Give Thankfulness With A Grateful Heart; Why?

Deuteronomy 30:9-14 Psalm 25:1-9 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37

Summary: The apostle Paul always gives thanks in his prayers and so thanksgiving needs to be a major part of our prayers. Jesus did it, and so did Paul, and look at their ministries, and the word “thanks” used here comes from the Greek word “Eucharist”.

This sermon was delivered to the congregation in St Oswald’s in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 15th July 2013: by Gordon McCulloch (A Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries).

Please join me in my prayer. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit let these words bring you, and all mothers’, honour this day. Amen.

Our New Testament reading this morning comes from the 1st chapter of Pauls letter of Paul to the Colossian: verses 1-14 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.

This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”.

1. Introduction:

Today’s gospel reading is the very familiar story of the Good Samaritan, and to preach something new would be very difficult. However in light of the excellent meeting with the bishop recently, the New Testament reading from Colossians seems much more relevant and topical. There is also a strong parallel with this church which I would like you to home in on; and acknowledge your success.

Let us begin with Colossians verse 2, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father. In our prayers for you, we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love that you have for all the saints”.

Notice that the apostle Paul always gives thanks in his prayers and here he thanks the church at Colossus, because their lives have demonstrated that God is alive and at work in them.

You must see a sort of parallel with this church today, look where we have come from in the last few years and now we are talking growth; and that without a rector.

Why, because we have allowed God to work through us; but we must learn, like Paul, to be thankful, and express this thanks to God for being fruitful in our lives, and the lives of others; … building up our faith through love and hope, in an ever increasing circle of health.

2. Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving therefore needs to be a major part of every prayer. Jesus did it, and so did Paul and Interestingly, the word “thanks” used here comes from the Greek word that is translated, “Eucharist,” the exact same Eucharist we use as reference to our Lord’s Supper; so basically our Communion is a time of thankfulness for what Jesus achieved for us on the Cross. Amen.

Now Paul never visited Colossus yet what he heard about the believers there caused his heart to rejoice: and so should we, when we hear something good about someone; that is to pray for them.

Not only should we pray for those who are genuinely hurting or struggling; we should pray especially for those who are showing true success in serving God, as our prayers are needed to sustain them.