It seems essential to me to use an OHP and only reveal the lines one by one. I can't imagine them being as effective being read from a paper hand-out.
PSALM 1 | PSALM 6 | PSALM 8 | PSALM 13 | PSALM 18 |
PSALM 23 - My favourite | PSALM 46 | PSALM 47 | PSALM 65 |
PSALM 86 | PSALM 121 | PSALM 139
PSALM 1
Leader: Life is great if you keep out of trouble.
People: YOU SOUND LIKE A TEACHER.
Don't ever forget you're God's child.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS SAYING THAT.
Well you should be obedient, and faithful.
WE KNOW WE SHOULD BE GOOD.
You do?
OF COURSE, WE'RE GOD'S CHILDREN.
Well why don't you always live like that.
FOR EXACTLY THE SAME REASON YOU DON'T.
Let's praise God for his forgiving love!
IT SURE IS GREAT TO HAVE A GOD WHO ACCEPTS US EVEN THOUGH WE FAIL.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 6
Let's praise God for his love and care.
NO!
What?
YOU HEARD US. NO!
What's wrong?
WE'RE NOT FEELING LOVED OR CARED FOR.
How come?
Left Side: WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'HOW COME?'
Right Side: DON'T YOU WATCH THE NEWS?
ALL: THE WORLD'S A MESS AND LIFE STINKS!
So you don't want to have devotions today?
DON'T BE SILLY. YOU HEARD HOW WE FEEL!
Yeah well I thought...
WE NEED TO HEAR AGAIN OF GOD'S LOVE AND CARE FOR US.
Well he does.
THANKS.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 8
O Lord, our Lord,
HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH!
When I look at the night sky.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW BIG THIS PLACE IS.
The moon and stars look gorgeous.
I WONDER WHETHER UFO'S ARE REAL?
Augh, don't be silly.
WELL, THERE SURE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR MORE LIFE.
I can't argue with that!
AND YET GOD CARES ABOUT US, MERE SPECKS IN THIS UNIVERSE.
What's more God wants us to look after this place.
WHAT A HUGE RISK.
Everything from gold fish to wombats.
SO HE'S GIVEN US THE FULL RESPONSIBILITY!
From a Wren to a Casuarina Distyla
WOW FANCY TRUSTING US WITH ALL THAT!
O Lord, our Lord,
HOW MAJESTIC IS YOUR NAME IN ALL THE EARTH!
(BY THE WAY WHAT'S A CASUARINA DISTYLA?)
Just a She-oak Tree
OHH!
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 13
Now you lot! Read your lines properly.
YOU SOUND CRANKY.
I don't want to talk about it.
AWWW, COME ON. PLEASE.
I'm angry with God.
OOOOOWAH.
I try my hardest, but things keep going wrong.
WE KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE.
It's as if God has forgotten all about me.
WHY DON'T YOU CARE, GOD?
What did you say?
WE ASKED GOD WHY HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US.
But God does care!
YES, OF COURSE HE DOES.
It's just that every now and then things mount up.
AND WE NEED TO TELL SOMEONE.
We need to tell God!
GOD, SOMETIMES IT FEELS AS IF YOU DON'T CARE.
But because of Jesus it's clear you do care.
FEEL BETTER NOW?
Actually I do. Sorry for taking it out on you.
THAT'S ALL RIGHT. WE CARE TOO.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
Do you know any heroes?
PSALM 18
SURE WE DO
Name some!BART SIMPSON, SUSIE O'NEIL, LANO AND WOODLEY, XENA, WARNIE...
Add them all together, throw in Luke Skywalker and then multiply it all a million times and you'll just be describing the toenail of my hero.WOW, THAT'S A HERO
Yep my hero protects me, defends me, saves me, rescues me, helps me...WOW!
Listens to me, shields me, shelters me, supports me, sustains me ...OK WE CATCH ON. IT'S GOD ISN'T IT?
Blesses me, forgives me, knows me, takes hold of me, is always faithful...YEP IT'S GOD
My hero turns darkness into light and enables me to face my biggest fears.YOU SURE GOD KNOWS WHAT IT"S LIKE TO HAVE NO FRIENDS?
My hero is totally dependable, unbelievably strong, as solid as a rock.WE GET THE PICTURE
And my hero cares about little old me.GOD LOVES US ALL, WE KNOW!
My hero lives and I want to shout out my thanks and praise.IF WE JOIN YOU IN PRAISE, WILL YOU STOP?
Praise God!PRAISE OUR LIVING, LOVING GOD!
Amen!AMEN!
This Psalm was developed with the help of Sarah Rowan
PSALM 23
The Lord is my shepherd.
HERE WE GO AGAIN, ANOTHER OUT-OF-DATE IMAGE.
But this is the most popular Psalm there is.
BUT IT'S OLD?
Yeah, but...
THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD.
That doesn't mean it's bad.
NO, JUST HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND.
Well the shepherd image wants to remind us how much God loves, protects, provides for, guides and cares for his people.
WHY NOT USE THE MODERN IMAGE WE ALL UNDERSTAND?
You mean...
OF COURSE WE DO.
O.K. The Lord is my mother;
SHE LOVES PROTECTS, PROVIDES FOR, GUIDES AND CARES FOR ME.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE MOTHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 46
God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in time of trouble.
HE'S OUR STEALTH BOMBER.
You can't say that!
WHAT ELSE IN OUR WORLD OFFERS THE SAME SHELTER AND STRENGTH?
Well come on, say the next line.
SO WE WILL NOT BE AFRAID, EVEN IF THE EARTH IS SHAKEN.
In our world, it's mostly human war machines that cause fear and shake the earth.
SO HOW CAN GOD PROTECT US FROM SUCH TERRIBLE POWER?
Our God is more powerful than all the armies of our world put together.
HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?
Our God stops wars and fighting every day!
HOW?
The Lord Almighty is with us.
THE LAST TIME HE CAME, HE WAS NAILED TO A CROSS.
Exactly! The God of the cross is our refuge.
YOU MEAN THE CROSS IS OUR SHELTER AND STRENGTH?
The Lord Almighty is with us.
THE GOD OF THE CROSS IS OUR REFUGE.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 47
What do you do when your sport team wins?
WE CHEER AND SWAP HIGH FIVES!
What do you do when you get your maths right?
WE SMILE HUGE SMILES AND TELL MUM AND DAD!
What do you do when you win the prize?
WE FEEL HAPPY AND SPECIAL!
Our God has defeated everything bad - Hip, Hip,
HURRAY!!
Our God has done everything well - Hip, Hip
HURRAY!!
Our God has won a place in heaven for us. Hip, Hip
HURRAY!!
Our loving God is the greatest!
YES!! (All jump up and swap high fives with a neighbour)
PSALM 65
God you are a great God who deserves our praise!
GOD, YOU ARE GOOD TO US.
You forgive us when we do wrong.
AT TIMES, PERHAPS YOU'RE TOO GOOD.
What do you mean. "too good."
WE DON'T DESERVE TO BE FORGIVEN.
I suppose not.
WE DON'T DESERVE BE LOVED.
Well no.
WE DON'T EVEN DESERVE THIS WONDERFUL WORLD.
Well we sure don't look after it as we should.
AND YET HE SENDS RAIN AND SUNSHINE.
I like rainforests and frogs.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE SEA!
Or the miracle of seeds that grown into plants.
PLANTS THAT THEN PROVIDE FOOD FOR US.
Don't forget cows, sheep, and kangaroos
WOW! OUR GOD REALLY DOES DESERVE OUR PRAISE.
That's what I said right at the beginning.
WELL, STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND DO IT.
Good idea.
GOD YOU ARE A GREAT GOD WHO DESERVES OUR PRAISE!
Hey we can't forget all that Jesus did for us.
GOD YOU ARE A GREAT GOD WHO DESERVES OUR PRAISE! AMEN!
PSALM 86:11&12
Teach me what you want me to do, Lord,
AND HE WILL OBEY YOU FAITHFULLY.
What do you mean "HE" will obey you faithfully?
DON'T BLAME US, THAT'S WHAT THE WORDS SAY.
Sorry it must be a misprint. You're suppose to say "YOU will obey God faithfully."
YOU WILL OBEY GOD FAITHFULLY.
No, not me, you.
BUT IT'S SAFER TO SAY "HE" OR "YOU". GOD TELLS US TO DO STRANGE THINGS.
What do you mean?
WELL, HE TELLS US TO LOVE AND ACCEPT EVERYONE.
So?
SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY HARD TO LOVE.
Are you hard to love sometimes?
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE, NOT US.
God loves, and cares about you, even when you do the wrong thing and try to blame someone else.
WHO TOLD YOU WE BLAME OTHER PEOPLE?
He even loves you, when you're mean to others.
BUT THEY DESERVE IT!
And what do you deserve from God?
NOTHING?
Exactly, but instead God continues to love.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO?
Let's thank God for his undeserved love.
I WILL PRAISE YOU, O LORD MY GOD, WITH ALL MY HEART.
Is that all? Are you just going to thank God with words?
O.K. AND I WILL OBEY YOU FAITHFULLY.
Even when you find it hard to love?
LOVING GOD, CONTINUE TO FILL US WITH YOUR LOVE. AMEN.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 121
I look to the mountains
AND SEE MOUNTAINS.
Stop mucking around.
BUT THAT'S WHAT'S WRITTEN HERE!
If you're not careful, you'll find yourself in real trouble!
GOD WILL PROTECT US!
Not from the consequences of being cheeky and smart, he won't!
BUT WE'RE JUST READING WHAT'S HERE.
I'll give you one more chance. I look to the mountains
AND SEA...
Careful...
BUT THEY CANNOT HELP US.
That's better. God will protect us.
WE'VE ALREADY SAID THAT LINE.
Right that's it, you can all come to my office after school.
GOD WILL PROTECT US.
Go on, you may as well go out right now.
GOD WILL PROTECT US.
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.
PSALM 139
Guess what I'm going to do next?
WE WOULDN'T HAVE A CLUE, BUT WE KNOW GOD KNOWS.
Do you know what I'm thinking?WE ONLY KNOW THAT GOD KNOWS.
So it wouldn't do much good asking you what I'm planning to do today?NO, BUT GOD KNOWS.
What about what I'm going to say next?GOD KNOWS.
Wow, you're saying God knows everything about me.HE KNOWS US EVEN BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES!
That's amazing!IT SURE IS.
What if I run away from him?YOU CAN'T.
Not even if I get into a spaceship and head into space?HE'D BE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
What if I tunnel into the earth?HE'D STILL BE RIGHT THERE.
What if I hide in a cupboard in the middle of the darkest night?THE DARK MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO GOD, HIS LOVE WON'T LET YOU GO.
Ooo! I just thought. God must know all the bad things about me that I keep hidden from everyone else.YES, BUT ONLY SO HE CAN COVER THEM WITH HIS FORGIVENESS AND LOVE.
So having a God so close is all good news.THERE IS NO BETTER NEWS IN ALL THE WORLD.
Return
WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT. THIS GOD WAS PRAISED LONG AGO, AND WILL BE PRAISED FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.