This lesson teaches children that God wants us to thank him and trust him, not just go through the motions. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God does not need anything from us, but he loves it when we come to him with thankful hearts and call on him when we are in trouble.
Memory Verse
Psalm 50:15
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
(WEB)
Cup your hands together like you are asking for help, then open them wide like a thank-you gift. Say “Call on me” as you cup your hands, and “I will deliver you” as you open them. Do it together a few times until the children know it by heart.
The Story: Psalm 50 for Kids
Long ago, a writer named Asaph sang a special song about God. God is the Mighty One, and he spoke and called the whole earth, from the place where the sun rises to the place where it sets. He shone brightly from Zion, a beautiful city. Wherever God came, there was fire and a great storm all around him.
God called to the heavens and the earth. He said, “Gather my people to me, the ones who have made a promise with me.” God wanted to speak to his people, Israel. He said, “Hear me, my people. I am your God.”
God told them that he did not need their sacrifices. He said the animals of the forest and the hills already belong to him, and the birds of the mountains are all known to him. If he were hungry, he would not ask them for food, because the whole world is his. God wanted something different from them.
What God wanted was a thankful heart. He said, “Offer me thanks, and keep the promises you make to me. Call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you. Then you will honor me.” God loves people who thank him and trust him.
But God also spoke to people who did wrong. He asked them, “What right do you have to talk about my rules when you do not follow them?” They told lies, stole, and said mean things about their own family. God said he had been quiet, but now he would speak plainly about what they had done.
God ended with a loving warning. He said, “Think about this, you who forget me.” Then he gave a promise: the person who offers thanks honors him, and God will show that person his salvation.
Read It Together
Psalm 50:14
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
(WEB)
Point out that God asks for a thankful heart, not just a gift. Ask the children what they might thank God for today, and let each one share a simple answer.
Psalm 50:23
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
(WEB)
Show how this verse gives a promise: when we thank God, we honor him, and he shows us his salvation. Explain that salvation means God saving and rescuing us.
Psalm 50:9-11
9 I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens. 10 For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
(WEB)
Point out that everything in nature belongs to God, including the animals of the forest and hills. Help the children see that God does not need anything from us, because he already owns everything.
Talk About It
- What is one thing you can thank God for today?
- What does it mean that God owns all the animals and the whole world?
- Why do you think God wants our thanks more than a gift?
- What can you do when you feel scared or in trouble?
- How can you show God that you honor him in your everyday life?
Activity Ideas
Thankful Handprint Craft
You will need construction paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child trace their hand on paper and cut it out. On each finger, have them write or draw one thing they are thankful for, then display the handprints on the wall as a reminder that God loves to hear our thanks.
Call and Answer Game
Gather the children in a circle. One child calls out “Call on me!” and the others answer “I will help!” then move in a silly way, like hopping or waving their arms. Take turns being the caller, and talk about how God hears us every time we call to him.
Thank-You Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pen. Each evening, have the family write one thing they are thankful for on a slip of paper and drop it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the notes together and thank God for each one.
Teacher Notes
Psalm 50 reminds adults that worship is more than rituals and offerings. God looks for a heart that thanks him, keeps its promises, and calls on him honestly in trouble. The psalm also warns that empty religious words without a changed life do not please him.
With children, avoid overstating that God never needs anything from us as a reason to skip giving or serving. Keep the focus on God’s loving invitation to thankfulness and trust, and let the children discover the meaning in their own words.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank you for hearing us when we call to you. Help us to thank you for all the good things you give us. Teach us to keep our promises and to trust you when we are scared. We love you, and we want to honor you every day. Amen.
