Date: November 22, 2020
Committed to His Worship
The Point: God deserves our worship and praise.
Get Into the Study
Use the following information to introduce Question #1.
In late October, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series when they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in Game 6. Normally a parade where the hometown fans gather to cheer on their team would follow. But because of COVID-19, the excitement of a parade for the World Series champs has to wait. The team issued a statement that read, “While the wait for a World Championship is finally over, a celebration worthy of our great fans and the City of Los Angeles will unfortunately have to wait until it is safe to do so. We can’t wait to celebrate together!” Clayton Kershaw, a starting pitcher for the Dodgers, said, “Someday — someday soon, I hope — we are going to celebrate and we are going to be there, and there’s going to be a parade and there’s going to be tens of thousands of Dodger fans.”
Say: Dodger fans are thrilled for their team’s World Series victory, but for now the excitement of a parade where tens of thousands of fans gather has been put on hold. Then call attention to Question #1 (When have you been swept up in a moment of excitement?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/sports/baseball/dodgers-win-world-series.html
Get Into the Study [Additional Option for Adult Leader Guide]
Ask Question #1. Then play a video clip of a moment in history when people were swept up in a moment of excitement.
Study the Bible
Use the following information to supplement Question #2.
In May of this year, Conde Nast Traveller magazine published a list of “The 50 Most Beautiful Places in the World.” They described it as a “compilation of nature’s greatest hits.” The top 10 most beautiful places on their list include: (1) Angel Falls, Venezuela; (2) Antarctica; (3) Antelope Canyon, Arizona; (4) Atacama Desert, Chile; (5) Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan; (6) Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar; (7) The Azores, Portugal; (8) Banff National Park, Canada; (9) Boracay, Philippines; and (10) Boulders Beach, South Africa.
Say: Some people are in awe of who God is when they admire the beauty of His creation. Then call attention to Question #2 (When have you been awed by who God is or what He has done?) and invite volunteers to respond.
Information for this post was gleaned from:
https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/most-beautiful-places-in-the-world
— Donna McKinney wrote these Leader Extras. Donna is retired from a career with the federal government of the United States. She is a veteran Bible study group leader living in North Carolina.
Additional Questions
Icebreakers
- Who or what would you say you’re really a fan of?
- What is your favorite type of event to be a fan at?
- What ideas or images come to mind when you hear the word “worship”?
Psalm 99:1-3
- What does it typically look like (or sound like) when you spend time praising God?
- What are some of the reasons the psalmist gives for worshiping God in these verses?
- How should we understand the message of fear and trembling in these verses?
Psalm 99:4-5
- How can knowing God is always fair and just help you face injustice and unfair situations?
- How have you seen God at work on your behalf at school, work, or home?
- How can we worship God in the midst of unfair situations?
Psalm 99:6-9
- What multiple things does the psalmist tell us God does for us when we call upon His Name?
- What are some ways you’ve seen God answer prayer in our group?
- How can recalling God’s work in the past impact our worship?
For Those in Your Group
Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a follow-up thought:
Podcast
Click here for a 20-minute podcast for both the group member and the leader.
Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups
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Has anyone else had a problem writing the “printer-friendly” version of this lesson? I have tried on 3 different devices and it will not open. Thank you!
Sorry, Belinda, for the hassle. I found the error and corrected it. The PDF will download correctly now.
I REALLY REALLY appreciate the weekly podcasts. Thank you !