Each JWL lesson has a collectable card alongside high-quality character images and a colouring page that links to each lesson. (Psalm lesson have no hero card and are predominantly colouring pages) Click on the images below to see a larger version. Save the images by right click + ‘save image as’ (computers) OR long press + ‘save image’ (mobile).
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Kids love puppet crafts and nestled in the reading for Psalm 107 is verse 22 is probably my favourite, “Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy.” It just begs a response, not just of Joy but of a shout. That’s where this craft comes from. It’s most likely the simplest form of puppet there is.
This week we look at Psalm 107. I’ve only used part of the Psalm, but older groups may want to read the whole thing. It’s a song that turns suffering into praise. Accepting there will be suffering, there will be bad things, but that God can save us from them is part of the trials of discovering life. Teaching children that God does not promise us a life of ease is an important part of developing their faith into something that is lasting.
These psalm lessons follow the Lectionary passages for the six weeks of year B Lent.
This retold version of the Bible passage is supplied for inspiration, feel free to omit or embellish to give it your personal voice.
We are going to read a song, a song Jesus may have sung with his friends, a song from the book of songs to be sung – the book called Psalms. Have you ever been rescued? How did you feel afterwards? Did you thank the person who saved you? God’s people were always getting into trouble, and God kept saving them, again and again. This is a song of joy to thank God for being the one who always saves his people.
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that he has redeemed them from the power of the foe 3 and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south
Pause – Wow! In those few lines God tells us three things: God’s love never ever runs out, there is nothing so big that God can’t save us from it, and we can never get too far from God to be saved.
19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent his word and healed them; he rescued them from their traps. 21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. 22 Let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices and announce his works with shouts of joy.
Do you think when they sung that song they shouted the last bit? There is so much to celebrate about God’s faithful love. It never leaves us, it never gives up or fades away; it never stops working. God wanted to save us so much he came down from heaven. Jesus came to save us, to show us a bigger picture of the love of God, to win the war over darkness. How can we join the celebration and thank God today?
Psalm 19 starts with the heavens, the sun, and it’s ‘tent’, the creation crying out the glory of God. Then it switches suddenly and looks not out the window but down to the written word, the messages of God wrapped up in feeble letters and wobbly grammar. All these games take their inspiration directly from those ideas and specific verses in the text.
There can be multiple winners and losers, everyone has until the count of 10 after each rule is announced before the winner is announced. Read 1 rule and say go! Judge the winner on all 5 rules. Reveal another rule and repeat. Rules: 1. Look at the leaders. 2. Touch something red. 3. Stand on one leg. 4. Smile. 5. Be silent. Link: We have the best life when we know all the instructions, seeing the sun was not enough.
Follow the sun
Under 7’s
Small group
No Setup time
Quiet game
Space needed
Dim the room and use a large flashlight on the walls. Have the youngsters stretch their body towards the light. Link: verse 1 “The heavens declare the glory of God.”
Psalm Beat
Ages 7+
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Can be seated
Using a small section of words from the Psalm as lyrics, have the youngsters make up a tune or a beat to sing the words. Add percussion instruments and work in pairs. Link: Psalms were songs sung not read.
Charades
Ages 7+
Any size group
No Setup time
Noisy game
Can be seated
A classic game of no words and lots of mime Link: Verse 3 “There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard.”
Psalm 119 is very visual, behind the scripture there is a picture painted of a world that reveals the fingerprints of the creator. This craft holds the idea of a written picture in tension by seeing both the scroll of text and the world that it describes.
To make this craft, you will need the 1-page template printout, scissors, and colouring pens or pencils.
Add some colour to your design. You don’t need to do this first, but you may find it easier. The final pictures are at the base of the page to help you.
Cut the central box out.
Fold in a zigzag along the vertical lines.
View from one side to see the scripture scroll, view from the other side to see God’s creation – both tell us about the Glory of God!
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