Thanksgiving

A. WHERE WE GOT THANKSGIVING

1. What happened at the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth Rock December 1621?

a. Three-day feast by 90 Indians and 50 colonists ate from their harvest of hunted turkeys and deer.

b. Athletic events, races, wrestling, etc.

c. Prayers.

2. Practice of Colonist.

a. Day of fasting and prayer in spring.

b. Prayer and thanksgiving in the fall.

3. The Continental Congress issued fifteen proclamations for prayer and thanksgiving.

4. George Washington called for the first Thursday in November for prayer and thanksgiving.

5. Sarah Hale was turned down by US presidents for 30 years, until President Lincoln in 1863 proclaimed the last Thursday in November for prayer and thanksgiving.

6. Congress in 1941 set aside the 4th Thursday as a holiday for thanksgiving.

B. WHY GIVE THANKS?

1. It is the right thing to do. “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High” (Ps. 92:1).

2. It is commanded. “Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Ps. 100:4).

3. It is our response to salvation. “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:25).

4. It changes your perspective towards life to be God centered, instead of being:

a. Stuff centered.

b. Problem centered.

c. People centered.

d. Task centered.

5. It will produce more blessings in your life.

6. It will strengthen your character, i.e., habitually doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right purpose.

7. God expects it!

8. It is the basis of your worship of God. “Each morning and evening they stood before the LORD to sing songs of thanks and praise to Him” (1 Chron. 23:30, NLT).

9. Because God has directed us and spoken to us. “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you” (Dan. 2:23, NLT).

10. Because individuals are saved. “As God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving” (2 Cor. 4:15, NLT).

11. To have an overflowing life. “Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all He has done” (Col. 2:7, LB).

12. To make your prayers effective. “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” (Col. 4:2, NLT).

13. Because God created food to eat. “God created those foods to be eaten with thanks . . . receive it with thanks” (1 Tim. 4:3-4, NLT).

14. Because the Lord deserves it. “Worthy is the Lamb . . . to receive thanksgiving” (Rev. 5:12).

15. The example of Jesus. “Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God” (John 6:11).

C. WHEN TO GIVE THANKS

1. For salvation. “Thou art worthy . . . and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev. 5:9, KJV).

2. After conversion. “But God be thanked . . . you obeyed from the heart” (Rom. 6:17).

3. For answers to prayer. “We thank God for you” (1Thess. 1:2).

4. By faith before God answers your prayer. “Tell God what you need, and thank him” (Phil. 4:6, NLT).

5. When people are saved. “We never stop thanking God . . . you accepted . . . the very word of God” (1 Thess. 2:13, NLT).

6. For Christian service of others. “We always thank God . . . we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope” (1 Thess. 1:2-3, NLT).

7. Before the Lord’s Table. “And when He had given thanks, He broke it” (1 Cor. 11:24).

8. For the growth of (spiritual) children. “We can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters . . . thankful that God chose you . . . to experience salvation” (2 Thess. 2:13, NLT).

9. For call to ministry. “I am thankful that God called me into ministry” (1 Tim. 1:12, ELT).

10. When you hear about others serving God. “I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, because . . . your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people” (Philemon vv. 4-5).

D. ASSIGNMENT FOR THANKSGIVING 2025

1. Make a list of the 10 things you are most thankful for in 2025.

2. On Thanksgiving Day, tell at least 10 people the things you are most thankful for in 2025.

3. Create a habit of thanking God for answers before you ask for anything.

4. Tell members of your family and God, the one thing in their life for which you are most thankful.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart: