ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH CHILDREN’S SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR 22ND OCTOBER, 2023.

TARGET:

To help the child realise that God expects him/her to worship Him through the means of songs and other forms of poetry and poetic activities.

During and after the lesson, each child will show that he/she understands the lesson by:

1. Singing a song that will help him/her tell God that he/she loves Him and honours Him.

2. Praying and telling God how wonderful He is.

3. Remembering two examples in the Bible when God did wonders because people did what today’s lesson calls on people to do.

4. Enumerating the Books of poetry in the Old Testament.

OUTLINE:

1. A Call to worship God – Psalm 95:1-6

A. Why God Should Be Worshipped- vv 3-5

B. How God Should Be Worshipped – vv 1-2, 6

2. A Song of Thanksgiving to God – Ps 100:1-5

A. Why Give God Thanks – verses 3, 5

B. How to Give Thanks – verses 1-2, 4

INTRODUCTION:

Do you know any poem? Your answer may be no maybe because of the word “poem”. You may think it is strange and difficult. But that is not true. Poem is what you know well. When you were in the kindergarten or nursery school, you learnt many poems. Some of them you sang as songs and some you simply recited. An example is Twinkle, twinkle, little star. All the songs you sing both in church and elsewhere all come under what is known as poetry.

Do you know that the Bible has poetry? Some of the poems in the Bible were used for singing by the Israelites. Certain books in the Bible are poetry and such books Include Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs. They are the poetic books.

This week, we shall look at two songs or poems in the Book of the psalms as examples of poetry. It was King David who wrote many of the psalms in the Book of Psalms. They were used in worship to God. Psalms are poems written as songs of praise, so many of them are songs of praise.

1. A Call to Worship God – Psalm 95:1-6

Worship is taking time to appreciate God for who He is and what He can do. He is appreciated for the things He has already done and the things He will still do. In worshipping the Lord, one is responding to God with reverence, praise, and joy.

In addition to praying and giving, singing is a way to worship the Lord. In verse 1 of Psalm 95, David calls on everybody to come and join him in singing songs of praise to the Lord and come before His presence with thanksgiving.

Praise and worship are the spiritual food believers give to God. Refusing to worship and praise Him is refusing to give God His food. But it is only those whose hearts are pure that can worship God effectively – in spirit and truth.

The reason God should be worshipped is that He is the great God. The heathens have the god of this and the god of that. But God is the King above all of them, above all other gods. He holds the deeps and the mountains, hills and seas are all His. He owns the peoples of the world. He made them all. He is the God of the universe. He speaks to everything and controls everything.

The way to worship God includes:

a. Singing to the Lord.

b. Thanking Him.

C. Shouting joyfully to the Lord with psalms. That is, songs.

d. Bowing down before Him.

e. Kneeling before Him.

Singing is poetry and it is a means of expressing thanks to God. He expects thanks, which is grateful praise from people all over the Earth. Joyful noise and songs are to be the response for God and what He does.

The first reason to be thankful is that the Lord is God. He made man. Man did not make himself. God made him as a sheep of His pasture. The second reason to be thankful is that the Lord is good. He is faithful to His people. His mercy is forever and His truth lasts from one generation to another generation.

David says people should shout joyfully to the Lord. They should serve the Lord with gladness in His presence. They should enter His gates and courts with thanksgiving and praise. They should be thankful and bless His name.

In songs we remember that God created us and redeemed us. We remember that we are now His people and He is our Shepherd. We sing of His love and faithfulness that will remain forever. Let us, indeed, always come to Him with joyful songs. Let His Word help us to worship Him.

His Words will help us focus on God and His works. The Psalms and many other Bible verses are words of praise spoken to God. We can take some of the things and pray them back to God in worship.

For instance using our text, Psalm 95, we can say: “Lord, I will come and sing to you”. I will shout joyfully to you, the Rock of my salvation..” But, hearts that are obedient to Him must accompany our praise and worship.

1. What is worship? Except

(A) Worship is taking time to appreciate God for who He is not, what He cannot do, for the things He has already done, and the things He will still do

(B) Worship is taking time to appreciate God for who He is, what He can do, for the things He has already done, and the things He will still do.

(C) Worship is taking time to appreciate God for who He is, what He can do, and the things He will never do.

(D) Worship is taking time to appreciate God for who He is, and the things He may do.

2. Why should God be worshipped?

(A) He is the great God.

(B) He is disliked by sinners

(C) He loves sinners

(D) He loves you.

3. How should God be worshipped?

(A) Through singing, giving thanks, shouting joyfully,

(B) A and D

(C) Through prayer.

(D) bowing down, and kneeling before God.

4. Why should God be giving thanks?

(A) B and C

(B) Because the Lord is God. He made man .Also, because the Lord is good, He is faithful to His people.

(C) His mercy is forever and His truth lasts from one generation to another generation.

(D) None of the above.

DAILY BIBLE DOSE

Monday: Sing for Joy – Psalm 95:1

Tuesday: The Lord Is the Great God – Psalm 95:3, 4

Wednesday: Kneel Before the Lord – Psalm 95:6

Thursday: We Belong to God – Psalm 100:3

Friday: Enter His Courts with Praise – Psalm 100:4

Saturday: God’s Faithfulness Is Forever – Psalm 100:5