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.