Sunday sermon: 3 Things All Christians Can Give Thanks For

Here’s the sermon from this past Sunday: “3 Things All Christians Can Give Thanks For.” It’s based on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I hope it’s a blessing to you. The sermon notes are below.

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Give Thanks In Everything (1 Thes. 5:16-18)

We live in a society that has forgotten how to be thankful. Too often, people are motivated by greed, and the desire to get ahead. We don’t take time to be thankful for the things we have.

For Christians, being thankful isn’t an option. God commands us to be thankful in all circumstances. Can we really be thankful when everything around you is going wrong?

We can! Today, I want us to think about the things every follower of Jesus can be thankful for—no matter what’s happening in our lives.

Warning: The dangers of NOT giving thanks
Rom. 1:21
**It can lead to all kinds of sin (see Rom. 1:21-31)
**We put our own reasoning, thoughts, desires ahead of God
Judges 17:6
**That kind of thinking leads us away from God

3 Reasons to be Thankful–No Matter What!
1. God is in complete control
Isaiah 40:1, 25-27
** nothing (family/health/job/church/etc.) in our lives is out of control…from God’s perspective!
** No child of God is out of His reach or beyond His help
Ps. 139:7-12

2. Our troubles are temporary. God & His gifts are not.
Is. 40:8 2 Cor. 4:17-18
** we need to look/pay attention to eternal things
**we live in “Right Now” society
Mt. 6:19-21
** only God’s gifts have eternal value & can’t be taken away
3. We’ve been given the greatest gift of all.
1 Peter 1:3-4
**God brought us out of sin & death, & gave us new life because of Jesus
Rom. 5:6-8 Eph. 2:4-5
** God adopts us into His family
Eph. 2:19 1 Peter 2:10
** Can’t be taken away.
Rom. 11:29

Application
Every follower of Jesus wants to know God’s will. Here it is: “give thanks in all circumstances”

**When we give thanks, we are acknowledging that God gives us everything we have.
**If you have a loving family, good health, solid job, stable finances, remember those are God’s gift. (And remember that not everyone has those things!)
**God is in complete control, even when we feel like life is spiraling out of control. You can trust Him to make something good out of the worst things we go through!
**We have an eternal reward that can never be taken from us—no matter what happens here on earth. Keep your focus on things that last!
**God’s great gift of salvation is ours forever. We didn’t do anything to earn it. God gave it to us & it can never be taken away.

This Thanksgiving, take time to give thanks to God for His blessings. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Let’s remember how good He is to us!