Letter I Idleness
Alphabet Series for Kid’z Worship
Letter “I” IDLENESS
Props/Materials
Art and snack supplies, three youth for the skit
Prayer
God, we thank you for the strength we have,
To go to school, and work, and rest,
For parents who are willing to work,
And provide what we need best, Amen.
Snack
Tell the kids you forgot the snack today, and did not feel like going to the store to get them one, so you thought they could just do it themselves. Put out some boxes of crackers and water. Tell them to help themselves because you do not feel like doing it today.
Art
Place out paper, markers, crayons, and tell them to create what they want. It is a free day. You did not take time to plan today, because you wanted to watch a TV show that was funny last night.
Music (Tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)
Letter I, letter I, letter I (left foot stomp, and right fingers snap 2x)
Letter I, letter I, letter I (right foot stomp, and left fingers snap 2x)
Don’t be lazy but work, and God will see you through,
Letter I, letter I, letter I (do both 2x)
Additional Songs: Every Move I Make (Shout Praises Kids Every Move I Make DVD) If You’re Happy (Action Bible Songs DVD Cedarmont)
Bible Memory Verse
She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness Proverbs 31:27 (NASB)
Bible Memory Verse Activity
Say, "If you feel like it, stand and say this verse with me. If you don’t want to, that is ok. too. Those who are willing can stand and say it again with me."
Next, say, "Really, I don’t feel like saying it any more, maybe one of you will lead for me." (Have a couple of kids come up and lead in the verse for you.)
Say, "Anyone who has a birthday in June, come up and lead the class in the verse.
"Anyone who has a birthday in December, come up and lead the class in the verse."
"Anyone who has a younger sister, come up and lead in the class in saying the verse."
Finally say, "Thanks so much for helping me today, I just feel kind of lazy today."
Skit
Mom: Gerald, can you pick up your shoes in the living room? I just about fell over them.
Gerald: Sure, mom.
Mom: Gerald, these papers have been laying here all week. Can you go through them and throw out what you do not want?
Gerald: Sure, mom.
Mom: Gerald, these shoes stink. Have you been walking across the lawn again?
Gerald: Yes, mom.
Mom: Gerald, your bed had not been made all week. You think you can make it before our company comes over this evening?
Gerald: Sure mom.
Adult: Gerald always agreed with his mother; however, he never did most of what she asked him to do. He left his dishes on the table for her to clean up after him, and his shoes all over the house where he could not find them when he needed them. He left his homework home most of the time, or did not even attempt to do it. His teacher was getting after him all the time, and he missed more recesses that he got to take. Gerald was simply a lazy boy. He did not want to work, he did not want to achieve anything in life, he only wanted to loaf around, watch TV, ride his bike, and play his game boy. He was lazy. Do you want to be like Gerald?
Message
How did it make you feel when I told you I did not prepare for your snack? Did you feel like I did not care? How did it make you feel when I did not prepare for the art lesson today, or want to help you with the memory verse? You may have felt a little bad to realize that I was inconsiderate, and not responsible with my job today. Right?
Idleness is another word for laziness. A person that is unwilling to work or make any effort to do their work is a lazy person. A lazy person will never succeed far in life, keep a good job, or contribute much to the growth in a church, or the success in a business.
God wants us as Christians to be willing to work hard and make an effort in the work that is assigned to us. He wants us to take care of our property and of the things that he has allowed us to have. He wants us to help out at home, and be responsible citizens in society. If we are slothful and lazy good things will not happen.
A lazy person may be late for school, because they sleep too long and don’t get up when called. A lazy person may be late for church, because they do not prepare in advance and see promptness as important. A lazy person will be late for parties, because they do not see the importance of holding others up for a dinner.
Let us be thoughtful and considerate of others. We may make others feel bad when we are like the way I treated you today earlier. Let us use our time wisely that God had given us. God will hold us accountable for every hour and minute of our day. Let us be prompt when parents tell us to do something. Let us be responsible when we are assigned homework.
Do not accept idleness, do not embrace it, do not allow it to control your life. Be strong and diligent and God will help you to avoid laziness.
Discussion Questions
1. How did you feel when I was not prepared for your worship time today and during snack time? What about during art and bible memory time?
2. Have you ever treated anyone else this way before? Explain.
3. What does God think about laziness?
4. What can we do to improve in this area?
5. How can we encourage others to avoid being lazy?
© January 2010. Kidzministry.net Jeanne McIntosh. All rights reserved.
