Dear Friends,
How can we learn to do what our grandmas said we should do “count your blessings?”
This practice is hard to do in a time where a thousand distractions shout for our attention. Remembering what blessings, you have is hard when hundreds of adds are chasing you to remind you of what you don’t have.
This Sunday I will be talking about how to see yourself and God in terms of blessings. When we learn to do this, we can unlock the joys in life that we hurriedly overlook.
Let’s learn to practice thanksgiving to honor God and as a benefit we will also find the way of joy in life.
I can’t wait to share this with you in person.
Blessings,
Joe
STEPS TO PREPARE
PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.
PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.
MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.
INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Preparing For Sunday-November 24, 2019
Please prayerfully consider the following scriptures and be prepared to discuss the questions.
On a scale from 1 {not thankful} – 10 {really consciously thankful} where would you rate yourself on the thankfulness scale.
What is the difference between thanksgiving and thankfulness?
Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
How can the practice of remembering and expressing thankfulness lift you out of dark negativity?
What gets in the way of saying thanks to God?
Psalms 111:1 Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
Psalms 118:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalms 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I shall enter through them; I shall give thanks to the LORD.
Psalms 118:21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.
Psalms 118:28-29 You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalms 119:7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart When I learn Your righteous judgments.
Psalms 119:62 At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to You Because of Your righteous ordinances.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Are you known for being a person who is thankful for others?
What are ways we can cultivate thankfulness by practicing thanksgiving?
How does a lack of thankfulness reveal pride?
