RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL (AGES 13-19) – TEACHER’S MANUAL FOR JANUARY 14, 2023: TOPIC – HOW TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE THROUGH: SINGING PRAISES TO GOD
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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 13-19 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 14TH OF JANUARY, 2023
LESSON TWENTY (20)
TOPIC: HOW TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE THROUGH: SINGING PRAISES TO GOD
BIBLE TEXT: Psalms 147:1-20
[1]Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
[2]The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
[3]He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
[4]He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
[5]Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
[6]The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
[7]Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
[8]Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
[9]He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
[10]He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
[11]The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
[12]Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
[13]For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
[14]He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
[15]He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
[16]He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
[17]He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
[18]He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
[19]He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
[20]He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.
MEMORY VERSE, Psalm 147:1- “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is comely.”
LESSON AIM: Teenagers should learn that singing praises to God is a way of expressing our gratitude to Him.
CENTRAL TRUTH: Singing praises to God is an acceptable way to show our gratitude to Him.
INTRODUCTION: The Yoruba tribe from Nigeria in Africa is one that does not joke with gratitude, to the extent that they have praise singers, especially in the King’s Palace. It is said in their adage that anyone who shows gratitude for what was done before will get more and this habit is instilled into them right from childhood. Even in parties, praise singing is a custom, especially to the celebrants, to appreciate them for all they have done. King David in the Bible is one who never joked with praising God, as he never stopped showing gratitude to God for picking him up as a shepherd boy and raising him to become King of God’s own nation. This made God call him a man after His heart.
STUDY GUIDE:
A) HOW TO SING SONGS OF PRAISE
– Songs of praises are songs that have lyrics expressing the wonderful works of God – Ps. 144:9.
– Sing of God’s love – Ps. 89:1.
– Sing for joy of what God has done – Ps. 132:9.
– Sing as long as you live – Ps. 104:33.
– Sing a new song – Isaiah. 42:10.
– Sing in times of trouble – Acts 16:25.
– Sing with gratitude – Col. 3:16.
– Sing with understanding – 1 Cor. 14:15.
– Sing from the heart songs of the Spirit – Eph. 5:19.
B) BELOW ARE THINGS YOU CAN SING PRAISES TO GOD FOR:
1. His wondrous works – Psalm 145:3-5.
2. His healing power – Psalm 147:1-4.
3. All He created – Psalm 148:5-9.
4. His loving kindness – Psalm 138:2.
5. The salvation of the saints – Psalm 149.
C) EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO SANG TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO GOD
1. David – Psalm 105:1-2.
2. Miriam and the Israelites – Exodus 15:20-21.
3. Israelites and Ezra – Ezra 3:11.
4. Paul and Silas – Acts 16:25.
5. Levites – 2 Chro. 20:21.
LIFE APPLICATION: Take 5 minutes every day to sing a song of praise to God to show your appreciation for the great and mighty things He has done for you, in you, through you and in the lives of all your loved ones (Isaiah 42:10). Singing songs of praise to God is a way of expressing our gratitude to Him.
CONCLUSION: Sing songs of praises to express your appreciation in all things; don’t wait for motivation from anyone. Don’t say “my voice is not good”, “I can’t stay on key”, “people will laugh at my voice”…, just sing; sing unto God your Maker and the Lover of your soul, making melody in your heart unto the Lord. He deserves all of your praises; make it a duty to sing unto Him always (Psalm 145:1-3).
TODAY’S LESSON REFLECTION:
What truth have you learnt in today’s lesson?
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Write down one way in which you are going to apply what you now know.
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