Rejoice
Children's sermon
Object:
a tambourine
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. (v. 4)
Good morning, boys and girls! Do you know what this is? (shake tambourine; allow for answers) It's called a tambourine. It's used just like this, to make music. Doesn't it sound pretty? (shake again) The Bible verse we're going to talk about today says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" There's a Bible song that uses these same words. Do any of you know it?
Today we're going to talk about different ways we can rejoice in God. First of all, who knows what "rejoice" means? (allow answers) It means "to praise God," to get excited about God! What are some other things you get excited about? (allow answers) Many people get excited for summer, for their birthdays, for a vacation, and for holidays. How do you act when you get excited? (allow answers, and perhaps demonstrations) Do you ever clap your hands? That's one way we can praise God. (clap your hands; allow children to follow suit) Sometimes we sing to praise God -- that's what the hymns are for when we sing them in church: We use them to tell God how thankful we are for everything he's given to us. There's a very long book in the Bible that is full of ancient hymns. Do you know what it is? (allow answers) It's the book of Psalms. There are hymns in there from King David, who killed Goliath with his sling, and all kinds of people from the Old Testament -- a long time before Jesus. Jesus might have sung some of the psalms the same way we sing hymns in church or Bible songs in Bible school or Sunday school. How else can we rejoice in God? (allow answers) We can pray to God and tell him, "Thank you!" for all of our gifts and blessings. What are some of your gifts and blessings that you want to thank God for? (allow answers)
Another way we can rejoice in God is paying attention during church. Church is a way for people to praise God together every week. We are praising God when we go to Sunday school and Bible school and when we listen to the church service and the prayers. We can praise God when we give money during the offering in church or in Sunday school.
There's one more really easy way to praise God and rejoice. I know you can all do this. Ready? The easiest way to praise God is to smile! God has given us many wonderful blessings -- and our ability to smile and make other people feel good is one of the best blessings he has given! So all this week, remember to "rejoice" that you can sing and make music to God (shake tambourine), pray to God, cheer for God, and smile! Amen.
Good morning, boys and girls! Do you know what this is? (shake tambourine; allow for answers) It's called a tambourine. It's used just like this, to make music. Doesn't it sound pretty? (shake again) The Bible verse we're going to talk about today says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" There's a Bible song that uses these same words. Do any of you know it?
Today we're going to talk about different ways we can rejoice in God. First of all, who knows what "rejoice" means? (allow answers) It means "to praise God," to get excited about God! What are some other things you get excited about? (allow answers) Many people get excited for summer, for their birthdays, for a vacation, and for holidays. How do you act when you get excited? (allow answers, and perhaps demonstrations) Do you ever clap your hands? That's one way we can praise God. (clap your hands; allow children to follow suit) Sometimes we sing to praise God -- that's what the hymns are for when we sing them in church: We use them to tell God how thankful we are for everything he's given to us. There's a very long book in the Bible that is full of ancient hymns. Do you know what it is? (allow answers) It's the book of Psalms. There are hymns in there from King David, who killed Goliath with his sling, and all kinds of people from the Old Testament -- a long time before Jesus. Jesus might have sung some of the psalms the same way we sing hymns in church or Bible songs in Bible school or Sunday school. How else can we rejoice in God? (allow answers) We can pray to God and tell him, "Thank you!" for all of our gifts and blessings. What are some of your gifts and blessings that you want to thank God for? (allow answers)
Another way we can rejoice in God is paying attention during church. Church is a way for people to praise God together every week. We are praising God when we go to Sunday school and Bible school and when we listen to the church service and the prayers. We can praise God when we give money during the offering in church or in Sunday school.
There's one more really easy way to praise God and rejoice. I know you can all do this. Ready? The easiest way to praise God is to smile! God has given us many wonderful blessings -- and our ability to smile and make other people feel good is one of the best blessings he has given! So all this week, remember to "rejoice" that you can sing and make music to God (shake tambourine), pray to God, cheer for God, and smile! Amen.
