A Holy Moment (Psalm 95:1-7)

Scripture

Psalm 95:1-7

Summary

In this intimate, active lesson, students will learn that God is holy and should be praised as such, as well as the sanctity of the church’s sanctuary and the holiness of worshiping God in His sanctuary.

(I’ve never used this, and I’m a person who believes that the holiest place is not a particular room of the church, but anywhere that believers are gathered in the name of Jesus. However, I have been to churches where they treat the sanctuary (pews, etc.) like every other room, neither giving respect to it, nor treating it as a place of worship, so this would be a good lesson for students like that).

Materials Needed

• Candles with drip guards
• A 3X5 card with “GOD” written on it

Preparation

• Place the candles in a circle on the floor in your church sanctuary
• Have your kids sit in a circle surrounding the candles

Activity

1. Hold the GOD card in your hand and say:
   “When you’re given this card, tell the group about a time you experienced God’s holiness. After you’ve shared, hand the card to someone who hasn’t yet shared. I’ll give you time to think, but if you haven’t spoken within a minute or so after receiving the card, I’ll ask if you’d like to pass.”
2. Ask the group to stand up and follow you in single file.
3. Tell them you’re going on a hunt for holy places in your church. Wander throughout your church (classrooms, bathrooms, closets, offices, and so on) and end the hunt at the door to your sanctuary. Ask kids to sit where they usually sit during the worship service. (They’ll probably spread out.)
4. Ask:
   
   1. “What were you thinking when we started out looking for holy places in our church?”
      
   2. “What was the most holy place?”
      
   3. “Is this a holier place than other places in the church? Why or why not?”
      “What makes this place different than other places in the church?”
      
   4. Do those differences dictate that we should act differently in this place than in other places, such as home or school? Why or why not?”
5. Ask the students to gather around the candles again.
   • Have them each take a candle.
   • Turn out the lights, and light your one candle.
6. Read aloud Psalm 95:1-7.
7. Pass the light to the person beside you, and have kids continue passing the light until all candles are lit.
8. Re-read verses 6-7.
9. Say:
   “Let’s be absolutely still. The psalmist tells us to bow down in worship and kneel before the Lord. Let’s do that.”
   (Ask everyone to get on their knees.) The psalmist says we belong to God and God takes care of us.
   “Think of your candle as God’s light reflecting on you. What would you like to say to God at this moment? I’ll start us off…”
10. When kids finish praying, ask them to sit in silence for one minute. At the end of the silence ask them to blow out their candles, but keep absolutely quiet. Ask them to follow you in silence back to your meeting area.

50

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