Dig In: Psalm 23

Opening:

Welcome!

Thank you for coming!

We’re learning a chapter in the Bible called Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 is the most often-quoted Psalm!

It talks about how God helps us find rest in green meadows and by peaceful streams.

Let’s add a peaceful stream to our meadow

Have kids glue their blue cellophane pieces next to one another’s in a winding row to make a stream on the green tablecloth.

You’ll continue to add to the field for a few weeks, so leave it hanging.

Let me tell you about my bedtime routine...

I drink some sleepy time tea

I brush and floss my teeth

I pray with my wife, and then I go to sleep!

It is as simple as that

What is your bedtime routine?

It’s nice to have things that help us relax before bed.

The Bible says God helps us us find rest from our heavy burdens-all the stress and worries we carry!

The Bible is one way God helps us us find peace and rest, so let’s dig in to see how God gives us rest today!

First, let’s talk with God.

PRAY

Core Bible Discovery:

We’re learning about Psalm 23, which is all about how God is our shepherd.

Today’s verses show how God gives us rest.

Psalm 23:2–3 NLT

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Let’s check out our green meadow!

Lead kids to green sheet

Oh no! This meadow is all rocky.

Let’s see what Jesus said to do with heavy burdens like these rocks.

Matthew 11:28–30 NLT

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

God gives us rest

We can take our burdens to him and exchange them for things God has for us that are light and easy to carry.

Jesus talked about taking up his yoke;

A yoke is something that’s put on animals to help them pull heavy loads.

But Jesus invites us to trade our heavy yokes for his light one.

Let’s do that now.

Have each child pick up a river rock. Distribute permanent markers, and have kids write on the rocks burdens they’re carrying. You may need to give examples, such as struggling in school, losing a friend, or parents who are fighting. You and older kids can help younger kids write their struggles.

When kids have finished writing their burdens, they can take the rocks to the cross and exchange them for a light and fluffy treat. Have kids take their treats to the green meadow and sit down with you.

To us, a green meadow is a pretty, restful place to be.

To a sheep, it’s all that… and food!

Sheep eat grass, so going to a green meadow is like going to an all you can eat buffet restaurant

God gives us rest by giving us peaceful places to go and be free of worrying about what we’ll eat.

So let’s enjoy our snacks.

Distribute cups of water

Psalm 23 says our peaceful shepherd leads us beside peaceful streams.

That’s another peaceful place to be, and it provides for another one of our needs: water.

If you’re willing, share about the burden you wrote earlier on your rock.

A burden that I’ve been carrying is that I need to be like everyone else

I have to care about sports, and I probably shouldn’t care so much about Nintendo

But you know what? God made the way I am for a reason, and I am trying to embrace who he made me to be

Q, What would it look like for God to give you rest and take that burden?

For me, it looks like realizing that I don’t have to like all of the things that other people like; I can just be myself

Q. What’s a place that makes you feel restful and peaceful?

God gives us rest.

We can take our heavy burdens to him, and he will let us trade those burdens for things that are light and easy to carry.

Let’s thank him by praying in a special way.

Set out basins of water in the green meadow so each child can reach one.

Psalm 23:2 NLT

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

Let’s run our hands through the peaceful streams as we ask for God to give us rest.

Allow a minute or two for kids to run their hands through the water and pray. Then provide paper towels for kids to dry their hands

Pray:

Thank you, God, for giving us rest.

We ask you to give us rest from our burdens and renew our strength.

We pray that you will guide us along right paths.

In Jesus’ name, amen.