Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 10
The repeated refrain “this our hymn of grateful praise” makes gratitude the central posture; if gratitude is meant to be a disciplined practice rather than a mood, what concrete habits would need to change this week in how you pray, speak, spend, and relate to others?
Another way to ask: If gratitude is a habit we practice, not just a feeling, what should change this week in how you pray, talk, spend money, and treat people? Name a few specific changes you could make.
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the hymn, disciplined gratitude would mean regularly naming specific gifts (creation, relationships, the church, Christ giving himself) and consciously turning them into praise directed to Christ. The transcript doesn’t give step-by-step habits, but it implies gratitude should reshape prayer content and everyday “thoughts and mouth.”
- The refrain makes gratitude deliberate and repeated: “this our hymn of grateful praise.”
- The hymn models specific thanksgiving categories: “beauty of the earth… beauty of the skies,” “joy of human love,” “thy church,” “thyself this gift divine.”
- Gratitude is addressed to a person: “Christ our God to thee we raise,” suggesting prayer should be Godward, not generic positivity.
- Speech and inner posture are included: “for all gentle thoughts and mouth,” implying gratitude affects how we talk and think.
- The church’s worship is shared (“lifteth… hands above”), hinting gratitude is practiced in gathered worship too.