By: Justin Dillenschneider, Director of Student Life
Week of November 15th, 2021
Gratitude can be defined as a strong feeling of appreciation for something or to someone for something done for you. As we enter into this season of thankfulness and prepare our hearts for Advent, the balance of gratitude is essential to our growth in our walk with Christ. In the midst of a buffered, distracted, and secular culture, the intentional practice of gratitude requires perspective and self-discipline. While the world and modern consumerism champion the latest and greatest technology and products, it takes a concentrated effort to pause and be thankful for all that God has provided for us. When we truly believe that everything in creation belongs to God, we realize that nothing we have is truly our own but belongs to God. Rather than fall into ungratefulness or seeking out favor for ourselves, we must constantly challenge ourselves and fellow believers to use everything we have to serve God and love our neighbors.
Continue contemplating gratitude by looking at this week’s scripture reading:
Colossians 3:15-17 CSB
“15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
We want to encourage you to have a conversation this week about the virtue of gratitude. Consider these discussion prompts together:
- What tempts you to become churlish or ungrateful?
- Where have you seen people fall into groveling or self-pity? Where are you tempted to do so?
- What are some ways you see Christ correcting people trying to gain power or favor in Scripture?
- How do we see the apostles and the early church modeling and celebrating gratitude?
Hymn to Sing Together: My Tribute