~ Open in Prayer ~

Icebreaker
• When is your birthday? What’s something you like to do on your birthday?
• Celebration season is coming up! Do you have any graduations to attend or have any special Mother’s day plans?

Message Review
Praise and worship is one of the keys of the Kingdom. This series has tried to help us understand not just what to do but why we’re doing it. We can learn three distinct things across scripture regarding praise and why it’s important. Through the stories of Bartimaeus, Leah, and Ruth we understand the power of praise and what it can do and what happens when it is absent.

Let’s dig in more…

Read Mark 10:46-52
In this passage we read about the healing of Bartimaeus, a blind man Jesus encountered as he was leaving Jericho. When he saw Jesus coming, he yelled out in praise and got even louder when people tried to make him be quiet. He was tired of the cycle he was experiencing and knew Jesus was the key to breaking it, so he shouted out a praise. He had to separate himself from the people that were doing nothing. He understood that this was his moment so he cried out. He made Jesus (the word) stop for him. We praise before the sermon because praise makes the word (Jesus) stop in that moment; not just visit and pass but STOP. If you want the word to stop you have to give an undignified praise. What are some cycles/patterns in your life that you want to be broken? What can we learn from Bartimaeus about praise?

Read Genesis 29:15-20; 28-35 | 49:8-10
In this passage we read the story of Jacob and his two wives Rachel and Leah. Just like he tricked his brother Esau out of his birthright, Jacob was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah first when he was promised Rachel. But Jacob didn’t love Leah, so she began to birth out of her pain. She birthed Ruben (see me), Simeon (hear me), and Levi (know me), but then she birthed Judah (praise) and stopped bearing. She offered a sacrifice of praise; she sacrificed her pain for a praise and started to put a praise on her pain and that satisfied her every need. She didn’t have to birth anymore. Your praise will turn your situation around and will satisfy every need and every lack that you have. When Israel (formally Jacob) was dying and speaking blessings over his sons, Judah (praise) received the blessing that he will always have his foot on the neck of his enemies, he will always have the protection of the lion of Judah, and victory will never be snatched from his hands…he’ll always have authority over whatever comes against him. These are our promises when we praise. You can’t keep a praiser down! When adversity comes the best thing you can do is praise. Don’t ever lose your praise. Do you struggle to praise when things aren’t going well? Why is it important that we praise when we face adversity? How have you seen the power of praise work in your life?

Read Ruth 1:1-5
In this passage we read about Naomi and how all of the men died in her life; her husband and her sons. When they left the word and left the praise everyone started dying (Bethlehem, Judah to Moab). When you abandon the word and you abandon praise it’s just a matter of time before everything starts deteriorating. The blessing cannot be sustained apart from the word and apart from the praise. Praise is His house and you get to determine where you make that house; He inhabits the praises of His people. Have you seen the impact of when you fail to praise God? What are some ways you can keep a continuous praise on your lips and in your midst?

Prayer Focus and Requests
Ask your members if they have any prayer requests or praise reports. Pray that they will never lose their praise and that praise continually be on their lips.

Scripture References
Mark 10:46-52
Genesis 29:15-20
Genesis 28-35
Genesis 49:8-10
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Judges 20:18
Ruth 1:1-5