A RELATIONSHIP OF GIVING THANKS
I CHRONICLES 16: 7-36
NOVEMBER 21, 2004
INTRODUCTION: FIRST HARVEST
In 1621, Edward Winslow, one of the fifty or so members of the Plymouth colony, wrote these words, describing the first harvest festival:
"Our harvest of corn came in well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian Corn, and our Barley crop was also good, but our crop of peas wasn’t worth the gathering – they were sown too late, and although they came up very well and blossomed, the sun parched them in the blossom. Once our harvest was brought in, our Governor sent four men out to hunt fowl, in order that we might have a special celebration, rejoicing together over the fruit of our labors. Those four hunters, in one day, killed enough fowl to feed our Company for almost a week. We were joined, in our celebration, by many Indians: the great Indian King Massasoyt, along with some ninety Indian men, joined us for three days of entertainment and feasting. The Indians themselves went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the Plantation and gave as gifts to our Governor, and to our Captain, and others. And although our harvests are not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish that you could be partakers of our plenty."
SOURCE: Fr. Jim Cook, St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Shawnee, KS. http://www.stlukes.net/recent_sermons/Thanksgiving_Day_Sermon_C_2001.htm
Contributed by: SermonCentralPRO
TRANSITION THOUGHT: AS WE CONTINUE TO THIINK ABOUT BEING A REAL CHURCH, I WANT US TO CONTINUE EXPLORING THIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD OUR FATHER AND WITH OTHERS. TODAY I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO FOR OUR BENEFIT AND FOR HIS GLORY. OUR TEXT FOR TODAY IS A SUPREME EXAMPLE OF THE WHY AND HOW OF GIVING THANKS TO GOD. I BELIEVE THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER FOR US WILL BE THAT ALL WHO TRULY KNOW THE LORD REALIZE ALL WE HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR!
THESIS SENTENCE: REAL RELATIONSHIPS CALL US TO GIVE THANKS!
I. GIVING THANKS IS A CELEBRATION (PRINCIPLE?)
A. A CELEBRATION IS A FAMILY AFFAIR: ALL OF ISRAEL 15: 3, 25, 28; AND 16: 2-3 (THEN AND NOW)
ILLUSTRATION: GRATITUDE- A NECESSARY ATTITUDE
A few years ago Dr. Nick Stinnett of the University of Nebraska conducted a group of studies called the "Family Strengths Research Project"
Stinnett and his researchers identified six qualities that make for strong families. The first quality and one of the most important to be found in strong families was the quality of appreciation. Families that are strong are strong in part, Dr. Stinnett concludes, because family members express to each other their appreciation for what the other members DO and for who they ARE.
In a similar study another researcher looked into the effect of praise in the workplace.
His study showed that the ratio of praise to criticism in the workplace needs to be four to one before employees feel that there is a balance - that there must be four times as much praise as there is criticism before they feel good about their work and about the environment they work in.
That is pretty staggering information - information that tells us that if we want to do something good, that if we want to have a healthy family, a strong workplace, or any other effective group that we need to be sure that appreciation, praise, and thanksgiving are heard at least four times as often as is criticism.
SOURCE: Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 1998, 2001. "Gratitude - A Necessary Attitude" http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/c-thansesn.html
Contributed by: SermonCentralPRO
B. A CELEBRATION IS A PARTY: MUSICIANS, CHOIRS, SHOUTS, HORNS, TRUMPETS, CYMBALS, LYRES, HARPS AND DANCING, AND FOOD 15: 19, 27, 28, 29; 16: 3, 9, 23 (THEN AND NOW)
C. A CELEBRATION IS A PSALM OF THANKS: 16:7 (THEN! now?)
ILLUSTRATION: THANKFUL TO WHOM?
Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she & a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, & the frost on the meadow, & the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty & burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." And her believing friend asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
Contributed by: Aaron Burgess
TRUTH: GIVING THANKS IS A CALL TO CELEBRATE!
QUESTION: DO WE MOURN OR CELEBRATE GIVING THANKS?
II. GIVING THANKS IS A TIME TO REMEMBER (PRINCIPLE?)
A. REMEMBERING IS WONDERS AND MIRACLES: WHAT GOD HAS DONE V. 12, 19-22 (THEN AND NOW)
B. REMEMBERING IS WHAT GOD DOES: HE REMEMBERS HIS COVENANT V. 15-18 (THEN AND NOW)
C. REMEMBERING IS JUDGMENT? HE IS THE LORD OUR GOD: THE PAST/ REMEMBERING IS KNOWING THAT GOD TAUGHT HIS PEOPLE BY CALLING SIN SIN AND ALLOWING THEM TO STAY IN THE WILDERNESS UNTIL THEY UNDERSTOOD HIS PURPOSE V. 12, 14, 33 (HE WILL STAND IN JUDGMENT ONCE MORE)
ILLUSTRATION: Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, & begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help." That is the basis of thankfulness - to remember that we got here with the help of God, & that He is the provider of every blessing we have. Contributed by: MELVIN NEWLAND
TRUTH: TOO OFTEN WE FORGET WHAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER!
QUESTION: DO WE REMEMBER HOW MUCH OUR GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US??
III. GIVING THANKS IS WORSHIP
A. WORSHIP IS CALLING ON HIS NAME VV. 8, 10, 11
ILLUSTRATION: THANKFUL TO WHOM?
Harriet Martineau was an atheist. One morning she & a Christian friend stepped out into the glories of a beautiful fall morning. As Harriet saw the brilliant sun peaking through the haze, & the frost on the meadow, & the brightly colored leaves making their way lazily to the ground, she was filled with the beauty & burst forth with "I am so thankful. I’m just so grateful for it all." And her believing friend asked, "Grateful to whom, my dear?"
Contributed by: Aaron Burgess
B. WORSHIP IS PRAISING HIS NAME VV. 9-10, 24-29, 31-34, AND 36
C. WORSHIP IS SALVATION VV. 23 AND 35
ILLUSTRATION: SO THANKFUL
Chuck Swindoll writes: "I recall, as a little barefoot boy with a cowlick of snow-white hair on my forehead, standing erect in my classroom and repeating the "Pledge of Allegiance" one Thanksgiving season. Our nation was at war and times were hard. My teacher had lost her husband on the blood washed shores of Normandy. As we later bowed our heads for prayer she wept aloud. I did too. All the class joined in. She stumbled through one of the most moving expressions of gratitude and praise that ever emerged from a soul plunged in pain. At that time in my young life, I fell strangely in love with Thanksgiving. Lost in sympathy and a boy’s pity for his teacher, I walked home very slowly that afternoon. Although only a child, I had profound feelings of gratitude for my country . . . my friends . . . my school . . . my church . . . my family. I swore before God that I would fight to the end to keep this land free from foes who would want to take away America’s distinctives and the joys of living in this good land. I have never forgotten my childhood promise. I never shall."
SOURCE: Charles R. Swindoll, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, p. 424.
Contributed by: SermonCentralPRO
TRUTH: WE WORSHIP THE LORD WHEN WE GIVE THANKS!
QUESTION: ARE WE READY TO WORSHIP? ARE WE READY TO GIVE THANKS?
CONCLUSION: NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE THANKS. NOW IS THE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF OUR GOD. NOW IS YOUR TIME TO PREACH THE SERMON, TO TELL THE STORY OF HIS GOODNESS. I INVITE YOU, ONE BY ONE, TO STAND AND GIVE THANKS. GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO! WILL YOU GIVE THANKS?
BENEDICTION: COLOSSIANS 3: 15-17
