Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
Lesson Overview
Biblical Passage
Psalms 96:1–13
Supporting Passages
1 Chronicles 16:23–33
Memory Verse
Psalms 96:1
Biblical Truth
Declaring God’s glory to all people in all nations should be the goal of life.
Context
Drive began with an introduction to God’s purpose from the psalms. Psalm 67 states that we have been blessed so that we
may declare God’s glory to the nations. The anthem of praise found in Psalm 96 is the benediction to Drive. Individuals,
nations, and all creation are called to worship the Lord and give testimony to His glory. The passage concludes with the
promise of His return. In this lesson, students will be challenged to commit to making the declaration of God’s glory the goal
of their lives.
Learning Goals
• Explore Goal: Your students will understand that God’s ultimate purpose is to declare His glory in all the earth.
• Transform Goal: Your students will demonstrate to God that they understand and accept their role in His mission to
redeem the world.
Prayer Suggestions
As you prepare to teach this lesson, pray for your students.
●
●
●
Pray that students will realize how great is the God whom they serve and worship.
Pray that students will live in a way that points others to the glory of God.
Pray that students will reflect the glory of God to others in all that they say, think, and do.
Biblical Commentary
Investigation
The psalms in the book of Psalms are the faith of Israel set to music. They comprise the hymnbook of the Bible and can be
considered a theology of worship. Psalms is divided into five different sections: Book 1 covers Psalms 1–41, Book 2 covers
Psalms 42–72, Book 3 covers Psalms 73–89, Book 4 covers Psalms 90–106, and Book 5 covers Psalms 107–150. Most scholars
believe that the books within Psalms were arranged in a five-book format to parallel the Pentateuch (the first five books of
the Old Testament).
David is identified as being the author of 73 different psalms. Two of the psalms (72 and 127) are attributed to Solomon,
David's son. Psalm 90 is a prayer by Moses. Another group of 12 Psalms (50 and 73–83) is ascribed to the family of Asaph.
The sons of Korah wrote 11 Psalms (42, 44–49, 84–85, and 87–88). Psalm 88 is attributed to Heman, and Psalm 89 is assigned
to Ethan the Ezrahite.
Psalm 96 is taken from the song that was composed by David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem, the
city of David, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 16. Psalm 96 is a powerful hymn to the God of Israel, but it is also an invitation to
the other nations of the world—even to the Gentiles—to join Israel in praising Him. It is also a prophecy about the coming day
when God will judge the world with His perfect righteousness.
Importance
This psalm points out that God Is. God is King over all the earth, and our role in His plan is to declare that to as many others
as we can while we live upon this earth. But not only must Christians ascribe majesty and glory to God, but the whole earth
also reveals His glory as well. The earth is filled with His glory because he is the Creator and Sustainer of all that is. His
glory points back to Himself, revealing His nature, His character, His majesty, and His splendor.
Not only is God the King over all the earth, but He is also coming to judge the earth with complete righteousness and
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 1
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
faithfulness. Because God is perfect, only He has the authority to judge. When He comes to judge, all will see Him as He is,
and all will be in absolute awe by His glory and power. We have no way to even begin to fathom the complete glory of God,
but as Christians we are to reflect His glory through praise to the best of our feeble ability because He reigns—both now and
for all eternity.
This passage also points to the Essential Truth that The Future is In God's Hands.
Interpretation
Psalm 96:1 In the first verse of the chapter, all the earth is encouraged to worship the Lord. Praising God raises our
spiritual awareness beyond ourselves to the point of encompassing the entire universe and all of its inhabitants. A “new song”
is a song that is sung to God for His blessings, which come with every new day. A new song is a song that is always fresh; it is
one that is neither old nor out of date.
There is also a “new song” mentioned in Revelation 5. That particular passage mentions four living creatures and 24 elders
who fall down before God’s Lamb and sing a “new song.” The song that is sung in Revelation is an acknowledgement of
Christ’s atonement. It is possible that John, when writing Revelation, had Christ’s universal reign in mind as it is referenced
in Psalm 96.
Psalm 96:2 Salvation is the reason for and the subject matter of the song that is to be sung. And this song of praise for God’s
salvation is to be “sung” constantly—from day to day. It is never to be exhausted. One way that we sing about this great
salvation we possess is by making it known to others. It is not to be kept as a private relationship between ourselves and God,
but rather it is meant to be proclaimed to others continually and consistently.
Psalm 96:3 By worshiping and witnessing, God’s people are to spread His glory, revealing Him to all nations. At the time
that this psalm was written, it referred not only to the nation of Israel, but also to the Gentile nations as well. Today this may
be taken to mean all the countries and peoples of the globe. God is the God of all people, and His glory is to be revealed to all
lands.
The glory of God is a difficult concept to fully describe. It refers to the majestic aura of God’s presence. The Hebrew word for
“glory” is kabod, and it refers to something that is very impressive or a weighty matter. The glory of God is something that is
an active presence, not one that can become stagnant. It is God’s manifest presence, power, and action in the world that calls
attention to Him, revealing who He is as well as His wonderful ways.
Psalm 96:4 God is a great God, and anyone or anything that is great obviously brings praise to Him. In fact, God is so great
that He is to be “greatly” praised. In no way can any empty idol draw a comparison to Him. He is the one who is to be praised
since all things were created by Him. How can anyone else or anything else be praised above Him when it was God who
created it?
Psalm 96:5 Since there is only one true God, any gods that people worship, whether in Gentile or Christian nations, are
simply idols. In Hebrew, the word for “idol” means “no thing.” That means that an idol is a non-entity—a nothing. God made
even the heavens, while the other gods that some people worship are simply impotent, man-made images. The apostle Paul
expressed this idea when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:4: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is
no god but one.” There is a play on words taking place with the word idol in verse 5 in Hebrew, the language in which the
psalms were written. The word for “gods” is elohim, and the word for “idols” is elilim. Thus the psalmist said that the elohim
(gods) of the Gentiles were elilim (idols.)
As a sidebar to this verse, Christians can be assured that the end of time will end all idolatry. At that point, any type of theism
along with all false religions will be done away with forever, and only God will remain from among all other gods.
Psalm 96:6 This verse is likely a reference to the glory of God as He was seated between two cherubim in the Temple. The
mention of the specific attributes that surround God (splendor and majesty in addition to strength and glory) speak of the
magnificent qualities of His throne.
Psalm 96:7 An appeal is given in this verse for all people on earth to give God the credit that He is due for the specific
attributes of glory and strength that He possesses. This admonition may actually refer specifically to the Gentile nations. The
focus is on attributing or assigning God these particular and unique characteristics. The subject of God’s glory has already
been addressed in verse 3. Strength refers to God’s omnipotence, the ultimate and divine power that only He possesses.
Psalm 96:8 One of the ways that people who serve the Lord are to worship Him is with their offerings. God does not actually
need offerings, but we need to give it as an act of obedience and worship. As followers of Christ, we should actually consider
it a blessing and an honor to be able to give what we possess as an offering to the one true God of Heaven and earth.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 2
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
Psalm 96:9 While the Hebrew word for “worship” means “to prostrate oneself,” the English meaning is “to praise God for
His attributes.” Although the meanings vary somewhat, the Hebrew meaning also implies giving God praise for His attributes.
The psalmist writes that to truly consider and worship God’s holiness is so awesome that it sometimes causes worshipers to
tremble in adoration.
We may have the mindset that worship is a place to receive, but worship is actually a place to bring praise to God and His
holiness. While it is true that by giving our praise we do receive something, this should not be our true motivation for worship.
We actually worship to give, not to receive.
Psalm 96:10 There are two ways in which God reigns. First, He rules or reigns over all of history right now. While it is easy
to question this statement because there is much sin in the world, we must remember that God still holds evil in check as He
wills. He also intervenes in history when He sees fit in His sovereignty to judge sin. Second, God will rule over the whole
earth at a time in the future that no one knows: the final judgment.
Psalm 96:11 Nature itself is called upon to join all the people of the earth in praising God’s universal reign. This verse
paints a picture of nature taking on the emotional and physical attributes of humanity. The heavens are to rejoice, the earth
is to be glad, and the sea is to raise its voice by roaring. Just as nature reveals God, nature also worships God.
Psalm 96:12 This verse is a continuation of giving human attributes to nature. The fields are to be happy, and the trees are
to sing for joy. This is a picture of nature praising God—the very one who created it. If even nature is to praise God, how
much more should humanity?
Psalm 96:13 This verse continues with an explanation as to why the trees and the rest of nature will praise God: because He
comes to judge the earth and to reign forever. We are to look forward to the time that will come when Christ will reign in
righteousness over all nations. Although all people do not allow Him to reign in their hearts today, He will rule in the hearts
of every person at the time of judgment because no one will be able to deny Him.
Implications
Psalm 96 is a joyful, deep, and powerful hymn about the reign of God that is taking place both now and in the day that is
coming when He will judge the earth. Because God is who He is, we are to be different because we are His. The images in
this particular psalm help us to see how we are to express His ownership over us by worshiping, praising, witnessing, and
giving. The goal of all our lives must be to declare God’s glory to every part of the earth that we touch. Set an example for
your students in this area.
We live in a world, however, that is very self-centered and unaccustomed to giving praise to others—most people only want it
for themselves. As a result, students may not be as free with giving glory to the only one who deserves it: God Himself. Do
your students know what it is like to worship God in their day-to-day lives rather than just in a planned order of worship on
Sunday? How can they be constantly aware of God’s activity in their lives? Can they recognize God’s majesty in the small
things that occur every day? An interesting question to consider is this: Are there any consequences of not ascribing the
glory and honor that are due to God?
Teaching Plan: Connect Activities
All activity sheets are at the end of this printable lesson
Review Questions: The Mission’s Cost
(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the “Review Questions” activity sheet. Print one copy for your own use.
Use the review questions to test what students can recall from the previous lesson as well as to provide context for today’s
lesson.
Drama: Gaming Your Life Away
(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the drama script. Prior to the session, enlist three students to enact the drama. Give copies of the script to cast
members ahead of time so that they will be ready to perform it.
Prompt actors to perform the drama. Afterward, ask: Do you have a purpose in life? How does your purpose match up
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 3
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
with the purposes of God? Allow students to respond. Then conclude the activity by saying: Today we’ll discover what
God’s purpose is all about and discover the purpose that our lives have because of Him.
Reverb Media Option: Crazy Captions
(3–5 minutes, Reverb Media Pass required)
If your church has purchased the Reverb Media Pass, preview and arrange to show the “Crazy Captions” slideshow available
in the “Media” tab. (If your church has not purchased the Reverb Media Pass, you can purchase this single media piece
through the “Media” tab.) Also provide paper and pens.
Divide students into three or four groups, distributing pens and paper to each group. Explain that students are about to play
a game in which they will view various pictures from the “Crazy Captions” slideshow. For each image, groups will have 30
seconds to write a funny caption that answers the following question: “What is my life saying?” At the end of 30 seconds,
groups must put down their pens and take turns reading their caption. The funniest caption for each picture wins. Repeat
this process for each image in the slideshow. Afterward, say: While this activity was obviously meant to be fun, there is
a basic truth that we can glean from it: Everyone’s life says something to the world. Today we’ll examine what our
lives should say to the world as followers of Christ.
Especially for Younger Students: Anything with Purpose
(8 minutes, easy set-up)
Provide scissors, tape, and several magazines.
Instruct students to take a minute and cut out from the available magazines three or four pictures that represent what they
would someday like to do for a living. Lead students to tape their pictures to the wall. Then ask students to explain what their
pictures represent. Afterward, explain that it really doesn’t matter what we choose to be in life in comparison to how we
intend to use our life’s profession and purpose for God’s purposes. Ask: How will your life reveal God to others?
Especially for Older Students: Ultimate Purpose
(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Write each of the following items on its own index card: man-purse, salad shooter, plastic chattering teeth, chewy dog bone,
nose and ear hair remover, exercise ball, plunger, seesaw, round thingamabobber.
Divide students into two teams. Then say: You have been chosen as contestants for the new TV gameshow called
Ultimate Purpose!
Explain to the two teams that you will hold up an index card with the name of an item on it. Give the first team 15 seconds to
think and talk among themselves, then give them an additional 15 seconds to describe that item’s ultimate purpose. The
second team will then take their turn in similar fashion. Stress that teams are to come up with the most creative answer as
possible, even if it’s not the most conventional answer. As the show’s host, you will decide which team has come up with the
most creative answer and award them a point. (If you want to have some fun, make the point system completely arbitrary,
using decimals, negative numbers, and so on.) After all of the cards have been used, acknowledge the team with the most
points. Then, conclude the activity by explaining to students that the focus of today’s lesson is the ultimate purpose of God
and how our purpose is meant to match His.
Teaching Plan: Explore Activities
All activity sheets are at the end of this printable lesson
Key Study: All for His Glory
(15 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the Student Worksheet. Print a copy for each student. Also provide a blank poster, colored paper, markers, tape,
and the Old Testament Timeline, which is available in the “Media” tab.
Using the Old Testament Timeline, point out the period of Moses on the Canaanite World line through the period of King
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 4
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
Solomon. Explain to students that the psalms (worship songs, hymns, and poems) were written over the centuries from the
time the Israelites began to worship together with Moses as their leader, and beyond the time of King Solomon who wrote
many of the psalms. His father, King David is known to have written many, also. Using the Ancient Israel map, point to the
location of Jerusalem. Share with students that worship became localized in Jewish culture in Jerusalem, where the psalms
were commonly used in Temple worship. Explain that Psalm 96 is the benediction to this series of studies. Individuals,
nations, and all creation are called to worship the Lord and give testimony to His glory.
Ask a student to read Psalm 96. Afterward, say: In this psalm, everything is called to give praise to God. From
individuals to entire nations, from the heavens to the trees of the field—everything declares God’s glory.
Distribute pens and copies of the Student Worksheet. Choose to either divide students into groups of three, having each
group answer the three questions on the worksheet, or work through the questions as a class. (Answers: readers of the psalm
are referenced in verses 1, 2, 8, 10, 13; nations are referenced in verses 3, 5, 7; all the earth is referenced in verses 1, 9,
11–12.)
Place a blank poster on the wall, then write the word glory in the center. Set out the colored paper and markers. Then ask:
What are some things that you would want the world to know about our great God? Instruct students to look
throughout Psalm 96 and find descriptive words that reveal who God is that could be shared with the world. Call on students
to take several sheets of colored paper and write a word on each sheet of paper. Next, lead students to tape their papers to
the wall around the poster and the word glory. As students admire their work, say: This reveals God’s glory. His glory
consists of all the ways in which He reveals Himself. This is what we want to declare to the world so that it will
know and recognize Him even as His creation reveals His glory.
Say: When I say that God Is, I could point to any one of these words, and it would reveal who He is. Explain that this
passage highlights the Essential Truth that God Is (If your church has not purchased any of the Eight Essential Truths
bookmarks or posters, you can print a list from www.studentlifebiblestudy.com.) Explain that every day we ought to reflect
on who God is in order to know how to reveal Him to others who haven’t made that discovery yet.
Master Teacher Key Study: The Goal of Our Lives
(15–20 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the Master Teacher Key Study. Print one copy for your own use. Download the Master Teacher Student Worksheet.
Print a copy for each learner. Also provide pens.
Distribute pens and copies of the Master Teacher Student Worksheet. Then use the Master Teacher Key Study to teach Psalm
96.
Especially for Younger Students: Words of Praise
(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the “Words of Praise” activity sheet. Print a copy for each student. Also provide markers, highlighters, or crayons,
and a dictionary or Bible dictionary.
Distribute copies of the “Words of Praise” activity sheet along with pens, markers, and highlighters. Read the instructions to
students, then encourage them to reflect on the words as they search for them. After a few minutes, ask students if they
understand what all the words mean. If they are unsure of any, help them work through the definitions. At the conclusion of
the activity, say: The earth is full of God’s glory. We see God revealing Himself every day. Our lives should reflect
this glory as well so that others will see Him working in and through us. There are so many ways and reasons to
praise God!
Especially for Older Students: It Would Be Enough
(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)
Ask: Did you know that God has made a way for you to know who He is? Allow students to respond, then prompt them
to open their Bibles to Romans 1:18–23 and Psalm 19:1–6. Enlist two students to read these passages. Then ask: How has
God revealed Himself through His creation? What are some descriptive words that tell of God’s revelation of
Himself in these verses? After responses, ask: What words among this list would inspire you to offer praise to God
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 5
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
and trust Him for what you know about Him through His creation?
Next, read Romans 1:20 and Psalm 96:10–13. Ask: How do these two passages compare? Explain to students that
sometimes they take tests at school that they don’t think are fair because the teacher included test questions that they never
discussed. Share that God will judge humanity by the truth of everything that He has revealed to us about Himself by way of
His Word and by His creation so that we would be without excuse.
Ask: Do you find it easy or hard to praise God for His judgment over the earth? Does this scare you or excite you?
After responses, say: God is King over all the earth. Our purpose is to declare that to as many people as we can in
our lifetime so that they will not be caught off guard. God is coming to judge the earth with complete
righteousness and faithfulness. When He comes to judge, all will see Him and be in absolute awe of His glory and
power.
Teaching Plan: Transform Activities
All activity sheets are at the end of this printable lesson
Deeper Discussion
(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)
Read the following definition of the term glory. Then allow students to discuss these questions based on Psalms 96.
glory (kabod) Simply meaning “honor” or “excellence,” glory describes the honor that should be given to God by everything
in the universe. It can also mean the bright light that surrounds God’s revelation of Himself. This brightness is the visible
reality of the excellence of God’s character. Humans were created to promote God’s glory by reflecting His light into the
entire universe.
●
●
●
●
How would you describe or define the word glory?
What do you think should be your ultimate goal in life?
Skim over Psalms 96 again, looking for reasons and ways to praise God. Which of these reasons have you not
yet realized, and which of these ways have you not yet tried?
When and where have you seen God’s glory revealed in creation? through other people? in your own life?
Say: We should always be looking for God’s glory around us. It is how He reveals Himself. In addition, we should
be showing it through our lives so that others will see it in us and realize that it is God at work—not us.
Especially for Younger Students: A Worship Experience
(12 minutes, moderate set-up)
Download the “Worship” activity sheet. Print a copy for your own use. Provide each student with an index card and pen. Also
bring several blank posters and markers.
Explain to students that one of the ways we glorify God and reveal Him to others is through our praise in worship services.
Say: Today we’re going to worship God creatively. Distribute index cards to students, instructing them to write down an
attribute of God or a line from a praise song or hymn.
Next, divide students into groups of four. Distribute a blank poster and marker to each group. Explain to groups that they are
to create a banner that lists the attributes of God and song lyrics that they recorded on their index cards. Give students a few
minutes to make their banners.
After banners have been completed, call the groups together. Tell each group to be ready to call out their attributes and song
lyrics whenever you ask: God, how do you want to be known among the nations? Give each group a number so that they
will know when it is their turn to read aloud from their banner.
When all groups have gone, remind students that in the course of working through the lessons of Drive, they have learned all
about God’s mission and His purpose for us, His children. (If you choose, you might have students share any concepts that
have stood out over the previous six lessons.) Encourage them to continue to think about the idea of God’s glory and the
possibility of using their lives to show His glory to the world.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 6
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
Especially for Older Students: Say Yes
(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Provide index cards and something to write with.
Explain to your students that this is the last lesson in the Drive series. Ask what impact the last six lessons have had on their
understanding of God and His mission in the world. Challenge them to share a concept that they recall was especially
meaningful. Be prepared to share a concept from Drive that was meaningful to you.
Have a volunteer read Psalm 67:1-2. When he or she has finished, say: In the first lesson of Drive, we studied these
verses. It should be clear to each of us now that God desires for His message of love and redemption to be known
by all people everywhere. It’s amazing that God desires to redeem all people. It’s even more amazing that He has
chosen you and me to carry His message to the world.
Explain that they are about to enter into a time of reflection between God and themselves. Encourage them to take this
opportunity seriously. Remind them that in their busy lives, opportunities are scarce where they can truly block out
distractions and concentrate on God.
Distribute index cards and something to write with. Instruct your students to do two things with their index cards. On the
front of the card they should write one sentence that sums up what God’s mission is. On the back, they should write their
response to God’s call to be on mission with Him. Allow several minutes of quiet for students to work through this activity.
(You might choose to play some reflective music in the background.) If you choose, work through this activity yourself,
writing God’s mission in your own words and phrasing a response to God’s call.
When students have finished, ask if anyone wants to share their summary of God’s mission. (Be prepared to share your
summary.) Then, say: Each of you should have no trouble summarizing God’s mission for the world. After all it’s
what we have been talking about for the last six weeks. However, your response to God’s call is both personal and
unique. It will differ for each one of you. Help students understand that some of them are already making a big
difference in this world for Jesus. Remind them that others are just getting started on their journey to partner with God. Say:
There are others of you who haven’t decided one way or another whether or not your life will count for God. Let
today be the day you finally commit to allowing God to use you to make His glory known in this world. Only you
can answer the question.
Challenge your students to keep these concepts fresh on their minds as they go throughout the week.
Creative Prayer
(5–10 minutes, easy set-up)
Download the “Your Psalms 96” activity cheet. Print a copy for your own use.
Tell students that they will be given the opportunity to creatively use Psalms 96 as a prayer. For each blank in the psalm, tell
students to come up with a specific word that matches the category next to the blank. For example, for “people group” they
could say “goths” or “dairy farmers.” Encourage students to be creative but not goofy. Allow every student to contribute at
least one answer.
When all the blanks have been filled in, read the entire psalm as a prayer. Tell students to listen and pray along as you read it.
Reverb Student Book Option: A Practical Guide to Sharing God’s Glory
(5 minutes, Reverb student book required)
If your church has purchased the Reverb student book, preview the activity on page 45 titled “A Practical Guide to Sharing
God’s Glory.” If you choose, provide a copy of the book to reference as you mention the activity to students.
Remind students that the idea of being a messenger of God’s glory sounds more complicated than it really is. Say: We can be
our own worst enemies, can’t we? We get ourselves worked up, convincing ourselves that we are not up to the
task of being God’s messengers in this world. The truth is that God has given us all that we need to show His
glory to the world. Sometimes it’s just a matter of seizing the opportunity. If you have a student book available, turn
to page 45 and point out the activity titled “A Practical Guide to Sharing God’s Glory.”Explain that this activity is designed to
get them thinking about the situations they encounter in their worlds and how they might use those situations to share God’s
glory. Encourage students to read pages 42–47 this week, paying especially close attention to page 45. Encourage them to
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, Inc., 2009. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of StudentLifeBibleStudy curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Page: 7
Reverb Study
Lesson: Sharing His Glory
not only think about how they would respond in the situations listed on the page but also about how they can respond to
other situations they are currently dealing with in their lives.
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Overview
Biblical Passage: Psalms 96:1–13
Biblical Truth: Declaring God’s glory to all people in all nations should be the goal of life.
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
As you prepare to teach this lesson, pray for your students.
• Pray that students will realize how great is the God whom they serve and worship.
• Pray that students will live in a way that points others to the glory of God.
• Pray that students will reflect the glory of God to others in all that they say, think, and do.
COMPLETE SUPPLY LIST
Connect . . .
 Review Questions: The Mission’s Cost—copy of the “Review Questions” activity sheet
 Drama: Gaming Your Life Away—copies of the drama script; any necessary props
 Reverb Media Option: Crazy Captions—Reverb Media Pass; paper; pens
 Especially for Younger Students: Anything with Purpose—scissors; tape; magazines
 Especially for Older Students: Ultimate Purpose—index cards
Explore . . .
 Key Study: All for His Glory—copies of the Student Worksheet; pens; blank poster; colored
paper; markers; tape; Old Testament Timeline
 Master Teacher Key Study: The Goal of Our Lives—copy of the Master Teacher Key Study;
copy of the Master Teacher Student Worksheet; pens
 Especially for Younger Students: Words of Praise—copies of the “Words of Praise” activity
sheet; markers OR highlighters OR crayons; dictionary OR Bible dictionary
 Especially for Older Students: It Would Be Enough—No supplies needed
Transform . . .
 Deeper Discussion—No supplies needed
 Especially for Younger Students: A Worship Experience—copy of the “Worship” activity sheet;
pens; index cards; blank posters; markers
 Especially for Older Students: Say Yes—Index cards, pen
 Creative Prayer—copy of the “Your Psalms 96” activity sheet
 Reverb Student Book Option: A Practical Guide to Sharing God’s Glory—Reverb student book
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Prep Guide
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Review Questions
1. In John 12, Jesus said that the person who “loves his life will _____ it.”
a. gain
b. enjoy
c. lose
d. waste
2. In John 12, Jesus said that the person who “hates his life in this world will keep it for _____.”
a. a little while
b. eternal life
c. as long as he needs it
d. the right reasons
3. In John 12, Jesus pointed out that a kernel of wheat must _____ in order to produce many seeds.
a. die
b. be eaten
c. go rotten
d. remain a kernel
4. In John 12, Jesus said that God will _____ the one who serves Him.
a. be hard on
b. give lots of money to
c. test
d. honor
5. In John 12, Jesus said that _____ would be driven out by Jesus’ sacrifice.
a. the Pharisees
b. the prince of this world (Satan)
c. the Sadducees
d. Judas Iscariot
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, “Review Questions” PDF
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Answers
1. In John 12, Jesus said that the person who “loves his life will _____ it.” (Lesson 5)
a. gain
b. enjoy
c. lose
d. waste
2. In John 12, Jesus said that the person who “hates his life in this world will keep it for _____.” (Lesson
5)
a. a little while
b. eternal life
c. as long as he needs it
d. the right reasons
3. In John 12, Jesus pointed out that a kernel of wheat must _____ in order to produce many seeds.
(Lesson 5)
a. die
b. be eaten
c. go rotten
d. remain a kernel
4. In John 12, Jesus said that God will _____ the one who serves Him. (Lesson 5)
a. be hard on
b. give lots of money to
c. test
d. honor
5. In John 12, Jesus said that _____ would be driven out by Jesus’ sacrifice. (Lesson 5)
a. the Pharisees
b. the prince of this world (Satan)
c. the Sadducees
d. Judas Iscariot
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, “Review Questions” PDF
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Drama
LIZ:
I’m fine. Thanks for asking.
GUYS: Great.
Gaming Your Life Away
LIZ:
Characters:
REED
MALCOLM
LIZ
Props: sofa (or row of chairs to simulate a sofa),
chair, two video game controllers
Costumes: casual attire
Creative Note: This drama exaggerates how
easy it can be for us to waste time on things that
don’t matter and confronts students with the
question of what they want to do with their lives.
(REED and MALCOLM are sitting on the sofa and
holding video game controllers. Throughout the
scene, both of them rarely look away from the
invisible screen in front of them. They both look
as if they haven’t slept in days. LIZ enters from
offstage.)
LIZ:
Hey, guys!
(REED and MALCOLM don’t even realize that
she’s there.)
LIZ:
I said, “Hey, guys!”
(Again, they ignore her. LIZ walks up behind the
sofa and simultaneously hits both of them on the
back of the head.)
LIZ:
Hey, guys!
(This finally gets their attention, but only for as
long as it takes for them to notice that LIZ is
standing there. They then return to playing their
game.)
REED: Oh, hey.
MCLM: Yeah. Hey, Liz.
(LIZ waits a moment for something more. When
she doesn’t get it, she rolls her eyes and sits in
the chair.)
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
(sighing) I came by to see what was
going on with you guys. No one’s seen
you all week. I asked your dad, Reed,
where you’ve been, and she said right
here. Malcolm, your mom didn’t have a
clue what had happened to you.
MCLM: Yeah. I should call her.
LIZ:
You think?
(Again, LIZ waits for something more, and again
she doesn’t get it.)
LIZ:
So, what’s been going on with you guys?
GUYS: Nothing.
LIZ:
Nothing? Obviously you’ve been doing
something. No one’s seen or heard from
you since Tuesday. Evidently you’ve
been locked up in here the whole time.
Surely you two have done something.
REED: Just this, I guess.
LIZ:
Just what? Played video games?
GUYS: Yeah.
LIZ:
You’ve been in here playing video games
for six days?
MCLM: I don’t know. What day is it?
LIZ:
It’s Sunday.
(MALCOLM pauses the game and thinks for just
a moment as he counts up the days. Then he
continues playing.)
MCLM: Yep. Six days.
LIZ:
(genuinely astonished) Wow! That is truly
unbelievable. I mean, you guys have
done some ridiculous things before, but I
never would have expected this. What
made you do it?
MCLM: The new Order of Valor came out on
Drive 6, Drama, Page 1
Tuesday.
REED: We finished the solo and co-op
campaigns in a couple of hours that night.
REED: Whatever.
LIZ:
Okay. Want to go to the movies?
(The guys shrug, indifferent.)
MCLM: So we’ve been playing multi-player online
ever since.
LIZ:
LIZ:
With no breaks?
(The guys shrug again.)
REED: (shaking his head while belching) We’ve
been surviving on Red Bull and pizza
rolls.
LIZ:
LIZ:
LIZ:
That’s disgusting.
LIZ:
Roll [name of youth pastor]’s house?
(They shrug.)
LIZ:
Really?
MCLM: Oh, yeah. I’m already a two-star general
with distinguished standing.
Swing by the mall?
(Again, they simply shrug.)
GUYS: (giggling) We know.
MCLM: But it’s totally worth it.
Go get something to eat?
Fly to Tokyo?
(They shrug.)
LIZ:
See U2 in concert?
(They shrug.)
LIZ:
(sarcastically) Ooh!
LIZ:
MCLM: (trying to keep from laughing) Ask Reed
what rank he is?
LIZ:
(feigning interest) What rank are you,
Reed?
(They shrug.)
LIZ:
REED: (reluctantly, under his breath) A one-star
general with distinguished standing.
LIZ:
Spend the night on the international
space station?
(They shrug.)
LIZ:
(MALCOLM erupts into laughter as if this is the
most hilarious thing he has ever heard. REED
cuts his eyes at MALCOLM but keeps playing.
LIZ looks as if she’s watching a foreign movie
with no subtitles. MALCOLM calms himself and
resumes the game.)
Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?
Isn’t there one thing that you guys are
interested in more than your stupid video
game?
(They shrug. This one pushes LIZ over the edge.)
LIZ:
(moving on) So, anyway, you guys up for
doing something else?
REED: I don’t know.
You know what? I don’t get you guys. I
really don’t. There’s a whole world out
there full of amazing and exciting things
that you can be a part of if only you want
to, but no! You’d rather stay here and try
to rank up by fighting the Taliban
insurgence in Order of Valor!
MCLM: Whatever.
MCLM: And vampires.
LIZ:
Okay. So what do you feel like doing?
LIZ:
Excuse me?
MCLM: I don’t know.
MCLM: There’s a hidden level where all you do is
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Drama, Page 2
fight wave after wave of Taliban Insurgent
Vampires.
LIZ:
Taliban Insurgent Vampires?
(The guys simply nod.)
LIZ:
You want to spend your life playing a
game in which you fight Taliban Insurgent
Vampires?
(They shrug.)
REED: I mean, what else are we gonna do?
(LIZ screams in disgust and storms out, leaving
REED and MALCOLM to simply play their game.)
(The End)
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Drama, Page 3
student worksheet
REVERB::DRIVE::The Mission of God in the World::lesson six
Sharing his glory
biblical passage: Psalms 96:1–13
memory verse: Psalms 96:1
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
ALL FOR HIS GLORY
Identify the verses and phrases from Psalms 96 that best answer each of the following. (For example,
verse 1 tells all the earth to sing a new song to the Lord, so you could write that as an answer for the
third question below.)
1. Which verses tell readers to give praise to God?
2. Which verses speak of the nations giving praise to God?
3. Which verses describe the created world in the act of praising God?
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright© 1973,
1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for
reproduction only for the study of Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church
during the licensed year.
No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Master Teacher Key Study
Master Teacher Key Study
THE GOAL OF OUR LIVES: DECLARING HIS GLORY
Use this outline and any of the corresponding activities to share the Biblical Truth with students.
Intro: All creation declares God’s glory.
Description: As believers, we share in the purpose of declaring God’s glory to all nations.
Illustration: Every sport has a goal or finish line. In the same way, we believers have a goal in life: to
declare God’s glory to everyone around us and beyond.
1. Individuals are called to declare God’s glory (Psalms 96:2, 8, 10, 13).
Description: “Sing,” “proclaim,” and “declare” are all used to call individuals to worship God.
Illustration: Christian music has seen a surge in worship songs recently. Even secular radio stations
have been known to play upbeat worship songs. People may not claim to be religious, but regardless of
whether they realize it, they long to worship God. Worship is not just music, but anything that declares
God’s glory.
Application: God is revealed to the world through our praise because in praise we declare what He has
done.
2. Nations attribute glory to the Lord (Psalms 96:3, 5, 7).
Description: Christianity is for everyone regardless of location, history, background, culture, or skin color.
Illustration: Racial problems in the United States of America have existed since its founding. One of the
hotly debated issues surrounding the Declaration of Independence was the equality of men in light of the
slave trade. But Thomas Jefferson, the Declaration’s author, wanted it to be known that all races are
equal in God’s sight and that slavery is immoral. The declaration would not be approved until some
clauses were removed, including the one pertaining to slavery. Yet the freedom that God has to offer is
for all, not just for some.
Application: Every country and nation is part of God’s plan to declare His greatness.
3. All the earth joins in worshiping God (Psalms 96:1, 9, 11–12).
Description: “All the earth” can mean everyone on the planet as well as the rest of creation. Nothing is
excluded from worshiping God.
Illustration: Show images or video clips of beautiful landscapes and scenes from around the planet.
Include some scenes from space too. Read Psalms 96 (especially verses 11–12) as students worship
through watching.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Master Teacher Key Study, Page 1
Application: We can see God’s glory displayed in other people, in nature, and in experiences. We can
worship God when we recognize His glory on display.
Conclusion: Declaring God’s glory to everyone is the purpose of our lives.
Description: God has a plan to call His creation back to Himself by providing salvation and restoration.
He chooses to use humanity as part of His plan.
Application: It is so easy to live by following our own desires. It’s even easy to keep God to ourselves.
But until we live as Psalms 96 describes, we are not really accomplishing our real purpose or anything
truly significant with our lives.
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Master Teacher Key Study, Page 2
student worksheet
REVERB::DRIVE::The Mission of God in the World::lesson six
Sharing his glory
biblical passage: Psalms 96:1–13
memory verse: Psalms 96:1
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
THE GOAL OF OUR LIVES:
DECLARING HIS GLORY
1.
_______________ are called to _______________ God’s glory (Psalms 96:2, 8, 10, 13).
2.
_______________ attribute _______________ to the Lord (Psalms 96:3, 5, 7).
3.
_______________ the _______________ joins in worshiping God (Psalms 96:1, 9, 11–12).
questions
1. How would you describe or define the word glory?
2. What do you think should be your ultimate goal in life?
3. Skim over Psalms 96 again, looking for reasons and ways to praise God. Which of these
reasons have you not yet realized, and which of these ways have you not yet tried?
5. When and where have you seen God’s glory revealed in creation? through other people? in
your own life?
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright© 1973,
1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2005. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for
reproduction only for the study of Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church
during the licensed year.
No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Explore
Words of Praise
Read the psalm below. Circle verbs that describe how God is to be worshipped. Highlight words that
describe reasons to celebrate God’s glory or great works. If you choose, draw a picture of what this
worship might look like.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 12 let the
fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 13 they will
sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in
righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, Words of Praise
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Transform
WORSHIP
• As you begin the worship experience, read Psalm 96:1–3.
• Pray: O God, how do you want to be known among the nations? Allow each group to respond.
• Call on students to pray out loud and simultaneously, asking that God would make Himself known to
the nations by using them. Close the time in a prayer of praise to God by praying over your students
that God would send them from this place to be used as His instruments of glory.
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, “Worship” PDF
Drive: The Mission of God in the World
Lesson 6, Transform
YOUR PSALM 96
For each blank in the following psalm, suggest a word that matches the category in parentheses next to
the blank. For example, for “people group” you could say “goths” or “dairy farmers.” Be creative, but not
goofy. When all the blanks are filled in, read Psalm 96 as a prayer. Tell students to listen and pray along
as you read it.
We sing _________________________ (a new Christian song) to You, LORD;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
We sing to You, LORD, we praise _________________________ (a name of God);
We proclaim Your salvation _________________________ (time period) after
_________________________ (time period).
We declare Your glory among _________________________ (country),
Your marvelous deeds among _________________________ (people group).
For great are You LORD and most worthy of praise;
You are to be feared above _________________________ (a false god).
For _________________________ (gods of another nation) are idols,
but You made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before You;
strength and glory are in Your sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O _________________________ (famous family from another country),
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
We bring _________________________ (an offering) and come into Your courts.
We worship You in the splendor of Your holiness;
_________________________ (place on earth) trembles before You.
We say among _________________________ (country), "The LORD reigns."
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
You will judge _________________________ (people group) with equity.
Let _________________________ (place in space) rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let _________________________ (a body of water) resound, and all that is in it;
let _________________________ (flat area) be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the _______ (type of tree) trees will sing for joy;
they will sing before You, LORD,
for You come to judge the earth.
You will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his truth. Amen.
Copyright © Student Life Publishing, 2009. All rights reserved.
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Student Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Drive 6, “Your Psalms 96” PDF