A Burning Invitation

The liturgical season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18 and goes 40 days until Holy Saturday, the

night before Easter. The 40 days places us in the story of God’s people throughout history. It replicates the 40 days

Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness. Lent is a time for Christians to spiritually prepare for Easter and reflect on

redemption and hope. We are invited to move closer to Christ and to live like him. We draw closer to God by:

• Loving God

• Worshipping God

• Praying

• Serving others

• Loving others

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING AND CONVERSATION

Pick one day each week to read the following scriptures and discuss the prompts. You will find scriptures related to

our Lent themes of worship, love, service, prayer, and Holy Week.

Scripture: Psalm 95:6

Psalm 95:6 NLT

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

Psalm 150:6 NLT

Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

References:

Illustrations:

There’s a great story in the Bible about a blind man named Bartimaeus. He called out to Jesus and worshiped Him by saying, 'Lord, have mercy on me!' Even when others tried to silence him, he wouldn’t stop! Worship is about being brave and showing our love for God, just like Bartimaeus, no matter what people think!

Think about when you get a shiny new toy. You can't wait to tell your friends about it! Worshiping God is like sharing the excitement of that toy. When we talk with God, sing praises, or pray, it’s our way of saying, 'Look how awesome God is!' Just like sharing your happiness brings joy to others, worship spreads joy to God!

Background Research:

Questions:

What does it mean to worship God in your daily life?

How can we show God's love to others during Lent?

Why is it important to kneel and bow in worship?

What did Bartimaeus teach us about being brave in worship?

What is one way you can serve others this week?

Can you think of a time you expressed your feelings about God through song or prayer?

Theme: Worship

Object Lesson:

BALLOON   RACE

SUPPLIES Masking tape, balloons (one per child),straws (one per child), small boxes (one per team)

BEFORE CLASS Make a starting line and a finish line with masking tape. Make them about 15-20 feet apart. Place small boxes on their side (so the opening is facing out) behind the finish line, one per team. Inflate balloons, one for each child

HOW TO PLAY: Divide kids into teams. (For large groups, create two teams with three players per team. Assign the rest of the kids to be the "audience". Divide them into two sections and give each section a team to cheer for.) Have each team line up behind the starting line. Give each child a straw and and a inflated balloon. Players can only use their straws to move the balloon-no hands! The goal is to blow the balloon across the play area into their team’s box, using their straws to direct the balloon. The first team to get all their balloons into their box wins.

OPTION: Add obstacles for the kids to blow their balloons around to make the course more challenging.

Sailboat not sailing

BEFORE CLASS Fill the container with water and have your sailboat ready to float. Keep the fan/hairdryer hidden until later.

SAY: Today we are going to talk about worship. Hold up the Worship Handout I have a picture of a sailboat here, and I want you to imagine that you are this sailboat. I’m going to read a passage of scripture to you, and then I am going to ask you a couple of questions.

Can someone give me an example of what they think worship is? (As kids respond with their answers, write them on the sails of the WorSHIP Handout.)

Who is supposed to worship God? (Everyone)

Other Ways to Worship:

Asking for forgiveness

Giving money to the church (our tithe)

Obeying God

Helping others

Serving at Church

Telling others about Jesus

All of these are ways we use our lives to give praise to God. Those are some great answers you gave. Worship is an important part of our relationship with God. When we worship God, it sets our heart in the right direction. Let’s explore that idea some more.

Set out the container of water and sailboat, but don’t reveal the hair dryer or fan yet

SAY: I brought a sailboat with me today. However, I have a problem with my sailboat. The problem is it just sits there. It doesn’t really do anything. It’s more like a STAY boat. What does my STAY boat need to turn it into a SAIL boat? (Wind, air)

Exactly! Let me show you what happens when we give it wind.

Pull out the fan or hair dryer and gently blow air on the sailboat to move it.

SAY: When we add wind, it moves in the direction the wind is blowing. But what happens if I block the wind? (Hold the small piece of cardboard in front of the wind to block the air.)

Correct! The sailboat stops moving. Just like the wind moves the sailboat in the direction we want it to go, WORSHIP moves our love toward God. When we sing, pray, or serve others, it’s like wind in our sails.

Copyright © 2026 The Foundry Publishing®. Permission to reprint for ministry use only. All rights reserved.

Songs:

These are only suggestion use any that you feel are appropriate for this lesson.

https://youtu.be/nTd2pz9b5U4

https://youtu.be/eB2ztFJIYk4

https://youtu.be/KVlUd0eDd1M

https://youtu.be/Sjt6yxth85A

https://youtu.be/hsbqtEcEh3U

Outline:

Come, Let Us Worship!

Bible Passage: Psalm 95:6, Psalm 150:6, James 4:8

Summary: This theme invites us into a joyful and reverent worship of God, reflecting our hearts and actions as we bring praise to our Creator. It teaches that worship is not only a duty but a delightful response to God’s greatness and an intimate call to draw near to Him.

Application:

To encourage children to understand worship as a lively expression of love and gratitude to God.

To teach Children the importance of worship...

To Cultivating a habit of praising God not just in church, but in their everyday lives..

To Create a foundation for their spiritual growth.

Teaching:

Worship is a collective and individual act of reverence that invites us to acknowledge God's sovereignty, love, and power in our lives.

These passage illustrates that worship is designed to draw us closer to God, fostering both community and personal relationship with Him.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout the Scriptures, worship finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who invites us into a relationship with God through His sacrifice.

Big Idea: Worship is both an invitation and a joyful response to God's greatness, nurturing our relationship with Him and fostering community among believers.

1. Kneel Before God

Psalm 95:6 NLT

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,

Emphasize how kneeling and bowing in worship reflect our reverence and humility before God's greatness.

Encourage children to honor God with their words and actions helps them see worship as a part of everyday life, expressing gratitude and awe.

This approach aligns with the teachings of Christ, who demonstrated perfect submission to the Father, and serves to strengthen their personal connection with God.

2. Every Breath Praise...

Psalm 150:6 NLT

Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Focus on the universality of worship, encouraging children to recognize that everything in creation praises God.

By drawing parallels to Jesus, who welcomed and valued the praise of children, you highlight worship as a communal, joyful act that involves all believers.

Teach children to participate wholeheartedly in worship fosters a sense of belonging and purpose in God's family.

3. Come Near

James 4:8 NLT

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Explore the personal aspect of drawing near to God and the promise that He will draw near to us.

Discuss the importance of intimacy with God through Jesus.

Encourage children to seek God daily through prayer and worship cultivates a deep personal relationship with Him, reflecting Jesus's model of constant communion with the Father.

Memory Verse:

Psalm 95:6 NIV84

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

Handout: I have copied this handout for you to use, if you like, for this lesson.