Praise & Pies

Devotional

Day 1: Giving Thanks with Our Whole Hearts

True thanksgiving involves pouring out our gratitude to God without reservation, holding nothing back as we recount all His wonderful deeds. When we give thanks with our whole hearts, we are invited to remember and celebrate every way God has shown up in our lives, both in private and in the company of others. This wholehearted gratitude is not a half-hearted ritual but a deep, sincere response to the goodness and faithfulness of God. As we gather with others or spend time alone, let us reflect on the specific ways God has blessed, protected, and guided us, and let our thanks rise up from the depths of our hearts. [42:03]

Psalm 9:1 (ESV)
"I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds."

Reflection: What is one specific way God has shown His faithfulness to you this year that you have not yet shared with anyone? How can you express wholehearted thanks to Him for it today?

Day 2: Giving Thanks Because God Is Good and His Love Endures

We give thanks not only for what God has done, but because of who He is—good, loving, and steadfast. His love is not fleeting or conditional; it endures forever, remaining constant through every season of our lives. When we pause to remember God's goodness and His unwavering love, our hearts are moved to gratitude that goes beyond circumstances. Even in times of difficulty or uncertainty, we can trust that His love will never fail us, and this truth becomes the foundation for our thanksgiving. [44:10]

Psalm 106:1 (ESV)
"Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to be reminded today that God’s love for you is steadfast and unchanging? How can you let that truth shape your gratitude?

Day 3: Giving Thanks for God’s Protection and Help

God is not distant or uninvolved; He is our strength and shield, offering protection and help in every circumstance. When we face challenges, we can trust that God is actively working on our behalf, covering us and giving us the help we need. This assurance leads us to a place of trust and joy, where our hearts can exalt and our songs of thanks can rise, even in the midst of trials. Remembering God’s protection and help encourages us to rely on Him more deeply and to give thanks for His faithful presence. [45:26]

Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt vulnerable or in need—how did God show up as your protector or helper? How can you thank Him for that today?

Day 4: Giving Thanks for God’s Deeds and Making Them Known

Thanksgiving is not meant to be kept to ourselves; we are called to make known God’s deeds among the people, sharing stories of His faithfulness and goodness. As we recall and testify to what God has done—both in our lives and in the lives of others—we encourage faith in our community and bring glory to His name. Sharing our gratitude publicly is a powerful way to spread hope and invite others to experience God’s love and power for themselves. [47:30]

Psalm 105:1 (ESV)
"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

Reflection: Who is one person you can share a testimony of God’s goodness with this week? What specific story will you tell to make His deeds known?

Day 5: Living a Lifestyle of Thanksgiving and Praise

Thanksgiving is not just a once-a-year event but a daily posture of the heart, meant to last forever. We are called to give thanks to God continually, letting gratitude and praise become the rhythm of our lives. This ongoing thanksgiving transforms our perspective, helping us to see God’s hand in every moment and to respond with joy and worship. As we cultivate this lifestyle, we become people who are marked by gratitude, no matter what comes our way. [47:55]

Psalm 30:12 (ESV)
"That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"

Reflection: What is one practical way you can build a habit of daily thanksgiving and praise, so that it becomes a natural part of your life beyond just special occasions?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate “Praise and Pies,” a time set aside not just to enjoy delicious food and fellowship, but to intentionally give thanks and praise to God. As we sang “Living Hope,” we were reminded of the fullness of the gospel—Jesus before us, and God’s goodness and mercy following us all the days of our lives. This is a season to reflect on God’s faithfulness, not only in our personal lives but also as a church community. Even through seasons of difficulty, God has been gracious, providing for us and stirring our hearts to reach out to those around us.

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday or a day to count blessings; it is a posture of the heart that should mark every day of our lives. Without specifically giving thanks to the Lord, Thanksgiving becomes just another fleeting event. True gratitude is a daily discipline, rooted in remembering both what God has done and who He is. The Psalms are filled with calls to give thanks—through song, with our whole hearts, and in the company of others. We are invited to pour out our gratitude without reservation, both privately and publicly, making known His deeds among the nations.

We give thanks because God is good, because His steadfast love endures forever, and because He protects and helps us. Thanksgiving and praise are closely linked: thanksgiving focuses on gratitude for what God has done, while praise is an expression of awe for who God is—His character, His power, His faithfulness. Both are essential, and both are meant to be ongoing, not just for a season but for eternity.

Personally, I am deeply grateful for both my natural family and my spiritual family here. It is a privilege to witness the transformation and growth among us, to see lives changed and hearts stirred to serve. As we shared testimonies today, we saw the beauty of God’s work in our midst. Let us continue to cultivate a spirit of gratitude, remembering that our thanksgiving is not limited to a single day, but is a lifelong response to the goodness and faithfulness of our God.

Key Takeaways

1. Gratitude is a Daily Discipline True thanksgiving is not confined to a single holiday or moment, but is a posture we are called to maintain every day. When we intentionally remember God’s faithfulness and express our gratitude, it shapes our hearts and perspectives, anchoring us in His goodness regardless of our circumstances. [42:03]
2. Praise and Thanksgiving Go Hand in Hand While thanksgiving focuses on what God has done, praise centers on who God is. Both are necessary for a vibrant spiritual life. When we practice both, we not only honor God’s actions but also His unchanging character, deepening our relationship with Him and transforming our worship. [45:26]
3. Give Thanks Publicly and Privately Scripture calls us to give thanks both in our personal time with God and in the company of others. Sharing gratitude and testimonies in community strengthens faith, encourages others, and magnifies God’s work among us. Our stories of God’s faithfulness become a witness to His love and power. [48:27]
4. Thanksgiving is Eternal We are called to give thanks to God forever—not just in this life, but for all eternity. This perspective lifts our eyes beyond temporary blessings to the everlasting nature of God’s love and faithfulness, inviting us into a lifelong and eternal rhythm of gratitude and praise. [45:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Living Hope: Singing the Gospel
[02:30] - God’s Goodness Follows Us
[04:10] - Entering Corporate Prayer
[06:30] - Reflecting on God’s Faithfulness
[08:15] - Praise and Pies: Setting the Table
[10:00] - What is Thanksgiving?
[12:00] - The Heart of Gratitude
[14:00] - How to Give Thanks
[16:30] - Giving Thanks in Song and Community
[18:45] - Why We Give Thanks
[21:00] - Praise vs. Thanksgiving
[23:00] - Giving Thanks for God’s Deeds
[25:00] - Thanksgiving is Forever
[27:00] - Personal Testimonies of Gratitude
[30:00] - Announcements and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 33:2-3 (ESV) — > Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalm 106:1 (ESV) — > Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 105:1 (ESV) — > Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 33:2-3, what are some ways we are encouraged to give thanks to the Lord?
In Psalm 106:1, what two reasons are given for giving thanks to God?
The sermon mentioned that thanksgiving is not just a holiday but a daily discipline. What are some examples from the sermon of how we can give thanks both privately and publicly? [[42:03]]
What is the difference between thanksgiving and praise as described in the sermon? [[45:26]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do the Psalms emphasize giving thanks “with our whole heart” and “among the peoples”? What does this reveal about the nature of gratitude in the life of a believer? [[42:03]]
The sermon says that thanksgiving focuses on what God has done, while praise centers on who God is. Why is it important to practice both, and how might neglecting one affect our relationship with God? [[45:26]]
The pastor shared about being grateful for both his natural and spiritual family. How does sharing testimonies of gratitude in community impact the faith of others? [[48:27]]
Psalm 105:1 calls us to “make known his deeds among the peoples.” What might this look like in our everyday lives?

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to make gratitude a daily discipline, not just something we do on Thanksgiving. What is one practical way you can intentionally express gratitude to God each day this week? [[42:03]]
Think about a recent situation where it was hard to be thankful. How might remembering God’s faithfulness in the past help you develop a posture of gratitude even in difficult times? [[39:45]]
The pastor encouraged giving thanks both privately and in the company of others. Is there someone in your life or in this group you could share a testimony of God’s goodness with this week? What’s holding you back? [[48:27]]
The sermon highlighted the difference between thanksgiving (for what God has done) and praise (for who God is). Which comes more naturally to you, and why? How can you grow in the other area? [[45:26]]
The Psalms often call us to give thanks “with our whole heart.” Are there areas of your life where you hold back from expressing gratitude to God? What would it look like to give thanks without reservation? [[42:03]]
The pastor shared about being grateful for his church family and seeing transformation in others. Who in your life are you especially thankful for right now, and how can you let them know this week? [[48:27]]
The sermon reminded us that thanksgiving is eternal. How does having an eternal perspective on gratitude change the way you view your current circumstances? [[45:26]]

Sermon Clips

But without specifically giving thanks to the Lord, I think the Thanksgiving day gets diminished into one day, a 24-hour activity that we forget about the rest of the year—which is 364 days. So my hope and prayer is that we can have an attitude of gratitude every single day of our life, not just when we set up one day out of the year, but every single day to give thanks to the Lord for what he has done, but also praise God for who he is. [00:42:27] (31 seconds) #AttitudeOfGratitudeEveryday

My hope and prayer is that we can have an attitude of gratitude every single day of our life, not just when we set up one day out of the year, but every single day to give thanks to the Lord for what he has done, but also praise God for who he is. So to do that, I looked up the phrase “give thanks” to find out three things: how to give thanks, why we give thanks, and third thing, when we can actually stop giving thanks. [00:42:43] (33 seconds)

Not only are we giving thanks because of his goodness but because of his love—not just any kind of love, his steadfast love towards us. Next, we give thanks because he protects and he helps. How do we know that? The Lord is my strength and my shield. He protects me. He covers me. In him my heart trusts and I am helped. My heart exalts, and with my song I give thanks to him. [00:45:39] (29 seconds) #SteadfastLoveAndProtection

Can anyone tell me how long are we supposed to give thanks to the Lord? Forever. Yes, eternity. Forever. That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. There you have it: how we give thanks, why we give thanks, and for how long are we supposed to give thanks. [00:48:11] (27 seconds) #ThanksForever

It's hard not to give thanks to God and praise him when we recall, when we remember how he's blessed us with so much, right? Just think about your own life, think about the family, think about people around you that have come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and how different, what kind of difference Jesus has made in your life. [00:48:38] (21 seconds) #BlessedByJesus

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