Encounter Kids
Made for Praise! Teaching Kids the Power of Praise - Lesson 8
Hey Parents! We've been studying the Hebrew words for praise in the Bible. This week's lesson is all about the word, Hallelujah! Here are some activities and links to explore with your kids at home...
“Praising the Lord” is more than just singing a couple of songs in church on a Sunday; it is an expression to God of what we feel about Him in our hearts, and ultimately praising the Lord is a way of life! God moves in great power when we praise the Lord!
Have you ever heard the word Hallelujah? Do you know what it means?
Hallelujah is one of the Hebrew words for praise that is used all around the world, by people in every language. It just means, Praise the Lord!
Activity: Can you say Hallelujah in a different accent? What if you went to England, how would Hallelujah sound? How about in Texas? What about Australia? Or India? Every language has its own sound and beauty, but in every language Hallelujah means praise the Lord. This means we can go anywhere in the world, and when we say Hallelujah, other people know what we mean! That's pretty cool!
Story: Powerful things happen when we praise the Lord! In the Bible, Paul and Silas were thrown in jail for preaching the gospel and working miracles. Instead of feeling sad and staying quiet, they decided to praise the Lord while they were in chains in prison. Read Acts 16:25-26 to your kids. At midnight, an earthquake shook the jail and everyone’s chains were broken! That sure was supernatural.
Find a video of this story here.
After you watch the video, talk about how supernatural it was that everyone's chains were broken. God likes to move in power when we praise Him! Also mention how, because the whole event, the jailer and all his household was saved! Feel free to watch the video again, pointing out what happened because Paul and Silas praised.
Here's a great motto to repeat with your kids: When I praise the Lord, chains are broken.
What do "chains" mean to us? Chains can represent anything that is holding us back from living an abundant life. (Jesus describes this in John 10:10.) This could be sadness, sickness, lack, fear, guilt, or even mental instability. None of that will be in heaven, and Jesus wants us to experience His kingdom, "on earth as it is in heaven." He even teaches us to pray that. (See Matthew 6:9-14 where Jesus teaches His disciples to pray.)
Praising the Lord is one of the powerful ways to break those chains! Pray with your kids and then spend some time praising!
Here's a great prayer to pray, and a great song to sing with them, too.
Have fun!
Prayer:
Dear Father, Hallelujah! Thank you for the powerful things you do when I praise the Lord! I believe you to break chains off my heart that are holding me back. Holy Spirit, I give you my heart, and I give you my praise! Thank you, Jesus!
Praise videos:
P.S. Also, here are some colouring and activity sheets for your kids to do. Enjoy!