As we approach Easter, we should be thinking about Jesus and the sacrifices He made for us.  This leads us to understand that Jesus is King and worthy of our worship and praise.  The word "worship" comes from the Old English word "weorthscipe," that means giving worth to something.  We give Jesus all the worth we are able to give by worshiping Him.  When we worship Jesus, we honor His sacrifice for us and show Him how much we adore him.  Praise is a way we worship.  It means to offer admiration and adoration.  Use these two activities below to teach children about worship and praise.

Praise Paperweight
When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke the disciples for yelling out this praise, He said that if they were quiet, the rocks would cry out.  (See Luke 19:40.)

Make a praise paperweight.  Go outside and let each person find a rock (about the size of a fist).  If you don't have such rocks at home, find them in a field or at a gardening store.  Write words of praise on the rock using paint or markers.  Some suggested phrases could be: "God is good," "Amazing God," "Jesus Rocks!"  You could also add stickers, jewels, ribbon, glitter or whatever you have to make it look good.  Put it somewhere prominent to remind you to worship God each day.

Joyful Shout
Memorize Psalm 100 together as a family.  Try to memorize one verse a week.  Copy the psalm and post it on the refrigerator.  Read it together at least once a day.  Play the "Radio" game to memorize the first verse. Let one person be the adjuster who controls the volume (by moving hands apart for loud and together for quieter) while the others say the verse. Let everyone have a turn being the adjuster.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
Come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
And his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations.