By Dan Lentz
1. Distribute paper and ask each member of your group to make a list of things he or she is thankful for—without putting a name on the paper or listing things that would easily identify the writer. Place the lists in a basket. Pass the basket around and have everyone take out a random list. Have each person read a list aloud and then ask the group to try to guess who wrote the list. Return the papers to their original owners after you have finished.
Read Psalm 146.
2. On the back of your paper list as many things as you can that the Lord does according to these verses. Ask group members to share their lists.
3. Conclude your meeting with a brief concert of prayer and praise. Ask someone whose list encompasses most of the things that were mentioned to read off each item one at a time, pausing for three to four minutes between each item so the group can pray about that item. Encourage people to pray multiple times and to express both praises and concerns related to the item on the list before moving on to the next item. You may need to adjust the amount of time spent in prayer for each item according to the time remaining.
4. When your time is up, close with a song or ask someone to close with a prayer of praise to the Lord.
Dan Lentz works for the Small Group Network in Whitestown, Indiana.
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