Motives Matter
Where does our motivation come from?
by Alexandra Palmer
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider that our motivation is based on our thoughts, ideas and emotions.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Motives Matter) and the means to display them.
- Have available the YouTube video ‘Paul’s ministry’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 3.05 minutes long and is available at: https://youtu.be/IlXFy3zjJh4
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Ask the children, ‘What motivates us?’
Pause to allow time for discussion, and then listen to a range of responses. - Show Slide 2.
Go through the images on the slide.
- Our family supports us and gives us motivation to do well and try new things, along with other adults such as teachers and sports coaches.
- Friends help to motivate us too, especially if we are completing a challenge at school, like running a race or learning a new skill.
- Rewards such as stickers and treats can also motivate us to do well.
- When we take up a new hobby, we are motivated to learn a new skill and succeed at that challenge.
- Receiving praise in class or in an assembly can also motivate us to keep trying our best.
- Pocket money can be a motivation too, if we are saving up for something special. - Show Slide 3.
Ask the children, ‘Do our thoughts and emotions motivate us?’
Ask the children to give a thumbs-up if they think that the answer is yes, and a thumbs-down if not.
The answer is yes, our thoughts and emotions do motivate us. - Show the YouTube video ‘Paul’s ministry’ (3.05 minutes long).
- Discuss the video together.
Show Slide 4.
Ask the children, ‘What were Saul’s thoughts?’
Show Slide 5.
The answer is that he was motivated to harm Christians. - Show Slide 6.
Ask the children, ‘What was Saul’s idea?’
Show Slide 7.
The answer is that he was motivated to go to Damascus and find more Christians. - Show Slide 8.
Ask the children, ‘Who supported Saul?’
Show Slide 9.
The answer is that a Jewish high priest and some travelling companions provided Saul with some extra motivation. - Show Slide 10.
Ask the children, ‘What emotion was driving Saul?’
Show Slide 11.
The answer is that Saul was motivated by hate. - Show Slide 12.
Ask the children, ‘Have you ever heard someone saying that they’ve had a Damascus moment?’
Looking at the pictures, what do you think the phrase might mean?
Listen to a range of responses.
Tell the children that a Damascus moment is a moment of transformation or great change. In Saul’s case, he changed from wanting to hurt Christians to becoming one of them, changed his name to Paul and started teaching people about God. - Show Slides 13 to 16.
Slide 13: Paul’s new perspective meant that his thoughts shifted to wanting to teach people about Jesus.
Slide 14: Paul was motivated to travel around the Roman Empire so that he could spread his teaching far and wide.
Slide 15: Paul had many supporters who helped to motivate him, including Barnabas, John Mark, Silas, Timothy, Aquila and Priscilla.
Slide 16: Rather than being driven by hate, as before, Paul was now driven by love.
Time for reflection
Show Slide 17.
Tell the children that you want us to explore our own motives now.
First, we start with a thought: what do we want to do? One example might be that we want to learn to play a musical instrument.
Next, we explore the idea behind it: why do we want to do it? Perhaps we want to join a band or orchestra.
Now let’s consider our supporters: who will help us? Our music teacher and our family can be among our supporters.
Last, let’s explore our emotions: how will we feel if we manage to achieve our aim of learning a musical instrument? We will probably feel proud and excited.
Ask the children, ‘Which of these can we control?’
Ask the children to give a thumbs-up or a thumbs-down for each one.
Show Slide 18.
Explain that as Paul travelled around the Roman Empire, he sent many letters to help spread his teaching. These have become 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament. He wrote many famous phrases, including a particularly well-known one that is often used during weddings.
Read out the Bible passage on the slide: ‘Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.’
Ask the children what they think these words mean.
Pause to allow time for discussion, and then listen to a range of responses.
Explain that faith means believing in a person or a religion. Hope means wanting something to happen or be true. Love makes us compassionate and caring to one another. Without love, we can become unkind.
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for our thoughts and ideas, which help to provide our motivation.
Thank you for the people who support us and motivate us to succeed.
Thank you for our emotions, which support our motivation.
Please help us to ensure that everything we do comes from a place of love and kindness.
Amen.
