The Th(i)nkful Seminar
Karin M. Brown at Tri-County Bible Church, Rensselaer, IN
Part 1: Foundation of Thinking Thanks
Breakout Exercise:
Introduction: The time I cried the most in the last 5 years was driving out of the driveway of Bjørkeli, our little cottage in the woods of northern Wisconsin….
- God allows us to be pushed into crisis to reveal what we really believe and trust in
- We feel guilty because our feelings don’t line up with what we know to be true
- “Emotions are REAL, but not REALITY”
What is Th(i)nkful?
- ETYMOLOGY OF THANKS – Proto Indo-European Root (PIE) of the English word “thank” is tong = to think/feel
- ORIGIN OF THE WORD th(i)nkful – seeking to illustrate that thinking thanks is essential to expressing thanks
- REFOCUS SCATTERED THOUGHTS – A person has on an average 50,000 thoughts per day (monkey thoughts)
- BRAIN NEURAL PATHWAY – Our brains are able to carve new neural pathways. It can be compared to forging a new path through the woods. It feels very difficult at first, but as you “power through,” it slowly becomes easier and easier. “A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit.” Erasmus
Why Be Th(i)nkful?
Benefits of being thankful (secular view):
- Stronger immune systems and less depression
- More joy, optimism, and happiness
- Stronger relationships and more generous behavior
- Less feelings of loneliness and isolation
Benefits of being thankful (biblical view):
- WE ARE OBEYING GOD’S COMMAND – Psalm 50:14; Ephesians 5:18-20; I Thess. 5:18
- WE JOIN HIS PEOPLE IN HONORING GOD – Bible references it 135X (OT = 67; NT = 68)
- GRATITUDE DOWNLOADS GOD’S GRACE – more on this in Part 2
- GRATITUDE BUILDS MY SPIRITUAL HEALTH – more on this in Part 2
- GRATITUDE BRINGS ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE AROUND ME – more on this in Part 2
- INGRATITUDE BEGINS A DOWNWARD SPIRAL – Romans 1:21
Part 2: Cultivating Thinking Thanks
Gratitude and Grace
- CONNECTION: Genuine thankfulness to our Creator and Redeemer God is only possible through the transformation that the gospel brings
- COMMUNICATION: We must be thankful to, not just thankful for
- CORRELATION: Colossians 3:15-17 – charis (vs 16) is translated thanks (Example: Say grace for the food). Thinking and expressing thankfulness in difficult situations seems to trigger God’s grace (help) being poured into my heart.
Tree Visual – Colossians 2:6-7
3. CROWN: Photosynthesis happens (creation of sugar for the tree and oxygen for everything around it)
- Our responsibility is connecting thinking thanks (water and nutrients) to the circumstance (carbon) in our lives – I Thess. 5:18; Eph.5:20
2. TRUNK: Transportation of water and nutrients upward, and glucose (sugar) downward
- Our responsibility is carving the brain neural pathway to think thanks – Romans 12:2; 2 Cor.10:5
1. ROOTS: Anchoring and source of water and nutrients
- Our responsibility is growing roots to connect to living water, to draw in nutrients, and to bring stability (trust in God’s character and promises) in storms and drought – John 4:14; Psalm 1:2-3; Jer. 17:5-8
Ending Exercise:
© 2017 Karin M. Brown