RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL LESSON 1: PRAISE GOD – 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017

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 RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL

LESSON ONE

SUNDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER 2017

 

TOPIC: PRAISE GOD

 

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’Praise ye the Lord, I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” – Psalm 111:1

 

BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalm 150:1-6

 

INTRODUCTION:

Christians often speak of “praising God”, and the Bible commands all living creatures to praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6). One Hebrews word for “praise” is yadah, meaning “praise, give thanks, or confess”. A second word often translated as “praise” in the Old Testament is zamar, “sing praise”. A third word translated as “praise” is halal (the root of hallelujah), meaning “to praise, honour or commend”. All three terms contain the idea of giving thanks and honour to the one who is worthy of praise.

 

LESSON OUTLINES

  1. Meaning and instances of praises to God
  2. Praising God is a command

 

MEANING AND INSTANCES OF PRAISES TO GOD

Praise is the joyful recounting of all that God has done for us. It is closely intertwined with thanksgiving as we offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works on our behalf. It is merely the truthful acknowledgment of the righteous acts of another. Since God has done many wonderful deeds, He is worthy of praise (Psalm 18:3).

 

The book of Psalms is a collection of songs filled with praises to God. Among them are Psalm 9:2 and Psalm 18:3. Praise must also be given to God both for who He is and for His great power (Psalm 21:13). Psalm 150 uses the term praise thirteen times in six verses.

 

In the New Testament, there are examples of praise given to Jesus (Matthew 8:2; 21:16; 28:17). Jesus accepted praise as God. The early church often shared in times of praise. For example, the first church in Jerusalem included a focus on worship (Acts 2:42-43). The church leaders at Antioch prayed, worshiped and fasted during the time Paul and Barnabas were called into missionary work (Acts 13:1-5). Many of Paul’s letters include extended sections of praise to the Lord (1Timothy 3:14-16; Philippians 1:3-11).

 

PRAISING GOD IS A COMMAND

Throughout the Bible, the commands to “praise the Lord” are too numerous to mention. Angels and the heavenly hosts are commanded to praise the Lord (Psalm 89:5; 103:20; 148:2). All inhabitants of the earth are instructed to praise the Lord (Psalm 138:4; Romans 15:11).

 

We can praise Him singing (Isaiah 12:5; Psalm 9:11), with shouting (Psalm 33:1; 98:4), with dance (Psalm 105:4), and musical instruments (1Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 108:2; 150:3-5).

 

However, there are those times when God did not come through the way we thought He would. The medical test comes back positive. The spouse wants a divorce. A child is wayward. The mortgage company calls in the loan. God seems very far away, and praise is the last thing to bubble up from our hearts. We can not see His goodness, and circumstances scream that He has forgotten us. To praise God in those times require personal sacrifice. When we bring a “sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15). We choose to believe that even though life is not going as we think it should, God is still good and can be trusted (Psalm 135:2; Nahum 1:7). When we choose to praise God in spite of the storms, He is honoured, and our faith grows deeper (Malachi 3:13-17; Job 13:15).

 

CONCLUSION:

At the end of time, all of God’s people will join in eternal praise of God. Believers should know that our worship of God on earth is simply preparation for the celebration of praise that will take place in eternity with the Lord.

 

QUESTIONS

  1. Mention some instances of praise in the Bible.
  2. Why, when and how should we praise God?

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