Single lesson
Psalm 100: Make a Joyful Noise
Psalms 100:1–5
Psalm 100 is a short song of praise that invites everyone to respond to Yahweh with joy, thanksgiving and confidence. In this lesson, children will notice who is called to praise, what images are used, and why praise is fitting.
Before you teach
These five verses move step by step through worship language. The psalm calls all lands to shout, serve and come with singing, then says who Yahweh is and who his people are. It continues with gates, courts, thanksgiving and praise, and ends by giving reasons: Yahweh is good, his loving kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness is to all generations.
Students will be able to identify three calls to praise in Psalm 100 and explain that the psalm praises Yahweh because he is God, he made his people, and his goodness, loving kindness and faithfulness endure.
Welcome: Hear the joyful call
5 minRead Psalm 100 aloud with energy. Ask children to listen for action words. Point out that the psalm begins with a call to everyone: “all you lands”. Briefly explain that this is a song of praise, full of joyful words like shout, gladness and singing. Invite the group to echo one phrase together.
Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:2
Read and explain: What does the psalm say to do?
7 minRead the whole psalm again. List the actions children hear: shout, serve, come, know, enter, give thanks and bless. Explain that “serve Yahweh with gladness” joins service with gladness, and “come before his presence with singing” shows praise expressed aloud. Keep the focus on the words of the psalm itself.
Psalms 100:1, Psalms 100:2, Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4
Discuss: Who is Yahweh, and who are we?
6 minFocus on verse 3. Help children notice the reasons for praise: “Yahweh, he is God”, “he has made us”, and “we are his”. Explain the picture “the sheep of his pasture” using the psalm’s own words about belonging to Yahweh as “his people” and “the sheep of his pasture”. Let children say which phrase stands out most and why.
Psalms 100:3
Make and respond: A praise card from the psalm
8 minChildren make a small illustrated card using words from Psalm 100. Encourage them to choose one action from the psalm and one reason for praise. They might draw gates, singing faces, a sheep in a pasture, or the words “Yahweh is good”. As they work, remind them that the psalm joins praise with thanksgiving.
Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4, Psalms 100:5
Closing: End with thanksgiving
4 minGather the group and read verse 5 slowly. Ask children to finish the sentence, “We can thank Yahweh because...”, using the verse. Close by repeating one or two key lines from the psalm together. Emphasise the psalm’s own reasons: “Yahweh is good”, “his loving kindness endures forever”, and “his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalms 100:5
Questions to explore
Who is invited to praise Yahweh in this psalm?
Look at the opening line and notice how wide the invitation is: it says, “all you lands”.
Psalms 100:1
What picture does the psalm use to describe God’s people?
Verse 3 says, “We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture”, so answer using those words from the psalm.
Psalms 100:3
What reasons does the last verse give for thanking Yahweh?
Read the words carefully and list the three ideas named there: Yahweh is good, his loving kindness endures forever, and his faithfulness is to all generations.
Psalms 100:5
Make, think or respond
Illustrated Praise Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- coloured pencils or textas
- pencil
- optional stickers or crayons
Try it together
- Read Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4 and Psalms 100:5 together and ask each child to choose one line to feature on a card.
- Fold or cut the paper into a small card shape.
- On one side, write a short phrase from the psalm such as “Yahweh is good” or “Give thanks to him”.
- Add a simple picture that matches the words, such as gates, musical notes, thankful hands or a sheep.
- Invite each child to show the card and say which verse their words or picture came from.
This activity helps children turn the psalm’s own words and images into a visible response of praise and thanksgiving.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, pre-write short phrases from the psalm for them to trace or copy, and let them focus on one picture from Psalms 100:3, Psalms 100:4 or Psalms 100:5.
- For older children, ask them to include both a command from the psalm and a reason for it, and explain the connection in one sentence.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: “Yahweh, thank you that you are good. Thank you that we are yours. Thank you that your loving kindness endures forever and your faithfulness is to all generations. Help us come to you with joy and thanksgiving. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 100
1 Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands!
2 Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing.
3 Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.