“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of
praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” —Hebrews 13:15

To give them the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness. —Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for
He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” —Psalm 95:6-7

Worship is vertical

Praise is horizontal

Worship is a response. Praise is a choice.

Two Reasons Praise Leads to Joy

1. Praise focuses on God, not me.

“Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me…” —Psalm 50:23

1. Praise reminds me of the eternal, not the temporal.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not
destroyed…For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an
eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. —2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18

Praise is outward, not inward.

Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd
disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had
witnessed: Blessed is he who comes, the king in God’s name! All’s well in
heaven! Glory in the high places! Some Pharisees from the crowd told him,
“Teacher, get your disciples under control!” But he said, “If they kept quiet, the
stones would do it for them, shouting praise.” —Luke 19:37-40 MSG

Discipleship Guide

Let’s Connect

• How do we keep our focus and maintain an attitude of joy when we encounter unexpected bumps in the road, detours, and interruptions along the way?

Let’s Talk About It

After two years of lockdowns and shutdowns, millions of travelers will hit the road this summer in search of an adventure. Jesus invites us into an even greater lifelong adventure as we follow Him. When we encounter unexpected bumps in the road, detours, and interruptions, Jesus shows us how to navigate the unexpected realities of life and maintain joy in the journey.

Hebrews 13:15; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 95:6-7; Psalm 50:23; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18;
Luke 19:37-40

• Which part of the message made an impact, caught your attention or challenged you?

• Read the main scriptures used in this message. What does this scripture tell you about God? How does this apply to your life now?

• Why does worship often come much more naturally to us than praise?

• Can you think of a time when you offered God a “Sacrifice of Praise”? What was that like?

• What was the biggest thing you learned about praise from this message?

Take a Step

• What step can you take this week to put this message into practice?
• SOAP reading: Download the Grace Honolulu app to view this week’s SOAP reading. It’s in the “Bible” section at the bottom banner of the app.

Here’s My Prayer

• Lord, thank You that I can bring my concerns to You, knowing that You care about every detail of my life. Teach me how to fix my thoughts on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable. Fill me with the joy that comes from dwelling in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.