The Summit Church

Thanksgiving Week! It's a time to be grateful to God and also grateful towards others.

Describe a time when someone thanked you for something. What change did it make in your day, attitude, or thoughts?

Describe how thanking others acknowledges God's work in their lives.

Referring back to Colossians 3:15, what do you think Paul meant by cultivating thankfulness? Does this come easy or is it challenging for you?

Our "grounds" or relationships will appear in the manner in which we have cultivated them. If you viewed your relationships like a garden which ones need some upkeep and which ones have you cultivated well?

Think It, Say It, Show It are tools we can use to cultivate a garden or grounds of thankfulness towards God and others. Let's discuss each one.

Think It: What keeps you from a mind of thankfulness? Is it busyness, lack of awareness, or waiting for something worthy? Talk with your group about ways you can choose to begin to have a mindset of thankfulness.

Say It. Where are you holding back on telling someone how thankful you are for them? What keeps you from expressing it?

Show It. Not everyone receives appreciation in the same way and some ways will be more meaningful than others.
Looking at the list below of how people give or receive appreciation/love which one do you resonate with the most?
What about a foe?

Affirmations (positive statements over someone affirming their worth)
Acts of service ( doing something for them)
Physical Touch (hi-fives, hugs, and pats on the back for a job well done)
Gifts (presents and prizes)
Quality Time (hanging around long enough to listen)

If you implemented some of the tools and techniques to cultivate gratitude in your relationships how might they be different? What do you think the response would be from the other person?

Knowing that relationships don't change overnight and need to be cultivated over time, what intentional practices can you put in place to keep your relational gardening tools sharpened? (think calendars, new routines, reminders etc)

The scriptures are full of ways we can be thankful towards God and others. Take a look at the ones listed below and choose one to commit to memory as an encouragement to cultivate thankfulness in your heart and mind.