Thankful Heart
Psalm 107, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his faithful love endures forever!”
Introduction
MEMORY VERSE
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the people!” 1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV)
INTRO:
Ever since you were small children, you parents have taught you a simple courtesy. When someone gives you something, what two words do you say?
“Thank you.” Those two words are drilled into our heads. We learn the words, “Thank you” almost as fast as we learn, “Mom”, “Dad”, and “No.” Saying, “Thank you” is a common courtesy we extend to everyone, from the people who serve us in restaurants to our grandparents. We expect it when we do something nice for someone else. But how often do we mean it? Is saying thanks just something we do out of habit, or do we really mean it when we say, “Thank you?”
When we stop to think about the things we have been given and the givers of those gifts, we have much to be thankful for, and in the next few weeks, we’ll talk about many of the reasons we have to be thankful - and how we can best show our thanks.
One of the most important things we can be thankful for is the God who created us. God made each one of us unique. He gave us the family he did in the place and time he did for a specific reason. God knew each of us before we were ever born, and he planned for us to be right where we are, right now, so that he could use us to show the world his amazing love.
In today’s scripture, we’re going to meet a man who learned first hand how God makes each one of us for a special purpose. The man’s name was Jeremiah, and he was amazed to discover that God had a special purpose for his life. Jeremiah didn’t believe it at first, but with God’s direction, he became one of the most important men in the Old Testament.
READ JEREMIAH 1
MAIN POINT:
Jeremiah came along at a time in history when God’s chosen people, Israel, had forgotten him. God had saved Israel from slavery. He had given them a land to call their own and protected them from all enemies. Yet the people rejected God and chose to worship false gods instead.
God had warned the people long ago that he would punish them if they ever forgot him. God needed a man to remind Israel of that warning, someone brave and bold who would share God’s message without fear. God chose Jeremiah for that very reason.
Jeremiah didn’t believe he had it in him to be a prophet, but when the judgment for their sin came, it was Jeremiah who reminded the people why they were being punished and showed them the way they could repent of their sin.
God made each of us for a special purpose, just as he did Jeremiah. We need to thank God for the gifts he’s given us, and we need to use our gifts to show the world God loves us.
DRIVE IT HOME:
When we receive a gift, the first words we say after, “Wow!” and, “Just what I wanted!” should always be thankful. As we discover the gifts God has given us, we need to thank him as well. When we discover a talent we have for something, like music or drama, we can thank God. When we discover a passion we have, something we enjoy doing that serves others, we can thank God as well. God loves to hear our prayers, and he really loves when we are thankful.
But saying thank you isn’t enough. If we say thank you for a gift, and we put it in the closet, what good is that gift to us or anyone else? God wants us to show we are thankful by putting our gifts and talents to use. Those who can sing can sing for God. Those who can act can act for God. Those who have a heart for serving should serve. Those with a talent for leading others and teaching should do what God made them to do. And those who have the gift of encouragement should always be on the lookout for someone who needs a pick me up.
It’s worth pointing out that God doesn’t expect us to wait until we are older to use those gifts. Remember when Jeremiah said, “I’m too young?” God told Jeremiah his age didn’t matter. God can use you, even though you are still kids, to bless others. So don’t put off using your gifts for God. God can use anyone, even kids, to show people he loves them!
God didn’t give us gifts for the simple pleasure of seeing us discover them. He wants to use us to be a part of his plan to bring salvation to the world. Just as God used Jeremiah to warn the people and show them the way back to him. God can use us to invite our friends and others to meet Jesus in person. Let us give thanks to God every day in prayer for the things he has given us. And let us show him how thankful we are by putting those gifts to work so others can give thanks to God as well.
Thanks and glory be to God, who gave us his son and so much more.
Activities
Activity 1 "Thanksgiving Gratitude Chain"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Construction paper
Scissors
Tape, glue, or stapler
Markers
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions **Click here for step by step directions with pictures**
Have kids cut strips of paper and decorate each strip by saying something they are thankful for on each one.
After they have each one filled out, they can chain them together to form a necklace.
As kids do this, let them each share what they are thankful for. Remind them how important it is to focus on the good thing and blessings that God has given us. We need to remember that even when we go through hard times. We also need to say that we are thankful when we pray!
Activity 2 "Thanksgiving Turkey Puppet"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Feathers
Glue
Googley eyes
Paper bags
Markers
Construction paper for beak & nose
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions:
Give each kid a paper bag and have them write what they are thankful for on the front (make sure you look at the picture and have them write on the correct side!)
Have them glue on eyes and feathers as seen in the picture.
Have them cut out a beak and paste it down as shown in the picture.
Activity 3 "Kids’ Gobble, Gobble"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Blindfolds
Tape for the floor
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions:
This Thankful game is kind of like Blindman’s Bluff, okay, it’s a lot like it but it is hilarious. You will need a good blindfold and of course, two lines on the floor. The lines should be at least ten feet apart. The Turkey stands in the center of the room and the kids line up behind one of the lines. When the blindfolded Turkey/Kid says, “Gobble, gobble!” the kids have to sneak from one side of the line to the other but they can’t get touched by the Turkey. If they get touched by the Turkey, they have to sit out until there are no kids left. If it is too hard and the turkey needs help, you can make the area smaller until it is basically impossible for kids to cross without sneaking quietly.
Other Fun Games
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Varies depending on the game
Get the details by clicking here!
Musical Chairs
Grab the black chairs out of the closet (so that they are lighter to move around) and have the kids play musical chairs!
David, David, Goliath
This is Duck, Duck, Goose.... instead use the words "David, David, Goliath" for the game.
Cup stack races
Keep a stack of cheap plastic cups in your bag to pull out for a quick game. Two children can race each other in making the highest or biggest pyramid of upside-down cups in one minute.
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
christian just dance videos below
If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.
Wrap It Up!
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
Worship
Energy Release!
Last Minute Filler Ideas
-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.
-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)