It is a good habit to keep your “thankful antenna” up. Who are you thankful for? What are you grateful for? Chris Tomlin’s song “Thank You Lord” reminds us to be thankful for the simple things and the special people in our lives.
Many of Paul’s letters begin with a heart of gratitude for his readers. Let’s explore them together.
In this episode, I discuss:
- Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture – this week’s Bible Interaction Tool Exercises include:
- Explore a topic
- Mark up the text
- Start with God
- Make a list
- Complete a word study
- Compare and contrast
- The 30 Day Music Challenge
- New Testament letters that have a “thankful” introduction
- Romans 1:8-15
- 1 Corinthians 1:4-9
- Philippians 1:3-11
- Colossians 1:3-14
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
- 2 Timothy 1:3-18
- Philemon verses 4-7
- An example of my highlights, lists, and notes – PDF Example
- Starting with God
- Recognizing that Paul’s concerns should be ours as well
- Making a list of God’s attributes, what Paul is thankful for, and Paul’s concerns
- Completing a word study on “obligation” from Romans 1:14 – BibleHub.com
- How Paul’s concerns become his prayers for the people he’s thankful for
Enjoy the official lyric video below.
More Than a Song Playlist
Additional Resources
- Lyrics and chords – WorshipTogether.com
- The story behind writing the song “Thank You Lord” – EverythingNash.com Article
- ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: New Testament- Amazon Link
This Week’s Challenge
Choose one, or all, of the letters from Paul to meditate on who and what he was thankful for. Start with God as your habit for engaging Scripture. Identify what Paul was grateful for. Look closely at his prayers and concerns. If you engage in several letters, use the Bible Interaction Tool Exercise (BITE) of “compare and contrast” to see if you can see themes or identify specifics for that audience.
