Thankful In All Things

Psalm 100, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lesson ObjectiveTo understand that a thankful heart involves

more than just words and thoughts; it’s aspiritual attitude that develops when we

learn to give God thanks for all things.

• What do people do today to honor someone in high authority?

• How do respond to God’s authority in your life? – How do you show respect to God’s authority in

your thoughts? Your actions? Your words? The decisions you make?

– Come up with some examples for some or each of these categories.

• Who can think of one friend who is good to you, or is always there for you? How thankful are you for them and their presence in your life?

• How much more so should we be thankful to a God who is perfectly good, and always there for us to lead us in love?

• Yet, many of us aren’t as aware of how we little express our thankfulness and praise to God.

• Why do you think it’s difficult for people to be in the habit of offering praise and thanksgiving to God? What keeps it from being a big part of our lives?

• What’s the difference between praise and thanksgiving, or is there one?

• Could you come up with a few real-life examples of ways you can praise or

thank God, both in words and in actions?

What changes do you need to make in your life in order to daily practice giving thanks to God

in words and in actions?

• What’s the difference in your mind between the kind of joy Paul is talking about and happiness?

• Why do you think joy is better than happiness?

• Can you give an example of a time where you were happy, but then the situation changed and you weren’t happy anymore?

• Now, this is a much trickier question, but can you think of a time when you were in a tough spot, but you still felt a joy in your heart because you knew God was with you?

• Are you or someone you know experiencing a rough time right now? If you feel like it, would you share with the group?

• What is the hardest part about going through this rough time for you or for the person you know?

• Can you think of how you or the person you know could be thankful in the midst of this tough time? How is it possible for a person to turn his or her focus from the trial to the blessings God has given?

• Is there any sort of advantage from doing this?