Silver Lining
Bible Story: Silver Lining (always be thankful principle) 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Bottom Line: You always have something to be grateful for.
Memory Verse: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
Virtue: Gratitude—letting others know you see how they’ve helped you.
Basic Truth: I can trust God no matter what.
Telling the Bible Story
Happy Times
STORYTELLER:
“Hello, Mr. Game Show Host. Hello beautiful children and most excellent teachers! I’m so happy to be here! God has truly blessed me by letting me, Hamidi, be chosen to compete in this most excellent game! Thank you, thank you.”
HOST:
“You’re most welcome! You seem to be a pretty grateful person, Hamidi. Let’s see how you do in our first challenge: the one-foot bounce! You have to bounce on one foot on this bouncy-thingy for thirty seconds while still remaining grateful! Do you think he can do it, kids?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is most unusually fun! I am so grateful that this was the first challenge. I used to win all the hopping contests against my brother back in my birth country in North Africa. I am so grateful that God brought me to this wonderful country and has allowed me to sell toys that make the little children so happy! Thank you so much for allowing me to be on your show!”
HOST:
“You sure remember to be grateful in happy times, and you even praise God and thank others! But let’s see how you do when things get a little harder!
Hard times
HOST:
“For our next challenge, Hamidi must walk across the Balance Beam of Doom, without falling or complaining! Then, he must jump and land on his feet in the pool at the end. Can he do it, kids?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is truly very hard and not as happy of a challenge as was the last one. But I am grateful I have not yet fallen. And I’m grateful God has given me the courage to face this difficulty. I must simply do my best and be grateful for each step I take and for God’s amazing provision.”
HOST:
“I’m impressed! Even though Hamidi is facing something hard, he still shows gratitude to God instead of complaining! And he just keeps on going like the energizer bunny with that gratitude attitude of his. But what if the challenge gets even tougher?”
STORYTELLER:
“This is very difficult, so I must look for reasons to be grateful! [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. Right now, I’m thankful Mr. Game Show Host did not hit Hamidi in the face! And I’m grateful his weapon is made of foam and not wood or metal. And I thank God for helping me overcome this new difficulty and persevere to the end!”
all the time
HOST:
“Oh no, Hamidi! You had to land on your feet to win, and you slipped! Now you’ve lost the game and you’re all covered with slime. What are you going to do now?”
STORYTELLER:
“I guess I’m not going to Disney World, am I? But the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that I should ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,’ (NIV).This is God’s will for Hamidi—what He wants me to do. And in all circumstances, easy or hard, I know that
[Recycle] I can trust God no matter what.
“So, Hamidi will still choose to be thankful. I’m grateful I did not break anything when I fell. And I’m most thankful this slime does not smell like the backside of the goats my brother raises in Africa. [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. Even when all around you seems sad or bad, you can thank God that He sent His Son, Jesus, to be your Savior. So, Hamidi is still most grateful. Thank you, Mr. Game Show Host for a most enjoyable experience on your show!”
HOST:
“That is an amazing show of gratitude, Hamidi! You have helped all of us see that it’s God’s will for us to be grateful all the time, so we can choose to obey and find reasons to be thankful! And because of that, you’ve shown us you know how to win out against whining with gratitude! You’ve won! Congratulations, Hamidi! I don’t have a trip to Disney World for you, but backstage we have your ticket to an awesome Monster Truck Rally and Tractor Pull!
Wrapping up the story
HOST:
“We need to all try to follow Hamidi’s example and have an attitude of gratitude at all times. [Impress] You always have something to be grateful for. How about saying that with me?”
HOST and KIDS: [Impress] “You always have something to be grateful for.”
HOST:
“Have you ever noticed that’s it’s just more fun to be around people like Hamidi, who are so thankful? No one wants to be around someone who gripes and complains all the time. Like a friend who gripes about too much homework, and how unfair the coach is for not picking him to start and how his dad is mean for not getting him the new video game.
“Whine, whine, whine. You make yourself unhappy and really annoy everyone when you act like that. But when you have an attitude of gratitude, people want to be around you, and they want to know why you’re so thankful and happy. Which gives you a chance to tell them about how cool God is! So, here’s what I want you to do: next time you get into a tough situation, like your teacher gives a pop quiz, or the coach puts you on the bench, I want you to stop a minute for a little gratitude adjustment and choose to be thankful. Not only will you be happier, but you will stand out as someone different and make others want to know why you’re such a happy, grateful person. Let’s pray for God to help all of us to have attitudes of gratitude.”
Pray
HOST:
“God, thank You so much for all the ways You bless us. We always have something to be grateful for. Help us to have attitudes of gratitude during happy times, hard times and all the time. Amen.”