Getting Started

Main Idea:
Gratitude comes with grace, gives you grit, and produces growth.

Discussion Starter:
What are some ways that you express gratitude currently in your day to day life? Are there people in your life who you see as gratitude mentors, similar to those who Hallerin talked about, his dad, grandfather and Ms. Steele?

Introduction:
This week Hallerin Hilton Hill preached about gratitude. An attitude of gratitude allows you to fight harder, to persevere longer, to grow stronger, and to love bigger.

According to various sources from Harvard to the Huffington Post, the odds of each of us being born at this particular time are about 1 in 400 trillion (that’s 4 with 14 zeroes after it). God created us uniquely for His purposes and when Jesus died on the cross for each of our us, He wiped away the sin we have committed and the sin we will commit. This enables us to live a full life. A life full of gratitude. All too often we create neural pathways that take us away from a life of gratitude. It is all about the mindset. We learned today that we are the ones who set our minds. We control the thoughts that create neural pathways which open our minds and lives up to gratitude. Our mindset determines where we are and where we are going. Where are you? Where are you going?

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Encounter God

Primary Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Discussion Questions:
1. In what circumstances do you find it difficult to find gratitude?

2. What activity does Paul point to in this scripture that might help us stay grateful?

3. Have you ever known someone who was able to find gratitude in a trying situation and then share how it made them better?

4. What are some activities that you can do to change your mindset so that you have more gratitude?

5. Why do you think this is the will of Christ Jesus?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage with a particular focus on verses 16-18 and gratitude.

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Embrace Others

Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.

Hallerin Hilton Hill talked about how brokenness leads to two different stories. We can talk about how we got broken, or we can talk about how we got healed. Discuss this with your dyad or triad. If you are in the “not yet” stage, still walking through the valley, ask for prayers and support from your group.

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Engage the World Around Us

Engaging at Faith Promise: Consider volunteering to help with the Christmas Spectacular at your campus:  https://faithpromise.org/events/christmas

Engaging in Community: Pick up a “Love Local” shopping bag at your campus and fill it with easy to cook items and snack items for local school children to take home over the holiday break.

Engaging the World: Pray as a group for the Faith Promise missionaries serving far from home.

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Expand God’s Kingdom

Pray as a group for those you are planning to invite to Christmas at Faith Promise. Pray that God would soften hearts during this Christmas season.

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Leader’s Notes

Homework suggestion:

Each morning write down 3 things for which you are grateful and 3 things that will make today a great day. In the evening, reflect on 3 things that went well.

E-Groups
– Encounter Groups: the primary focus of Encounter Groups is the deeper study and application of God’s Word.

– Embrace Groups: the primary focus of Embrace Groups is making friends and being friends on a deeper level.

– Engage Groups: the primary focus of Engage Groups is serving the people of our area through our local partners and through God-directed opportunities.

– Expand Groups: the primary focus of Expand Groups is the development and multiplication of disciple-makers to lead more groups at Faith Promise.