Children’s Message on Psalm 34 on “Taste and See” that God is good.”
Main Objective: The Psalms are a wonderful way to recount God’s goodness and blessings and praise Him for them. This message focuses on Psalm 34, reminding us to exalt God and tell others about Him, and to “taste and see” that He is good.
We can trust Him with our lives and celebrate how He provides and cares for us. We can encourage other people to taste and see for themselves, too. Kids love candy, and this message emphasizes that God’s love is sweet and wonderful like candy, but much better! (And without worries about calories or cavities!)
Law/Gospel Theme: This Psalm invites us to consider the wonderful blessings that God gives us in His power and attributes. We are to fear the Lord and respect His power, but also know that His love and mercy far outweigh His wrath and justice. We don’t have to blindly accept God’s goodness, but can “taste and see” for ourselves that He loves us and will provide for us.
Psalm 34:1-22 Children’s Sermon- God’s Love is Sweeter than Candy
Optional Materials: Various types of candy; Bible
Bible Passage: Psalm 34:1-22
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.
Greet children, and talk about favorite types of candy…
Hello, children of God!
Do you like candy? I think most of us, if we’re being honest, would admit that they enjoy candy, right? I know I do, although I also know it’s not always the best thing for me. I certainly can’t have candy every meal, or I might get bad cavities, not to mention an unhealthy diet and expanded waistline. But now and then it’s fun. You know, I’ve been seeing a lot of candy in stores lately…maybe it’s because Halloween is coming up (of course, if it’s not fall, leave this part out of your talk). Candy is everywhere this time of year! And even if you don’t go trick-or-treating or trunk-or-treating, you’ll probably get some candy at some point of the season. What is your favorite kind? Pull out a few examples of your own favorite candy as you discuss this. I have a lot of favorites, and I’d love to share them with you. For instance, these are the absolute best gummi fruit snacks. They’re so chewy and juicy! But don’t take my word for it. Offer to kids. Taste and see for yourself! They are delicious. Ooh, or look at this: I found a special new version of one of my favorite candies. I wonder if it still tastes the same. I love this one. Let’s see…I need to taste it. Take a bite. Oh yes, this is wonderful! You really need to experience this awesome candy.
Now, it might seem a little strange to be raving so much about candy. It’s tasty, of course, but do I really need to give so much attention to it? Does it make sense to be praising this candy and trying to get you to eat it? Not really. However, there’s something else that is much better than candy, and which we should be trying to share with others all the time. What could that be? God’s love, of course!
The Bible tells us a lot about the Lord and how we should praise Him. He has done and does more than we could ever imagine. In the book of Psalms, we read some terrific hymns that recount His glory and blessings. The Psalms can be used to pray and sing to God and thank Him for what He does. In Psalm 34, we are encouraged to seek God, bless Him, and praise His name, to exalt Him for the wonderful things that He does and for who He is. That same Psalm tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” What does this mean? We can hear a great deal about God from others. But He wants us to really experience His love and power firsthand. When we pray, read His word, and trust Him with our lives, we “taste” for ourselves. We know that we can give Him all we have and let Him do amazing things with us. We allow Him to be in charge of all we are and have.
After we have “tasted” God’s love, we can share it with others! If I found a wonderful new candy, I’d want to tell you about it and let you have some. How much more so should we tell others of the good news of the Gospel? We can sing the Lord’s praises and encourage others with word of His love. It’s much better than any kind of candy. And it won’t give you calories or cavities!
So let’s taste and see, savor and appreciate. Let’s praise God for delivering us and trust in Him to take care of us. He loves us and provides for us, and will never leave us or forsake us. He is good!
Let’s say a prayer and thank God for His goodness and blessings.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for delivering us and saving us.
You are great and we exalt you.
Help us to trust in you
And “taste and see” your goodness.
Thank you for your love.
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Psalm 34:1-22 Meaning for Kids
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
-Psalm 34:1-22