INSIDE: Discover why gratitude transforms Bible study and simple ways to teach thankfulness to students and kids each week.
Do you ever wonder how to keep your students (or family) engaged in Bible study week after week? Looking for a way to connect everyday life with what they’re learning in Scripture? Or maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Is there something simple I can add to make lessons stick through the week?”
One powerful answer: gratitude.
Why Gratitude Matters in Bible Study
Gratitude isn’t just a good habit—it’s commanded. Throughout the Bible, God’s people are reminded to give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus
By weaving gratitude into your weekly Bible study, you help students not only learn God’s Word but give them a practical way to live it out.
When children (and adults!) pause to give thanks, it shifts their perspective. Gratitude helps them see God’s blessings, strengthens their faith, and encourages a joyful heart even in difficult seasons. It lifts their focus upward.
Benefits of Adding Gratitude to Your Bible Lessons
Here are a few reasons gratitude belongs in your weekly Bible study:
- Builds a habit of thankfulness – Students start to notice God’s work in their lives and note it.
- Connects Bible lessons to daily life – Gratitude makes Scripture more personal and relatable because they begin to see who those in the Bible gave thanks even in the hard times.
- Encourages prayer – Writing or drawing what they’re thankful for naturally leads to talking with God.
- Strengthens memory – When students pair gratitude with what they’re learning, it reinforces the lesson, and stimulates the long term memory.
Simple Ways to Practice Gratitude in Bible Study
Adding gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated. Try these ideas:
- Gratitude Journals – Give each student a page to write or draw what they’re thankful for at the end of class.
- Prayer Time – Ask each child to thank God for one thing before your closing prayer.
- Thankful Wall or Board – Have students add sticky notes or drawings each week to create a growing display of gratitude.
- Scripture Tie-Ins – Connect verses about thankfulness (like Psalm 100:4 or Colossians 3:15) to your current lesson.
These simple practices don’t take much time but can transform how your students see God’s Word.
Bringing Gratitude Home
Parents can reinforce gratitude outside of class too! At the dinner table or bedtime, invite kids to share one thing they’re thankful for from their day. Over time, this creates a family culture of thanksgiving that reflects God’s goodness.
Final Thought
Gratitude is more than a “nice add-on.” It’s a way of helping students live out the Bible, not just learn it. By making space for gratitude in your weekly Bible study, you give kids a tool they’ll carry into every area of life. As a bonus, it helps us as teachers, to practice what we are teaching and grow in our faith as well.
