Giving. Thanks. Happy.
Pastor Joe Fitzgerald
November, 11 2016
Highlights:
My attitude in my circumstances is more important than my circumstances.
Situational Thankfulness vs. Absolute Thankfulness
Thanks that isn’t given is not thanks. To give thanks is to take action.
A missionary unprepaired to meet needs is a tourist not missionary.
Discussion Questions:
1. Pastor Joe said that the sentiment of “God, because it could be so much worse, I’m grateful.” is insulting to God. What needs to change in our lives to move to true gratefulness?
2. Since giving thanks means we must take action, share together the ways that you are taking action for the purpose of giving thanks.
3. How would you describe a life that is poised and ready to give by meeting the needs around you? What does it take to be this kind of ready?
Key Scriptures and Quotes:
-Shout for joy to the Lord , all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100: 1-5
Thanks: yadah, 3034; to throw, to cast, to render thanks.
The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord . Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud,
2 Chronicles 5:13 NIV
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15 NIV
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” John Bunyan