Children’s Worship 5.10.20
Dear Parents,
Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home! Today we are reminded of how God shows us His power in many different ways. Jesus took care of people and helped those who needed Him. When Jesus healed the blind man, it showed God’s power to everyone. We, too, and our children can think of some ways we see God’s power in our own lives. Brainstorm with children different areas in their lives where they see God’s power. For example: “I see God’s power in my family. I see God’s power in the healthy body He made for me. I see God’s power in the friends I have in my life.” God’s power is everywhere. Let’s help our children to see God’s power in their lives.
Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com
OVERVIEW:
Activity One: Watch the video. This video is provided by the curriculum we are using,
Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts
Worship
Activity Three: Respond to the story by doing an art or serve project. Pray together.
Activity Four: Bless your children
EQUIP:
(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.)
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:1–3).
The narrative continues with Jesus healing the man and giving him sight. His life was completely transformed. In Jewish culture of the time, most trades would be very difficult to perform without sight. The testimony of the blind man’s neighbors indicates that this man couldn’t practice a trade. Instead, he sat and begged.
This healing wasn’t just the gift of sight; it was also the gift of dignity and purpose. The man was now free to learn a skill, a trade that could take him off the street—freed from a life of begging and dependence upon the compassion of those who passed by. With his sight, he had a new position within his community. This man was now known by something other than his blindness.
Scripture tells us the people in the man’s community questioned him about what had happened. The religious leaders didn’t intimidate the blind man. When questioned, he answered boldly and with confidence in the truth. When he was thrown out of the synagogue, he was met by Jesus and proclaimed his faith in Him as Lord. The man who was once a blind beggar was now a man with physical and spiritual sight. He was completely transformed as a result of knowing Jesus and experiencing the power of God in his life. His new life was now on display for the world to see and know the power of God.
Read John 9:1–12.
How ridiculous would it have been for this man, who was given sight, to return the very next day to the place where he would sit and beg? If he were to wake up the next morning, put on his beggar’s clothes, and place a blindfold around his eyes, wouldn’t you think he was crazy? At the very least, you’d have to think he was completely unaware of his transformation.
Pause for just a moment and think. Is there any area in your life where you’re still wearing beggar’s clothes? Are you living with the feeling of being trapped by circumstance or how you once lived? If we looked to the Lord Jesus as our model for all our life, how different would life be? How would our lives impact the lives of others? Would we be known by the things that enslaved us, or by the One who had freed us?
This week, as you’re preparing for this lesson, may God reveal to you just how special you are. Ask Him to release you from the things that bind you and keep you from living in the freedom He has given you. May the power of our Lord be on display within your heart and in your life.
Activity 1: STORY
Watch video.
Activity 2: DISCUSSION
In today’s part of The Big God Story, we heard just how powerful God can be in our lives. God made you special. He gave you everything you have so other people can see His love and power in your life.
I wonder … What would have happened to the blind man if Jesus hadn’t stopped and healed him?
I wonder … What did the blind man think when Jesus put mud on his eyes?
I wonder … What was the first thing the blind man saw?
I wonder … When have I seen God do something powerful?
These questions can easily extend into the rest of the week. Look for opportunities to bring conversations about how God Saves into your everyday life as a family.
Worship Songs:
New one:
”He’s Able”
Former worship songs all in one place:
“He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” (not the super traditional one, but we were looking for one with “the wind and the rains” lyric- feel free to just sing it, but include that verse!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXrqnfcW_Y8
“I Will Make You Fishers of Men”
“Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat”
“Tell the World That Jesus Loves You”
“Every Move I Make”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPvnZILn6EY
“I Will Praise the Lord”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5EC22vjUdg
“Were You There?“
“One, Two, Three”
“Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”
“Hosanna Rock”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5582z642wFY
“Shout Hosanna”
“The Children Cry Hosanna”
“Who You Say I Am”
“Hey Jonah, Jonah” to the tune of “Jesus Loves Me”
Jonah, Jonah have you heard?
Said the Lord, go preach my Word.
Jonah said, “That’s not for me!”
Took a ship and fled to sea.
Chorus:
Hey Jonah, Jonah,
Hey Jonah, Jonah,
Hey Jonah, Jonah,
You should obey the Lord.
Though he thought he’d get away
Soon the ship began to sway
Jonah said, “It’s for my sin,
Pick me up and throw me in!”
Chorus
When it seemed that he would drown,
Came a fish and gulped him down,
Jonah said, “Lord, I’ll obey,
Tell the folks about your way!”
Chorus:
Lord, I’ll obey you.
Lord, I’ll obey you.
Lord, I’ll obey you.
I will obey the Lord.
“This Little Light of Mine” by Listener Kids:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkbIZtqhyQ
Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY
Mud Painting or Chocolate Pudding Painting
Jesus instructed the blind man to put mud on his eyes and wash them in the river. When the man obeyed, his sight was restored. Children can finger paint with chocolate pudding to get a feel for the consistency of mud and act out the story as you read. Give them a picture of a face outline and tell them to spread “mud” on the eyes when you read that part. When the man washes in the river and receives his sight, ask the children to wipe the “mud” away and shout, “Thank you Jesus! I can see!”
Blindfold
You can give children a small taste of blindness by letting them make a blindfold. Cut an eye mask from poster board and punch a hole on both sides. Tie a string through both holes to fit the size of the child’s head. Ask the children to put the masks on and give them some simple tasks such as eat a snack, drink juice or walk to the door. Discuss how it feels to do everyday tasks without being able to see. Read Jesus’ instructions to the blind man. Have the children say, “I will obey Jesus,” and pretend to wash their faces in water and remove the mask. Try the tasks again and compare the relative difficulty of accomplishing them with and without sight.
Coloring Page:
Friends, Jesus is God. Jesus showed His disciples that He is powerful and that they can follow Him by trusting and obeying Him. All week, you can ask Jesus to show you how to trust and obey Him more and more too.
Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING
A blessing to pray over your child(ren):
Explain that they’ll receive a blessing and can place their hands out and open in front of themselves, as if cupping them together to hold water. This is simply a posture that demonstrates they’re ready to receive from God.
May God give you the strength and courage to put your faith into action as you see His power at work in your life.
