Sermon Notes: “Thank-FULL or Thank-LESS”
Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor Chris
Scripture Text: Col. 3.15-17 November 26, 2017
What does it mean to be a thank-FULL person?
· For most of us it comes natural to thank someone for a generous gift.
· There is an expectation that when something of value has been shared, the recipient of the generosity will respond with a thank-FULL gesture. (words, note, return action/gift . . . spiritually – song, prayer, offering, service)
· “FULL” of thanks then should be OUR RESPONSE to something of great value that has been shared with us . . . despite our deservedness.
As the people of God, there is much to be thank-FULL for . . .
The Psalm-writer gives TWO really good reasons . . .
“Give thanks to the Lord for: (1) He is GOOD
(2) His love endures FOREVER (Ps. 136)
Paul chimes in with: “HE has demonstrated this love in His beloved Son”
John echoes with: “God is love. We love because He first loved us.”
The Bible also answers the questions as to WHEN and for WHAT . . .
· Eph. 5.21 “Always giving thanks for ALL things”
· 1 Thes. 5.18 “In everything give thanks”
· Ps. 139.14 ”I will give thanks; b/c I am fearfully & wonderfully made”
Colossians 3.15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and BE THANKFUL. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING WITH THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, GIVING THANKS through Him to God the Father.
OUT OF THE FULLNESS FLOWS THANKSGIVING --- expressed in various ways. It’s so easy to get distracted by things we don’t have, we can’t ever live in the moment of who we are in Christ and the blessings and promises HE has lavished on us.
Thank-FULL people tend to be more self-LESS . . . “When we are thankful, focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of our current circumstances.”
What does it mean to be a thank-LESS person?
· Quick to say “Please” or “Gimme” but slow to say or show “THANKS”
Ø FORGETFUL (Luke 17.11-19)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
When your greatest needs are met . . . easy to take for granted or forget how God brought you through. (read throughout Israel’s history)
· Deut. 6.5-12 10When theLordyour God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,11houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig,and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied,12BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DO NOT FORGETtheLord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
· Sign of disrespect, dishonor, apathy
Ø PRIDEFUL (2 Tim. 3)
“There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful . . . lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”
Ø REBELLIOUS (Rom. 1.21)
“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Ø CONDITIONAL . . . If the condition is right and the gift acceptable
o Mere sentiment? (from temporary pleasure)
o Inner joy/grace? (lasting change or impact of gift)
Would you be more thank-FULL if I . . .
· Gave you $1 $10 $100 $1,000?
· Paid your grocery bill, your car note, or your mortgage?
· Saved your cell phone’s life? Your pet’s life? Your child’s life?
If thank-FULLness is conditional, is it really thank-FULL? It’s easy to praise the Lord and be thank-FULL when times are good and when God is blessing you with everything you like.
Hard to be thank-FULL when we are: (1) angry at God
(2) bitter over our circumstances
(3) disingenuous toward others
(4) too busy to notice
When all else around you seems to be crumbling . . .
· Remember the prophet Jeremiah. (in bondage) “Yet will I hope”
· Heed the instructions of Paul. (in prison) “I can do all things”
· Reflect on the Savior on the cross (in agony) “It is finished”
In light of this, can there ever truly be such thing as a miserable, hopeless, depressed Christian? If so, shouldn’t the prescription be . . . 1 Thes. 5.16-18
· Rejoice always
· Pray always
· Give thanks always
When we put it all in the right perspective . . . God’s perspective (eternal) . . . things tend to look different!
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV) Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us BE THANKFUL, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Do you have an attitude of gratitude?
Unconditionally full of thanksgiving?
Are you a thank-LESS blamer of God for your lot in life?
How do you show your thankfulness to God?
Sermon Notes: “Thank-FULL or Thank-LESS”
Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor Chris
Scripture Text: Col. 3.15-17 November 26, 2017
What does it mean to be a “thank-FULL” person?
· Expectation that when something of value has been shared, the recipient of the generosity will respond with a thank-FULL gesture.
· “FULL” of thanks then should be O R to something of great value that has been shared with us . . . despite our deservedness.
What do we have to be thank-FULL for?
The Psalm-writer gives TWO really good reasons . . .
“Give thanks to the Lord for: (1) He is g______.
(2) His love e______forever.”
The Bible also answers the questions as to WHEN and for WHAT . . .
· Eph. 5.21 “A giving thanks for A things”
· 1 Thes. 5.18 “In e give thanks”
· Ps. 139.14 ”I will give thanks; b/c I am fearfully & wonderfully made”
Colossians 3.15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and B T .
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING WITH T in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, G______T through Him to God the Father.
“When we are thankful, our focus moves off s______desires and off the pain of our current c______.” S.M. Houdmann
Sermon Notes: “Thank-FULL or Thank-LESS”
Happy Thanksgiving! Pastor Chris
Scripture Text: Col. 3.15-17 November 26, 2017
What does it mean to be a “thank-FULL” person?
· Expectation that when something of value has been shared, the recipient of the generosity will respond with a thank-FULL gesture.
· “FULL” of thanks then should be O R to something of great value that has been shared with us . . . despite our deservedness.
What do we have to be thank-FULL for?
The Psalm-writer gives TWO really good reasons . . .
“Give thanks to the Lord for: (1) He is g______.
(2) His love e______forever.”
The Bible also answers the questions as to WHEN and for WHAT . . .
· Eph. 5.21 “A giving thanks for A things”
· 1 Thes. 5.18 “In e give thanks”
· Ps. 139.14 ”I will give thanks; b/c I am fearfully & wonderfully made”
Colossians 3.15-17
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and B T .
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING WITH T in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, G______T through Him to God the Father.
“When we are thankful, our focus moves off s______desires and off the pain of our current c______.” S.M. Houdmann
What does it mean to be a “thank-LESS” person?
Ø F______ (Luke 17.11-19)
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—
Ø P______ (2 Tim. 3.1-5)
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Ø R______ (Rom. 1.21)
“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Ø C______
If thank-FULLness is conditional, is it really thank-FULL? It’s easy to praise the Lord and be thank-FULL when times are good and when God is blessing you with everything you like.
Hard to be thank-FULL when we are:
(1) ______
(2) ______
(3) ______
(4) ______
When all else around you seems to be crumbling . . .
· Remember the prophet Jeremiah. (in bondage) “Yet will I hope”
· Heed the instructions of Paul. (in prison) “I can do all things”
· Reflect on the Savior on the cross (in agony) “It is finished”
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV) Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us b t , and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
What does it mean to be a “thank-LESS” person?
Ø F______ (Luke 17.11-19)
16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—
Ø P______ (2 Tim. 3.1-5)
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Ø R______ (Rom. 1.21)
“Although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Ø C______
If thank-FULLness is conditional, is it really thank-FULL? It’s easy to praise the Lord and be thank-FULL when times are good and when God is blessing you with everything you like.
Hard to be thank-FULL when we are:
(1) ______
(2) ______
(3) ______
(4) ______
When all else around you seems to be crumbling . . .
· Remember the prophet Jeremiah. (in bondage) “Yet will I hope”
· Heed the instructions of Paul. (in prison) “I can do all things”
· Reflect on the Savior on the cross (in agony) “It is finished”
Hebrews 12:28 (NIV) Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us b t , and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,