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Praise Psalms: a children's sermon

This children's story on praise Psalms using Ps 107 breaks several of my "How To" rules for children's stories because I used the long children's story itself as the sermon and the rest of the worship service was use for reading and creative interaction with various Psalms of praise.

_______

What’s a Psalm?

  • Poem or song 
  • Talking to God or about God
  • Collection of them in the Bible

A couple weeks ago Hank talked about Vengeance Psalms where people told God how angry they were, and Joe lifted weights, and then we wrote or drew on pieces of paper. 

What other types of emotions do you think people might write or sing to God in the Psalms?

  • Highest joy
  • Lowest sadness
  • Begging God for help
  • Praise
  • Telling God Thanks


We have room to share our whole self with God no matter what our emotions are if we are angry or sad or happy. The people who wrote the Bible did! Whether it was one person, or a whole church.

I was thinking about Thanksgiving this week. We can be thankful to God for all the amazing things God has given us-- like bodies, and families, and food, and life, and flowers-- we can be Thankful no matter if we feel happy or sad or scared or angry. We can still give God Thanks. 

Even when Abby has a sad day at school she says, “Thank you, Mama,” at supper for feeding her. And when Ellie has a really amazing day at school she says, “Thank you, Mama” when I read her a book. Right?

SO, How do we give Thanks to God?

  • Prayer
  • Offering 
  • Singing
  • Following God’s instructions


I want to try 4 ways to give thanks today. Can you help me?

Listen first to the 4 ways.
Still bodies
Moving bodies
Quiet voices
Loud voices

First, let’s try really still bodies. Let’s spread out and bow before God. Try feeling very Thankful in your heart. We can do this any time we pray.

Okay, the first way to give thanks to God was still bodies. In a second, let’s try moving bodies. In a minute I am going to read part of a Thanksgiving Psalm, #107, and we are going to use our bodies to praise, just like the people in the Psalm.

First let’s practice the actions

Travel in ships: row
Carry
Witness
Windstorm
Reach up
Drop
Sway and stagger
Cry out (in distress)
Become calm
Rejoice
Give thanks



Psalm 107 23-31
Some traveled on the sea in ships,
and carried cargo over the vast waters.

They witnessed the acts of the Lord,
his amazing feats on the deep water.

He gave the order for a windstorm,
and it stirred up the waves of the sea.

They reached up to the sky,
then dropped into the depths.
The sailors’ strength left them because the danger was so great.

They swayed and staggered like a drunk,
and all their skill proved ineffective.

They cried out to the Lord in their distress;
he delivered them from their troubles. 

He calmed the storm,
and the waves grew silent.

The sailors rejoiced because the waves grew quiet,
and he led them to the harbor they desired.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his loyal love,
and for the amazing things he has done for people!

Come back and sit. CALM.

Okay, we tried the first two ways to thank God: still bodies and moving bodies. Let’s try the last 2 ways: quiet voice and loud voice.

Ethan is going to come up for us and play the guitar when we are ready. This is the chorus to a song. When we are singing if you want to use your bodies and raise your hands or dance you can do that. 
Whisper together
Say  together
Sing together
Sing louder together
Sing really loud together

Every blessing You pour out I'll
Turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name


I want to pray together. Repeat after me.
God, thank you…
For loving us…
Help us…
Follow you...




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