Psalms 1
Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
For more on the lesson click here!
For more on the lesson click here!
Did you know that the Bible tells us that there are two kinds of people? Those who love God and follow his commands are considered “blessed” and those who do not follow God’s commands and hurt other people are called “wicked.”Let us read what the Bible says about blessed people and wicked people.Psalm 1: 1-21 Blessed is the onewho does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners takeor sit in the company of mockers,2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,and who meditates on his law day and night.Question: Does anyone know what the word “meditate” means?“Meditate” means that a person thinks really hard about something; they spend a lot of time focusing upon that thought. Meditation involves more than just the brain. It also involves the heart. We just read that a man meditates about God and his law. This means that the man really loves God and wants to please Him. In fact, the Bible says…vPsalm 1: 33 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.Wow! A person whom loves God is like a strong tree. Imagine a great and beautiful tree covered in green leaves. It is so wonderful to love God. God delights in us when we think about Him; God wants us to be like that strong tree by the flowing stream of water. It’s like the rainforest. There is a lot of life there.However, we should avoid being like the wicked. Lets see what the Bible says about the wicked.Psalm 1: 4-64 Not so the wicked! They are like chaffthat the wind blows away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.Chaff is a very dry plant. Has you ever picked up a dead and dry leaf then crumpled it up? What happened? The leaf broke up in many pieces and the wind may have blown them away. The Bible tells us that bad people, the ones that don’t love God, are like a dry plant that the wind blows away.We don’t want to be like people that blow aimlessly in the wind. We want to be stable people; people that are planted strongly by streams of water. Remember what the last verse says, “For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction” (verse 6). It is comforting to know that God watches over those that love Him.Psalm 1 Gospel ConnectionThe stream by the tree has life. Jesus, likewise, calls himself living water (John 4:10).Jesus says in John 4:13-14, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”Jesus is explaining that he can give eternal life. Eternal life is given when we put our faith in Jesus; he is the only way we can become righteous. Without Jesus we would remain wicked, and remain dry like a crumpled up leaf.Jesus offers us eternal life through him and him alone. We cannot create goodness within ourselves; without Jesus’ salvation, we would remain like a desert. With Jesus’ salvation we are like a tree planted by streams of water. We are healthy and living like a rainforest.Follow-up QuestionsDoes anyone remember what chaff is?Are wicked people or righteous people like chaff?Does anyone remember what the word “mediate” means?Is it good to mediate on God and the Bible? Why?Why do you think Jesus describes himself as water?Do the words “life” and “water” go together?
Activities
Activities
Craft 1 -
Craft 1 -
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
construction paper
green/blue/red tissue paper
glue
scissors
markers
Get the details by clicking here!
Instructions:
-Give each child a sheet of brown construction paper and have them trace their hand all the way down to their forearm so that it is a tall tree with branches.
- Have the kids cut out their hand print and glue it down to a white or blue piece of paper.
- Have the kids glue down green pieces of tissue squares down for the leaves of the trees and blue tissue squares at the bottom of the tree to represent the stream.
- Have the kids cut out small circles from the bright paper and paste down to represent “fruit” from the tree.
-Lastly, have them write “Psalms 1:3” at the bottom of the paper.
**Refer to the photo for assistance”**
Craft 2 -
Craft 2 -
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Coffee filter
watercolor paint
brushes
red construction paper
scissors
glue
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Directions:
-Give each child a piece of red construction paper and have them cut out an apple shape. (There will be a template they can use to trace and cut it out if they need)
- Next give each child a coffee filter and have them cut out an apple shape a little smaller than the red one they just cut out..
-Have them decorate their coffee filter using water colors.
-Have them paste the coffee filter on top of the red apple they cut out and that is it! They can make more than one
Game 1 -
Game 1 -
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
None
Get the details by clicking here!
How to Play
How to Play
Ask the following “Do You Prefer…” questions one at a time:
– Chocolate or Vanilla
– Ironman or Batman
– Summer or Winter
– Red or Blue
– Cats or Dogs
– Day or Night
– Movies or Games
– Saturdays or Sundays
– Noisy or Quiet
– Burgers or Pizzas
After each question, players move to either the left or right side of the room, depending on their answers. You can make your own choices/questions up and play as long as you like!
Game 2 -
Game 2 -
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Legos
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Books of the Bible Game
Divide into two teams, have one kid at a time run down and retrieve a lego piece for their team and bring it back. As a group they will work to stack together the books of the Bible in order. The first team to do this correctly wins.
Game 3 -
Game 3 -
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
None
Get the details by clicking here!
How to Play
How to Play
The leader starts the music and everyone dances.
When the music stops, everyone stops moving and become statues.
The leader goes around trying to make the “statues” laugh. (No touching!)
Anyone who laughs or moves is eliminated and joins the leader in trying to make the other statues laugh.
The last remaining statue wins that round, gets a prize and becomes the leader for the next round.
Tip
Tip
If you are playing in a large group, instead of having one single winner for each round, you may speed up the game by making the last 3-5 statues remaining the joint winners for that round and co-leaders for the next round.
Activity 1 - Dance It Out
Activity 1 - 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**Wrap It Up!
- 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
Worship
Last Minute Filler Ideas
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)
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