THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving and Generosity - November 10, 2019
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
"Give till it hurts."
"You will never outgive God!"
"God loves a generous giver."
$37,000 for carpet and chairs.
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 NIV (RPB 1243)
I. GIVE GENEROUSLY
A. Sowing and reaping
B. Give as you have decided
1. Not reluctantly
2. Not under compulsion
3. God loves a cheerful giver
C. Giving and righteousness
II. GOD BLESSES US SO WE CAN GIVE GENEROUSLY
A. God will provide
1. Seed
2. Bread
B. God will increase
1. Store of seed
2. Harvest of righteousness
C. Blessed to give to others
D. Results of generosity
1. Thanksgiving
III. GENEROUS GIVING RESULTS IN THANKS TO GOD
A. Supplying the needs of the Lord's people
B. Overflowing in many expressions of thanks
C. Service proves us
D. Results of our service
1. Praise God
a. For the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ.
b. For your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else
E. They will pray for you (Lorraine Parker)
1. Because of the surpassing grace God has given you
F. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
CHALLENGE
Give more than you can. He is Lord. He can sell a few head of cattle on one of his thousand hills.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Thursday, November 7, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on Nov. 10, 2019)
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 New International Version (NIV)
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Footnotes:
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Sermon Outline for November 3, 2019 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on Nov. 3, 2019)
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving and Peace - November 3, 2019
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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 3:12-17 NIV
I. CLOTHE YOURSELVES
A. Compassion
B. Kindness
C. Humility
D. Gentleness
E. Patience
II. BEAR WITH EACH ANOTHER
A. Define "bear"
B. "With each other"
III. FORGIVE ONE ANOTHEER
A. "One another"
B. "If"
C. "Grievance against one another
D. "Forgive as the Lord forgave you"
IV. PUT ON LOVE
A. "Put on love"
B. "binds them all together in perfect unity"
V. LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE
A. A "heart" issue
B. "Called to peace"
V. BE THANKFUL
A. "Be"
B. Ontology
VI. TEACH & ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER
A. Message
1. "Of Christ"
2. "Dwell in"
B. Means
1. Teach
2. Admonish
C. Maturity
1. "With all wisdom"
D. Method
1. Psalms
2. Hymns
3. Songs from the Spirit
4. "Singing to God with gratitude in your hearts"
VII. WHATEVER YOU DO
A. Word
B. Deed
C. "Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus"
D. "Giving thanks to God the Father through him"
CHALLENGE
Make peace with someone this week.
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 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 3:12-17 NIV
I. CLOTHE YOURSELVES
A. Compassion
B. Kindness
C. Humility
D. Gentleness
E. Patience
II. BEAR WITH EACH ANOTHER
A. Define "bear"
B. "With each other"
III. FORGIVE ONE ANOTHEER
A. "One another"
B. "If"
C. "Grievance against one another
D. "Forgive as the Lord forgave you"
IV. PUT ON LOVE
A. "Put on love"
B. "binds them all together in perfect unity"
V. LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE
A. A "heart" issue
B. "Called to peace"
V. BE THANKFUL
A. "Be"
B. Ontology
VI. TEACH & ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER
A. Message
1. "Of Christ"
2. "Dwell in"
B. Means
1. Teach
2. Admonish
C. Maturity
1. "With all wisdom"
D. Method
1. Psalms
2. Hymns
3. Songs from the Spirit
4. "Singing to God with gratitude in your hearts"
VII. WHATEVER YOU DO
A. Word
B. Deed
C. "Do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus"
D. "Giving thanks to God the Father through him"
CHALLENGE
Make peace with someone this week.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Sermon outline for October 27, 2019 - (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church of Christ in Livonia, MI, on October 27, 2019)
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving for God's Refuge - October 27, 2019
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Preparing for the Big Day -
Parades
Food prepped
Family coming over
Turkey Bowl
Buying two newspapers for Black Friday ads
Lordship, justice and righteousness
Modern approach to the divine is anthropocentric
God stands on top, not man.
Prayer
“Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands— if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe— then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”
Psalms 7:1-17 NIV (RPB #582)
I. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS SALVATION (vv. 1-2)
A. Our refuge
1. Salvation
2. Deliverance
B. Our enemies
1. Tear and rip to pieces
2. Like a lion
C. Our only hope of rescue
II. THANKSGIVING FOR SELF-REFLECTION (vv. 3-5)
A. "If I have"
B. "Then let my enemy"
C. Our ability to change
III. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS JUSTICE (vv. 6-8)
A. Inviting God's justice
B. Judge me
1. According to my righteousness
2. According to my integrity
IV. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 9-13)
A. Righteous God - actions
B. Righteous shield - protection
C. Righteous judge - discernment
D. Righteous indignation - judgment
V. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS PROVIDENCE (vv. 14-16)
A. Not dertermined, but designed
B. Recoiled trouble/self inflicted violence
C. Arrogance and humility
VI. THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE (v. 17)
In an uncertain world, we can be certain of His salvation, justice, righteousness and providence and give Him praise. Without acknowledging who God is, how can we understand who we are?
CHALLENGE
Look back on your life where you feel abandoned or wronged by what God allowed to happen in your life. How was God's justice or righteousness at play during that moment in your life? Do you believe that God is just? Do you believe that God is righteous? How can your perspective on these issues change your outlook on life? Take one event from your past where you felt God was unjust to you. Pray for insight into God's justice and righteousness in that moment. Speak to another person about this event and ask them how God showed his justice/righteousness.
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Preparing for the Big Day -
Parades
Food prepped
Family coming over
Turkey Bowl
Buying two newspapers for Black Friday ads
Lordship, justice and righteousness
Modern approach to the divine is anthropocentric
God stands on top, not man.
Prayer
“Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands— if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe— then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.
Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure— you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”
Psalms 7:1-17 NIV (RPB #582)
I. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS SALVATION (vv. 1-2)
A. Our refuge
1. Salvation
2. Deliverance
B. Our enemies
1. Tear and rip to pieces
2. Like a lion
C. Our only hope of rescue
II. THANKSGIVING FOR SELF-REFLECTION (vv. 3-5)
A. "If I have"
B. "Then let my enemy"
C. Our ability to change
III. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS JUSTICE (vv. 6-8)
A. Inviting God's justice
B. Judge me
1. According to my righteousness
2. According to my integrity
IV. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv. 9-13)
A. Righteous God - actions
B. Righteous shield - protection
C. Righteous judge - discernment
D. Righteous indignation - judgment
V. THANKSGIVING FOR HIS PROVIDENCE (vv. 14-16)
A. Not dertermined, but designed
B. Recoiled trouble/self inflicted violence
C. Arrogance and humility
VI. THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE (v. 17)
In an uncertain world, we can be certain of His salvation, justice, righteousness and providence and give Him praise. Without acknowledging who God is, how can we understand who we are?
CHALLENGE
Look back on your life where you feel abandoned or wronged by what God allowed to happen in your life. How was God's justice or righteousness at play during that moment in your life? Do you believe that God is just? Do you believe that God is righteous? How can your perspective on these issues change your outlook on life? Take one event from your past where you felt God was unjust to you. Pray for insight into God's justice and righteousness in that moment. Speak to another person about this event and ask them how God showed his justice/righteousness.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving for His Righteousness - Psalm 7:1-17 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church of Christ in Livonia, MI, on October 27, 2019)
Psalm 7:1-17
I Take Refuge in You
A Shiggaiona of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1O LORD my God, I take refuge in You;
save me and deliver me from all my pursuers,
2or they will shred my soul like a lion,
and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3O LORD my God, if I have done this,
if injustice is on my hands,
if I have plundered my foe without cause,
5then may my enemy pursue me and overtake me;
may he trample me to the ground
and leave my honor in the dust.
Selah
6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
rise up against the fury of my enemies.
Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
7Let the assembled peoples encompass You;
take Your seat over them on high.
8The LORD judges the peoples;
vindicate me, O LORD,
according to my righteousness and integrity.
9Put an end to the evil of the wicked,
but establish the righteous,
O righteous God who searches hearts and minds.c
10My shield is with God,
who saves the upright in heart.
11God is a righteous judge
and a God who feels indignation each day.
12If one does not repent,
God will sharpen His sword;
He has bent and strung His bow.
13He has prepared His deadly weapons;
He ordains His arrows with fire.
14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil;
he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
15He has dug a hole and hollowed it out;
he has fallen into a pit of his own making.
16His trouble recoils on himself,
and his violence falls on his own head.
17I will thank the LORD for His righteousness
Footnotes:1 a Probably a musical or liturgical term
4 b Hebrew the one at peace with me
9 c Hebrew hearts and kidneys
The Berean Bible (www.Berean.Bible) Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018, 2019 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Sermon Outline for October 20, 2019 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church of Christ in Livonia, MI, on October 20, 2019)
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - Thanksgiving for Everything - October 20, 2019
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Pilgrims had it right we should throw a feast for every good thing God has done.
"Blessed" - "Too blessed to be stressed"
How should we respond to what God has done for us.
Gratitude journal
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
I. ALWAYS REJOICE
We have much to rejoice about - celebration of Shirley's life, our new digs, a Savior who died for us
A. "Always"
B. Greetings, joy, glad
C. Good/bad, happy/sad
II. ALWAYS PRAY
Shortest verse in the Bible
A. "Unceasingly"
B. Wish, ask
III. ALWAYS GIVE THANKS
A. "In everything" - same root as "always"
B. Everything means everything - big/little, difficult/beneficial
C. Euxaristeite - word for communion, the Lord's Supper, "good grace"
D. Always!!!!
Christians should always be rejoicing, praying, thanking
CHALLENGE
Gratitude does not have to be saved for the "big" things in life. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for.
Even if it is as simple as appreciating the clear weather or how quickly your mailman delivered your mail last Friday, don't leave anything out when practicing your gratitude.
Video - Worship countdown
Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Pilgrims had it right we should throw a feast for every good thing God has done.
"Blessed" - "Too blessed to be stressed"
How should we respond to what God has done for us.
Gratitude journal
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
I. ALWAYS REJOICE
We have much to rejoice about - celebration of Shirley's life, our new digs, a Savior who died for us
A. "Always"
B. Greetings, joy, glad
C. Good/bad, happy/sad
II. ALWAYS PRAY
Shortest verse in the Bible
A. "Unceasingly"
B. Wish, ask
III. ALWAYS GIVE THANKS
A. "In everything" - same root as "always"
B. Everything means everything - big/little, difficult/beneficial
C. Euxaristeite - word for communion, the Lord's Supper, "good grace"
D. Always!!!!
Christians should always be rejoicing, praying, thanking
CHALLENGE
Gratitude does not have to be saved for the "big" things in life. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for.
Even if it is as simple as appreciating the clear weather or how quickly your mailman delivered your mail last Friday, don't leave anything out when practicing your gratitude.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
THANKSGIVING: An Attitude of Gratitude - I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church of Christ in Livonia, MI, on October 20, 2019)
“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
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
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