WELCOME TO WEEK 2

Have you ever been tricked Into believing something that was not true? Maybe you believed a picture only to find out later it was a made up picture. The Israelites were not being sincere and God was not pleased. This week we will see how we can be sincere in our worship to God.

Amos 5:18-24. Matthew 25:1-13

BIBLE STORY

Sometimes people post things online or say things that are not true so that it sounds better than what it actually is. Listen to the following statements and decide which statement you think is something that could really happen or which statement is exaggerated. 

I go on vacation every week.  VS. I go on vacation every year

I have been to every country around the world.    VS.  I have been to a lot of different countries

I only eat candy for dinner.  VS  I like to eat candy for dessert

I watched a movie last night   VS   I Starred in a movie yesterday

I caught a rainbow.  VS.     I drew a picture of a rainbow

I stayed up late last night.    VS.  I stay up all night every night

I went skiing downhill at 100 mph VS I went skiing with my family

God was not pleased with the Israelites worship because it was not sincere. They did not mean the things they were say in worship because they were not living it out among the people around them. They were not taking care of the poor or the widows. God wants more than just our act of worship, He wants our hearts. God wants our worship to bee displayed in the way we treat the people around us. Otherwise the things we say do not match the things we do, but is instead an exaggeration or an insincere display.

Let’s read the Bible story for the week Amos 5:18-24

What did Amos say would happen on the day of the Lord? It will be a day of darkness and not light

Did God enjoy their festival celebrations? (No, they were a stench)

Did God accept their burnt offerings? (No, He had no regard for them)

What would roll on like a river? (Justice)

What would be like a never-ending stream? (Righteousness)

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Although Amos had to share that God was not please with their worship, there is also good news. There were consequences to the Israelites behavior but God does promise that out of the ruins of the destruction, he will restore the house of David through the messianic king and rebuild the family of God to include people from all nations. God does judge the deeds of the Israelites but He also provides a way for redemption because ultimately God wants to be in relationship with us.

Activity

Play this game of “Are you sincere?” Pick one card from each pile and say the words on the card while completing the motions given. The audience has to determine if you are being sincere based on if your actions match your words. If the actions match the words (example; smiling face while saying kind words) the audience yells out “sincere!” The audience yells out “Insincere!” If the words and actions do not match. God was not happy with Israels worship because they were not being sincere. They did the act of worship, but they did not mean it and did not treat the people around them in a way that showed they worshipped God. Our words and worship should show in the way we treat the people around us.

Materials: printed scenarios

Alternate

One way we worship is through song. We sing lyrics to songs as a way of speaking our hearts to God. When we are finished, do we take to heart the words we have sung or are they just empty words? Listen to the following lyrics to worship songs or hymns and then give an example of how we can show the true meaning of those lyrics in real life among the people around us.

1- Come thou fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace (showing grace to others)

2- God is so good…he’s so good to me (counting blessings not complaining)

3- There is only God, there is only one king, There is only one body, this is why we sing (serving only God)

Materials:

Independent activity:

Fold a sheet of construction paper in half. Think about what it means to worship with your whole heart? Our real heart has a very important job in our bodies and it can’t do it’s job halfway. If we did a job halfheartedly, it would show we did not really want to do the job or care about it. God did not like the insincere, or halfhearted way that the Israelites worshipped Him. They did not give their all but instead looked as though they were worshipping while treating others around them poorly. When we worship we want to give our all, with our actions, thoughts, words, and feelings. On one side of your sheet of paper draw what it would look like to not have one of these actions along with your worship, and then draw a picture of what worship looks like with one of these ideas being shown. How would worship look different.

Materials: construction paper, crayons

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Coloring page

Materials:printed coloring sheet, crayons or other coloring utensils

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read Matthew 25:1-13

In this story the 10 women were waiting for the bridegroom to return to start the celebration. 5 of them were prepared and had enough oil in their lamps but 5 did not. So when he bridegroom came, they were not prepared. God wants us to be like the wise 5 women who stay prepared and ready for His return. We can prepare now by giving true and honest worship just as we will worship in heaven with Him one day. We can be sure we are not like the 5 foolish women who were not prepared to meet the bridegroom.

Why were the 5 women prepared for the bridegroom?

In what ways are we sometimes like the foolish women?

How can we be prepared for when Jesus returns?

We don’t need oil to place in our lamps, but what can we have more than enough of to stay prepared?

How can you be sure you are sincere in your worship?

How can we show others around us that we worship the true God

Practical Application at Home

We can be sincere in our worship by treating others around us the way God wants. When we live the way God wants, we are worshipping God. Look for opportunities this week to display your sincere worship through your actions. There are people around you who may have lost a loved one, lost a parent, or lost a job. God wants us to show love to them not just with our words but through our actions. Think of ways to serve them, such as 

Sharing a meal together

Bringing them food

Spending time together

Helping them with chores at their house

Offering to sit with them and chat

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?