Everyone plays an instrument in God's orchestra

God's Orchestra

The goal of this lesson might be for younger children: Jesus loves me just as I am, no matter what I look like, what I can do, etc. With older kids, additional points can be made that the church is an orchestra (body), every instrument (member) is important, and God needs everyone. Together with the kids consider where God has gifted them.

Introductory game

For the younger children, the game 'guess instruments' is played. One child has to leave the room. The others appoint a conductor. This one performs different instruments, which the others imitate. The child has to find out who the conductor is. For the older children it is a good idea to create a power point presentation with different instruments. This should also include instruments that are not so well-known - such as bassoon, clarinet, viola, oboe, tuba, double bass, percussion, etc.

The orchestra and me

Yes, there are many instruments, which makes it possible to talk to the children about the instruments they play. Where there are many instruments playing together, it is called an orchestra. The special thing about an orchestra is that different instruments have multiple instrumentalists. Nowadays the musicians are usually led by a conductor, whereas in the early days this role fell to the first violinist (concertmaster)

After this relatively noisy introduction, I want the children to get comfortable and listen to orchestral music while quieting down. I have taken excerpts from well-known pieces by W. A. Mozart, L. van Beethoven, Peter I. Tchaikovsky. Music from well-known movies goes over especially well with the kids.

While the music is still playing, the following text from 1 Corinthians 12:12-28 (adapted) can be read:

"Just as an orchestra is made up of many instruments, and the instruments form one orchestra, so also the church of Christ is made up of many instruments, and yet is one orchestra.

Now an orchestra is made up of many instruments, not just one. Even if the violin were to claim, 'I'm not part of the orchestra because I'm not a trombone!' it would still remain part of an orchestra. And if the timpani were to declare, 'I am not a cello, therefore I do not belong to the orchestra!' it would still belong. Suppose the whole orchestra consisted only of violins, how would that sound? Or the whole orchestra were only trumpets? What a noise that would be! That is why God gave each individual instrument a special function, just as He wanted it. What a strange orchestra it would be if only one instrument played. But that's not how it is; many instruments together make up a whole orchestra.

That's why the flute can't say to the trombone, 'I don't need you!' And the oboe cannot say to the drum, 'You are superfluous!' Perhaps it's the parts of the orchestra that you don't pay much attention to that are important. The orchestra should be a unit in which each instrument is there for the other.

Using this example, I wanted to explain to you: All of you are the orchestra, each one of you belongs to it as a part. To each one God has assigned his own particular place."

And from Ephesians 1:22-23 it can be added (also adapted), "Jesus rules over all and is also the conductor of his orchestra, and the church (which includes the children!) is his orchestra."

For the older children, a time could now be scheduled during which they are allowed to write down what they are good at - perhaps even sharing about it afterwards.

Just as there are many different instruments, God has made each child differently. All are needed, none are useless! God needs every child in His orchestra. He wants each one to play along so that we sound as a great orchestra! God himself is the conductor, he wants to make us sound according to his will

• Content and image: Forum Child Issue 2/11, page 13. Using the image of an orchestra, the theme of "gifts" is taken up in a lesson. © Copyright www.forum-kind.ch
• Author: Christina Wenger