Sing Praises

Children's Message

INTRODUCTION

Does the summer seem too long? Are the dog days barking at you and your congregation? Maybe it is time for a praise break! The songbook of the people of God can be a refresher, an encourager, or even a challenge that our faith needs from time to time. We invite you to take this short three-week pause from the busyness of a summer of activities to remind yourselves that the God we worship and the Christ we follow are with us every step of the way. And the only appropriate response to encountering the divine among us is to sing, to shout, to declare our praise. Enjoy a Praise Break! The bell teaches children that praise is how our bodies respond when we notice God’s love—quietly, joyfully, and together.

The bell teaches children that praise is how our bodies respond when we notice God’s love—quietly, joyfully, and together. 

Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b

Psalm 105:1-6, New International Reader's Version

105 Give praise to the Lord and announce who he is.
Tell the nations what he has done.
² Sing to him, sing praise to him.
Tell about all the wonderful things he has done.
³ Praise him, because his name is holy.
Let the hearts of those who trust in the Lord be glad.
⁴ Seek the Lord and the strength he gives.
Always seek him.

⁵ Remember the wonderful things he has done.
Remember his miracles and how he judged our enemies.
⁶ Remember what he has done, you children of his servant Abraham.
Remember it, you people of Jacob, God's chosen ones.

Psalm 105:16-22, New International Reader's Version

¹⁶ He made the people in the land go hungry.
He destroyed all their food supplies.
¹⁷ He sent a man ahead of them into Egypt.
That man was Joseph. He had been sold as a slave.
¹⁸ The Egyptians put his feet in chains.
They put an iron collar around his neck.
¹⁹ He was in prison until what he said would happen came true.
The word of the Lord proved that he was right.
²⁰ The king of Egypt sent for Joseph and let him out of prison.
The ruler of many nations set him free.
²¹ He put Joseph in charge of his palace.
He made him ruler over everything he owned.
²² Joseph was in charge of teaching the princes.
He taught the elders how to think and live wisely.

Psalm 105:45, New International Reader's Version

⁴⁵ He did it so they might obey his rules
and follow his laws.

Praise the Lord.

New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Object: 

A bell

Message:

Friends, do you remember this bell from last week? What did it help us do? (Allow children to answer: listen, notice, be quiet.) Today, the bell has another job.

The psalm we heard today says, "Give praise to the Lord. Tell about the wonderful things God has done. Sing to God!" That means praise is not quietly hiding praise; it's praise we share.

Let's think together for a moment. What is something good that happened this week? It doesn't have to be big. It could be something small, like a hug, a favorite snack, a funny moment, or a sunny day. (Invite several responses.)

Every time we name something good, we're going to ring the bell. (Ring once after each response.) Listen carefully. That sound doesn't disappear right away, does it?
It rings… and then it fades… but it comes back again. That's what God's goodness is like.

God's goodness doesn't just show up once and leave. It keeps coming back, again and again and again. The psalm we heard today tells the story of people who had a really hard time. Some were hungry. Some were far from home. Some were stuck in places they didn't want to be. Those people might have wondered, "Did God forget us?"

But God didn't!

God helped them step by step.
God stayed with them.
And later, when the people told those stories again, they didn't whisper them.

They sang them.
They shared them.
They praised God together.

Let's try that now.

When I ring the bell, you can say, "Thank you, God!" Or you can say, "Praise the Lord!" (Practice once. Ring the bell and invite responses multiple times.)

Listen to all those voices. Do you hear how different they sound? Some are loud. Some are quiet. Some are excited. That's what praise sounds like.

Many voices. Many stories. One God, who keeps showing up with goodness.

Prayer:

God, thank you for the good things you do. Help us remember and praise you together.
Amen.

Praise Break: Between-the-Sundays Family Practices

Threaded Object: A bell (or any gentle sound: phone chime, spoon on mug, wind chime)

Families: If you don't have a bell, any soft sound will work. The point is noticing, remembering, and praising together.

Week 2 – Sing Praises

Theme: Remembering and Telling God's Goodness

Conversation Starters

• What was one good thing that happened today? Share with other family members.
• Who helped you this week?
• What is something you're thankful for right now?

Activity: "Bell of Thanks"

During dinner or bedtime:

1. Place the bell in the center of the table or room.
2. Take turns naming something you are thankful for.
3. After each person shares, everyone says together:
   "Thank you, God," and someone rings the bell.

Optional extension:

• Let children draw a picture of one thing they thanked God for and place it near the bell.

Simple Prayer

God, thank you for the good things you give us.
Help us remember and share them with joy.
Amen.