Leader Guide

Activity

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the statue of gold that was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. That is taller than an eight story building today! Solomon in the Old Testament was about to build God’s temple. He was overwhelmed with the task when considering who God was.

Read 2 Chronicles 2:5–6a:

“This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods. But who can really build Him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain Him!”

Nebuchadnezzar was proud of his statue; he marveled at the size of it overlooking his kingdom. But, to the three Hebrew men, it was tiny compared to our God who is Spirit and cannot be contained in any temple, like Solomon said in those verses! How could they forsake God to bow down before a man-made object! We may never actually be tempted to bow down to an idol or statue, but when we put more importance on things or people over God, we actually have created our own idol that we worship. What are some things that some people think are more important than God? Money, job, power, possessions, house, car, another person, videogames, electronics, etc.

God wants to be number one before any person or thing!

Have you ever wondered why we bow down? The Hebrew word for worship in the Old Testament literally means to “bow down.” Bowing down before someone shows respect, honor and submission in the presence of a king or other powerful leader. Should we not bow before the King of kings, Lord of lords, and the Creator of heaven and Earth?

In worship, we declare God’s greatness and glory! We humbly surrender and place our entire being before Him in service and acknowledge that everything belongs to and is dependent on Him. I would like to read the verse that we read earlier in the lesson. It is a wonderful verse to learn and say to God as the motivation for our worship here, and your personal worship at home.

Read Psalm 95:6: 

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.  

Play the worship music you have chosen and worship God together. As stated previously in the “Prayer” section, if any children cannot kneel, demonstrate how they can bow in a sitting position or simply worship God with their eyes closed.

Pray: God, we thank You for who You are and all that You have done for us. Help us live every part of our lives worshiping You as we obey Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.