. The child with the
most marshmallows in their mouth wins. (Explain to the children they can spit out the
marshmallows at any time into the bucket especially if they feel sick or are about to choke.) On Edmund’s first trip to Narnia, he found himself in an awkward situation. A stranger he didn’t trust started talking to him. He was being very cautious toward her until she offered him something he liked a lot. Then he made a bad choice – he took what she offered. It didn’t seem like such a bad thing to do, although no one should ever take food from a stranger. But it led him to make more bad choices until he found himself making really bad choices – that left him enslaved and in danger of being killed.
Lesson 3: Choices and Consequences
‘Withered Fig Tree’ Mark 11:12 —33
Objectives:
The student will analyze actions of the characters and make decisions regarding the moral values of those actions.
The student will connect choices and the results that these choices lead to.
Introduce the activity by discussing the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, paying attention to the moral dimension of the story – that four young people just like themselves entered Narnia and, with the help of others, turned a very bad situation into a very good one. Like the fig tree Jesus expects us to produce fruit, that means being Loving, Faithful, Kind, Self-controlled, Generous, Peaceful, Gentle, Joyful,Patient. Jesus wants us to be productive and have purpose in our lives.
Talk about the DESTRUCTIVE and CONSTRUCTIVE CHOICES made by TUMNUS, LUCY, EDMUND, PETER, THE BEAVERS and record them on a flip chart.
Object Lesson
As a large group, encourage the children to look for examples. (They may find it
difficult to find destructive choices that Lucy, Peter, Susan, or the Beavers made, so encourage them to look for subtle actions. For instance, Peter was clearly irritated with Edmund, and that may have contributed to Edmund going over to the White Witch, also Mrs. Beaver delayed the group starting out which could have imperilled them.) In most cases, the characters became aware of their choices and corrected them. How might our choices affect our life in the long term?
Lesson 4: The Ultimate Sacrifice
‘Crucifixion’ Mark 15
Objectives:
To explore the place of sacrifice in life, especially the willingness to sacrifice for others.
To examine the children’s life and her/his willingness to make sacrifices for
others.
Lead a discussion on the place that sacrifice plays in the story. Point out how
sombre Aslan seems after striking his deal with the White Witch. Aslan’s sacrifice
of his life is, of course, a greater sacrifice than any other. Like Jesus, he gave his all in order to set the captives free, in order to pay the price for those who betrayed him, to give back to his people what was rightly theirs and had been taken away from them unfairly. Whereas the others willingly accepted danger and possible
harm, he knew clearly that he would be killed. The Lion, The Witch and The
Wardrobe can be seen as a story about the forces of freedom, respect, and loving
kindness winning out over slavery, disregard for the rights of others, selfishness
and hatred. The children and their animal friends who ultimately triumph over the
White Witch do so because they are willing to sacrifice to help others.
TUMNUS won His freedom, his independence, THE BEAVERS Their home and possessions
PETER, SUSAN, LUCY, EDMUND Their safety (they could have returned through the wardrobe)ASLAN His life, and his people. What are you willing to sacrifice?
Object Lesson; Aslan Freeze Tag
Materials needed: Sheets of sticker dots (available at office supply stores)
Help bring the stone statues back to life! Designate one player to be the White
Witch, and one player to be Aslan. The player who is Aslan should lie on the
ground, pretending to be dead. Start by asking the White Witch to place each team
member wherever desired within his or her kingdom, and then apply a sticker dot
to their backs, turning them into statues. At the “Go!” command, Aslan wakes up.
Aslan may then bring statues back to life by tagging them and removing their dots.
Once a player has been tagged by Aslan, he or she must try to avoid being tagged
once again by the White Witch. The game is over when all players has been
effectively rescued by Aslan. Jesus set us free from all sorts of things when He
died for us, this world is full of things that would bind us, tie us down. Jesus sets
us free.
Lesson 5; Lawgivers
‘The Greatest Commandment’ – Mark 12 :28—34
Objectives:
To introduce the idea that we all have a destiny to be heroes,
To be role models for each other.
To help children gain an awareness of laws and their place in life.
To protect the less fortunate .
Imagine that you have stumbled accidentally into a whole different world, a world
full of wondrous sights and amazing inhabitants. And soon you learn that YOU
are chosen to be a king or queen of that land, and the inhabitants have been
waiting for you to come and take your place on their throne. In The Lion, The Witch
and The Wardrobe, four young people found themselves magically transported to
the Land of Narnia, an amazing place full of excitement and danger. They soon
discovered that a powerful witch was trying to kill them, that a great and righteous
leader was eager to help them, and that they were the long-awaited Kings and
Queens of Narnia. In fact, four thrones were waiting for them in a tall castle on the
edge of the shining sea. As a follower of Jesus you become a king and queen, not of
Narnia but of the Kingdom of God. Like any other Kingdom there are laws and the greatest of these is ‘Love’.
1. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
2. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Object Lesson
Lead a discussion on what a good and wise king or queen might be like,
How would you feel if you suddenly found that you were absolute ruler of a
magical, far-off land? What laws would you make?
Using a flipchart list the new laws of the kingdom the children make up and shout
to you.
Lesson 6: Kings and Queens
‘The Request of James and John’ - Mark 10:35—45
Objectives:
To introduce the idea that we all, in Jesus, are royalty.
To rescue and save each other.
To help children gain an awareness of responsibility.
To protect others and create a just society.
Explain that being king or queen is not about having your way or gratifying every
whim, and that rulers who acted like that were hated by their subjects and
sometimes overthrown. Lead a discussion on what was spoken about last week
about what a good and wise king or queen might be like. James and John thought
they would like to be in charge, being in charge isn’t all its cracked up to be. Being in charge brings responsibility, a good ruler first thinks about others before themselves, a good ruler knows how to serve as well as being served.
Object Lesson; “Tea for the Royal Family”
Ask a child to volunteer being king for the rest of the evening, sit them on a throne
and instruct them they are king/queen and whatever they say will happen. Follow
their requests, within reason. Explain that being king or queen is not about having
your way or gratifying every whim, and that rulers who acted like that were hated
by their subjects and sometimes overthrown. Provide frosted cupcakes,
blackcurrant juice. Offer a variety of yummies and encourage the children to serve
each other.
Monday 16 February 2009
The Greatest Prize
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Note to teachers: These notes were written with the original film starring Gene Wilder in mind, I prefer this one to the new film starring Johnny Depp. I know the new one is closer to the book but the old one is the one I saw when I was a kid and I like it better. The video scenes can be adapted to scenes similar in the new one although you will have difficulty with the last scene as it is different in the new film, I’m sure you’ll adapt it accordingly, you have my permission.
I am very sure that Roald Dahl did not intend to use his work as a moral lesson for Christian values what he did have though was a concern about how children were growing up in this modern society, how they behaved and how they were treated. Which is why he wrote so many children’s books, most of all though he wanted children to have fun, make sure you do your lesson with fun in the complete
forefront.
Memory Verse, Matthew 6:21 ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’
Lesson 1—Golden Ticket
'Parable of the Sower’ Matthew 13:1-23
Objectives:
To help the children understand that there is no Greater
Prize than Jesus.
There are things in this world that will seem attractive
but will only stop us from getting the Greatest Prize
Charlie thinks he has lost his chance of getting a Golden Ticket but finds out there is still a chance so opens up the bar of chocolate he has bought, bought with money he found not money he earned. Even so, when he opens the chocolate bar and finds the golden ticket he throws the chocolate away, the thing he has just gorged himself with, the thing he spent most of this money on because what he has found is far greater in value than any chocolate bar. Everyone wants it and Charlie has to fight his way through the crowd to keep his treasure. Whilst running home he comes across a potential enemy who tries to persuade him to do something wrong with the promise of great wealth. What will Charlie do? What are you going to do with your Golden Ticket, Jesus has the greatest treasure for you but so many things will try to take it from you like the weeds, rocks and birds in the story or promise greater treasure things will try to make the treasure Jesus gives seem less valuable but hold onto that ticket. Hold onto the treasure, don’t let anything de-value or take away all that God has for you.
Object Lesson—Wrapped Parcel
It doesn’t really matter about what's in the parcel as you won’t be opening it. You may want to prepare for the last lesson (page 15) and have the parcel in it already to just use it.
Ask the children about what they think is inside.
Talk about how it feels at Christmas and Birthdays and the excitement of waiting to get the present, it’s almost better than getting the present itself. Jesus has many great and wonderful rewards for us if we follow Him, some we will get while alive on this Earth, some much greater after we meet Him in Heaven but even then the greatest prize is the friendship we have in Jesus.
Lesson 2—Greed
‘Jacob and Esau’ Genesis 25: 19-34
Objectives
It is a good thing to have dreams and desires.
Those dream must be what Jesus wants in our life.
If we let Jesus direct our lives and not our own greed
then we will always get what is best for us.
All the Golden Ticket winners are in the sweetie heaven of Willie Wonka every possible variation of sweet possible just for the taking edible flowers, huge lollipops even the grass is edible. Willie Wonka has only one rule, you can eat anything you like and as much as you like but don’t touch my chocolate river it’s not to be contaminated by human hand. It’s specially mixed by waterfall, no-one else does it that way, many have tried to find his secret but no-one can compare. But Augustus can’t help himself despite all the wonderful things around him of which he can have has as much as he liked he had to have the one thing he could not have, chocolate from the chocolate river and boy what chocolate. But, gets too greedy even more greedy than he was already and falls into the river and gets trapped into the pipe that leads to the fudge room. Greed only leads to being overweight and lazy, eating healthy and exercise gets us fit, sweets are nice but only in the right quantities. We all have dreams and desires, we see so many things that we would like and things that other people have and we want. We don’t always think about whether we need it or what might happen because we have it. We also become less appreciative of what we have compared to so many others in our world like the poor Umpa Lumpas in the film who had nothing until Willie Wonka gave them a home and a purpose. Trusting God does not mean you will always get what you want it means getting what we need, He will, like the Umpa Lumpas, give you a home, a place of protection, a purpose and a hope.
Object Lesson– Stuff your face
Have a big bag of sweets or crisps, explain you’ve had a really hard day and you think you deserve a treat. Eat the sweets greedily making it obvious that your not going to share them. You should get a reaction from the kids. Ask them how it feels when no one shares, its not nice and we should be ready to share whatever we have, even if it means we don’t get because we have so much to give if we live for Jesus. Make sure you have a second bag you can share with the kids.
Lesson 3—Obedience
‘Call of Samuel’ 1 Samuel 3
Objectives
God only wants the very best for you.
To get all we are entitled to we need to obey Jesus, even
when it seems silly or hard to do.
What a marvellous wonderful machine it creates the most marvellous wonderful sweet you could ever imagine, a miracle of the modern age. A piece of bubble gum that tastes like a three course dinner. Violet has to have it she grabs it out of Willie Wonka’s hand and despite him telling her not to do it, pop, it’s in her mouth quick as you like, Willie Wonka repeatedly tells her to stop but she won’t listen, Charlie asks his Granddad, “Why won’t she listen?” “Because she’s a nit wit Charlie.” She can taste it, first the tomato soup, she can feel it running down her throat, then the roast beef and potato, wow it tastes so good. Here it comes, the last course, its blue berry pie and it tastes so good but what’s happening to violet, violet is turning violet. She begins to blow up her belt expands and she’s turning blue. She looks like a giant blue berry, “can’t understand it,” says Willie Wonka, “that always happens at the end” Violet gets rolled away by the Umpa Lumpas to get de-juiced before she explodes. God’s plans for you are perfect, wonderful, and marvellous. Everything you could ever want everything you could ever need, everything is planned to the smallest detail but sometimes things seem to go wrong. We can ask God for so many things that we think we need but God knows what’s best. You see just because we can have it or do it doesn’t mean we should or it’s best for us. Sometimes, just like Violet, things aren’t ready for us yet. No, we need to be more like Samuel, he heard God call and whom did he go to he went to Eli, the man who looked after him. Eventually Eli realised what was happening and told Samuel it was God speaking not him. Are you like Samuel, ready to jump when those who look after you call, ready to obey? How quickly do you obey your parents, teachers how well do you listen? If you can’t obey them you won’t be able to obey God and disobedience ends up in disaster just like Violet.
Object Lesson—Do as I say
Ask for two volunteers, give one a big piece of play dough, they will also need a table. The second must stand with their back to them they then have to describe to the second person an object they have to make with the play dough without telling the first person what it is. Sometimes Jesus asks us to do things which we don’t really understand but as we obey things may become clearer in time. So, it’s important to keep on being obedient even when it becomes difficult.
Lesson 4—Selfish
‘Sheep and Goats’ Matthew 25:31-46
Objectives
There are always consequences for what you do
How do you want people to see you.
Are you going to be someone people want to be around or
someone people avoid.
Only Willie Wonka would have one in fact he’s got five. Geese that lay golden eggs, filled with golden chocolate but as you can imagine they aren’t ordinary geese. No they are quadruple size geese that lay Octuple size eggs. These geese are very sensitive though, very temperamental. The slightest upset and they lay bad eggs, the good eggs are polished shiny wrapped and shipped out to all over the world but bad eggs well they are sorted out by the eggducator it can tell whether it is a good egg or a bad egg. That’s when Verucca starts, she always wants everything and does her dad ever tell her no of course he doesn’t she always gets what she wants. “I want a golden goose, I want one of those golden geese and I want it now!” But Willie Wonka won’t let her have one no matter how much money her dad offers. So Verucca does what she does best, she has a strop, a tantrum, a hairy flaky but this doesn’t impress Willie Wonka in the slightest. Her tantrum ends when she stands on the educated eggducator demanding her goose and the eggducator decides she is a bad egg. Down she goes quickly followed by her dad, who is also a bad egg. We will all receive our just reward on that day when we meet Jesus, if we have been kind, generous, trustworthy and obedient then our reward will be great for all those who trust in God. If we are cruel, selfish, deceitful and disobedient our reward will be terrible; we will be separated from God. Our parents want what’s best for us and don’t always give us what we want for a variety of reasons. Stamping our feet, crying and making a lot of noise does not help you or your parents. Even if you do end up getting what you want, it just makes you even more selfish. Don’t be selfish then when you do get things you will appreciate them so much more. Your parents will be more generous when you are obedient not when you’re selfish.
Object Lesson—Eggy, Eggy
Have some boiled eggs, or if really daring raw eggs. Get two volunteers to stand five paces apart and toss the egg back and forward once taking one step backward each time until one of the eggs are dropped. This can be done as a competition with more than one couple. To get this done properly it takes team work only as both kids concentrates do the distances become greater. Working together achieves more than being selfish ever will.
Lesson 5—Idolising
‘Golden Calf’ Exodus 32: 1-21
Objectives
God comes first in everything
It’s OK to have interests and be passionate about things
but not above God.
Never let things become more important than going to
church, reading the Bible, and praying.
Next comes the latest in technology, Wonka Vision, it can transport any object across any distance. Just imagine it, you are just dying for a bar of Chocolate when suddenly there it is, a bar of chocolate in your TV not just a picture but actually there, all you need to do is just reach out and grab it. The only problem is the chocolate has too start of huge because when Wonka Vision transports it, it makes it smaller. Mike is so awed by this he spends his whole life watching TV he knows all the TV and film stars he never misses an episode of his favourite shows. Nothing is more important than TV. To be the first boy transported by television is just too hard to resist, to be the first real TV star. So, despite Willie Wonka’s warnings, Mike activates the Wonka Vision, which transports Mike across the room turning him into an inch high boy being taken by the Umpa Lumpas to the toffee-pulling machine in the hope he can be stretched back to his normal size. Sometimes we can get very interested in things, especially today with all the technology. TV’s, DVD’s, PC’s, games systems galore. All with heroes and villains people whom we love to be like and love to hate, people we idolise. Because we think they’re cool, tough, nice, strong, we spend lots of time playing and watching, perhaps too much time. How much time do we spend with friends, or our family, or just reading a book instead of in front of the goggle box. How much time do we spend with God talking with Him, going to church to spend time with our spiritual family, reading His book the Bible. It’s really easy to get obsessed with things, so much that they become more important than the things, which are truly important friends, family and God. Nothing should be more important than God; God should always be first in our lives.
Object Lesson—It’s Alive
You will need a Bible, a coat or a blanket. Have the Bible lying on the floor with the coat or blanket over it. At first ignore it completely gradually acknowledging it to be there. Prod it, poke it gently kick it with your foot and finally lift the cover to look at it without letting the children see what it is. Shout out ‘It’s Alive’ several times, ask the children to guess what it is. Then reveal the Bible and pick it up stating that the Bible is alive. The living word of God all ready to be put to use in our lives but we must do it, we must make it the most important thing, doing what God wants above what we want.
Lesson 6—Do the right thing
‘Lion’s Den’ Daniel 6
Objectives
Everyone has done something wrong (sin)
Jesus will forgive us if we say sorry and really mean it.
We must always try and do the right thing no matter how
hard it is to do it.
Now the tour is over and there is no one left except for Charlie but Willie Wonka seems to have changed from a very pleasant kind man to a busy and rude man. What about the prize, Charlie is the only one left, surely he is the winner but Willie Wonka bids him goodbye and closes his office door behind him. His granddad goes into the office to demand his prize but Willie Wonka says he is not the winner because he broke the rules so he loses. His granddad leaves very angry dragging Charlie behind threatening to get even but Charlie knows it’s the wrong thing to do and gives Willie Wonka the secret sweet that Willie Wonka gave him instead of giving it to other sweet makers who would pay any amount of money for his secret sweet but Charlie gives it back. Willie Wonka is obviously emotionally touched by this small deed of kindness and his mood changes. Charlie has indeed won because at the end of the day he did the right thing, he won more than he expected he won the whole chocolate factory. There is no doubt that we have all done something wrong the Bible tells us we have all sinned. But yet God promises us a great treasure, all we have to do is to recognise that we have done things wrong, say sorry to God and really mean it but then live the rest of your life the best you can doing what’s right for God. The Bible word for doing the right thing is ‘righteous’; God wants us to be righteous. He will help us do the right thing but we have to do it. This means refusing to do what’s wrong and demanding to do what’s right, being righteous.
Object Lesson—The Greatest Prize
Have a parcel wrapped up as a present, in the parcel have a Bible, a cuddly toy and a cross. Get the kids to try and guess what is in the parcel, once you have discussed this for a few minutes get one of the kids to come forward to open the parcel as they open it explain that the greatest prize in life is Jesus. The Bible represent the words that He spoke, words that tell us how to live our lives, the toy represents His love which is so great for us, the cross His sacrifice which He choose to give in order to be our friend. He paid the price of our wrongs so as we could be made right with God. If you feel generous give the prize away to the child who came forward.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Note to teachers: These notes were written with the original film starring Gene Wilder in mind, I prefer this one to the new film starring Johnny Depp. I know the new one is closer to the book but the old one is the one I saw when I was a kid and I like it better. The video scenes can be adapted to scenes similar in the new one although you will have difficulty with the last scene as it is different in the new film, I’m sure you’ll adapt it accordingly, you have my permission.
I am very sure that Roald Dahl did not intend to use his work as a moral lesson for Christian values what he did have though was a concern about how children were growing up in this modern society, how they behaved and how they were treated. Which is why he wrote so many children’s books, most of all though he wanted children to have fun, make sure you do your lesson with fun in the complete
forefront.
Memory Verse, Matthew 6:21 ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’
Lesson 1—Golden Ticket
'Parable of the Sower’ Matthew 13:1-23
Objectives:
To help the children understand that there is no Greater
Prize than Jesus.
There are things in this world that will seem attractive
but will only stop us from getting the Greatest Prize
Charlie thinks he has lost his chance of getting a Golden Ticket but finds out there is still a chance so opens up the bar of chocolate he has bought, bought with money he found not money he earned. Even so, when he opens the chocolate bar and finds the golden ticket he throws the chocolate away, the thing he has just gorged himself with, the thing he spent most of this money on because what he has found is far greater in value than any chocolate bar. Everyone wants it and Charlie has to fight his way through the crowd to keep his treasure. Whilst running home he comes across a potential enemy who tries to persuade him to do something wrong with the promise of great wealth. What will Charlie do? What are you going to do with your Golden Ticket, Jesus has the greatest treasure for you but so many things will try to take it from you like the weeds, rocks and birds in the story or promise greater treasure things will try to make the treasure Jesus gives seem less valuable but hold onto that ticket. Hold onto the treasure, don’t let anything de-value or take away all that God has for you.
Object Lesson—Wrapped Parcel
It doesn’t really matter about what's in the parcel as you won’t be opening it. You may want to prepare for the last lesson (page 15) and have the parcel in it already to just use it.
Ask the children about what they think is inside.
Talk about how it feels at Christmas and Birthdays and the excitement of waiting to get the present, it’s almost better than getting the present itself. Jesus has many great and wonderful rewards for us if we follow Him, some we will get while alive on this Earth, some much greater after we meet Him in Heaven but even then the greatest prize is the friendship we have in Jesus.
Lesson 2—Greed
‘Jacob and Esau’ Genesis 25: 19-34
Objectives
It is a good thing to have dreams and desires.
Those dream must be what Jesus wants in our life.
If we let Jesus direct our lives and not our own greed
then we will always get what is best for us.
All the Golden Ticket winners are in the sweetie heaven of Willie Wonka every possible variation of sweet possible just for the taking edible flowers, huge lollipops even the grass is edible. Willie Wonka has only one rule, you can eat anything you like and as much as you like but don’t touch my chocolate river it’s not to be contaminated by human hand. It’s specially mixed by waterfall, no-one else does it that way, many have tried to find his secret but no-one can compare. But Augustus can’t help himself despite all the wonderful things around him of which he can have has as much as he liked he had to have the one thing he could not have, chocolate from the chocolate river and boy what chocolate. But, gets too greedy even more greedy than he was already and falls into the river and gets trapped into the pipe that leads to the fudge room. Greed only leads to being overweight and lazy, eating healthy and exercise gets us fit, sweets are nice but only in the right quantities. We all have dreams and desires, we see so many things that we would like and things that other people have and we want. We don’t always think about whether we need it or what might happen because we have it. We also become less appreciative of what we have compared to so many others in our world like the poor Umpa Lumpas in the film who had nothing until Willie Wonka gave them a home and a purpose. Trusting God does not mean you will always get what you want it means getting what we need, He will, like the Umpa Lumpas, give you a home, a place of protection, a purpose and a hope.
Object Lesson– Stuff your face
Have a big bag of sweets or crisps, explain you’ve had a really hard day and you think you deserve a treat. Eat the sweets greedily making it obvious that your not going to share them. You should get a reaction from the kids. Ask them how it feels when no one shares, its not nice and we should be ready to share whatever we have, even if it means we don’t get because we have so much to give if we live for Jesus. Make sure you have a second bag you can share with the kids.
Lesson 3—Obedience
‘Call of Samuel’ 1 Samuel 3
Objectives
God only wants the very best for you.
To get all we are entitled to we need to obey Jesus, even
when it seems silly or hard to do.
What a marvellous wonderful machine it creates the most marvellous wonderful sweet you could ever imagine, a miracle of the modern age. A piece of bubble gum that tastes like a three course dinner. Violet has to have it she grabs it out of Willie Wonka’s hand and despite him telling her not to do it, pop, it’s in her mouth quick as you like, Willie Wonka repeatedly tells her to stop but she won’t listen, Charlie asks his Granddad, “Why won’t she listen?” “Because she’s a nit wit Charlie.” She can taste it, first the tomato soup, she can feel it running down her throat, then the roast beef and potato, wow it tastes so good. Here it comes, the last course, its blue berry pie and it tastes so good but what’s happening to violet, violet is turning violet. She begins to blow up her belt expands and she’s turning blue. She looks like a giant blue berry, “can’t understand it,” says Willie Wonka, “that always happens at the end” Violet gets rolled away by the Umpa Lumpas to get de-juiced before she explodes. God’s plans for you are perfect, wonderful, and marvellous. Everything you could ever want everything you could ever need, everything is planned to the smallest detail but sometimes things seem to go wrong. We can ask God for so many things that we think we need but God knows what’s best. You see just because we can have it or do it doesn’t mean we should or it’s best for us. Sometimes, just like Violet, things aren’t ready for us yet. No, we need to be more like Samuel, he heard God call and whom did he go to he went to Eli, the man who looked after him. Eventually Eli realised what was happening and told Samuel it was God speaking not him. Are you like Samuel, ready to jump when those who look after you call, ready to obey? How quickly do you obey your parents, teachers how well do you listen? If you can’t obey them you won’t be able to obey God and disobedience ends up in disaster just like Violet.
Object Lesson—Do as I say
Ask for two volunteers, give one a big piece of play dough, they will also need a table. The second must stand with their back to them they then have to describe to the second person an object they have to make with the play dough without telling the first person what it is. Sometimes Jesus asks us to do things which we don’t really understand but as we obey things may become clearer in time. So, it’s important to keep on being obedient even when it becomes difficult.
Lesson 4—Selfish
‘Sheep and Goats’ Matthew 25:31-46
Objectives
There are always consequences for what you do
How do you want people to see you.
Are you going to be someone people want to be around or
someone people avoid.
Only Willie Wonka would have one in fact he’s got five. Geese that lay golden eggs, filled with golden chocolate but as you can imagine they aren’t ordinary geese. No they are quadruple size geese that lay Octuple size eggs. These geese are very sensitive though, very temperamental. The slightest upset and they lay bad eggs, the good eggs are polished shiny wrapped and shipped out to all over the world but bad eggs well they are sorted out by the eggducator it can tell whether it is a good egg or a bad egg. That’s when Verucca starts, she always wants everything and does her dad ever tell her no of course he doesn’t she always gets what she wants. “I want a golden goose, I want one of those golden geese and I want it now!” But Willie Wonka won’t let her have one no matter how much money her dad offers. So Verucca does what she does best, she has a strop, a tantrum, a hairy flaky but this doesn’t impress Willie Wonka in the slightest. Her tantrum ends when she stands on the educated eggducator demanding her goose and the eggducator decides she is a bad egg. Down she goes quickly followed by her dad, who is also a bad egg. We will all receive our just reward on that day when we meet Jesus, if we have been kind, generous, trustworthy and obedient then our reward will be great for all those who trust in God. If we are cruel, selfish, deceitful and disobedient our reward will be terrible; we will be separated from God. Our parents want what’s best for us and don’t always give us what we want for a variety of reasons. Stamping our feet, crying and making a lot of noise does not help you or your parents. Even if you do end up getting what you want, it just makes you even more selfish. Don’t be selfish then when you do get things you will appreciate them so much more. Your parents will be more generous when you are obedient not when you’re selfish.
Object Lesson—Eggy, Eggy
Have some boiled eggs, or if really daring raw eggs. Get two volunteers to stand five paces apart and toss the egg back and forward once taking one step backward each time until one of the eggs are dropped. This can be done as a competition with more than one couple. To get this done properly it takes team work only as both kids concentrates do the distances become greater. Working together achieves more than being selfish ever will.
Lesson 5—Idolising
‘Golden Calf’ Exodus 32: 1-21
Objectives
God comes first in everything
It’s OK to have interests and be passionate about things
but not above God.
Never let things become more important than going to
church, reading the Bible, and praying.
Next comes the latest in technology, Wonka Vision, it can transport any object across any distance. Just imagine it, you are just dying for a bar of Chocolate when suddenly there it is, a bar of chocolate in your TV not just a picture but actually there, all you need to do is just reach out and grab it. The only problem is the chocolate has too start of huge because when Wonka Vision transports it, it makes it smaller. Mike is so awed by this he spends his whole life watching TV he knows all the TV and film stars he never misses an episode of his favourite shows. Nothing is more important than TV. To be the first boy transported by television is just too hard to resist, to be the first real TV star. So, despite Willie Wonka’s warnings, Mike activates the Wonka Vision, which transports Mike across the room turning him into an inch high boy being taken by the Umpa Lumpas to the toffee-pulling machine in the hope he can be stretched back to his normal size. Sometimes we can get very interested in things, especially today with all the technology. TV’s, DVD’s, PC’s, games systems galore. All with heroes and villains people whom we love to be like and love to hate, people we idolise. Because we think they’re cool, tough, nice, strong, we spend lots of time playing and watching, perhaps too much time. How much time do we spend with friends, or our family, or just reading a book instead of in front of the goggle box. How much time do we spend with God talking with Him, going to church to spend time with our spiritual family, reading His book the Bible. It’s really easy to get obsessed with things, so much that they become more important than the things, which are truly important friends, family and God. Nothing should be more important than God; God should always be first in our lives.
Object Lesson—It’s Alive
You will need a Bible, a coat or a blanket. Have the Bible lying on the floor with the coat or blanket over it. At first ignore it completely gradually acknowledging it to be there. Prod it, poke it gently kick it with your foot and finally lift the cover to look at it without letting the children see what it is. Shout out ‘It’s Alive’ several times, ask the children to guess what it is. Then reveal the Bible and pick it up stating that the Bible is alive. The living word of God all ready to be put to use in our lives but we must do it, we must make it the most important thing, doing what God wants above what we want.
Lesson 6—Do the right thing
‘Lion’s Den’ Daniel 6
Objectives
Everyone has done something wrong (sin)
Jesus will forgive us if we say sorry and really mean it.
We must always try and do the right thing no matter how
hard it is to do it.
Now the tour is over and there is no one left except for Charlie but Willie Wonka seems to have changed from a very pleasant kind man to a busy and rude man. What about the prize, Charlie is the only one left, surely he is the winner but Willie Wonka bids him goodbye and closes his office door behind him. His granddad goes into the office to demand his prize but Willie Wonka says he is not the winner because he broke the rules so he loses. His granddad leaves very angry dragging Charlie behind threatening to get even but Charlie knows it’s the wrong thing to do and gives Willie Wonka the secret sweet that Willie Wonka gave him instead of giving it to other sweet makers who would pay any amount of money for his secret sweet but Charlie gives it back. Willie Wonka is obviously emotionally touched by this small deed of kindness and his mood changes. Charlie has indeed won because at the end of the day he did the right thing, he won more than he expected he won the whole chocolate factory. There is no doubt that we have all done something wrong the Bible tells us we have all sinned. But yet God promises us a great treasure, all we have to do is to recognise that we have done things wrong, say sorry to God and really mean it but then live the rest of your life the best you can doing what’s right for God. The Bible word for doing the right thing is ‘righteous’; God wants us to be righteous. He will help us do the right thing but we have to do it. This means refusing to do what’s wrong and demanding to do what’s right, being righteous.
Object Lesson—The Greatest Prize
Have a parcel wrapped up as a present, in the parcel have a Bible, a cuddly toy and a cross. Get the kids to try and guess what is in the parcel, once you have discussed this for a few minutes get one of the kids to come forward to open the parcel as they open it explain that the greatest prize in life is Jesus. The Bible represent the words that He spoke, words that tell us how to live our lives, the toy represents His love which is so great for us, the cross His sacrifice which He choose to give in order to be our friend. He paid the price of our wrongs so as we could be made right with God. If you feel generous give the prize away to the child who came forward.
Tuesday 27 January 2009
High School Musical
Something new
High School Musical would not have been one of my natural choices for a theme but hey it’s popular and most like it. It contains good moral themes of which two run through this programme, being yourself in Christ and the importance of being a friend. This popular medium allows you to stretch the ideas of popularity to the extent in which you have expose them for what they are, empty and vain. Only following Jesus brings satisfaction not being popular or having the current moves or fashion.
Memory Verse: Psalm 51; 10, 11
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”
Lesson 1 : “Who are You on an Ordinary Day?”
‘Isaac and Rebekah’ Genesis 24
‘The start of something new!’
Objectives
Anyone can primp or get to looking good but what’s your attitude on an ordinary day?
If people saw you on an ordinary day, would they be impressed?
Does the spirit of Christ shine through you?
Troy and Gabriella just saw each other as a Jock and a Geek not really looking further than what they could see but when placed in a situation where they could saw beyond their preconceptions they saw something new. It wasn’t a special day. It wasn’t met with great fanfare. Instead it was an ordinary trip to the well on an ordinary day. But on this particular day, young Rebekah so impressed Abraham’s servant, the man sent to find a suitable mate for Isaac. What maybe impressed Abraham’s servant - was Rebekah spirit of servant hood. Like most young girls, she took at least two trips to the well, one in the morning and one in the evening. It was a routine she’d carried out thousands of times. On this particular day, she was probably tired from a long day’s work. She probably wasn’t in a very talkative mood. She was probably hoping to get her pot filled and get it home. But there was something different about Rebekah. She had the heart of a servant. Her eyes reached beyond her own circumstances and saw the needs of others. With aching arms, she lowered that bucket into the well several times, filled her pot, and fed the thirsty camels of Abraham’s servant. Anyone can primp or get to looking mighty fine for a first date. Anyone can put on his or her best behaviour for a someone special. Anyone can freshen up for an important interview. But what about those chance encounters when you’re caught off guard? If people saw you on an ordinary day, would they be impressed? Would they see something different about you? I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good at impressing the “important people” in my life. But who am I on an ordinary day at school? In the playground? At home? In the car? Does the spirit of Christ shine through me? Can people see something different? Something attractive? It is in these routines of life where we are most tested. This is where God comes to us with opportunity for growth. Rebekah was ready. Are you?
Object Lesson—Light and Torch. Ask them, have you ever sat outside on a bright sunny day and used a mirror to reflect the sun’s light? Get one of them to take the light and shine it on you to show what you mean. Explain, you see, as the light shines on me, I hold up my mirror and I can reflect the light to shine on you. I am not the light, I am just letting my mirror reflect the light to shine on you. If I am going to reflect the light on you, there are a couple of things that are very important, I must keep my mirror facing toward the light. If I turn away from the light, I cannot reflect the light. I must make sure that nothing comes between the light and me. If that happens, I cannot reflect the light. The Bible tells us that "There was a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light: he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." Who do you think the true light is that the Bible said was coming into the world? That is right! It was Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. You and I need to be like John. The Bible says that we are to let our light shine, but we need to remember that "Our Light" is Jesus. We are not the light, we are just mirrors that reflect His light. If we are going to reflect the light of Jesus, we must remember a couple of things, we must keep our faces turned toward Jesus, We must not let anything come between us and Jesus. When we remember those two things, we will reflect His light to the entire world.
Lesson 2: “Distraction or Attraction”
‘David and Bathsheba’ 2 Samuel 11, 12
‘Get cha Head In The Game’
Objectives
When we neglect to do the small things, we can easily fall into temptation.
Laziness allows temptation to grow strong in our lives.
The way of temptation is down-hill; when we begin to do bad, it becomes hard to stop.
Troy is an ace basketball player, he is the star player always got his head in the game, when he shoots it goes in the hoop. But, he’s met a girl Gabriella, he finds it hard to concentrate, the game is suffering. What should he do, concentrate on the game or spend time day dreaming about this beautiful girl. The bible story speaks powerfully about integrity and integrity lost. The righteous judgment of God and repentance of King David are powerfully seen. The story centre’s around David’s sin with Bathsheba, but reveals the dedication and honour of Uriah, (Bathsheba’s husband). Uriah, though when faced with a very hard decision, he does the right thing. It also reveals the judgment of God through his prophet, Nathan toward David and then the mercy of God through David’s repentance. God not only forgave David, but restored him and fulfilled a prophecy spoken by Nathan that it would be one of David’s sons that God would use to build the temple. We’ve come to know that son as Solomon, which was born of David and Bathsheba. The fifty-first Psalm is written as a result of David’s repentance of that sin, David says “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Even after failure the Lord can still restore, heal and forgive us so our bones can dance again. It brings Old Testament characters to the New Testament. Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", but it was David who penned it in the old testament. Jesus was quoting David from the cross. This mix of old and new brings Calvary into new light as David is translated to the foot of the cross. Bathsheba lost her son because of David trying to hide the sin from God and God the Father lost his Son at Calvary for all people’s sin.
Object Lesson—A bowl of sweets. Tell this story; There was a bowl of sweets like this one sitting on the coffee table in the living room of Mary's house. Mary's mother noticed that she was looking at the sweets and said, "Now, don't you eat any sweets until after dinner or you will spoil your appetite." The sweets looked so good and the temptation was so great. "Surely just one little piece won't hurt -- and mother will never know the difference," Mary thought to herself. Have any of you ever had an experience like that? Here is another story which might sound familiar. "Put away your books and take out one sheet of paper and a pencil," the teacher said. "We are going to take our weekly spelling test." Johnny had an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew that they were going to have a spelling test today, but he watched TV last night instead of studying for the spelling test and he wasn't ready for the test. As the test began, Johnny looked around the room and realized that he had a clear view of Sally's paper. "It won't hurt if I look at Sally's paper just this once," Johnny thought to himself. "I promise -- I'll never do it again and nobody will ever know." All of us have faced temptations such as these, haven't we? Take a sweet from this bowl. I am not going to tell you not to eat it until after the club, but as you eat it, I want you to think about what we have learned in our Bible lesson today.
Lesson 3: “Keep your Spirit Level”
‘Ahab and Jezebel’ 1 Kings 21
‘Bop To The Top’
Objectives
Try to be content with what you’ve got.
Commit your life to God and He will ensure you get all you need.
Saying sorry only with your lips means nothing, sorry must be said from the heart
Sharpay and Ryan are very ambitious and see themselves as being the only ones who can be lead in the play, but when Troy and Gabriella show competition they do all they can to make sure they cannot perform in the auditions. Jezebel was a woman who was married to a wimpy king named Ahab who hated the prophets of God and had them murdered. If anyone got in her way or the way of her husband, she just had them murdered. As we see in the story, for Jezebel killing someone was not a problem, if it would get her way. But who did God hold responsible? The rebuke of the Lord came to Ahab before it came to his wife, even though the idea, and the carrying out of the idea, came from Jezebel herself. Not only does God look at the person who does wrong but also the person who doesn’t stop the wrong doing. There is a Jezebel spirit that needs to be resisted and fought, but we must look at Ahab’s spirit as well. The spirit of Jezebel - one who does whatever it takes to get what she wants can creep up on us all firstly in small things, but we see that it is the Ahab spirit who allows it to happen this is just as wrong. There are two types of people who are affected, first are those who get in the way and the second are those who are lead by the wrong example into believing that what is wrong is right. Some people can be so overwhelmed that they are incapable of making a quality decision without fear. When a person is following Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s seed is at work to grow and manifest His fruit. When you are transformed by the renewing of your mind, you can act on what you know is right and live in the freedom of love that Christ has for all of us.
Object Lesson - A windsock. (Or a picture) How many of you know what this is? It is a windsock. A windsock is a type of kite. The windsock was invented many years ago in Japan and was flown on "Boys Day." The family would hang one windsock for each son in the family on the end of a pole outside of their house and let it blow in the wind. Where else would you possibly see a windsock? You may have seen a windsock at an airport. Windsocks are used at airports to show which way the wind is blowing to help pilots to take off and land safely. Windsocks are also used to help predict the weather and they are also used to help guide to Space Shuttle pilots to a safe landing upon their return from space. No one can see the wind, but we know the wind is there because the windsock shows us that it is there. The wind is very important to us. What are some of the ways that the wind helps us? It helps to cool us off when we get too hot. It helps to clean the air we breathe of smoke and smog. It can be converted to electrical power to light our homes. God's Holy Spirit is somewhat like the wind. We can't see him, but we know that he is there because we can see the effects of his power in our lives. The Holy Spirit is very important to us. What are some of the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us? He comforts us when we are sad and alone. He guides us in the way of truth. He helps us when we don't know how to pray. He lives inside us and gives us life. He shows us the good things God has for us. We are thankful for all of the ways that the wind helps us, but we are even more thankful for all of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us every day. You might say, "He is the wind in your socks!"
Lesson 4: “Against the Odds” ‘Mary and Joseph’ Matthew 1:18-25‘Breaking Free’
Objectives
It’s important to dream, and tell God your dreams.
Are you willing to give up your dreams for God’s.
Don’t let others put you down or put you off from pursuing your dreams.
Troy and Gabriella had dreams of being a basketball player and scientist but this was what everyone expected them to be, their heart dream was to be singers. Even after Sharpey and Ryan’s attempts to sabotage their dream they push on and reach for their dream. Today’s bible story is about one whopper of a dream—the dream of Joseph. Not Mary's dream, but Joseph's dream. In Matthew's gospel, the angel appears to Joseph, it doesn’t mention Mary. And of all the great men and women of faith in the Bible, one of my favourite heroes is Joseph. Joseph is a real man’s man, a practical man—a real “salt of the earth” kind of guy, not prone to fantasies and day dreaming so if you have trouble swallowing the idea of the virgin birth, try putting yourself in his shoes! An honourable and decent man. You’re overjoyed in having found a young woman with an excellent reputation, someone who will be a good wife. Already engaged, you’re looking forward to the wedding, when BANG!! Here comes Mary. You see her lovely face and know at once that something is wrong. You ask her what’s bothering her. She replies, “Please don’t be upset...I’m pregnant. But guess what—I haven’t been unfaithful to you. This is what happened to me...” She proceeds to tell the story we all know, he’s thinking, “As if being unfaithful to me isn’t bad enough, my wife-to-be apparently has lost her mind!” For you know beyond a shadow of doubt that this child of Mary’s is not yours. Marriage is suddenly impossible. Despite all this, Joseph wants to protect Mary. Thus with his mind made up on how best to handle the situation, he goes to bed to get a good night’s sleep; he has a dream! We know what the angel tells him. So, going against everything that the practical side of his brain is telling him to do, Joseph decides to go with his dream. Before he acted, he rested and God was able to communicate with him, and so it is with us. What have you been dreaming about lately? Joseph and Mary had lots of plans, people getting married often do, but they were willing to give up all their dreams to do what God wished not their desires and dreams but His. We need to dream and God will help us fulfil our dreams but we need to be willing to follow God’s dreams as He has so much to give us, never underestimate the power of your or God’s dream.
Object Lesson—A picture of Martin Luther King, (or the video footage of the speech) Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.? Dr. King was a black preacher and civil rights leader who not only believed we needed to change the way people of different races were treated, but also insisted that we needed to solve these problems peacefully. Dr. King worked very hard to bring about changes that would ensure that people of every race would be treated equally. Dr. King was a wonderful speaker and many of his speeches are still remembered and quoted today. One of Dr. King's most famous speeches was called, "I Have a Dream." In this speech he said he had a dream that all people, regardless of race or religion, would live peacefully together and that we would be free of hatred and racial prejudice. The speech ended with these stirring words: "When we let freedom ring, … we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, ... will be able to join hands and sing 'Free at last! free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' That was the dream of Dr. King, that all men would be free. All of us want to be free, don't we? One day Jesus was talking to a group of people and he said, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave has no place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." If we put our trust in Jesus, he will free us from our sin.
Lesson 5: “Life’s a Journey” ‘Abram and Sarai’ Genesis 12
‘We’re All In This Together’
Objectives
The best way is to work together for the best future.
Life is a journey, journey’s are best when travelling with friends.
God has given us clear instructions in the Bible, not always easy ones but clear ones.
It’s the end of movie one and they are all looking forward to whatever the future holds, they all realise that the best way is to work together for the best future. YOU'RE TAKING A JOURNEY. Yet once you get on board the craft that will carry you on this marvellous, exciting trip, you discover that you don't know where you're going. You don't know why you're going, and you don't know what you'll do once you get there. Sounds rather absurd doesn't it? That’s exactly what Abram and Sarai had to do. Abram didn't know exactly what God had in mind, but he did know that anything God told him to do would be for Abram's own good. So Abram, acting on faith, prepared to leave Haran. Moving was no easy task, for Abram had many personal possessions and then there were the large flocks of sheep and cattle that needed to be driven across country. Lot, who was going to come with Sarai and Abram, also had animals that needed to be taken care of. With hired shepherds and herdsmen to help them, Abram and Sarai, along with their nephew, Lot, travelled to the land of Canaan. Yet all of us are on a journey and few indeed know where we're going, why we're on our way, or what we'll be doing once we reach our final destination. We were all placed, at birth, aboard the same space craft, planet earth. Our lives are our journey. Why are we on board? Where are we going and why? If we study the Bible, we'll discover that God laid out a path for us to follow as we journey through this physical existence. It helps us to understand WHY God created us. Before we can travel on the path that has been laid out for us, we need to know HOW to read the map God has provided, the Bible.
Object Lesson - Days or our life.
Get a photo or several photos of exciting events in your life such as the birth of a child, your wedding day, or your graduation day. Talk about the events, about how they were the happiest days of your life. Talk about how good it would be if that day had never ended? But, that day was not a stopping place, it was a starting place. It was the start of a wonderful journey. There would be many happy days to come. Have you ever had a day that was so wonderful that you wanted it to last forever? I am sure you probably have. God sends a lot of happy days into our life. The day that we meet Jesus is, without a doubt, the happiest day of our life, but it isn't a stopping place -- it is a starting point for a journey that leads to eternal life in heaven with Him.
Lesson 6: “Celebrate Love”
Stories of Jesus ‘What Time Is It?’
Objectives
To understand what unconditional love is.
The best way to celebrate love is to give help.
You are complete in God’s love.
Schools finished, no more work, no more exams , no more teachers only warm sunny days and holidays, getting friends and having fun, as you might expect the High School Musiclers start their summer with a song. You will have to work a little harder in this one and choose some stories about Jesus and how He showed His love, I know the first story you think of is the crucifixion but try to think of some less obvious ones. We long to celebrate love because we feel that in many ways love completes us. But what is it about love that does this? The kind of love that fulfils us is unconditional love, called "Agape". It is the True Love with which God loves us, and with which God asks us to love each other. True love is not romantic love, though God intended for romance to be carried out within the context of True Love (Agape). True Love, the kind of love we should be celebrating, is about giving rather than getting. We are most complete when we have accepted God's love for us and are in turn conduits of God's love to others. We are most fulfilled when we are pouring out to others what God has poured into us, not when we are demanding or expecting or even just simply wishing for human love. Consider these words of God: "I have loved you with an everlasting love." "I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." "You will be called Sought After." "You are precious and honoured in my sight." "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Do these words which describe the love God has for us inspire you to celebrate? The best way to celebrate His love is to turn around and give it to someone else. There are many who are longing for True Love, for unconditional love, and we can have the privilege of multiplying love many times over. This kind of love is not exclusive between two people, but can be shared freely, not with just one but with many! It is true that there is something wonderful about romantic love; none of us can deny that. However, hard as it may be to believe, Agape is the better of the two and is not limited just to those who are "in love". I challenge you, and myself, to acquire God's perspective of which kind of love is the most valuable, to realize that this most valuable love is available to everyone, and to spend this summer celebrating Agape, that love with which God loves us so completely, and with which we find so much fulfilment in giving to others. You are already complete in the arms of True Love! Take time to celebrate!
Object Lesson - The Sunday paper; The Sunday paper sure is big! I'm sure many of you have a Sunday paper delivered to your house. There is so much to read. People have a favourite part of the newspaper? Comics? Sports? Ads? Newspapers are important, because they help us know what is going on in our town, in our state, in our country -- even in other parts of the world. You can be a better citizen when you know what is happening, and the newspaper helps us keep up. As Christians, it is also important for us to keep up with God's will for our lives. And He has given us a wonderful source of all the most important news: the Bible. In the Bible, God shows us how much He loves us, and how we can live to receive the most joy out of life. When you read the Bible, it's as if God wrote it just for you! So the next time you see a newspaper, remember that the greatest news of all is found in the Bible -- the news that God loves you. He loves you unconditionally without ant bars, no matter what you do He will always want to be your friend. Respond to His love by trying to follow Him as best as you can, become His friend today.
Lesson 7: “Best Friends”
‘Adam and Eve’ Genesis 1: 24 - 31, 2: 4 - 23
‘You Are the Music in Me’
Objectives
Friendship is one of the most important things in life.
God gave us each other to help each other.
Jesus will always be your best friend.
Kelsi, Troy and Gabriella friend, is inspired by their relationship, so writes a ballad for Troy and Gabriella, and Troy agrees to sing with his friends in the upcoming talent show. Sharpay tries to get Troy to perform with her in the show, what should he do sing with Sharpay or his friend Gabriella. On the sixth day God made all the animals for the land, and of course He made a man, ‘and he can be just like me’, He thought. He made the most beautiful garden which He called the Garden of Eden, it had wonderful trees, and flowers. It even had lots of birds and animals in it, whatever your favourite animal is, it was there. God put the man He had made into the garden. The man probably rubbed his eyes and looked all round. God said to him, ‘Now listen, Adam you can eat the fruit, climb the trees, paddle in the rivers and jump over the bushes, but there’s one thing you must never do. You must never eat the apples from the big tree in the middle of the garden because that tree tells you what is good and what is bad.’ Adam said, ‘What’s bad?’ ‘Never mind,’ said God, ‘you go and have a nice time, and forget about that tree.’ God came quite often to see how Adam was getting on, and soon he realised Adam was lonely. God thought, ‘He hasn’t got any friends, no one to talk to, He will become unhappy soon.’ So one night, when Adam was asleep, God made a woman to be a friend for him. He called her Eve. Adam and Eve got on very well together. They used to play with the animals, and eat lots of fruit from all the trees. Except one - the forbidden tree - well for a little while cause they did touch it eventually we all know this and he turned them out of the garden of Eden and said they must look after themselves. But that’s not the part of the story we are concentrating but the part about friendship, you see we have got it all mixed up, when we think of boys and girls we think of ‘kissy, kissy’ but God did not make Eve to just be Adam’s girlfriend and wife but to be his friend. Friendship is one of the most important things to God, the best way we can show people what God wants is to be friends and the most important thing to God is to be friends with Him, Jesus. If you want to have a happy life there should be nothing more important to you than being the best friend you can be, once you’re able to do that everything else in life will fall into place, especially if your best friend is Jesus.
Object Lesson - A package of cookies. A few weeks ago, my wife (or whoever) came home and told me about some new cookies she had eaten. "They were called Chocolate Cream Oreos" she said. "Were they good?" I asked her. "Good? They were delicious. They were so good I wanted you to try one. Here, just taste and see how good they are," she said as she offered me a cookie. Mmmm, Mmmm! They were good! They were so good that I couldn't wait to tell you about them. In fact, I wanted to share some with you. I have a whole package of them so that you can taste them and see how good they are. (Pass out some of the cookies for the children to try.) Don't you agree that those are really good cookies? That is why my wife couldn't wait to share them with me and I couldn't wait to share them with you. Have you ever found something so good that you couldn't wait to share it with a friend? When we find a really good cookie, we can't wait to tell a friend about it. Shouldn't we be even more anxious to tell our friends about Jesus?
Lesson 8: “The trouble with friends”
“Children of Isaac and Rebekah” Genesis 25: 19-34
‘I Don't Dance’
Objectives
God turns trouble into Good.
God’s plan should not be doubted.
God’s plan is to end all conflict
After a visit from a local college basketball team, this causes a fight between Troy and Chad when Troy chooses to spend time with them, instead of his friends. Ryan also realises that he no longer means much to Sharpay anymore. Taylor and Gabriella invite Ryan to the baseball game, and Chad offers him Troy's place in the game. This helps old enemies to become new friends, later Chad forgives Troy for his absence and they become friends again. So, for the last lesson let’s go back to the first lesson. The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah was arranged by Isaac's father Abraham but it was actually the Lord's choice however, a factor that both Isaac and Rebekah realized and accepted when they met. There may have been a substantial age difference between Isaac and Rebekah; "Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah," while Rebekah "the maiden" may have been only young. When Isaac and Rebekah did not have children after some time, "Isaac prayed to The Lord for his wife, because she was barren" - not the first time that was a problem in that family. Isaac's mother Sarah was also "barren" until The Lord made it possible for her to have a child, while Rebekah "was barren" until The Lord also made it possible for her to have a child. Although the prayer was answered, it soon became evident to their mother that Jacob and Esau had a natural inclination for a lifelong struggle. Jacob's later name change to "Israel" was based, in part, upon that very conflict. Isaac and Rebekah were maybe meant to be together but even things that were meant to be can cause conflict, even the best of friends, never mind brothers and sister’s can fight and boy did Jacob and Esau fight they were completely different in every way. But it was The Lord's will that Jacob would prevail, not because he was His favourite, but because out of Jacob, Israel, the Messiah, Jesus would come to save the world, to end all conflict. So, never doubt God’s plan for you, when times are good and everything seems perfect it’s easy to have faith in Jesus but times will get tough, people will bring conflict and maybe you will bring conflict into others lives but keep having faith, God has a plan and it’s one to bless you not to harm you, keep fighting for Him not against Him.
Object Lesson - A Stress Buster. Hold a squeezable "stress reliever". Can anyone tell me what this is? As you can see, it is small and round and fits into my hand in such a way that I can squeeze it with my fist. Many people carry one like this in their pocket. They call it a "stress buster." Whenever they are troubled about something, they just reach into their pocket and squeeze the stress buster. They believe that squeezing it helps relieve stress and gives them a peaceful feeling and helps them to quit worrying about their troubles. I don't carry one in my pocket. That doesn't mean that I never have any trouble in my life, it is just that I don't find that squeezing the ball keeps me from worrying about the troubles in my life. Why do troubles come into our life? I believe that troubles come for the very reason that Jesus said -- so that God's name will be glorified. I have known people who followed the example of Jesus when they faced trouble in their life. I have even known people who faced death with such courage and faith that God's name was glorified. Wouldn't it be pleasing to God if all of us faced trouble in such a way that His name is glorified?
High School Musical would not have been one of my natural choices for a theme but hey it’s popular and most like it. It contains good moral themes of which two run through this programme, being yourself in Christ and the importance of being a friend. This popular medium allows you to stretch the ideas of popularity to the extent in which you have expose them for what they are, empty and vain. Only following Jesus brings satisfaction not being popular or having the current moves or fashion.
Memory Verse: Psalm 51; 10, 11
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.”
Lesson 1 : “Who are You on an Ordinary Day?”
‘Isaac and Rebekah’ Genesis 24
‘The start of something new!’
Objectives
Anyone can primp or get to looking good but what’s your attitude on an ordinary day?
If people saw you on an ordinary day, would they be impressed?
Does the spirit of Christ shine through you?
Troy and Gabriella just saw each other as a Jock and a Geek not really looking further than what they could see but when placed in a situation where they could saw beyond their preconceptions they saw something new. It wasn’t a special day. It wasn’t met with great fanfare. Instead it was an ordinary trip to the well on an ordinary day. But on this particular day, young Rebekah so impressed Abraham’s servant, the man sent to find a suitable mate for Isaac. What maybe impressed Abraham’s servant - was Rebekah spirit of servant hood. Like most young girls, she took at least two trips to the well, one in the morning and one in the evening. It was a routine she’d carried out thousands of times. On this particular day, she was probably tired from a long day’s work. She probably wasn’t in a very talkative mood. She was probably hoping to get her pot filled and get it home. But there was something different about Rebekah. She had the heart of a servant. Her eyes reached beyond her own circumstances and saw the needs of others. With aching arms, she lowered that bucket into the well several times, filled her pot, and fed the thirsty camels of Abraham’s servant. Anyone can primp or get to looking mighty fine for a first date. Anyone can put on his or her best behaviour for a someone special. Anyone can freshen up for an important interview. But what about those chance encounters when you’re caught off guard? If people saw you on an ordinary day, would they be impressed? Would they see something different about you? I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten pretty good at impressing the “important people” in my life. But who am I on an ordinary day at school? In the playground? At home? In the car? Does the spirit of Christ shine through me? Can people see something different? Something attractive? It is in these routines of life where we are most tested. This is where God comes to us with opportunity for growth. Rebekah was ready. Are you?
Object Lesson—Light and Torch. Ask them, have you ever sat outside on a bright sunny day and used a mirror to reflect the sun’s light? Get one of them to take the light and shine it on you to show what you mean. Explain, you see, as the light shines on me, I hold up my mirror and I can reflect the light to shine on you. I am not the light, I am just letting my mirror reflect the light to shine on you. If I am going to reflect the light on you, there are a couple of things that are very important, I must keep my mirror facing toward the light. If I turn away from the light, I cannot reflect the light. I must make sure that nothing comes between the light and me. If that happens, I cannot reflect the light. The Bible tells us that "There was a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. He himself was not the light: he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world." Who do you think the true light is that the Bible said was coming into the world? That is right! It was Jesus. Jesus is the light of the world. You and I need to be like John. The Bible says that we are to let our light shine, but we need to remember that "Our Light" is Jesus. We are not the light, we are just mirrors that reflect His light. If we are going to reflect the light of Jesus, we must remember a couple of things, we must keep our faces turned toward Jesus, We must not let anything come between us and Jesus. When we remember those two things, we will reflect His light to the entire world.
Lesson 2: “Distraction or Attraction”
‘David and Bathsheba’ 2 Samuel 11, 12
‘Get cha Head In The Game’
Objectives
When we neglect to do the small things, we can easily fall into temptation.
Laziness allows temptation to grow strong in our lives.
The way of temptation is down-hill; when we begin to do bad, it becomes hard to stop.
Troy is an ace basketball player, he is the star player always got his head in the game, when he shoots it goes in the hoop. But, he’s met a girl Gabriella, he finds it hard to concentrate, the game is suffering. What should he do, concentrate on the game or spend time day dreaming about this beautiful girl. The bible story speaks powerfully about integrity and integrity lost. The righteous judgment of God and repentance of King David are powerfully seen. The story centre’s around David’s sin with Bathsheba, but reveals the dedication and honour of Uriah, (Bathsheba’s husband). Uriah, though when faced with a very hard decision, he does the right thing. It also reveals the judgment of God through his prophet, Nathan toward David and then the mercy of God through David’s repentance. God not only forgave David, but restored him and fulfilled a prophecy spoken by Nathan that it would be one of David’s sons that God would use to build the temple. We’ve come to know that son as Solomon, which was born of David and Bathsheba. The fifty-first Psalm is written as a result of David’s repentance of that sin, David says “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” Even after failure the Lord can still restore, heal and forgive us so our bones can dance again. It brings Old Testament characters to the New Testament. Jesus cried from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", but it was David who penned it in the old testament. Jesus was quoting David from the cross. This mix of old and new brings Calvary into new light as David is translated to the foot of the cross. Bathsheba lost her son because of David trying to hide the sin from God and God the Father lost his Son at Calvary for all people’s sin.
Object Lesson—A bowl of sweets. Tell this story; There was a bowl of sweets like this one sitting on the coffee table in the living room of Mary's house. Mary's mother noticed that she was looking at the sweets and said, "Now, don't you eat any sweets until after dinner or you will spoil your appetite." The sweets looked so good and the temptation was so great. "Surely just one little piece won't hurt -- and mother will never know the difference," Mary thought to herself. Have any of you ever had an experience like that? Here is another story which might sound familiar. "Put away your books and take out one sheet of paper and a pencil," the teacher said. "We are going to take our weekly spelling test." Johnny had an empty feeling in the pit of his stomach. He knew that they were going to have a spelling test today, but he watched TV last night instead of studying for the spelling test and he wasn't ready for the test. As the test began, Johnny looked around the room and realized that he had a clear view of Sally's paper. "It won't hurt if I look at Sally's paper just this once," Johnny thought to himself. "I promise -- I'll never do it again and nobody will ever know." All of us have faced temptations such as these, haven't we? Take a sweet from this bowl. I am not going to tell you not to eat it until after the club, but as you eat it, I want you to think about what we have learned in our Bible lesson today.
Lesson 3: “Keep your Spirit Level”
‘Ahab and Jezebel’ 1 Kings 21
‘Bop To The Top’
Objectives
Try to be content with what you’ve got.
Commit your life to God and He will ensure you get all you need.
Saying sorry only with your lips means nothing, sorry must be said from the heart
Sharpay and Ryan are very ambitious and see themselves as being the only ones who can be lead in the play, but when Troy and Gabriella show competition they do all they can to make sure they cannot perform in the auditions. Jezebel was a woman who was married to a wimpy king named Ahab who hated the prophets of God and had them murdered. If anyone got in her way or the way of her husband, she just had them murdered. As we see in the story, for Jezebel killing someone was not a problem, if it would get her way. But who did God hold responsible? The rebuke of the Lord came to Ahab before it came to his wife, even though the idea, and the carrying out of the idea, came from Jezebel herself. Not only does God look at the person who does wrong but also the person who doesn’t stop the wrong doing. There is a Jezebel spirit that needs to be resisted and fought, but we must look at Ahab’s spirit as well. The spirit of Jezebel - one who does whatever it takes to get what she wants can creep up on us all firstly in small things, but we see that it is the Ahab spirit who allows it to happen this is just as wrong. There are two types of people who are affected, first are those who get in the way and the second are those who are lead by the wrong example into believing that what is wrong is right. Some people can be so overwhelmed that they are incapable of making a quality decision without fear. When a person is following Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s seed is at work to grow and manifest His fruit. When you are transformed by the renewing of your mind, you can act on what you know is right and live in the freedom of love that Christ has for all of us.
Object Lesson - A windsock. (Or a picture) How many of you know what this is? It is a windsock. A windsock is a type of kite. The windsock was invented many years ago in Japan and was flown on "Boys Day." The family would hang one windsock for each son in the family on the end of a pole outside of their house and let it blow in the wind. Where else would you possibly see a windsock? You may have seen a windsock at an airport. Windsocks are used at airports to show which way the wind is blowing to help pilots to take off and land safely. Windsocks are also used to help predict the weather and they are also used to help guide to Space Shuttle pilots to a safe landing upon their return from space. No one can see the wind, but we know the wind is there because the windsock shows us that it is there. The wind is very important to us. What are some of the ways that the wind helps us? It helps to cool us off when we get too hot. It helps to clean the air we breathe of smoke and smog. It can be converted to electrical power to light our homes. God's Holy Spirit is somewhat like the wind. We can't see him, but we know that he is there because we can see the effects of his power in our lives. The Holy Spirit is very important to us. What are some of the ways that the Holy Spirit helps us? He comforts us when we are sad and alone. He guides us in the way of truth. He helps us when we don't know how to pray. He lives inside us and gives us life. He shows us the good things God has for us. We are thankful for all of the ways that the wind helps us, but we are even more thankful for all of the ways the Holy Spirit helps us every day. You might say, "He is the wind in your socks!"
Lesson 4: “Against the Odds” ‘Mary and Joseph’ Matthew 1:18-25‘Breaking Free’
Objectives
It’s important to dream, and tell God your dreams.
Are you willing to give up your dreams for God’s.
Don’t let others put you down or put you off from pursuing your dreams.
Troy and Gabriella had dreams of being a basketball player and scientist but this was what everyone expected them to be, their heart dream was to be singers. Even after Sharpey and Ryan’s attempts to sabotage their dream they push on and reach for their dream. Today’s bible story is about one whopper of a dream—the dream of Joseph. Not Mary's dream, but Joseph's dream. In Matthew's gospel, the angel appears to Joseph, it doesn’t mention Mary. And of all the great men and women of faith in the Bible, one of my favourite heroes is Joseph. Joseph is a real man’s man, a practical man—a real “salt of the earth” kind of guy, not prone to fantasies and day dreaming so if you have trouble swallowing the idea of the virgin birth, try putting yourself in his shoes! An honourable and decent man. You’re overjoyed in having found a young woman with an excellent reputation, someone who will be a good wife. Already engaged, you’re looking forward to the wedding, when BANG!! Here comes Mary. You see her lovely face and know at once that something is wrong. You ask her what’s bothering her. She replies, “Please don’t be upset...I’m pregnant. But guess what—I haven’t been unfaithful to you. This is what happened to me...” She proceeds to tell the story we all know, he’s thinking, “As if being unfaithful to me isn’t bad enough, my wife-to-be apparently has lost her mind!” For you know beyond a shadow of doubt that this child of Mary’s is not yours. Marriage is suddenly impossible. Despite all this, Joseph wants to protect Mary. Thus with his mind made up on how best to handle the situation, he goes to bed to get a good night’s sleep; he has a dream! We know what the angel tells him. So, going against everything that the practical side of his brain is telling him to do, Joseph decides to go with his dream. Before he acted, he rested and God was able to communicate with him, and so it is with us. What have you been dreaming about lately? Joseph and Mary had lots of plans, people getting married often do, but they were willing to give up all their dreams to do what God wished not their desires and dreams but His. We need to dream and God will help us fulfil our dreams but we need to be willing to follow God’s dreams as He has so much to give us, never underestimate the power of your or God’s dream.
Object Lesson—A picture of Martin Luther King, (or the video footage of the speech) Who was Martin Luther King, Jr.? Dr. King was a black preacher and civil rights leader who not only believed we needed to change the way people of different races were treated, but also insisted that we needed to solve these problems peacefully. Dr. King worked very hard to bring about changes that would ensure that people of every race would be treated equally. Dr. King was a wonderful speaker and many of his speeches are still remembered and quoted today. One of Dr. King's most famous speeches was called, "I Have a Dream." In this speech he said he had a dream that all people, regardless of race or religion, would live peacefully together and that we would be free of hatred and racial prejudice. The speech ended with these stirring words: "When we let freedom ring, … we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, ... will be able to join hands and sing 'Free at last! free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!' That was the dream of Dr. King, that all men would be free. All of us want to be free, don't we? One day Jesus was talking to a group of people and he said, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. A slave has no place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." If we put our trust in Jesus, he will free us from our sin.
Lesson 5: “Life’s a Journey” ‘Abram and Sarai’ Genesis 12
‘We’re All In This Together’
Objectives
The best way is to work together for the best future.
Life is a journey, journey’s are best when travelling with friends.
God has given us clear instructions in the Bible, not always easy ones but clear ones.
It’s the end of movie one and they are all looking forward to whatever the future holds, they all realise that the best way is to work together for the best future. YOU'RE TAKING A JOURNEY. Yet once you get on board the craft that will carry you on this marvellous, exciting trip, you discover that you don't know where you're going. You don't know why you're going, and you don't know what you'll do once you get there. Sounds rather absurd doesn't it? That’s exactly what Abram and Sarai had to do. Abram didn't know exactly what God had in mind, but he did know that anything God told him to do would be for Abram's own good. So Abram, acting on faith, prepared to leave Haran. Moving was no easy task, for Abram had many personal possessions and then there were the large flocks of sheep and cattle that needed to be driven across country. Lot, who was going to come with Sarai and Abram, also had animals that needed to be taken care of. With hired shepherds and herdsmen to help them, Abram and Sarai, along with their nephew, Lot, travelled to the land of Canaan. Yet all of us are on a journey and few indeed know where we're going, why we're on our way, or what we'll be doing once we reach our final destination. We were all placed, at birth, aboard the same space craft, planet earth. Our lives are our journey. Why are we on board? Where are we going and why? If we study the Bible, we'll discover that God laid out a path for us to follow as we journey through this physical existence. It helps us to understand WHY God created us. Before we can travel on the path that has been laid out for us, we need to know HOW to read the map God has provided, the Bible.
Object Lesson - Days or our life.
Get a photo or several photos of exciting events in your life such as the birth of a child, your wedding day, or your graduation day. Talk about the events, about how they were the happiest days of your life. Talk about how good it would be if that day had never ended? But, that day was not a stopping place, it was a starting place. It was the start of a wonderful journey. There would be many happy days to come. Have you ever had a day that was so wonderful that you wanted it to last forever? I am sure you probably have. God sends a lot of happy days into our life. The day that we meet Jesus is, without a doubt, the happiest day of our life, but it isn't a stopping place -- it is a starting point for a journey that leads to eternal life in heaven with Him.
Lesson 6: “Celebrate Love”
Stories of Jesus ‘What Time Is It?’
Objectives
To understand what unconditional love is.
The best way to celebrate love is to give help.
You are complete in God’s love.
Schools finished, no more work, no more exams , no more teachers only warm sunny days and holidays, getting friends and having fun, as you might expect the High School Musiclers start their summer with a song. You will have to work a little harder in this one and choose some stories about Jesus and how He showed His love, I know the first story you think of is the crucifixion but try to think of some less obvious ones. We long to celebrate love because we feel that in many ways love completes us. But what is it about love that does this? The kind of love that fulfils us is unconditional love, called "Agape". It is the True Love with which God loves us, and with which God asks us to love each other. True love is not romantic love, though God intended for romance to be carried out within the context of True Love (Agape). True Love, the kind of love we should be celebrating, is about giving rather than getting. We are most complete when we have accepted God's love for us and are in turn conduits of God's love to others. We are most fulfilled when we are pouring out to others what God has poured into us, not when we are demanding or expecting or even just simply wishing for human love. Consider these words of God: "I have loved you with an everlasting love." "I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you." "You will be called Sought After." "You are precious and honoured in my sight." "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." Do these words which describe the love God has for us inspire you to celebrate? The best way to celebrate His love is to turn around and give it to someone else. There are many who are longing for True Love, for unconditional love, and we can have the privilege of multiplying love many times over. This kind of love is not exclusive between two people, but can be shared freely, not with just one but with many! It is true that there is something wonderful about romantic love; none of us can deny that. However, hard as it may be to believe, Agape is the better of the two and is not limited just to those who are "in love". I challenge you, and myself, to acquire God's perspective of which kind of love is the most valuable, to realize that this most valuable love is available to everyone, and to spend this summer celebrating Agape, that love with which God loves us so completely, and with which we find so much fulfilment in giving to others. You are already complete in the arms of True Love! Take time to celebrate!
Object Lesson - The Sunday paper; The Sunday paper sure is big! I'm sure many of you have a Sunday paper delivered to your house. There is so much to read. People have a favourite part of the newspaper? Comics? Sports? Ads? Newspapers are important, because they help us know what is going on in our town, in our state, in our country -- even in other parts of the world. You can be a better citizen when you know what is happening, and the newspaper helps us keep up. As Christians, it is also important for us to keep up with God's will for our lives. And He has given us a wonderful source of all the most important news: the Bible. In the Bible, God shows us how much He loves us, and how we can live to receive the most joy out of life. When you read the Bible, it's as if God wrote it just for you! So the next time you see a newspaper, remember that the greatest news of all is found in the Bible -- the news that God loves you. He loves you unconditionally without ant bars, no matter what you do He will always want to be your friend. Respond to His love by trying to follow Him as best as you can, become His friend today.
Lesson 7: “Best Friends”
‘Adam and Eve’ Genesis 1: 24 - 31, 2: 4 - 23
‘You Are the Music in Me’
Objectives
Friendship is one of the most important things in life.
God gave us each other to help each other.
Jesus will always be your best friend.
Kelsi, Troy and Gabriella friend, is inspired by their relationship, so writes a ballad for Troy and Gabriella, and Troy agrees to sing with his friends in the upcoming talent show. Sharpay tries to get Troy to perform with her in the show, what should he do sing with Sharpay or his friend Gabriella. On the sixth day God made all the animals for the land, and of course He made a man, ‘and he can be just like me’, He thought. He made the most beautiful garden which He called the Garden of Eden, it had wonderful trees, and flowers. It even had lots of birds and animals in it, whatever your favourite animal is, it was there. God put the man He had made into the garden. The man probably rubbed his eyes and looked all round. God said to him, ‘Now listen, Adam you can eat the fruit, climb the trees, paddle in the rivers and jump over the bushes, but there’s one thing you must never do. You must never eat the apples from the big tree in the middle of the garden because that tree tells you what is good and what is bad.’ Adam said, ‘What’s bad?’ ‘Never mind,’ said God, ‘you go and have a nice time, and forget about that tree.’ God came quite often to see how Adam was getting on, and soon he realised Adam was lonely. God thought, ‘He hasn’t got any friends, no one to talk to, He will become unhappy soon.’ So one night, when Adam was asleep, God made a woman to be a friend for him. He called her Eve. Adam and Eve got on very well together. They used to play with the animals, and eat lots of fruit from all the trees. Except one - the forbidden tree - well for a little while cause they did touch it eventually we all know this and he turned them out of the garden of Eden and said they must look after themselves. But that’s not the part of the story we are concentrating but the part about friendship, you see we have got it all mixed up, when we think of boys and girls we think of ‘kissy, kissy’ but God did not make Eve to just be Adam’s girlfriend and wife but to be his friend. Friendship is one of the most important things to God, the best way we can show people what God wants is to be friends and the most important thing to God is to be friends with Him, Jesus. If you want to have a happy life there should be nothing more important to you than being the best friend you can be, once you’re able to do that everything else in life will fall into place, especially if your best friend is Jesus.
Object Lesson - A package of cookies. A few weeks ago, my wife (or whoever) came home and told me about some new cookies she had eaten. "They were called Chocolate Cream Oreos" she said. "Were they good?" I asked her. "Good? They were delicious. They were so good I wanted you to try one. Here, just taste and see how good they are," she said as she offered me a cookie. Mmmm, Mmmm! They were good! They were so good that I couldn't wait to tell you about them. In fact, I wanted to share some with you. I have a whole package of them so that you can taste them and see how good they are. (Pass out some of the cookies for the children to try.) Don't you agree that those are really good cookies? That is why my wife couldn't wait to share them with me and I couldn't wait to share them with you. Have you ever found something so good that you couldn't wait to share it with a friend? When we find a really good cookie, we can't wait to tell a friend about it. Shouldn't we be even more anxious to tell our friends about Jesus?
Lesson 8: “The trouble with friends”
“Children of Isaac and Rebekah” Genesis 25: 19-34
‘I Don't Dance’
Objectives
God turns trouble into Good.
God’s plan should not be doubted.
God’s plan is to end all conflict
After a visit from a local college basketball team, this causes a fight between Troy and Chad when Troy chooses to spend time with them, instead of his friends. Ryan also realises that he no longer means much to Sharpay anymore. Taylor and Gabriella invite Ryan to the baseball game, and Chad offers him Troy's place in the game. This helps old enemies to become new friends, later Chad forgives Troy for his absence and they become friends again. So, for the last lesson let’s go back to the first lesson. The marriage of Isaac and Rebekah was arranged by Isaac's father Abraham but it was actually the Lord's choice however, a factor that both Isaac and Rebekah realized and accepted when they met. There may have been a substantial age difference between Isaac and Rebekah; "Isaac was forty years old when he took to wife Rebekah," while Rebekah "the maiden" may have been only young. When Isaac and Rebekah did not have children after some time, "Isaac prayed to The Lord for his wife, because she was barren" - not the first time that was a problem in that family. Isaac's mother Sarah was also "barren" until The Lord made it possible for her to have a child, while Rebekah "was barren" until The Lord also made it possible for her to have a child. Although the prayer was answered, it soon became evident to their mother that Jacob and Esau had a natural inclination for a lifelong struggle. Jacob's later name change to "Israel" was based, in part, upon that very conflict. Isaac and Rebekah were maybe meant to be together but even things that were meant to be can cause conflict, even the best of friends, never mind brothers and sister’s can fight and boy did Jacob and Esau fight they were completely different in every way. But it was The Lord's will that Jacob would prevail, not because he was His favourite, but because out of Jacob, Israel, the Messiah, Jesus would come to save the world, to end all conflict. So, never doubt God’s plan for you, when times are good and everything seems perfect it’s easy to have faith in Jesus but times will get tough, people will bring conflict and maybe you will bring conflict into others lives but keep having faith, God has a plan and it’s one to bless you not to harm you, keep fighting for Him not against Him.
Object Lesson - A Stress Buster. Hold a squeezable "stress reliever". Can anyone tell me what this is? As you can see, it is small and round and fits into my hand in such a way that I can squeeze it with my fist. Many people carry one like this in their pocket. They call it a "stress buster." Whenever they are troubled about something, they just reach into their pocket and squeeze the stress buster. They believe that squeezing it helps relieve stress and gives them a peaceful feeling and helps them to quit worrying about their troubles. I don't carry one in my pocket. That doesn't mean that I never have any trouble in my life, it is just that I don't find that squeezing the ball keeps me from worrying about the troubles in my life. Why do troubles come into our life? I believe that troubles come for the very reason that Jesus said -- so that God's name will be glorified. I have known people who followed the example of Jesus when they faced trouble in their life. I have even known people who faced death with such courage and faith that God's name was glorified. Wouldn't it be pleasing to God if all of us faced trouble in such a way that His name is glorified?
Happy Feet
Let all Creation Praise the Lord
I first saw Happy Feet at the cinema with our children’s club, it was a Christmas treat instead of a party. The kids all loved it as did I. Immediately I saw it’s potential with so many themes of standing out from the crowd, never giving up and being the person you are despite whatever pressure you are placed under.
May this set of lessons realise your children into a wonderful world of praise in your club, in your churches but most importantly in their everyday lives.
Memory Verse, Psalm 33:1
Sing for joy in the Lord, you who are right with Him.
It is right for the pure in heart to praise Him
Lesson 1: “Adorned to Praise” ‘David dances’ (2 Samuel 6 )
Play clip 5 ‘ Mrs Arstrakhan can’ (3:10)
Objectives
Happy is the person who has Jesus as their friend.
Praise should be offered as a sacrifice.
Those that honour God, He will honour.
Some will make fun, but we should never be ashamed.
Mumble is taken to Mrs Astrakhan because he can’t sing. When encouraged to search deep to find his heart song he starts to tap dance and his dance is amazing, full of passion. But it just isn’t penguin, so he is seen as a failure set to be excluded from everyone else because his heart song is different from
everyone else. This doesn't stop him and with the encouragement from his mother he develops his heart song. God is present when we worship God outwardly. We must learn to act and speak highly of God in everything we do; and to think and speak and act with honour is Worship. Jesus is our Ark; in and by him God shows his favour, and accepts our prayers and praises. In the same way as Michal was offended by the praise of David others may be offended by our praise, but this should not stop us. David praised God with expressions of joy, we ought to do the same and serve God with our whole body and soul. This is our heart song giving God the praise he deserves no matter what others may think or say. Praise God as you know you should in every way you can and with all you heart, body, mind and soul. David was the King of Israel and had lots to lose put he gave his all dancing and singing and not caring what the whole country thought, he did it in thanks to God for all His wonders but mostly because of His great forgiveness, by this time David had done many bad things and needed to know that God forgave him, with a heart like David’s God could do nothing else, have a heart song like David’s, free and ready to serve no matter the cost.
Object Lesson - Garments of Praise
You will need two robes one plain and one fancy, they can be housecoats or jackets or capes. Use your imagination. Choose one child, play a praise song and get them to praise God excitedly whilst wearing the plain robe, once they get started then stop them and the music putting on the fancy robe, explain that when we Praise God he clothes us with a garment of praise, explain what that means, He makes us right in His eyes which means we can enter His presence without fear but with joy and love.
Lesson 2 “Permitted to Praise” ‘Ethan’ (1 Chronicles 15)
Clip 9 ‘Graduation Concert’ (2:53)
Objectives
It’s easy in our busy life to forget God and forget to praise Him.
Praise should be consistent in everything we do.
When we praise God it’s not about us it’s about Him.
Even in our talents we must realise that they are given by God and He must be praised for this.
Gloria is centre of attraction and rightly so, she has a fantastic talent but
Mumble isn’t able to join in as he pleases and no one notices his talent because it’s weird, not penguin. He has faithfully attended school all through his chick hood he is entitled to rejoice as well. When all the attention fell on David with his dance Ethan could have felt, hey, no-one is noticing me and lets face it he hardly gets a mention in the Bible but he praises God with all his heart he is rejoicing that he has been chosen to worship so does it to the best of his ability. David ordered the chief of the Levites to nominate those that they knew to be best at leading worship. Ethan, was first appointed to play with loud symbols. He was appointed because of his talent but also because of his faithfulness in service to the temple, his enthusiasm for praising God. We need to see that God helps us in everything we do and gives us supernatural ability to live a life of worship as He requires. Everything we do must be done in light of this dependence on God.
Object Lesson - Ordained Praise
Have a hymn book, a shaker and choose two kids, you keep the hymn book give one kid the shaker. First you sing operatic style as if from the hymn book, only for a minute, then get the first kid to shake the shaker whilst you sing
operatic, again for a minute, finally, you singing, shaker shaking and second kid shouting ‘Praise Jesus’ as loud as they can. Then make the point that it
doesn’t matter how you praise as long as it’s with your whole heart. Jesus said “ From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?” What is this "ordained praise" stuff? There are a couple of definitions for ordain. Made holy, decreed by God, that kind of thing. When you are in church you need to sing, praise, and worship like the adults do. God expects you to. Your praise for him is special. Feel foolish? Practice at home. I do it. Take what I call a "praise break." Take 10 seconds and scream to the top of your lungs stuff like "I love you Jesus!", or just sing some of the songs you hear at the club. After you get used to it, it's fun! You'll enjoy it and God loves it!
Lesson 3 “Empowered to Praise” ‘Jehosophat’ (2 Chronicles 20)
Clip 11 ‘Meet the Amigos’ (2;48).
Objectives
In all things, public or personal, our first thought should be to seek help from God.
God will make those who praise him more than a conqueror.
Praise inspires courage; it will help strengthen the heart to make right decision in our lives.
Praise protects us from harm.
Mumble was feeling alone and unappreciated until he met the amigos. They recognised his talent and gave it honour, he could have submitted to the pressure back home and just did what was ‘normal’ but he didn’t and now his talent was admired and even envied by others. From the first we must trust only in his mercy and power. Jehoshaphat recognised God’s power, if we use what we have for God, we have a sure and certain hope he will make all things possible that are best for us at that time. We have no strength without Him, Jehoshaphat kind of forgot this when he choose to become friends with an evil king because he thought he could help him, this was a mistake because no matter how big his army was or how big his friends were it’s God who makes us strong, thankfully he realised his mistake in time. Jehoshaphat encouraged his troops to have faith in God. Jehoshaphat worshipped, and did what he could to keep the people close to it. Let us praise God, who searched for us, and keeps us from harm.
Object Lesson - Shield of Praise
Have three shields which can be bought or made or if desperate use trays. Give one to each child and get them to stand next to each other showing that not only does the shield protect them but it protects the person next to them as well. Get one kid to lower their shield and show that not only does it leave them unprotected but leaves the person next to them unprotected as well. It’s really important that we praise God individually but we must also do it as a group as well. When we meet together in church, in Sunday school or at the club we must praise God with everyone else, when you don’t your letting your shield down, singing songs is fun but we do it to praise God, we do it to strengthen and encourage ourselves and others. Others can help you in your time of need but it’s God who gives us strength for everyday living.
Lesson 4 “Restored to Praise” ‘King Nebuchanezzar’ (Daniel 4)
Clip 14 & 15 ‘My Way’, ‘Boogie Wonderland’
Objectives
We should always be telling people about the wonders of God.
Whatever happens to us, good or bad, we should bear it patiently.
When we call to Him in time of trouble, He will hear us.
With the help of his friends he returns to win his love, Gloria, but he doesn’t use his heart song so it doesn’t work and he is quickly discovered. When he does use his heart song he wins her heart. When we try to be what we’re not it goes so wrong, when we don’t use our talents for God we deny Him and hurt His feelings. The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, Nebuchadnezzar was an example of denying the power of God. After he was recovered from his madness, he told everyone how God had humbled and then restored him. We must look for God’s blessings which can never be taken from us, and beware of becoming proud and forgetting Him. We must never let others influence us in ways we know God does not want us to go, we must use our talents as God has chosen and choose to say no when we know it is wrong. When we walk in Worship we walk under protection, when we walk as we think, in pride, we cannot be as certain of that protection. God will never leave us or forsake us, but if we go into dangerous places without His asking we could get hurt, No, we must stay in His courts of praise, there we are safe.
Object Lesson - Arm in a sling
Have a child come up and put their arm in a sling then stand there while you give the rest of the object lesson. Ask what would happen to their arm if you left it in this sling and didn’t use it for a year. Listen to all comments. Jesus will ask you to do many things, asking you to serve in various capacities. You may feel you do not have the ability but we must respond positively with thanksgiving and praise, your faith will strengthen and increase. Praise is like the muscle of my arm. If I use it, if I nurture it, it grows strong; it will do many things. But if I put it in a sling, and do nothing with it, it will grow weak and useless and so it will be with you. If you accept every opportunity that Jesus asks then He will make it possible for you to perform it. But as we move into God’s service we must also beware we do not become big headed and remember we only do these things as Jesus gives us the strength.
Lesson 5 “Created to Praise” ‘Job’
(Whole story but especially 40 & 41)
Clip 22 ‘To a World Unknown’
Objectives
We praise Him because we are part of His great creation.
Others will give you advice but not all advice is good, stick with what you know is good.
When we truly praise we see the Glory of Jesus and that makes us praise all the more.
We are part of a higher calling, we have a destiny to fulfil in God.
Mumble, Lovelace and the Amigos have travelled a long journey, tiring journey going through many trials and it looks like they have come to the end of the road, they have tried their best and it hasn’t been good enough. Should they go home, not Mumble, he has always known his calling was big he has always known he would have to do great things, even if it meant diving into danger and fighting unknown trials. He had a cause and nothing and no-one was going to stop him. Sometimes we realise how small we are in the whole scheme of things, praising Him lets us see how big we are in Him and how big a job He has given us. Others will try to convince you that you can’t make a difference, you can try but it’s just like a raindrop in the sea. God asks Job; ‘Shall he that questions God also tell Him what to do?’ Who are we to understand all that God does we must not give in when others discourage us or tell us we have done enough. Job gives in to God. He realises that he has nothing except praise to God for His marvellous wonders. When we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified; and this can only be done through Worship from the heart. It is not for us to teach Him how to run the world, only to praise and follow no matter where that leads us.
Object Lesson - Two Scissors
You need 2 pair of scissors for this lesson. One should be dull and maybe toddler type scissors that would only cut paper. The other should be fabric scissors. Also have a piece of heavy duty fabric - like canvas. Explain both of these are tools for cutting. Have someone demonstrate how nearly impossible it is to cut a piece of fabric with the first pair, but how easily the other scissors cuts through the fabric. All people have the capacity to be instruments for God. The toddler scissors are able to cut paper and that’s maybe all God wants you to be at the moment but as you continue to serve God and praise Him you will sharpen and become a very specific kind of instrument. You are chosen and special. Know that God has a special plan and place for you and as you live a life of worship it will all become clear, in time.
Lesson 6 “Pause to Praise” ‘Jail cell’ (Acts 16: 16-40)
Clip 23 ‘Penguin Heaven’ (5:00)
Objectives
Gods rewards even in hard times are neither few nor small.
There is no place, no time when praise is wrong.
When the fruits of worship begin to appear, fear will be followed by confidence and joy in God.
Mumble wakes up and appears to be in paradise but he quickly realises that he is not but is rather in a jail. He tries to tell them of his mission but they don’t understand, how like that is in our mission, when we tell people about Jesus, you would think we were talking in another language. Mumble comes almost to his end but in a vision he is inspired to go on and talks to them in the only way he knows how, this time they listen. Only by being persistent will we see the fruits of our worship not pushy just being who you are. A worshipper. Paul and Silas did not let this or any other hardship stop them worshipping! As in the dark, so out of our depths, no trouble should stop us from praising. Paul cried loud enough to make the jailer hear, saying, ‘Do not harm yourself.’ The jailer is rightly concerned about his salvation, Paul says believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and all your house. He treated them with kindness, this is also worship, just as much as singing or dancing and playing an instrument. His generosity was his way of praising God, helping those whom he had previously harmed and in the same way Paul and Silas show kindness to him by forgiving and revealing Jesus to him, when proper apology is made, Christians should never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon punishment. Jesus will make them more than conquerors in every fight; they will become comforters of others.
Object Lesson - High Jump
Have three kids stand beside you, the goal, jumping as high as they can. First time, no one can bend their knees before they jump - not even a little! Next have them bend their knees just a little bit and jump again and notice how much higher they can jump, then finally allow the children to jump as high as they possibly can and bend as much as they desire. Point out to them that the only way to reach and jump high is to bend low first. Showing kindness when it is not deserved, praising God even in hard times will lift you up so high you might get dizzy, so high you might need a parachute to get back down.
Lesson 7 “Freed to Praise” ‘Blind Bartemaeus’ (Mark 10: 46-52)
Clip 24 & 25 ‘Crowd Pleaser’(3:26) 'Return to Emperor Land’(2:08)
Objectives
Praise opens our eyes to what can be done in Jesus.
We should not become lazy in our worship or we will become blind to His will for us.
It is not enough to come before God just when we are in trouble or need encouragement it must be all the time.
Mumble realises he has to do what he came to do, they don’t understand penguin and he never ever was much penguin, so he uses the talent he has been given. And people listen, he was freed because of his gift, not only that, he returns to bring the news, even when he gets the same abuse and ridicule as before, he has saw the truth and he will not be silent. Praise opens our eyes to the glory of Jesus and when we truly see the truth we will not be silenced. Bartimeus had heard of Jesus and his miracles, and learning that he was passing by, hoped to recover his eyesight. In coming to Christ for help and healing, he not only gained his sight but encouragement and hope, that if we come to Him we shall have what we come for. Those who would come to Jesus, must come with nothing but what we have in our hands, we must free ourselves from every worry. God has given us limbs and senses, it is a shame, by being lazy, to make ourselves, in effect, blind and lame. Those who have spiritual eyesight, see the beauty in Jesus which creates a desire to follow after him.
Object Lesson - Survival Kit
Everyone needs a survival kit, one to remind them of things to be thankful for:
1. Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
2. Rubber Band - to remind you to be flexible.
3. Plaster - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s.
4. Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
5. Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay.
6. Chewing Gum - to remind you to stick with it.
7. Mint - to remind you to keep your praise fresh everyday.
8. Love Heart Sweet - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
Lesson 8 “Unconditional Praise” ‘Walking and leaping’ (Acts 3)
Clip 26 & 27 ‘Memphis back in step’(4:14)‘Everybody dance now’(3:01)
Objectives
Forgiveness is what makes us praise God with our all.
We must share our joy with others helping where we can and trying to help them to find forgiveness in Jesus.
In Jesus we are complete, our joy in praise and thanks in worship is our expression of that wholeness.
Mumble wants to see his dad but his dad is feeling very sad, he feels he has let his son down but Mumble forgives him and shows him how to dance. Then when the humans appear who leads the dance, Mumble and Memphis, love is the most powerful force on earth but it’s forgiveness that gives it strength. We have the power to set people free from what makes them sad but we have to teach them how to dance, how to praise. The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by God to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus, said to him rise up and walk. So, if we would attempt to show people God’s love, we must do so in the name and power of Jesus, helping the helpless to arise and walk in faith in Him. How sweet the thought that Jesus can make us whole! Because He forgives us we praise Him with joy because we can now enter God’s presence walking in God’s holy courts, with God the Spirit helping us to live as God desires by his strength!
Object Lesson - Bag of Rocks
Choose a child to stand beside you, get them to hold a bag, say ‘There was this kid who collected a rock every time someone or something made him mad or sad.’ Ask the kids to call out things that make them mad or sad every suggestion place a rock in the bag. Now ask what we can do to stop us being mad or sad every suggestion take away a rock. Emphasise that worship helps us to unburden us from bad feelings we harbour for others. So we must stop collecting rocks start collecting friends. Why should we make ourselves feel bad, there are plenty people and things every day trying to do that without us doing it as well. Put on your robes of righteousness and praise Jesus for what He has done. They are many, right now take a minute and think of ten things God has blessed you with. Let the praise of God be always on our lips.
I first saw Happy Feet at the cinema with our children’s club, it was a Christmas treat instead of a party. The kids all loved it as did I. Immediately I saw it’s potential with so many themes of standing out from the crowd, never giving up and being the person you are despite whatever pressure you are placed under.
May this set of lessons realise your children into a wonderful world of praise in your club, in your churches but most importantly in their everyday lives.
Memory Verse, Psalm 33:1
Sing for joy in the Lord, you who are right with Him.
It is right for the pure in heart to praise Him
Lesson 1: “Adorned to Praise” ‘David dances’ (2 Samuel 6 )
Play clip 5 ‘ Mrs Arstrakhan can’ (3:10)
Objectives
Happy is the person who has Jesus as their friend.
Praise should be offered as a sacrifice.
Those that honour God, He will honour.
Some will make fun, but we should never be ashamed.
Mumble is taken to Mrs Astrakhan because he can’t sing. When encouraged to search deep to find his heart song he starts to tap dance and his dance is amazing, full of passion. But it just isn’t penguin, so he is seen as a failure set to be excluded from everyone else because his heart song is different from
everyone else. This doesn't stop him and with the encouragement from his mother he develops his heart song. God is present when we worship God outwardly. We must learn to act and speak highly of God in everything we do; and to think and speak and act with honour is Worship. Jesus is our Ark; in and by him God shows his favour, and accepts our prayers and praises. In the same way as Michal was offended by the praise of David others may be offended by our praise, but this should not stop us. David praised God with expressions of joy, we ought to do the same and serve God with our whole body and soul. This is our heart song giving God the praise he deserves no matter what others may think or say. Praise God as you know you should in every way you can and with all you heart, body, mind and soul. David was the King of Israel and had lots to lose put he gave his all dancing and singing and not caring what the whole country thought, he did it in thanks to God for all His wonders but mostly because of His great forgiveness, by this time David had done many bad things and needed to know that God forgave him, with a heart like David’s God could do nothing else, have a heart song like David’s, free and ready to serve no matter the cost.
Object Lesson - Garments of Praise
You will need two robes one plain and one fancy, they can be housecoats or jackets or capes. Use your imagination. Choose one child, play a praise song and get them to praise God excitedly whilst wearing the plain robe, once they get started then stop them and the music putting on the fancy robe, explain that when we Praise God he clothes us with a garment of praise, explain what that means, He makes us right in His eyes which means we can enter His presence without fear but with joy and love.
Lesson 2 “Permitted to Praise” ‘Ethan’ (1 Chronicles 15)
Clip 9 ‘Graduation Concert’ (2:53)
Objectives
It’s easy in our busy life to forget God and forget to praise Him.
Praise should be consistent in everything we do.
When we praise God it’s not about us it’s about Him.
Even in our talents we must realise that they are given by God and He must be praised for this.
Gloria is centre of attraction and rightly so, she has a fantastic talent but
Mumble isn’t able to join in as he pleases and no one notices his talent because it’s weird, not penguin. He has faithfully attended school all through his chick hood he is entitled to rejoice as well. When all the attention fell on David with his dance Ethan could have felt, hey, no-one is noticing me and lets face it he hardly gets a mention in the Bible but he praises God with all his heart he is rejoicing that he has been chosen to worship so does it to the best of his ability. David ordered the chief of the Levites to nominate those that they knew to be best at leading worship. Ethan, was first appointed to play with loud symbols. He was appointed because of his talent but also because of his faithfulness in service to the temple, his enthusiasm for praising God. We need to see that God helps us in everything we do and gives us supernatural ability to live a life of worship as He requires. Everything we do must be done in light of this dependence on God.
Object Lesson - Ordained Praise
Have a hymn book, a shaker and choose two kids, you keep the hymn book give one kid the shaker. First you sing operatic style as if from the hymn book, only for a minute, then get the first kid to shake the shaker whilst you sing
operatic, again for a minute, finally, you singing, shaker shaking and second kid shouting ‘Praise Jesus’ as loud as they can. Then make the point that it
doesn’t matter how you praise as long as it’s with your whole heart. Jesus said “ From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?” What is this "ordained praise" stuff? There are a couple of definitions for ordain. Made holy, decreed by God, that kind of thing. When you are in church you need to sing, praise, and worship like the adults do. God expects you to. Your praise for him is special. Feel foolish? Practice at home. I do it. Take what I call a "praise break." Take 10 seconds and scream to the top of your lungs stuff like "I love you Jesus!", or just sing some of the songs you hear at the club. After you get used to it, it's fun! You'll enjoy it and God loves it!
Lesson 3 “Empowered to Praise” ‘Jehosophat’ (2 Chronicles 20)
Clip 11 ‘Meet the Amigos’ (2;48).
Objectives
In all things, public or personal, our first thought should be to seek help from God.
God will make those who praise him more than a conqueror.
Praise inspires courage; it will help strengthen the heart to make right decision in our lives.
Praise protects us from harm.
Mumble was feeling alone and unappreciated until he met the amigos. They recognised his talent and gave it honour, he could have submitted to the pressure back home and just did what was ‘normal’ but he didn’t and now his talent was admired and even envied by others. From the first we must trust only in his mercy and power. Jehoshaphat recognised God’s power, if we use what we have for God, we have a sure and certain hope he will make all things possible that are best for us at that time. We have no strength without Him, Jehoshaphat kind of forgot this when he choose to become friends with an evil king because he thought he could help him, this was a mistake because no matter how big his army was or how big his friends were it’s God who makes us strong, thankfully he realised his mistake in time. Jehoshaphat encouraged his troops to have faith in God. Jehoshaphat worshipped, and did what he could to keep the people close to it. Let us praise God, who searched for us, and keeps us from harm.
Object Lesson - Shield of Praise
Have three shields which can be bought or made or if desperate use trays. Give one to each child and get them to stand next to each other showing that not only does the shield protect them but it protects the person next to them as well. Get one kid to lower their shield and show that not only does it leave them unprotected but leaves the person next to them unprotected as well. It’s really important that we praise God individually but we must also do it as a group as well. When we meet together in church, in Sunday school or at the club we must praise God with everyone else, when you don’t your letting your shield down, singing songs is fun but we do it to praise God, we do it to strengthen and encourage ourselves and others. Others can help you in your time of need but it’s God who gives us strength for everyday living.
Lesson 4 “Restored to Praise” ‘King Nebuchanezzar’ (Daniel 4)
Clip 14 & 15 ‘My Way’, ‘Boogie Wonderland’
Objectives
We should always be telling people about the wonders of God.
Whatever happens to us, good or bad, we should bear it patiently.
When we call to Him in time of trouble, He will hear us.
With the help of his friends he returns to win his love, Gloria, but he doesn’t use his heart song so it doesn’t work and he is quickly discovered. When he does use his heart song he wins her heart. When we try to be what we’re not it goes so wrong, when we don’t use our talents for God we deny Him and hurt His feelings. The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, Nebuchadnezzar was an example of denying the power of God. After he was recovered from his madness, he told everyone how God had humbled and then restored him. We must look for God’s blessings which can never be taken from us, and beware of becoming proud and forgetting Him. We must never let others influence us in ways we know God does not want us to go, we must use our talents as God has chosen and choose to say no when we know it is wrong. When we walk in Worship we walk under protection, when we walk as we think, in pride, we cannot be as certain of that protection. God will never leave us or forsake us, but if we go into dangerous places without His asking we could get hurt, No, we must stay in His courts of praise, there we are safe.
Object Lesson - Arm in a sling
Have a child come up and put their arm in a sling then stand there while you give the rest of the object lesson. Ask what would happen to their arm if you left it in this sling and didn’t use it for a year. Listen to all comments. Jesus will ask you to do many things, asking you to serve in various capacities. You may feel you do not have the ability but we must respond positively with thanksgiving and praise, your faith will strengthen and increase. Praise is like the muscle of my arm. If I use it, if I nurture it, it grows strong; it will do many things. But if I put it in a sling, and do nothing with it, it will grow weak and useless and so it will be with you. If you accept every opportunity that Jesus asks then He will make it possible for you to perform it. But as we move into God’s service we must also beware we do not become big headed and remember we only do these things as Jesus gives us the strength.
Lesson 5 “Created to Praise” ‘Job’
(Whole story but especially 40 & 41)
Clip 22 ‘To a World Unknown’
Objectives
We praise Him because we are part of His great creation.
Others will give you advice but not all advice is good, stick with what you know is good.
When we truly praise we see the Glory of Jesus and that makes us praise all the more.
We are part of a higher calling, we have a destiny to fulfil in God.
Mumble, Lovelace and the Amigos have travelled a long journey, tiring journey going through many trials and it looks like they have come to the end of the road, they have tried their best and it hasn’t been good enough. Should they go home, not Mumble, he has always known his calling was big he has always known he would have to do great things, even if it meant diving into danger and fighting unknown trials. He had a cause and nothing and no-one was going to stop him. Sometimes we realise how small we are in the whole scheme of things, praising Him lets us see how big we are in Him and how big a job He has given us. Others will try to convince you that you can’t make a difference, you can try but it’s just like a raindrop in the sea. God asks Job; ‘Shall he that questions God also tell Him what to do?’ Who are we to understand all that God does we must not give in when others discourage us or tell us we have done enough. Job gives in to God. He realises that he has nothing except praise to God for His marvellous wonders. When we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified; and this can only be done through Worship from the heart. It is not for us to teach Him how to run the world, only to praise and follow no matter where that leads us.
Object Lesson - Two Scissors
You need 2 pair of scissors for this lesson. One should be dull and maybe toddler type scissors that would only cut paper. The other should be fabric scissors. Also have a piece of heavy duty fabric - like canvas. Explain both of these are tools for cutting. Have someone demonstrate how nearly impossible it is to cut a piece of fabric with the first pair, but how easily the other scissors cuts through the fabric. All people have the capacity to be instruments for God. The toddler scissors are able to cut paper and that’s maybe all God wants you to be at the moment but as you continue to serve God and praise Him you will sharpen and become a very specific kind of instrument. You are chosen and special. Know that God has a special plan and place for you and as you live a life of worship it will all become clear, in time.
Lesson 6 “Pause to Praise” ‘Jail cell’ (Acts 16: 16-40)
Clip 23 ‘Penguin Heaven’ (5:00)
Objectives
Gods rewards even in hard times are neither few nor small.
There is no place, no time when praise is wrong.
When the fruits of worship begin to appear, fear will be followed by confidence and joy in God.
Mumble wakes up and appears to be in paradise but he quickly realises that he is not but is rather in a jail. He tries to tell them of his mission but they don’t understand, how like that is in our mission, when we tell people about Jesus, you would think we were talking in another language. Mumble comes almost to his end but in a vision he is inspired to go on and talks to them in the only way he knows how, this time they listen. Only by being persistent will we see the fruits of our worship not pushy just being who you are. A worshipper. Paul and Silas did not let this or any other hardship stop them worshipping! As in the dark, so out of our depths, no trouble should stop us from praising. Paul cried loud enough to make the jailer hear, saying, ‘Do not harm yourself.’ The jailer is rightly concerned about his salvation, Paul says believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and all your house. He treated them with kindness, this is also worship, just as much as singing or dancing and playing an instrument. His generosity was his way of praising God, helping those whom he had previously harmed and in the same way Paul and Silas show kindness to him by forgiving and revealing Jesus to him, when proper apology is made, Christians should never express personal anger, nor insist too strictly upon punishment. Jesus will make them more than conquerors in every fight; they will become comforters of others.
Object Lesson - High Jump
Have three kids stand beside you, the goal, jumping as high as they can. First time, no one can bend their knees before they jump - not even a little! Next have them bend their knees just a little bit and jump again and notice how much higher they can jump, then finally allow the children to jump as high as they possibly can and bend as much as they desire. Point out to them that the only way to reach and jump high is to bend low first. Showing kindness when it is not deserved, praising God even in hard times will lift you up so high you might get dizzy, so high you might need a parachute to get back down.
Lesson 7 “Freed to Praise” ‘Blind Bartemaeus’ (Mark 10: 46-52)
Clip 24 & 25 ‘Crowd Pleaser’(3:26) 'Return to Emperor Land’(2:08)
Objectives
Praise opens our eyes to what can be done in Jesus.
We should not become lazy in our worship or we will become blind to His will for us.
It is not enough to come before God just when we are in trouble or need encouragement it must be all the time.
Mumble realises he has to do what he came to do, they don’t understand penguin and he never ever was much penguin, so he uses the talent he has been given. And people listen, he was freed because of his gift, not only that, he returns to bring the news, even when he gets the same abuse and ridicule as before, he has saw the truth and he will not be silent. Praise opens our eyes to the glory of Jesus and when we truly see the truth we will not be silenced. Bartimeus had heard of Jesus and his miracles, and learning that he was passing by, hoped to recover his eyesight. In coming to Christ for help and healing, he not only gained his sight but encouragement and hope, that if we come to Him we shall have what we come for. Those who would come to Jesus, must come with nothing but what we have in our hands, we must free ourselves from every worry. God has given us limbs and senses, it is a shame, by being lazy, to make ourselves, in effect, blind and lame. Those who have spiritual eyesight, see the beauty in Jesus which creates a desire to follow after him.
Object Lesson - Survival Kit
Everyone needs a survival kit, one to remind them of things to be thankful for:
1. Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others.
2. Rubber Band - to remind you to be flexible.
3. Plaster - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s.
4. Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings everyday.
5. Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay.
6. Chewing Gum - to remind you to stick with it.
7. Mint - to remind you to keep your praise fresh everyday.
8. Love Heart Sweet - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday.
Lesson 8 “Unconditional Praise” ‘Walking and leaping’ (Acts 3)
Clip 26 & 27 ‘Memphis back in step’(4:14)‘Everybody dance now’(3:01)
Objectives
Forgiveness is what makes us praise God with our all.
We must share our joy with others helping where we can and trying to help them to find forgiveness in Jesus.
In Jesus we are complete, our joy in praise and thanks in worship is our expression of that wholeness.
Mumble wants to see his dad but his dad is feeling very sad, he feels he has let his son down but Mumble forgives him and shows him how to dance. Then when the humans appear who leads the dance, Mumble and Memphis, love is the most powerful force on earth but it’s forgiveness that gives it strength. We have the power to set people free from what makes them sad but we have to teach them how to dance, how to praise. The apostles and the first believers attended the temple worship at the hours of prayer. Peter and John seem to have been led by God to work a miracle on a man above forty years old, who had been a cripple from his birth. Peter, in the name of Jesus, said to him rise up and walk. So, if we would attempt to show people God’s love, we must do so in the name and power of Jesus, helping the helpless to arise and walk in faith in Him. How sweet the thought that Jesus can make us whole! Because He forgives us we praise Him with joy because we can now enter God’s presence walking in God’s holy courts, with God the Spirit helping us to live as God desires by his strength!
Object Lesson - Bag of Rocks
Choose a child to stand beside you, get them to hold a bag, say ‘There was this kid who collected a rock every time someone or something made him mad or sad.’ Ask the kids to call out things that make them mad or sad every suggestion place a rock in the bag. Now ask what we can do to stop us being mad or sad every suggestion take away a rock. Emphasise that worship helps us to unburden us from bad feelings we harbour for others. So we must stop collecting rocks start collecting friends. Why should we make ourselves feel bad, there are plenty people and things every day trying to do that without us doing it as well. Put on your robes of righteousness and praise Jesus for what He has done. They are many, right now take a minute and think of ten things God has blessed you with. Let the praise of God be always on our lips.
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