Leader:Â In preparation, take the following "Praise God" statements and write them on small separate pieces of paper (one per paper). If you have more people than statements you may use some twice or write a few of your own.
- Praise God for something in nature
- Praise God for someone in the church
- Praise God for something in your past
- Praise God for something good happening in your world right now
- Praise God for wealth (food, clothes, etc)
- Praise God for His faithfulness
- Praise God for salvation
- Praise God for a person who has been a constant friend
- Praise God for something or someone who makes you laugh
- Praise God for freedom
Then fold and put them in a hat or bowl.Â
Have different people read the following Psalm; one line per person.
- Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
- God is the one who rebuilds our spirits, who takes us from brokenness to wholeness.
- He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
- He counts the stars and assigns each a name.
- Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does.
- God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch.
- Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn, play music on your instruments to God,
- Who fills the sky with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, then turns the mountains green with grass, feeding both cattle and crows.
- He's not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him.
- Those who fear God get God's attention; they can depend on his strength.
- People of God, worship Him! Those who have known God's love, praise your God!
- He made your heart secure, he has blessed you.
- He keeps the peace at your borders, he puts the best bread on your tables.
- He launches his promises earthward—how swift and sure they come!
- He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes,
- He broadcasts hail like birdseed—who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter—suddenly it's spring!
- Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
—inspired by Psalms 147:1-18 (MSG)
After reading the Psalm, have each person draw one of the "Praise God" statements out of a hat or basket. Ask each person to pray a simple one sentence prayer based on what their slip read. Be sure to model for the group what you expect. Make it simple so that it does not intimidate. We want to teach people how easy, and powerful, it is to praise God.
When everyone is done praying, complete this time by reading the last line again: It's a good thing to give praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.
