This document discusses the importance of thanksgiving and praise to God. It argues that thanksgiving and praise are vital steps to entering God's presence. Thanksgiving allows us to enter God's gates, while praise brings us into God's courtroom. The document encourages verbalizing gratitude to God through practices like thanking Him at the start of each day, during worship, for blessings and hard things, and when reading the Bible. It provides biblical passages supporting the importance of thanksgiving and praise. The document concludes with questions for group discussion on these topics.

1. A Thanksgiving Giving
Encouragement Wednesday

2. Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to
God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that
openly profess his name. And do not forget to do
good and to share with others, for with such
sacrifices God is pleased.”

3. So do you think “giving thanks” is “praise to God”?

4. Psalms 100:4-5 NIV
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts
with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

5. Praise and thanksgiving are vital steps toward
entering the presence of God. Thanksgiving gets us
through the gates, and praise brings us into the
courtroom of the King of Kings. Without taking
these steps, we remain outside of the courts of God.

6. How can you VERBALIZE gratitude to God more?
● Begin the day with thanks.
● Thank Him in your worship.
● Speak of all of His benefits.
● Thank Him as you read His Word.
● Thank Him for the hard things.

7. Group Discussion Time

8. Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to
God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that
openly profess his name. And do not forget to do
good and to share with others, for with such
sacrifices God is pleased.”

9. Psalms 7:17 NIV
“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his
righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of
the Lord Most High.”

10. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.”

11. Ephesians 5:18-20 NIV
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and
songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from
your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God
the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”

12. Revelation 11:18 NIV
“The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for
rewarding your servants the prophets and your
people who revere your name, both great and
small— and for destroying those who destroy the
earth.””

13. Closing….