I Won’t Stop Praising God

Host

Welcome to the Lab! Let’s begin today with a pretty silly game.

Co-Host

In this game, the kids will take turns walking along this line, blindfolded. Here’s the trick. There are Whoopee Cushions spread along the line. If you step on a Whoopee Cushion as you walk, not only will you make an embarrassing noise, but you’ll also be out of the game.

Host

Let’s see if you can make it all the way to the end without making a peep or, well, another type of sound.

Host

That was a noisy game. Congrats to our winner(s). Could you imagine stepping on those all throughout the school day?

Co-Host

That could be really embarrassing! Today we will hear about a King who was not so easily embarrassed.

Host

His story is a great example for us. It's time to check up on Herman and Rusty in the lab but first, tell someone nearby what is more embarrassing in class - a big sneeze or loud hiccups.

Co-Host

Does anyone think that Ethel should listen to Skip’s advice?

Host

Listening to Skip’s advice will not help Ethel. In fact, it will probably hurt her because Skip is not a wise person.

Co-Host

We need wise advice. Let’s check out our Big Point to find out what wise truth the Bible teaches. I need a volunteer to help us reveal it.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, please read the Big Point.

Host

Let’s all say it together, I Won’t Stop Praising God! Yep, Skip gave Ethel the opposite advice. He made her feel like she would be embarrassed if she praised God in public.

Co-Host

No one likes to feel embarrassed. When I was a kid in school, it felt like anything I did could invite kids to pick on me or call me a name.

Host

Let’s do a quick poll of the audience. We’ll give you two scenarios, and you tell us which one you think is more embarrassing.

Co-Host

If you choose number one, hold up one arm. If you think number two is more embarrassing, hold up two arms.

• Spilling your lunch on your clothes or accidentally burping when you answer the teacher

• Passing gas loudly in class or throwing up in the hallway

• Shouting out the wrong answer or calling the teacher, “Mom”

• Being picked last to be on a team or getting caught picking your nose

• Your stomach growling loudly or snorting when you laugh

• Having to speak in front of the whole class or the teacher gets on to you in front of everyone

Host

Have you ever wondered why we get embarrassed? It’s because we are afraid of what others will think about us. We’re worried that other kids or adults might think negative thoughts because of something we do or say.

Co-Host

That’s why some people would prefer that no one knows that they worship God. They worry that others might think something negative if they do something that honors God. That keeps them from praising God.

Host

God loves you, and He has done the most amazingly good things for you. He deserves our praise. If we honor and worship God and someone thinks that’s bad, that’s not our problem. That person is the one with the wrong idea. We just keep on doing the right thing and praising God.

Co-Host

Let’s see if Ethel will make the right choice.

Host

Ethel won the competition. I’m surprised she beat out all of the other dancers.

Co-Host

I’m more surprised that she listened to Skip’s advice. I think she knows that the better choice was following the Big Point. Let’s say it again,

Co-Host

I Won’t Stop Praising God!

Host

Sophia shared a great Big Verse from the Bible. Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal it.

Co-Host

After we count down from three, we need you to read the verse.

Co-Host

Psalm 150:6 (NIrV) says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” King David wrote that Psalm because he believed that praising God is important, more important than what other people think.

Host

Let’s do a little experiment with our breath. I need a lab assistant to help us with the experiment. (Choose an assistant) Let’s make a solution in this jar. Pour this distilled water into the beaker. Mix in this calcium oxide.

Co-Host

Use this dropper to drop in several drops of phenolphthalein. Watch what happens to the water. (The water solution turns pink)

Host

Put the straw into the beaker. Don’t suck up the water; instead, blow your breath out into the water.

Co-Host

Your breath turned the water clear. You used it to change the solution. We use our breath to praise God because praise makes a difference. In the Old Testament, the part of the Bible that talks about the time before Jesus came, the Israelites used their praises to win battles.

Host

Don’t let the others’ comments or criticism stop you from praising God. Praise and worship are important. They show our love and appreciation for God and are an act of obedience. It’s a wise choice to let our praises out anytime and anyplace. Let’s use our breath to bring God some praise now.

I want to invite you guys to stand up. Sometimes we worry about what the person beside us is thinking. We wonder if they’ll make fun if we sing too loudly or laugh if we do the motions. What if we sang this next song and didn’t care what anyone else thought? What if we sing and we do it with all our hearts, just like David did? I think you might be surprised at what happens when you praise God. Let’s pray, and then let’s praise God. (Pray)

Co-Host

Ethel ignored Skip and changed her tune. She gave God praise instead of hiding what she thought.

Host

She was like King David. I can’t believe that his wife was so mean to him for praising God. He didn’t let her unkind words stop him from following our Big Point,

Host

I Won’t Stop Praising God!

Co-Host

That’s a story you can share with your family when you do this week’s Big Do.

Host

Have a family dance competition. You can declare a winner by who dances the best, the silliest, or the longest. Have fun with it, then talk about why we don’t have to be embarrassed to praise God.

Co-Host

Let’s have a little dance competition right now. I need everyone to stand up and pair up with a friend or even two friends. Here’s how this works. Link up your arms. When the music plays, dance as crazy and silly and you can. Move your arms and legs. Spin around. Keep moving and don’t let go of your friend. Whenever the music stops, you must freeze in the position until the music plays again.

Host

If you move even a centimeter while frozen, you’re out. Let’s play.

Host

Let’s turn and connect with our Small Groups and talk about today’s lesson.

• Have you ever felt like Ethel did today and wanted to hide what you thought about God? Why? Why was it a bad idea for Ethel to make that choice? Praise honors God. He’s done a lot for us and He loves us, so we should give God praise from a thankful heart.

• How would you react if your best friend spoke to you like King David’s wife spoke to him? What did King David choose to do? He promised to keep praising God, even if others said he embarrassed them. David cared about what God thought most.

• What could you say to someone who doesn’t agree with your choice to praise and honor God? Obeying God is the most important thing to me. It’s ok if we disagree, but I’m still choosing to obey and honor God

• What did Herman tell us to do with our families in the Big Do? Have a family dance competition. Talk about why we don’t need to feel embarrassed when we praise God

• Our Big Point says I Won’t _____ Praising God!

  • Stop

  • Keep

• Which item did King David bring back to city in the story?

  • Golden cup

  • The Ark of the Covenant

• What did David do as the Ark was carried to Jerusalem?

  • Walked silently

  • Danced and praised

• How did King David’s wife feel about his dancing?

  • Love it

  • Hated him

• If others are embarrassed that we love God, then we should be quiet and say nothing.

  • True

  • False

• Psalm 150:6 (NIrV), “Let everything that has _____ praise the Lord.”

  • Breath

  • Eyes

• What is something God deserves to be praised for?

• What did King David tell his wife he would do after he heard how she hated his praise?

  • He promised to keep worshipping

  • He offered to stop

• What could you say this week if someone doesn’t like your praise?

• What challenge did Herman give us as this week’s Big Do?Have a dance party with your family and talk about why we don’t need to feel embarrassed to praise God