Archive for December 6, 2010


Dec 6

Sermon Follow-up: “Give Thanks to the Lord”

2010 | by Trent Hunter | Category: Sermon Follow-Up

Last week, at our Lord’s Supper meeting, Ryan showed us the importance of thankfulness in the Christian life in his sermon, “Give Thanks to the Lord.“ Ryan drew from across the Bible to give us ten reasons to pursue thankfulness. They are listed here with Scripture references or brief explanations.

1. Giving thanks fights pride and fosters humility

Romans 1:21 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

2. Giving thanks fights anxiety and gives perspective

Philippians 4:6 “…don’t be anxious about anything, but instead give thanks.”

3. Thankfulness is an overflow of Christ’s peace in our hearts

Colossians 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

4. Giving thanks is an overflow of the word in us

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

5. Giving thanks is part of being watchful

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful with thanksgiving.”

6. Giving thanks is how we continue in prayer

Colossians 4:2 “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.”

7. Giving thanks is right – It is the great reckoning with reality

1 Corinthians 4:7 “What do you have that you have not received?”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

8. Giving thanks (praise) is why we are saved

2 Corinthians 4:15 “…so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.”

9. Giving thanks induces more and more praise

In the same way that more and more sin produces more and more blindness and waywardness, more thanks grows into a habit of and a craving for more and more thanks.

10. Giving thanks will never be done, it’s never enough

We can never, ever fully acknowledge all that God has done, is doing, or will do. It is what we will do forever.

Ryan also showed us how we can do thankfulness by showing us five levels of thanksgiving from the Psalms. If grumbling and a lack of thanksgiving is your thing, it might be helpful to write down the first word in each of the following lines on a piece of paper to keep with you.

1. Identify reasons for thanks and remind yourself of them
2. Ponder your reasons for thankfulness
3. Feel thankfulness in your heart
4. Express thankfulness to God
5. Promote thankfulness in others