The key message:

To understand God’s great love for us – he knows everything about us and loves us just as we are.

Read:

Psalm 139

Instructions:

Ask the children if they like football and which team they support. If you have children who do not follow football you could quickly ask them if there is any other sport they follow. Don’t forget to also share what team you support!

Ask the children some questions about the teams they have mentioned (prepare in advance based on what you know or think the children will say), to test their knowledge – are they true fans? Ask the children what they think it means to be a fan, what do you need to do to be a fan? They might come up with things like watch the games, know the players’ names, know current league position, have the team kit, have been to the stadium, etc.

Talk to the children about how being a ‘true’ football fan is no small commitment – knowing the team inside out, everything that goes on, the number of goals a player has scored, keeping up with transfer news and so much more. Then read extracts from Psalm 139, and ask the children who they think their biggest fan is? (God) Each of us has a fan – someone who follows our every move from the moment we were born to being here today and forever more. He knows everything about us.

Ask the children why they think God is a fan of ours? (He created us and made us who we are).

Prayer:

God really is a true fan of ours, He loves us more than we can imagine. Part of our worship to Him should be to thank him. Ask the children to draw a picture of something they want to thank God for (use coloured markers on a large sheet of flipchart paper or similar). Once everyone has drawn something, use this prayer:

Dear God,
Thank You that you are our number one fan.
Thank You that wherever we go, whatever we do,
You are with us, guiding us and supporting us.
Help us to remember to say thank you.
Amen