Who Is God and Why Praise Him?

Opening: Read Psalm 145 Together (5 minutes)

Have a volunteer read Psalm 145 aloud. Then ask: 'What words or phrases jump out at you from this Psalm?' Let students share freely. Transition by saying: 'David wrote this song to help God's people remember who God is. Today we're going to dig into five big truths about God that should fuel our worship — and our obedience.'

Question 1: God's Greatness (8 minutes)

Read Psalm 145:3 — 'Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.'

Ask: What does it mean that God's greatness is 'unsearchable'? Why does David say we should praise God for something we can't fully understand?

Expected Answers: Students may say God is infinite, beyond our ability to measure or fully grasp. Some may connect it to mystery or awe. Guide them toward the idea that God's greatness isn't limited by our understanding — He is greater than anything we can imagine (Isaiah 40:28, Romans 11:33). The fact that He is unsearchable should humble us and fuel worship, not frustration. Emphasize: meditating on God's greatness fuels our obedience (as the sermon said). When we see God as He truly is, obedience becomes joy, not burden.

Cross-references: Isaiah 40:28 ('His understanding is unsearchable'), Romans 11:33 ('Oh, the depth of the riches... how unsearchable his judgments'), Psalm 147:5 ('his understanding is beyond measure').

Transition: 'So God is great — but He doesn't just sit back and watch. He acts. Let's talk about His works.'

Question 2: God's Mighty Works (8 minutes)

Read Psalm 145:4-6 — 'One generation shall commend your works to another... they shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds.'

Ask: In the Old Testament, the Exodus was God's greatest work. In the New Testament, what is God's greatest work — and how is it even better than the Exodus?

Expected Answers: Students should identify Jesus' death and resurrection as God's ultimate work. Some may need prompting to connect the Exodus (freedom from slavery in Egypt) to the Gospel (freedom from slavery to sin). The sermon emphasized that the true Exodus is when Jesus freed us from sin by His perfect life, death, and resurrection. This is the story we are called to tell from generation to generation — that's discipleship. If students struggle, ask: 'What did the Israelites need to be freed from? What do we need to be freed from?' Help them see the parallel.

Cross-references: Psalm 77:14-15 (God redeemed His people with His arm), John 10:10 (Jesus came to give life), John 20:31 (belief in Jesus brings life).

Transition: 'God's works show His power. But they also show something else — His goodness. Let's go there next.'

Question 3: God's Goodness (8 minutes)

Read Psalm 145:8-9 — 'The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all.'

Ask: The sermon said God is good to 'all' — even people who don't follow Him. How have you seen God's goodness in your own life, even in seasons when you weren't thinking about Him or obeying Him?

Expected Answers: This is personal and reflective. Students may share about family, health, provision, second chances, or moments of protection. Some may struggle to articulate it — that's okay. Affirm any honest answer. The sermon called this 'common grace' — God's kindness extended to everyone (every breath, every sunrise, every meal). But only the redeemed respond with thanksgiving. Press gently: 'If God has been good to you, how should that change the way you live this week?' Connect to Romans 2:4 — God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not take advantage of His patience.

Cross-references: Psalm 34:8 ('taste and see that the Lord is good'), Romans 2:4 ('God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance'), Exodus 34:6 (the Lord's self-description to Moses).

Transition: 'God is good — and because He's good, His rule over everything must also be good. That brings us to His sovereignty.'

Question 4: God's Sovereignty (8 minutes)

Read Psalm 145:13 — 'Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.'

Ask: What does it mean that God is sovereign? And why is that a comfort for Christians, especially when life feels out of control?

Expected Answers: Sovereignty means God is in control, He rules over all, His kingdom never ends. Students may say it's comforting because it means nothing happens outside His knowledge or power. Some may wrestle with hard questions (why does God allow suffering?). Acknowledge the tension, but anchor them in Romans 8:28-39 — God's sovereignty secures our salvation; nothing can separate us from His love. If students are skeptical or struggling, ask: 'Would you rather live in a world where God is in control, or where everything is random?' Help them see that God's rule is not tyranny but loving authority.

Cross-references: Romans 8:28 ('God works all things for good for those who love Him'), Romans 8:38-39 ('nothing can separate us from the love of God'), Psalm 1 (contrast between the righteous and wicked under God's rule).

Transition: 'God rules forever — but does He keep His promises? Let's look at His faithfulness.'

Question 5: God's Faithfulness (8 minutes)

Read Psalm 145:13b-14 — 'The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The Lord upholds all who are falling.'

Ask: The sermon said all of God's promises find their 'yes' in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). What is one promise from Scripture that you need to trust God for right now — and how does Jesus make that promise secure?

Expected Answers: Students may mention promises like 'I will never leave you,' 'I will provide,' 'I will forgive,' 'I will give you rest,' etc. Some may need help connecting the promise to Jesus. For example: God promises forgiveness — Jesus died to make that possible. God promises presence — Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. God promises eternal life — Jesus rose from the dead. If students are unsure, offer examples and ask them to pick one that resonates. This is a chance to make doctrine personal.

Cross-references: 2 Corinthians 1:20 ('all the promises of God find their yes in Him'), Deuteronomy 7:9 ('the faithful God who keeps covenant'), 2 Timothy 2:13 ('if we are faithless, he remains faithful').

Transition: 'We've talked about who God is. Now let's wrestle with how we respond.'

Debate/Discussion Springboard (8 minutes)

Prompt: 'Some people say, 'I don't need to go to church or read the Bible to know God is real — I can see His goodness in nature and feel His presence.' Others say, 'You can't truly know God without Scripture and the Gospel.' What do you think? Can someone know God without knowing Jesus?'

Leader Notes: This will surface a range of views. Let students debate respectfully. Affirm the truth in both sides: Yes, creation reveals God's power and goodness (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19). But general revelation is not enough for salvation — we need special revelation (Scripture) and the person of Jesus (John 14:6). The sermon emphasized that only the redeemed respond to God's goodness with praise. Press the group: 'What's the difference between knowing about God and knowing God personally?' Aim for students to articulate that relationship with God comes through Christ, not just observation of nature or moral living.

Cross-references: Romans 1:19-20 (creation reveals God's attributes), John 14:6 ('no one comes to the Father except through me'), Psalm 19:1-4 (the heavens declare God's glory).

Closing Application (5 minutes)

Say: 'David ends Psalm 145 with a call to praise: 'Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.' This week, pick one attribute of God we talked about — His greatness, His works, His goodness, His sovereignty, or His faithfulness — and spend time each day thanking Him for it. Write it down. Pray it. Tell someone about it. Let's be a generation that commends God's works to the next.'

Close in prayer, thanking God for who He is and asking Him to make these truths real in students' lives this week.