2025-05-04 Wrathful
Before Service
Ensure parents take their child to the restroom before bringing them to the children's area and use the QR code to sign in their child before the service.
Praise and Worship (15 mins)
Parents: The parent and child scheduled for this week will lead us in singing on Sunday. Please take time to practice the songs together at home, helping your child feel confident and joyful as they prepare to lead.
Prayer and Offering (5 mins)
Parents: Please encourage your children to bring an offering to church. You may help your child prepare by setting aside a coin for them to bring on Sunday. This is a great opportunity to teach them about giving to God with a thankful heart and trusting Him to provide.
What is Offering?
Offering is when we give something to God to show our love and thankfulness. In church, we often give money as an offering, but we can also give our time, talents, and kindness to God and others.
Why Do We Make an Offering?
1️⃣ To Thank God – Everything we have comes from God! Giving back is a way to say, “Thank You, God!”
The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7,
2️⃣ To Trust God – When we give, we show that we trust God to take care of us.
3️⃣ To Help Others – Offerings help the church teach about Jesus, help people in need, and share God’s love.
"God loves a cheerful giver!" That means God is happy when we give with a joyful heart!
Prayer for Offering
Dear God, thank You for giving us everything we need. We want to give back to You with joyful hearts. Please use our offering to help others and share Your love. Help us to always trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Review Verse from Last Week
Psalm 119:137 – “Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.” (NIV)
“Righteous…”
✋👉 Raise one fist high in the air with strength and confidence.
(Say: “Righteous” means God always does what is right!)
“…are you…”
👉 Point up to the sky.
(We’re talking about God.)
“…O LORD…”
🙏 Make an “L” shape with your right hand and draw it across your chest like a sash (like royalty).
(The “LORD” is our King—He is in charge!)
“…and right…”
👍 Hold a big thumbs up.
(God’s ways are always right—thumbs up!)
“…are your rules.”
📖 Place both hands together like an open book.
(God’s rules are found in the Bible.)
Bible Story (10 min): God is Wrathful
Introduction (1 min)
(Hold up a shiny jewelry box and a basket of fake coins. Speak warmly and clearly.)
Good morning, everyone! Today, I brought two special things with me: a shiny jewelry box and a basket full of coins.
(Hold them up for the children to see.)
When you see a beautiful jewelry box like this, what do you think?
(Pause for answers: ‘It’s special!’ ‘It’s valuable!’)
Last time, we learned that God is even more precious than anything. He is more valuable than all the treasures in the world!
(Hold the jewelry box close to your heart.)
(Now hold up the basket of coins.)
But some people think money is more valuable than God.
If you could choose one — a big pile of money or a close relationship with God — which one would you pick?
(Pause for a few answers.)
Some people might pick the money because they think money can buy everything they want. But… what do you think God would want us to treasure more — money or Him?
(Let children answer.)
That’s right — God!
Today, we are going to hear a true story from the Bible where people loved money more than they loved God. And do you know what?
Jesus — who always does what is right — was very angry about it!
We’ll find out what Jesus did, and why it’s so important that we love God more than anything else.
(Transition into the storytelling time.)
Story Telling (5 min) - God Is Wrathful!
(Bible Story: Jesus Cleanses the Temple — John 2:13–16)
(Speak with energy and emotion. Use props like the whip, coins, and table if possible.)
Let’s listen to a real story that happened when Jesus visited the temple — the special place where people came to worship God.
(Hold up the Temple picture if available.)
It was a special time called the Passover — when the people remembered how God rescued them from slavery in Egypt. Families came from far away to worship God.But when Jesus arrived at the temple, do you know what He saw?
(Pause and look around at the kids.)
People were not quietly praying. They were not singing songs to God. They were selling animals and changing money right there in God’s house — making it a noisy, busy market!
(Hold up the basket of coins and shake it to make noise.)
Does that sound like worship?
(Let kids answer: “No!”)
Those people cared more about making money than about loving and honoring God.Do you think Jesus was happy about that?
(Shake head: “No.”)
Listen to what Jesus did next:
The Bible says Jesus made a whip out of cords.
(Hold up the rope or whip.)
Then — (use your voice to sound strong and serious) — He drove the people and the animals out of the temple!
(Move the whip gently through the air — without scaring kids — for drama.)
Jesus poured out the coins of the money-changers!
(Pour the coins loudly onto the table or floor.)
And then — (with excitement) — Jesus flipped over their tables!
(Carefully flip the small table over with a big thump, making sure it’s safe.)
Jesus shouted, ‘Take these things away! Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade!’
(Pause. Let the room be a little quiet for a few seconds.)
Wow. Jesus was really angry!
But remember — Jesus is perfect. Everything He does is right.
Jesus was showing that it is right to be angry when people treat God like He isn’t important.
God’s temple was supposed to be about God, not about money.
And here’s something important for us to remember:
Jesus’ anger wasn’t out of control like when we sometimes get mad. His anger was perfect and good, because He was protecting what was holy and right.
God is perfectly wrathful — that means He is very angry at sin — because sin is evil and hurts what is good.
Wrap-up & Discussion (4 min)
(Sit down at their level, lower your voice to make it more personal.)
“Let’s think about this story together:
Question 1: Why was Jesus angry in the temple?
(Let children answer — guide them toward: Because people were loving money more than loving God.)
Question 2: Is it okay to love something more than God — like toys, money, video games, or even friends?
(Children answer. Remind them: No, nothing should be more important than God!)
Question 3: What does this story teach us about how God feels about sin?
(Children answer. Emphasize: God hates sin. He is right to be very, very angry at sin because sin is terrible — it keeps us away from Him.)
(Look warmly at them and conclude:)
Even though God is angry at sin, He loves us so much that He made a way to save us. He sent Jesus to take the punishment we deserve so that we can be close to Him forever!Isn’t God amazing?”
Memorizing Verse: Romans 1:18a
(Stand up with the kids. Be lively and speak with energy. Use big, clear motions so they can copy you easily.)
“Alright everyone, it’s time to learn our Memory Verse!
It’s from the book of Romans — and it reminds us how God feels about sin.
I’m going to say it first, and I want you to listen carefully. Then we’ll say it together with hand motions to help us remember!
Here’s the verse:
Romans 1:18a —‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.’
(Say the words slowly and clearly. Add actions as you speak.)
“For the wrath of God”
(Make an angry face, then point upward to “God.”)
(Wrath = pretend to stomp your foot once.)
“is revealed”
(Open your hands like you’re pulling a curtain apart to “reveal” something.)
“from heaven”
(Point both hands up to the sky.)
“against all ungodliness”
(Shake your finger “no” and make a sad face.)
“and unrighteousness of men.”
(Cross your arms in front of your chest like an X for “wrong” / “sinful.”)
“Now let’s do it all together! Ready?
(Smile and lead them.)
Romans 1:18a:
(Add the motions!)
‘For the wrath of God (angry face + point up)
is revealed (open hands like a curtain)
from heaven (point up)
against all ungodliness (shake finger + sad face)
and unrighteousness of men.’ (X arms)
Great job! Let’s try it a little faster!”
“Remember, God’s wrath is very real — but because of Jesus, we can be safe and loved by God forever!
Keep practicing this verse at home — and every time you do the motions, remember how much God loves you and hates sin because He is perfectly good and righteous.”
Craft & Game (10 mins)
Craft (5 min)
(Gather kids around a table. Hand out their craft materials: worksheet with a big storm cloud and a small safe house, crayons/markers.)
“Alright everyone, now we’re going to do a fun craft to help us remember what we learned today!
Look at your page — you see a big storm cloud and a little safe house underneath it.
The storm cloud reminds us of God’s wrath — His anger at sin. It’s fierce, like a big, powerful storm!
The house is a refuge — a safe place where we are protected.
(Smile warmly.)
Let’s decorate our pages!
Use dark colours like grey, black, and blue to make the storm cloud look really strong and scary.
- Then use bright, happy colors to color the little house — because Jesus is our safe place from God’s wrath when we trust in Him!
(Walk around and encourage them while they color.)
As you’re colouring, remember:
We can’t hide from God’s anger on our own — but God gave us Jesus to save us!
Jesus is like our strong, safe house — He protects everyone who trusts in Him.
(Give kids about 4-5 minutes to finish their coloring. Compliment their work!)
Game (5 min)
(Move to an open space in the room. Set a few hula hoops or taped circles on the floor — these are the “refuges.” Pick one child to start as the “storm.”)
Now we’re going to play a quick and fun game called Storm and Refuge!
Here’s how it works:
- One of you will be the storm (point to the selected child), and the storm’s job is to tag other people.
- The hula hoops (or circles) on the floor are refuges — safe places!
If the storm is coming close, you can jump into a refuge to be safe.
But listen carefully:
- You can’t stay in a refuge forever! I’ll count 1-2-3, and you have to come back out and run again!
- If you get tagged outside a refuge, you sit down until the next round.
(In a cheerful voice.)
This game reminds us:
We can’t escape the storm on our own — just like we can’t escape God’s wrath by ourselves.
Only Jesus can be our true Refuge!”
“Alright, are you ready? (Kids shout “Yes!”)
3…2…1…Go!”
(Let them play for about 3-4 minutes, rotating the “storm” if time allows. End with a big clap and smiles.)
(Gather them after the game.)
You all did such a great job running to the refuge!
Remember — in life, the only true Refuge from God’s anger at sin is trusting in Jesus.
He loves us and wants to keep us safe forever.
Response Song
Closing Prayer & Snack Time (10 mins)
Dear God,
Thank You for teaching us today that You are perfectly good and right.
Thank You for showing us that You are angry at sin, but that You also love us so much.
Thank You for sending Jesus to be our safe place, our Refuge.
Help us to love You more than anything else.
Help us to run to Jesus and trust in Him every day.
Now, let us thank You for the snack we’re about to enjoy.
We fold our hands.
We bow our heads.
We thank You, God,
for this daily bread.
Amen.