Giving thanks to God for all the good things he has done is something that should pour out of the heart of every believer. As a church minister who leads believers, you have a unique opportunity to inspire and teach gratitude.
Scripture points us to this act of worship in the Psalms. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalms 95:1-3
Finding ways for your ministry to encourage people to overflow with thankfulness doesn’t have to be strenuous. Read on for four ways you can focus on teaching gratitude this season.
A Couple Things To Keep In Mind
Not everyone thinks exactly like you and responds in the same way as you do. To lead your members well, it’s important to remember these truths because God created every person uniquely. Teaching gratitude requires knowledge of different ways people can respond in thankfulness so all people feel comfortable expressing their feelings to the Lord.
It’s also important to note that in order to inspire gratitude, people have to actually know about your gratitude campaign and get on board. One of the most effective ways to get the word out is to use church Thanksgiving media. Sharefaith Media has customizable
Methods of Teaching Gratitude
Acts of Service
Performing acts of service is a great way for people to express their gratitude for all the Lord has done in their life. Giving back to families in need or to organizations who are making an impact can provide your ministry members with a strategic way to rejoice in the Lord. It also encourages others to see the goodness of God’s grace by receiving the act of service. Here is a list of acts of service to get you started:
- Serving at a local soup kitchen
- Making meals for the elderly
- Cleaning the house of a family in need
- Starting a meal train for a family who has a new baby
Encourage Quality Time to Teach Gratitude
Quality time is a great way to call those in your ministry together to teach them how to be grateful. Set aside time for people to share with each other about the things God has done and rejoice with each other about each thing. Encourage them to go out and find ways to spend quality time with their family members and friends to rejoice in the Lord, even if it’s a hard season. Often, people need to find the positive hand of God in their life if they are going through a rough season, and this is one way you can point them back to Christ.
Use Words of Affirmation to Teach Gratitude
Even though it might seem simple, words of affirmation are great ways to encourage your members to be thankful. One way to teach gratitude is by giving people a list of Thanksgiving Bible verses to read back to the Lord. Repeating God’s truth back to God reminds each believer of the deep truths scripture holds for us. You can even encourage your members to write these truths out and give it to others in your congregation or community. Here’s a list of Bible references to get you started.
- 1 Chronicles 16:34
- Ezra 3:11
- Psalm 7:17
- Psalm 100:4
- Jeremiah 30:19
- 1 Corinthians 1:4
- Ephesians 5:4
- Philippians 4:6
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give Gifts to Teach Gratitude
Making small gifts that have Bible verses about gratitude attached to them is another strategic way your members can show their gratitude. Here’s a list of ways to use these gifts:
- Hand out small gifts to each person in your congregation
- Provide necessities to those in need in your community
- Serve families with whatever gift they may need in whatever season they are in (elderly couples, new families, families who just lost a job, etc.)
Next Steps
To promote events like these and to inspire gratitude further, be sure to create eye-catching church Thanksgiving media that will attract attention. Check out our top fall graphics and thanksgiving graphics for churches. Sharefaith Media exists to help you create what you need when you need it. Equip your church with the best resources available!
