* This Lesson comes with two scripture options. Scripture 1 spends time discussing the importance of the Tabernacle as it relates to Worship. Scripture 2 takes a more traditional approach to discussing worship. Feel free to use one or both. If you are working through curriculum in a group you might consider splitting the scriptures up and then having each group report on what they learned and talked about.
Scripture Reading 1
When Moses had finished all the work, the cloud covered the meeting tent and the LORD’s glorious presence filled the dwelling. Moses couldn’t enter the meeting tent because the cloud had settled on it, and the LORD’s glorious presence filled the dwelling.
More of the Story from Exodus
After God’s people left Egypt they walked a long time in the desert. They would only stay for a while in one place and then they would move to another. They did not have houses to live in because they had to keep travelling toward their new land.
All of the people had tents but the Lord wanted to build a special kind of tent. This tent would be very beautiful. It would be made of rich cloths and contain furniture inside made of gold. It would be put in the middle of the whole camp where everyone could see it. Do you know why this tent would be so special? Because this tent was to be the Lord’s tent! Itwould be called a tabernacle. The word tabernacle means “tent” or “dwelling place.”
Of course the Lord can live and be anywhere at any time, but God chose to make the tabernacle God’s home and special place so that the people would think of God every day. While the Israelites were on their journey through the desert they would know that God was in the tabernacle when they saw a cloud in the tabernacle tent. In the day God’s presence would be seen as a cloud and at night as a fire. When the cloud or fire moved to a new place the people could pack up the tabernacle tent and furniture and move it to the new place.
Moses’ and Aaron’s family or tribe took care of the tabernacle. They were descendants of Jacob’s son, Levi. Sometimes they were called Levites. Only Levites could work in the temple. Some of the workers would be called priests. The priests would help take care of the tabernacle and they
would help the people worship the Lord. They would always wear special clothes in the temple. God chose Aaron to be the head priest or the High Priest. His sons would help him.
While Moses was on Mount Sinai, God gave him instructions for building the tabernacle. The materials were to be gathered, and then the tabernacle and the furniture for it would be made. God gave very specific instructions to Moses. The tabernacle and furniture were to follow God’s pattern exactly.
Digging Deeper Questions
Why do you think that God instructed Moses to build a Tabernacle?
What do you think people did in the Tabernacle?
How would you describe people’s feelings about helping to build the Tabernacle,
giving their own possessions to build it, and also having to do the work to set it up each time?
What do you think people thought as they stood outside the entrance to the Tabernacle before they went in each time?
What thoughts go through your head when you prepare to enter into a worship space?
What do you think the other 11 tribes thought about the Levites being the only ones who could enter parts of the Tabernacle?
What do you think the Levites felt about being the only ones who could enter certain parts of the Tabernacle?
What benefit is there in the Tabernacle being part of their tent village every time they moved?
What is good and bad about having a physical and designated place to worship God?
Scripture Reading 2
Psalm 95:1-7a (NIV)
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
● What does worship mean to you? – [use definitions above to help guide students]
● What does extravagant or extreme mean when we talk about worship?
● How do you show extravagant love and extreme submission or obedience to God
● How do we sometimes worship things that aren’t God?
Digging Deeper Questions
What are examples of ways to worship in your church?
In what ways do you like to worship God?
What can you do this week to worship God in a new way?
Do you view worship as something that mainly happens at church, or does it happen in other areas of your life?
What are examples of what keeps us from worshiping God?
When do you feel closer to God when you are worshiping?
Do you think God is worth worshiping? Why or why not?
How can we incorporate our passions into how we worship God?
What do you think it means to have a lifestyle of true worship?
How could your life change if you decided to live a lifestyle of true worship?