1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 103:1-5, Leviticus 19:9-10
11/1/2026
As we enter November, the month of Thanksgiving, PD focused his sermon on how we can live a life of gratitude. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 commands us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This verse reminds us that gratitude is not something we practice only during Thanksgiving or when things are going well, but is something that we should practice in our daily life, regardless of our circumstances. So, how can we live a life of gratitude?
1. Remember
Psalm 103:1-5 calls us not to forget the benefits God has given us. These benefits are anything that God has done, given us, or blessed us with. Oftentimes, we remember what we give to others more than what we receive from them. This human tendency also applies to our relationship with God, as we often focus on what we have given God, such as our time, offerings, and service, while overlooking the things that God has given us. When we forget the blessings that God has given us, our relationship with God becomes transactional, and we become ungrateful for what we currently have.
Practical Assignment: This month, go somewhere you can be alone for a couple of hours without interruption, and write down 100 benefits God has given you that you can remember. Then, go to your house church and share the blessings you remembered. Three areas that we can focus on are our church/spiritual life, family/friends, and material things/work.
2. Share
Leviticus 19:9-10 and Isaiah 58:6-7 specifically call us to share what we have, especially with the poor. This is a very simple idea, yet many of us find it hard to share. In general, many of us spend a large portion of our money on leisure, vacations, and other things, yet neglect to set aside a portion for those who lack money or necessities. Yet, James 1:22 calls us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Therefore, we should obey God’s command to give to the poor, and we can do so in two practical ways.
Angel Tree Project: This year, rather than a special fruit offering, our church will be doing an Angel Tree, where the Sharing Room ministry collects donated items from our church members to give to our neighborhood. Our church also created a Facebook page to share this initiative, and many people have reached out with specific requests. So, at the Thanksgiving service, we will have an Angel Tree set up where you can pick a tag, buy the items, and bring them back to church over the following 2 weeks (take advantage of Black Friday sales!). This is a great opportunity for us to shift our focus away from spending on our personal wants and instead use what we have to meet other people’s needs.
Thanksgiving offerings for the poor: Our church also has a special Thanksgiving offering we can give at any time this month to support the poor. For this offering, we can give 1% of our annual income or 10% of our total expenses spent on leisure, vacation, and other things to bless others.
Discussion Questions:
1. What are your main takeaways from the sermon?
2. What is one blessing you prayed for that you have received but haven’t properly thanked God for?
3. What is one area of your spending where you could make sacrifices to be more giving to others?
4. If you completed the first practical assignment of writing down 100 blessings, what were some of the blessings you remembered? What was your experience like as you reflected on everything God has given you?
