ONE ANOTHER WEEK 4: SING TO ONE ANOTHER OCTOBER 8, At a Glance People at Church Sing Together Ezra 2:1, 68-70; 3:1-13

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1 ONE ANOTHER WEEK 4: SING TO ONE ANOTHER OCTOBER 8, 2017 At a Glance People at Church Sing Together Ezra 2:1, 68-70; 3:1-13 Main Idea: We can worship God by singing to Him. Memory Verse: Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV Younger Children Option: Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19, NIV Teacher Devotional As my husband and I stepped onto the escalator that would take us to baggage claim, I heard the singing. Then I saw my friends and family gathered together, singing How Great Is Our God as we waited for the escalator to take us, along with our newly adopted son, to baggage claim at the airport. Whenever I sing that song or hear it playing, it reminds me to praise my Heavenly Father for bringing my family together through the gift of adoption. Singing songs to God is a wonderful way to praise Him and be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit means to be directed, influenced, and controlled by the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is God s command, and He expects us to obey. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit results in joyful praise and singing. It is not difficult to be around people who are controlled by the Holy Spirit because they are kind, compassionate, and enjoyable to spend time with. When we participate in singing and making music, we serve God by praising Him. Singing together also expresses our unity and fellowship. Our singing affirms the biblical truths we believe and the truths and convictions of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we obey the Holy Spirit, our relationships will be better for it. When Christians are influenced by the Holy Spirit, it s natural to offer encouragement to one another. Even when things are difficult, it s natural for believers to be filled with gratitude and joy when they are filled with the Spirit. When Paul and Silas were in a Philippian jail, they were still able to sing praises to God because they were directly influenced by the Holy Spirit Week 4 - Page 45

2 (Acts 16:25). As Christ followers in biblical community, we need to constantly remind one another what we know to be true about God. Being directed by the power of the Holy Spirit empowers us to live in this manner. Week 4 - Page 46

3 Large Group Introduce the Story Option for PreK: Praise Creations Supplies: Praise CD, CD player, paper (one sheet per child), colored pencils or crayons Option: Use a large, long sheet of paper and invite kids to color and move to different parts of the paper at designated times. Encourage each child to choose three colored pencils and a sheet of paper. Play a favorite praise song kids may recognize. Invite kids to sing as they draw pictures or designs on their papers that represent ways kids can worship God. Periodically pause the music and instruct kids to move to someone else s paper. Play the song again and invite kids to add their artwork to the new paper. Stop and start the music several times until kids move to several different papers. Say: Singing songs to God is a way to worship Him. Today we will learn more about how important it is to worship God. Option for Older Kids: Praise in Many Ways Supplies: None Prep: Lead kids to sit in a circle. Pat a steady beat on your knees, chanting this phrase loudly: I will praise God with a loud voice. Going around the circle, players will keep a steady beat and substitute other ways to praise God, such as I can praise God with a quiet voice...a watery voice...a bass voice...a frog voice, and so on. Kids voices should match their statements. If a player misses a beat, pause and allow him or her to restart the game. Increase the tempo as the game proceeds. Say: No matter what your voice sounds like, you can use your voice to sing and praise God. You ll learn more about praising God with your voice in today s Bible story found in the Book of Ezra. Review the Main Idea with kids by inviting them to raise their hands in praise when saying the word praise and saying the word singing in a sing-song voice: We can praise God by singing to Him. Week 4 - Page 47

4 Option: Invite kids to create a song-sounding version of the Main Idea to sing together at designated times. Tell the Bible Story Supplies: Teaching Picture 4, Color Cards, matching colored paper for the Color Cards, scissors Display the Color Cards on matching colored paper. Guide kids to do the action for each color. Invite four kids to choose a blank piece of colored paper and lay it on the ground. Invite the group to follow the pattern. (For example: red, red, green would be clap, clap, slap legs.) Read the words on the cards: Jerusalem, offering, temple, sang. Guide kids to say the words while performing the appropriate action. Instruct kids to listen and perform the actions when they hear the words in the Bible story. Open your Bible to Ezra 2 and tell the Bible story. Display the Teaching Picture as you tell the story. The Church Sang The people of Israel were held as prisoners in Babylon for many years. Finally, they were allowed to return home. When they arrived in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders gave offerings of gold coins, silver, and clothes for the priests so that God s house could be rebuilt. When the people were settled in their own towns, the work began. Workers first built an altar so they could offer sacrifices to God. Even though they were surrounded by enemies, the people made sacrifices every morning and every evening. They celebrated, worshiped, and sacrificed, even though the foundations of the temple were not ready yet. When the builders finished the temple s foundation, the priests and Levites played trumpets and cymbals. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to God: He is good! His faithful mercy and love endures forever! All the people gave great shouts of praise. The older people, who had been alive when the first temple stood, wept loudly. Others shouted for joy. The shouting and music could be heard far away. Week 4 - Page 48

5 BASED ON EZRA 2:1, 68-70; 3:1-13 Week 4 - Page 49

6 Apply the Bible Story Option for PreK and Younger Kids: Worshiping the Right Way Supplies: None Remind kids that Jesus often sang songs. He also went to the temple to worship. Explain that worshiping at church is a privilege that not everyone in the world has. Invite two kids to stand. Whisper instructions for one child to show a right way to worship and the other child to show a wrong way. Encourage the kids to shout who is participating in the right way. Allow several kids to stand and offer demonstrations. Use this opportunity to talk with kids about worshiping God in the worship service. Guide discussion to talk about how to be a part of worship, such as standing up when asked to do so, singing, and being respectful of others who are worshiping as well. Option for Older Kids: Name That Word Supplies: CD player, praise song, chair Call for two volunteers to stand on either side of a chair. Play a favorite praise song. Encourage the kids to sing along. Pause the CD player at random, cueing the singers to stop at the same time. Explain the first volunteer to occupy the chair and correctly supply the next few words of the song may operate the CD player for the next round of the game. Allow everyone an opportunity to compete for the chair. Allow kids to hum or sing phrases of catchy tunes or jingles, spiritual or secular, that get stuck in their minds. Say: Because music sticks with a person, singing is an ideal way to focus one s thoughts on God. Invite kids to read Matthew 26:30 to discover how Jesus and His disciples worshiped after the Passover meal. Share a time that music has been an important part of your life whether it was a song that came on the radio and encouraged you, or an experience you had while singing a song at church. Emphasize the importance of singing to God as a way to worship and praise Him. Small Group Time (Dismiss to Groups) Week 4 - Page 50

7 Apply the Main Idea Option for PreK: Make Music Supplies: Various sizes and types of glass containers (drinking glasses, vases or bottles), pitcher of water, funnel, metal spoons, towels For Younger Kids: Pour the water for them, but allow kids to have a say in how much water you pour into each container. Allow kids turns tapping the containers rather than several kids going at once. Invite kids to fill the glass containers with different amounts of water. Guide kids to carefully tap the outside of the glass with a spoon. Lead them to listen to the different sounds each glass makes. Challenge kids to tap the glasses in order from highest-pitched sound to lowestpitched sound. (For younger kids, let them help you arrange the containers from highest pitch to lowest. They can vote by show of hands rather than physically helping to move the containers.) Explain that we can worship God because He is worthy of our worship. When we worship God, we are focusing on Him and enjoying His presence. Remind kids they can worship God by singing songs to Him. Invite kids to think of descriptions of God, such as He is good, He is loving, He is our Father. Lead kids to make up a song using one or more descriptions of God. Kids may sing new words to a familiar tune or find words that rhyme to make up a rap. Guide kids to tap the glasses as they sing a song of praise to God. Ask kids to say the Main Point with you: We can praise God by singing to Him. Option for Younger and Older Kids: Shear Poetry Supplies: Paper, markers, scissors Prep: Cut paper into 1-inch strips, about three or four per child. Option for Younger Kids: Use different colors of paper and make sure each child gets only one color of paper strips for the activity. Option for Older Kids: Older Activity Pages Lead kids to read Ezra 3: Call attention to the mention of Asaph, writer of several psalms, in verse 10. Explain that it is possible the people sang some of Asaph s psalms, or songs like them, as they celebrated the rebuilding of the temple. (Optional for Older Kids): Distribute Older Kids Activity Pages. Lead kids to complete A Notes and compare answers. Week 4 - Page 51

8 Say: Many songs and praise choruses are based on words from Psalms (such as Psalm 118:24). Give each person three or four paper strips. Encourage kids to explore Psalms and find verses and phrases that express heartfelt praise to God. Guide kids to legibly copy the verses or phrases on the strips of paper, leaving a small space between each word. Direct kids to cut the strips into individual words. Scramble the strips. Rather than reconstruct the verses verbatim, guide kids to rearrange the words into praise lyrics of their own. Challenge kids to sing their compositions to a familiar tune. Encourage kids to worship God guided by the songs in Psalms. Remind kids that they can praise God by singing to Him. Review Option for PreK and Younger Kids Option for Younger Kids: Form two teams. Ask each team a review question and direct each team to pretend to hold a book and sing to indicate that the team knows the answer. Ask the review question, listen to the team s answer, then allow the other team to pretend to play a trumpet if they believe the team answered correctly. If they believe the answer was incorrect, direct kids to crash hands like a cymbal. Invite kids to mimic and pretend to: Hold a book and sing: La, la, la, la, la (any notes). Play a trumpet and sing: Do, do, do, doooo (any notes). Crash hands like cymbals back and forth and say: Clang, clang, clang. Ask the review questions. Guide kids to sing, play a trumpet, or crash a cymbal if they know the answers. Discuss the answers to the review questions, then guide kids to respond with the Main Idea movements for today. Review the Main Idea with kids by inviting them to raise their hands in praise when saying the word praise and saying the word singing in a sing-song voice: We can praise God by singing to Him. Review Questions 1. Where had the people been for many years? (In Babylon, where they were held as prisoners) 2. What was the purpose of the offerings family leaders gave? (To rebuild God s house) Week 4 - Page 52

9 3. What was the first thing workers built on the temple site? (An altar) 4. What did the people do when the builders laid the foundation of the temple? (They sang with praise and thanksgiving to God. The older people wept loudly because the temple had been rebuilt. Others worshiped God with shouts and songs) 5. Why is singing and playing music acts of worship? (Answers will vary) 6. Name or sing part of a song that helps you worship God. (Responses will vary) 7. In which Book of the Bible is today s story found? (Ezra) Option for Older Kids Supplies: None Prep: Reprise the Introductory Activity game, guiding players to provide short facts about today s Bible story as they keep the steady beat. Give kids a few moments to compose statements that fit the rhythm pattern before you begin the game. Note you may also choose to ask the Review Questions listed above and encourage kids to respond with a rhythmic beat as they provide the answers to the questions. Learn the Memory Verse Memory Verse: Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18b-20, NIV Younger Children Option: Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19, NIV Option for PreK Supplies: Index cards, marker Prep: Write each word of Ephesians 5:19 on an index card. Invite kids to say the verse while clapping with each word. Add a second movement and alternate the movements while saying the verse such as clap, slap, clap, slap. If desired, invite kids to determine the second movement. Add a third movement (such as jump or wave your hands in the air) and say the verse with the three movements. Week 4 - Page 53

10 Continue to say the verse, mixing up the motions as kids become more familiar with the verse. Say: God loves to hear you sing and make music to Him! Option for All Kids Supplies: Marker board, marker Prep: Write the words to Ephesians 5:18b-20 on the board for reference. Option for Younger Kids: Choose one verse to read aloud rather than the entire passage. Lead kids to say the verse as you conduct them: large movements for loud; small gestures for soft; fast phrases, slow phrases, and so on. Enlist kids to conduct and repeat. Discuss different ways to have kids read the verse and add some of the kids ideas to the rotation as different kids conduct the verse. Erase (or mark out) words in the verse as kids become more familiar with the verse as you continue to conduct the way in which the verse is said. Ask: What does this Scripture say to do? Why is it important to praise God? Discuss different ways to praise God. Share a favorite worship song of yours and why it is important to you. Pray Option: Play a praise song and ask kids to pray silently as they listen to the song play. Call on a volunteer to pray and thank God for the gift of music that helps us give glory and praise to Him. Activity/Take Home Sheets If you haven t already used the Activity Pages, use the remaining group time to complete the activity sheets or review your answers for this week s lesson ( 04_ActivityPage_Younger and 04_ActivityPage_Older ), If you run out of time, send the sheets home for kids to review during the week. Week 4 - Page 54

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13 Listen to several styles of Christian music, then comment on these questions: D What style of music did you hear? D What was the main message of the music? D On a scale of 0 (Not my thing!) to 100 (Don t EVER stop playing it!) how well did the music help you worship God? D If your rating was low, why? D If your rating was high, was it because of the music, the lyrics (words), or both? Some psalms by a musician named Asaph (you can call him A ) are good examples of what people sang in Ezra s day. The notes replace letters in words from Asaph s psalms. Decode the phrase, then find the verse to check your work. Asaph wrote Psalms Week 4 - Page LifeWay

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15 family devotionals Week #4: Sing to One Another ACTIVITY: Read Ephesians 5:18b-20. Singing is one part of worship. Go on YouTube (kids) and search for songs. (Recommended searches: Go Fish, Jesus Loves Me, Seeds Family Worship) When you find one you like play it and sing along as a family. FOCUS: STEP IT UP: (if you are able to make more time in your week) GO DEEPER: (have older kids or are just ready for more?) We can worship God by singing to Him. What is your go to music app? Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon? Go on your app and make a FAMILY WORSHIP MIX. Everyone in the family gets to pick a few songs to add to your play list. Now challenge your family to listen to this list when prepping dinner, driving in the car, or getting ready in the morning. Don t have music apps? Go online and make a playlist on YouTube or bust out your old worship CD s and put it on shuffle (do people do that anymore?). The point is to worship God together as a family. Read Ezra 2:1, 68-70; 3:1-13. The people of Israel had been through a lot and although they were starting over they had much to praise God about. Why were some people crying? Although some were sad remembering the old days many declared, The Lord is good. His faithful love to Israel continues forever. Ezra 3:11. Week 4 - Page 59