Celebrating God

Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders” (Exodus 15:11). This quarter’s lessons focus on the gift and privilege of worship, the acts of celebrating God for who he is and his work in our lives and in the world. Moses expressed amazement and awe through his worship, and these studies will explore worship that creates in us the same response.

People of Praise

The quarter begins under the heading “God’s People Offer Praise.” These first four lessons show us several individuals who praised God in different ways and in different circumstances. These lessons provide examples of praise-filled lives. They show us individuals who had serious flaws, or who faced great challenges in life, but who, nevertheless, rendered praise to God.

Moses, looking down on the corpses of the Egyptian charioteers, sang with confidence: “Your right hand, Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, Lord, shattered the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). King David, dancing with reckless abandon, reminds us to praise God for his great power, even when—or especially when—we might be worried about what others think or how they will see us. Bartimaeus, a man who had been blind for many years, shows us how trust and praise are connected, even in the midst of our difficulties.

Finally, this quarter includes the example of the first people who responded to Peter’s preaching on the day of Pentecost. Luke records the ways in which lives changed because of obedience to the gospel. Reformed lives resulted in an orientation of praise and worship, daily breaking of bread, sharing of food, and worshipping “with glad and sincere hearts, praising God” (Acts 2:46–47a).

Praise in the Psalms

The central portion of the quarter, “Called to Praise God,” brings us to the Psalter, the great hymnal of God’s Old Testament people. These psalms can strengthen our prayer life and provide instruction for how to approach God in the face of injustice and sin. These psalms also show us how to celebrate God’s goodness and mercy. For thousands of years, God’s people have been writing poetry and songs for worship in that regard.

Many of us have a powerful tool for nurturing spirituality and devotion at our fingertips each week: our church hymnal or other Christian songbook. Do you have one on hand? Resolve to make use of it in your private devotionals. The psalms remind us that any believer can compose songs or poetry of worship; we do not have to leave these things to the “professionals.” Our faith can be expressed in songs and poetry of our own.

Visions of Praise

Our final month will be spent in Revelation. In the throne room scenes, where the worship by the angels, the elders, and the multitudes is united, we see how worship can change our view of reality. It is easy, in our media-saturated lives, to take what we see around us—illness, poverty, political discord, war—as all there is. When we gather in worship, however, we are reminded of the true nature of reality.

No matter the suffering around us, God is on his throne watching over creation and moving us ever closer to the time when all things will be made new. On that great day he will be ultimately victorious and his justice and peace will rule over all.

by Christopher Cotten

Unit 1: God’s People Offer Praise

Date	Title	Bible Text
September 5	Praise with Music	Exodus 15:11–21
September 12	Praise in Dance	2 Samuel 6:1–5, 14–19
September 19	Praise by Expecting and Following	Mark 10:46–52
September 26	Praise for Salvation	Acts 2:32–33, 37–47

Unit 2: Called to Praise God

Date	Title	Bible Text
October 3	Praise God with Joy	Psalm 100
October 10	Praise for God’s Ultimate Justice	Psalm 9:1–12
October 17	Praise God for Past Deliverance	Psalm 107:1–9, 39–43
October 24	Praise God for His Presence	Psalm 84
October 31	Praise God for His Greatness	Psalms 149:1–5; 150

Unit 3: Visions of Praise

Date	Title	Bible Text
November 7	United in Praise	Revelation 7:9–17
November 14	God of Power	Revelation 11:15–19
November 21	Marriage of the Lamb	Revelation 19:1–8
November 28	Good News for All	Acts 10:34–47