In this step, you will be encouraging your students to articulate their praise for God in different ways: through their words, creativity, and actions.

So many of the Bible’s authors used poetry to express their praise toward God. But we can also express our praise through modern media, internal prayer, acts of service, creative expressions, and so on. There’s no limit to the ways we can praise God.   

Place students in three groups, either through random assignment, prepared groups, or self-selection. Assign three categories of praise, one per group: VERBAL PRAISE, CREATIVE EXPRESSION, ACTIONS. You will probably want to assign each group an adult leader, if possible, to guide their discussion; if that’s not possible, circulate through the groups giving each one equal time to help them focus and refine. Provide writing supplies.

Instruct them to consider the ways they can praise God. Ask the VERBAL PRAISE group to write down the characteristics of God that make Him worthy of adoration. They can write them as brief prayers, or they can even take verses word-for-word from their Bibles. They can use their phones to look up verses or research some of God’s attributes.

Instruct the CREATIVE EXPRESSION group to find pictures on Google images or other online sources that show the grandeur of God’s creation, the vastness of space, heaven or Christ-focused art, or the miracles of human life.

The last group will consider ways that they can worship God through acts of service. Students can write down church-sponsored ministries, individual service (such as helping a neighbor or tutoring a student), or short-term missions projects.

Depending on the time you have left, consider letting each group share their results with the others in class. When you are finished, answer these questions together.

• Why should praise not be limited to a church service or set of worship songs? (God exists in all parts of our lives; He is not compartmentalized into buildings or human experiences.)

• Which of these three categories is the hardest for you to practice? Why? (Let students share their thoughts.)

• It’s easy to say that we are using our talents to bring honor to the Lord—but then we end up making it all about us. How can we deflect our own pride and turn attention back to Jesus? (Acknowledge how difficult this can be, even for adults. It’s more than just saying “I’m doing this for God.” It requires a humble attitude, lots of prayer, and the right perspective.)

• What can you do this week to put one or more of these categories into practice? Share with a partner.

Encourage students to practice this shared action step at home and in their communities this week. Close in prayer, perhaps in small groups, thanking God for His praiseworthy attributes and divine power.