Attitude Matters1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts…nevertheless, [they] set aside a day of thanksgiving.

— H. W. Westermeyer

Margaret Visser, The Gift of Thanks (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009)

Learning to be thankful involves a steep learning curve.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-1816 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Affirm

Defend

Correct

Explain

Acts 16–18 Second Missionary Campaign

1 Thessalonians 5:12-2212-13 Relationship to Spiritual Authority14-15 Relationship to One Another16-18 Relationship to Yourself

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19-22 Relationship to God’s Word

Explain

Practical Instructions -for doing life in community

Knowledge & Skills

Attitude

Foundational Instructions - affecting everything

1Thessalonians 5:16-1816 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

JoyfulPrayerfulThankfulFo

llow

ers

of Je

sus

are…

Joyf

ul Matt 5:10-12

Acts 5:41; 16:25Philippians 1:18; 4:4John 15:11

Joy is not linked to external circumstances but rooted in relationship.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always

Pray

erfu

l

Spontaneous and continual interaction rooted in relationship

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually

Grand Parents Prayer Gathering 6pm tonight

Than

kful

DTR

Romans 1:22

1Thessalonians 5:18give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

1Thessalonians 5:16-1816 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

JoyfulPrayerfulThankfulFo

llow

ers

of Je

sus

are…

HOW?HOW?TE 4*