Leader Guide

Objective
Students will learn to develop the habit of praising and thanking God for both the good and the bad, even when they can’t see the outcomes.

Warm Up
Play Summer Vacation. The instructions can be downloaded here:
http://tiny.cc/summer-vacation

Transition
Who is someone you admire? (Maybe an athlete, a pop star or movie star. Perhaps a historical hero like Martin Luther King or maybe even a parent or grandparent.)

When talking about them to others, you might list their great qualities or achievements. It would be accurate to say you are praising that person. If it is someone you know, you might even tell them how you admire the way they are, and again, it could be said you are praising that person.

You probably like it if your parents praise you for something you have done or a talent you have!

The Oxford Dictionary defines praise as: “to express warm approval or admiration of” but the Cambridge Dictionary adds another kind of definition: “to honor, worship, and express admiration for a god.” We praise God to express our admiration of Him.

The Video
Play the “I Gotta Praise” music video by Planetshakers.

Transition
You know what this song is? It’s practice for Heaven, because in Heaven we will be praising God the whole time!

Revelation 19:5 says: ” And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”

To some people, that might sound boring, but this is an upbeat joyful song, not the kind of reserved angelic chant we might imagine in Heaven – in Heaven we will be full of joy! Notice at the end, it’s a prayer of thanks for meeting my needs.

• How has God met your needs?
• Also for healing. Has God healed you or anyone in your family?
• Then for loving me. How do you know God loves you?

We can praise God for all the good things that happen in our lives. We can praise Him for all He has done for us. But also (and this is the hardest thing!) we can praise Him when things seem to go wrong, because often God will have a better plan for us than we have for ourselves!

• Is there something you need to praise God for right now?
• Is there something that hasn’t gone your way but you’re willing to praise God anyway?

Bible Study
Read Psalm 139:13-18
This psalm tells us that God knew us before we came to be.

• When did you come to know God?
• Do you remember to thank and praise God when you do something well?
• What is one thing you want to achieve in the days God has given you on this earth?

Read Revelation 5:11-14
There are many thousands of angels described in Heaven.

• What do you think an angel is?
• How do you picture the throne of God?
• What do you mean when you say, “Amen?”

Read Revelation 19:1-10
This passage describes praise and worship in Heaven.

• Who is the great multitude in Heaven?
• What does “Hallelujah” mean?
• Why do you think the saints in Heaven praise God?

Wrap Up
Our lives are filled with blessings, but we can take them for granted or don’t remember to thank and praise God when good things happen. We can thank and praise God when bad things happen and still believe He is good and has a greater purpose.

• What is one thing that you can praise and thank God for right now in spite of your circumstances?

Playlist
This song is featured on “The Linc: Praise” Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.