Scripture: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” [Romans 8:28]

 

Theme: God is Good

 

LESSON FOR CHILDREN

 

The Word of God says:

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” [Romans 8:28]

What wonderful news! This Scripture says “ALL THINGS work together for our good!” ALL THINGS! Does it say one thing? [Wait for responses on these.] Does it say two things? Does it say 100 things? NO! It says ALL things! How many is that? Can you count that high? NO! ALL THINGS!

Let’s look at this incredible promise that God is making. Firstly, to whom is this promise promised? Oh, it’s not for everybody, but it can be for anyone. Huh? [Pause.] Well, let’s look. It reads that this promise is for “them that love God”. Do you love God? [Wait for response.] Great! But let’s read on. There’s more. This promise is for “them who are called according to His purpose.” Does that mean you? Well, let’s find out.

If we read the very next line in the God’s Word, we will find out what God’s purpose is for us. Do you know why you were born? There’s more than one correct answer for this. Let’s see what you think. [Wait for responses on these.] Now, those were some good answers. Do you know what God says, in His Word, His purpose for us is? You’re going to be surprised! God made us to be like His Son Jesus! Wow! I know I’m not yet like Jesus, but that’s God’s purpose for me.

Well, if God wants us to be like Jesus, we need first of all, to know what Jesus is like, right? Can someone come up here and act like a monkey? [Get a volunteer] Where did you learn how to act like a monkey? [Wait for response.] You must have watched a monkey on television or at the zoo. Or maybe you saw a picture of one in a book and copied his funny face. In the same way, if we want to learn how to be like Jesus we need to find out what Jesus was like, right? And where do we learn about Jesus? In God’s Book!

One thing we’ll learn about Jesus is that He had no sin. Do we sin? Sadly, yes. That’s a problem. But guess what? Jesus took care of that problem when He died on the cross. He died for your punishment, for your sins. Did your brother ever take your punishment for you? Did he ever take a spanking for you? Did your Mom ever say, “You’re grounded!” and then your sister stepped in and said, “Mom, I’ll be grounded instead.” Well, Jesus did take our punishment! What a loving thing to do! That’s what we call “amazing grace”! Let’s thank Jesus right now! Repeat after me: “Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for me.”

So do you see how good God is to us?

But we still sometimes do BAD things. Then we should right away tell God we’re sorry. God forgives us because Jesus already took our punishment.

So now we have that BIG problem of sin taken care of, let’s learn how to behave like JESUS. If you believe in Jesus, YOU ARE A SON OF GOD, TOO. So start acting like Jesus! Read what Jesus did and how He behaved. Don’t act like mean people you sometimes see on TV. BE LIKE JESUS! That will make God happy…. And guess what? You’ll be happy, too! Why you’ll even be slap-happy! Try this:

“Slap-happy! Slap-happy! Clap! Clap! Clap!”

[Slap hands (right-left-right-left) on thighs twice to beat, then clap 3x.]

Let’s do it again: [Repeat above.]

Now, why am I so slap-happy?

Because God is good to me! And God has promised me that “ALL THINGS work together” for my good!

Sometimes it doesn’t look good, but in the end, it will work together for MY good. You may sometimes think it’s not a GOOD thing to go to school, but your parents know it IS a good thing. Because if you go to school, you can learn things that will help you get good job when you grow up, so that you can buy food to eat and have a home in which to live with your family. Those are good things, right?

Has anyone ever but together a puzzle? [Prop] Now a puzzle is a good example of things working together for good. You may get this dark black piece and looking at it you think it’s kind of yuck. But when you finish the puzzle, it turns out that that yucky piece was the dog’s nose! That’s a good thing… because a dog without a nose is in sad shape.

We can’t see how this puzzle of our lives is going to look when it’s all finished. But God has already seen the finished you! God had a plan for your life before you were even in your mother’s tummy! He’s working everything together for your good. He knows where all the pieces go. ALL the pieces in the puzzle of your life will fit together to make a beautiful picture when it’s finished! Hallelujah! God is good!

 

PRAYER

Father, thank you for sending Jesus to die for me. Help me by Your Spirit to be like Jesus. Help me to be kind and help me to love my brothers and sisters more. Thank You that I’m alive! Thank You for everything that makes me happy! May I make You happy, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 

LYRICS

 

GOOD TO ME!

 

 

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive!

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive! to be alive.

 

In the morning when I rise

Wipe the sleep out from my eyes

Then I leap upon my feet and sing His praise

Sky of blue or sky of gray

He’s given me breathe for a brand new day

So I leap upon my feet

I leap upon my feet

I leap upon my feet and sing His praise.

 

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive!

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive!

 

So all throughout the day

No-o matter what comes my way

To others that I meet I’ll speak His praise.

Then when I go to bed

I will humbly bow my head

Before I go to sleep,

Before I go to sleep

Before I go to sleep I’ll sing His praise.

 

 

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive!

Good to me, my God’s good to me!

Makes me slap-happy to be alive!

Slap-happy! Slap-happy! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Slap-happy! Slap-happy! Clap! Clap! Clap!

 

 

Suggested Movements

Generally, march in place and move fisted hands to rhythm. In chorus, on “good”, push right arm outward with thumbs up on fist. On “slap”, clap hands loudly with a big movement. Walk around in place on “be alive”. Verses: Leap on “leap”. Bow head on “bow my head”. Put head on hands together to right side, on “sleep”. Ending: Clap on thighs to beat on “slap-happy!”

 

Suggested Props: Puzzle (one to suit text or maybe suit text to puzzle.) If for a performance, try using some tap dancers with this number. Also, maybe get children to share how something “bad” turned out “good”.

 

Suggested Activities: Build a puzzle together, pointing out pieces that don’t look too good. Maybe even do a dog puzzle and don’t put the dog’s nose in till last! Maybe you can also do “The ZOO Song” together, since we talked about monkeys. Have a discussion on how to be like Jesus.

 

Scriptural References For Teachers and Parents

 

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. [Romans 8:29]

 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [1John 1:9]

 

Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations. [Jeremiah 1:5]