IKOYI BAPTIST CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT LESSON OUTLINE FOR SUNDAY JANUARY 1, 2017 TOPIC FOR THE WEEK:

PRAISE GOD FOR CREATION

THEME FOR THE MONTH: THEME FOR THE QUARTER: DEVOTIONAL READING: BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:

PRAISE FROM AND FOR GOD’S CREATION CREATION: A DIVINE CYCLE PSALM 146 PSALM 33:1 – 9

KEY VERSE: “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the

breath of his mouth.” Psalm 33:6 LESSON AIMS After participating in this lesson each learner will be able to:

1) 2) 3)

List the reasons to praise the Lord and rejoice in Him Describe worship as a function of God’s creation Suggest one way the worship experience can be improved in our church

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REVIEW AND PREVIEW

appy New Year! Congratulations that we are starting the year in admiration and adoration of the God of all creation. Last week, we saw how the arrival of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, created a divine pathway for man’s salvation after rebellion had corrupted the creation. The announcement of His birth, the shepherd’s rejoicing and prompt visit, the songs of angels, the affirmation by the host of heaven provide explicit proof of his Divinity because every part of creation noticed a visible and credible sign. Remember the special star that led the wise men from the East. This week, we see reasons why God’s creation (including humans) should praise the awesome God, who alone created everything for His pleasure (Rev 4:11). Today’s passage continues from where Psalm 32 stopped, calling on the righteous to rejoice in the Lord and that praise is good for the upright! When the Lord is the focus of our praise, He delights and dwells in it. The Psalm is full of themes that call for corporate praise and worship of the Lord who alone has the attributes as the creator of everything. One cannot but wonder at the marvellous works that showcase the creative ingenuity of the Lord God Almighty. This should ordinarily elicit praise from the discerning soul. Praise and worship, whether private or public is therefore the right thing to do in response to an appreciation of God as creator. When we praise the Lord who created us, we acknowledge His sovereignty and He becomes the sole focus of our worship. All around the world where kings and queens reign and rule their ‘lands’, there are usually praise singers that herald their coming. Very often, these praise singers will go through history and genealogy to trace the lineage of the particular king or queen. They will extol the virtues and remind the people of the valiant things that the king or queen accomplished to be able to sit on the throne. If we can do this for mere mortals, why can we not praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords who CREATED all things and who continues to do marvellous things! Praising God is not a substitute to living a righteous life. In fact, it is difficult for someone not living a righteous life to genuinely praise God. Do you pay attention to God’s beautiful creation around you and do you praise Him for these? nana817 on

LESSON OUTLINE: I. PRAISE BY THE UPRIGHT A. Use Every Means B. Acknowledge His Attributes II.

III.

[Psalm 33:1-5] [vv. 1-3] [vv. 4,5]

PRAISE FOR HIS WORKS A. Heavens and Their Host B. Waters of the Sea

[Psalm 33:6,7] [vv. 1-3] [v. 7 ]

DUTIES OF THE CREATED A. Who should praise God? B. Why should you praise God?

[Psalm 33:8,9] [v. 8] [v. 9]

Conclusion B.

Prayer: Oh God, as Your great power causes us to stand in proper fear of You, may we also remember Your great love for us. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who in that love went to the cross. Amen.

A.

Thought to Remember As you praise God, don’t forget why.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION Q1: Vs. 1 what steps can we take to ensure that our joy is in the Lord rather than in ‘’things’’? Q2: Vs. 3

How do we keep musical expressions of praise from becoming mere performance?

Q3: Vs. 5b

What are some ways to ensure that personal or corporate worship addresses the attributes of God?

Q4: Vs. 6

What best helps you appreciate God’s creative power? Why?

Q5: Vs. 9

What are some ways to use verse 8 and 9 in worship?

THEME FOR NEXT WEEK: PRAISE GOD WITH A NEW SONG – PSALM 96 DEVOTIONAL I CHRONICLES 16:23 – 34 DAYS MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

DATE January January January January January January January

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

TOPIC O Sing to the Lord Ascribe to the Lord, O Families Justice Will Be Established Salvation Is for All Peoples Sing Praises, O Gentiles Singing Around the Throne The Lord Reigns Supreme

BIBLE PASSAGE I Chronicles 16: 23 – 34 Psalm 96: 7 – 8 Isaiah 42: 1 – 4 Isaiah 49: 1 – 7 Romans 15: 7 – 13 Revelation 5: 11 – 14 Psalm 96 : 1 – 6, 10 – 13

MEMORY VERSE FOR NEXT WEEK: Psalm 96:1

“O sing unto the LORD a new song; sing unto the Lord, all the earth” Psalm 96:1