GIVING THANKS (Colossians 3:17 NIV) - November 2, 2025

GIVING THANKS (Colossians 3:17 NIV)  - November 2, 2025

INTRODUCTION

Thanksgiving - football and food

Thanksgiving is approaching. Have you considered how privileged we are here in America?

Statistically, 3,000 Calories are consumed by the average person at Thanksgiving dinner. 45 million turkeys will be eaten this Thanksgiving. 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten at Thanksgiving, 40 million green bean casseroles are made. And 72 million of cans of Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce purchased each year.

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/surprising-thanksgiving-day-food-facts-2414008.html.

First message, give thanks in all circumstances

A Sunday School teacher asked her class what they were thankful for. A little girl said "I’m thankful for my bedroom. My younger brothers have to share a room. But I get to have a room all for myself! I thank God for my bedroom!"

Next, a little boy said, "I’m thankful for my puppy. I got him as a present for my birthday, and I play with him every day. I thank God for my puppy."

Another boy thought for a moment and said “I’m thankful for my glasses." My glasses.” The teacher was surprised. She said "Why are you thankful for your glasses?" He said, “Because they keep the boys from hitting me and they keep the girls from kissing me!”

Marc Axelrod, What to Do When You Don’t Feel Like Praising God, 11/15/2009.

Last week, enter with thanksgiving and continue with praise 

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO MATTERS

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

‭‭ Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Everything

B.  Speech

C.  Action

II.  DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

One Thanksgiving season a family was seated around their table, looking at the annual holiday bird. From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise. When they came to the 5-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good. After that rather novel expression of thanksgiving, he began with a more predictable line of credits, thanking his mother for cooking the turkey and his father for buying the turkey. But then he went beyond that. He joined together a whole hidden multitude of benefactors, linking them with cause and effect.

He said, "I thank you for the checker at the grocery store who checked out the turkey. I thank you for the grocery store people who put it on the shelf. I thank you for the farmer who made it fat. I thank you for the man who made the feed. I thank you for those who brought the turkey to the store."

Using his Columbo-like little mind, he traced the turkey all the way from its origin to his plate. And then at the end he solemnly said "Did I leave anybody out?"

His 2-year-older brother, embarrassed by all those proceedings, said, "God."

Solemnly and without being flustered at all, the 5-year-old said, "I was about to get to him."

Well, isn’t that the question about which we ought to think at Thanksgiving time? Are we really going to get to him this Thanksgiving?

Joel Gregory, "The Unlikely Thanker," Preaching Today, Tape No. 110.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

‭‭ 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  All

B.  All speech in the name of the Lord

C.  All action in the name of the Lord

III.  AS WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD WE SHOULD BE GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIM

The pastor at the downtown men’s shelter was ready to begin the Thanksgiving service. Everyone was ready for him to begin and finish since the service was before the meal.

After a few hymns were sung, it was time for the pastor’s Thanksgiving sermon. This year he had decided to begin by asking the men what they were thankful for. He knew that it was a little risky, but he thought it would be good for everyone to express their thankfulness.

When he asked the question, there was dead silence. No one was willing to share. He knew then that it was a bad choice. Just as he was about to move on to his message, Charlie stood up. He said, “I am thankful for the 7 Wonders.” The pastor looked a little confused. He wasn’t sure what Charlie was referring to. Thoughts of the Grand Canyon and the Great Wall of China came to his mind.

The pastor asked, “Which 7 Wonders, Charlie? Charlie responded, “You know, pastor, the 7 Wonders of God.” The pastor still had no idea what Charlie was talking about, but he nodded as if he did. He said, “Yes, Charlie, the 7 Wonders of God. Why don’t you share those with us.”

Charlie began. “Well first you have the Wonder of God’s Mercy. He doesn’t give us what we deserve when we rebel and sin against Him. Then, to everyone's surprise, Charlie quoted Psalm 145:8. “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy.”

The pastor said, “Yes Charlie, thank God for His mercy.

Charlie continued. “Then there’s the Wonder of God’s Love.” That’s when Charlie quoted John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The pastor was amazed. “What is number 3 Charlie?" Charlie replied, "Well, that’s the wonder of God’s Forgiveness. That’s in 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

By this time the pastor was standing in awe of what he was witnessing.

Charlie continued. “Well, number 4 is the Wonder of God’s Forgetfulness. I haven’t figured that one out yet. If God knows everything, how can He forget? But the Bible says in Hebrews 8:12. “For I will forgive them of their sins and will remember their sins no more.”

By this time the pastor had taken a seat up on the platform wondering what number 5 is going to be. Then Charlie said, “Number 5 is the Wonder of God’s Provision. That’s what you do for us here at the shelter.” Then he quoted Philippians 4:19. “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

Charlie looked at the pastor as if to ask, “Do you want me to go on?” The pastor motioned for Charlie to continue.

Charlie said, “Well number 6 is actually two put together. That’s the Wonder of God’s Presence and Peace. The Bible says in Philippians 4:6, “The Lord is Near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Then Charlie looked at the pastor and said, “Well, everybody knows number 7.” Charlie paused. Looked around the room. No one responded. Even the pastor wasn’t sure where Charlie was going with the last Wonder of God.

That’s when Charlie looked up and quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Charlie's 7th Wonder of God was Heaven.

Charlie sat down. The pastor stood and moved toward the pulpit. He looked at the sermon he had prepared and knew that Charlie’s message was all they needed to hear. He closed his Bible, asked everyone to stand, and prayed. “God we are thankful for all your blessings today. We thank you especially for Charlie. Amen.”

Perry Hancock, Sermon Central, November 22, 2022.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭ 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Give thanks in all of our speech

B.  Give thanks in all our action

CONCLUSION

Everything we do and say should be done in the name of the Lord giving thanks to God through Jesus Christ.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.