mySundaySermons

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him, God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. [NRSA]

We are thankful for many things. Our litany of appreciations includes the usual, family, health, home and nation and for those who helped us preserve our great opportunities. But one thing is missing from this list that differs between Thanksgiving and Paul’s words to the church at Colosse: Giving God Thanks, Joyfully. 

Paul reminds us of why we encourage one another to not only be thankful but to GIVE thanks. Because of God’s work and love of us through CHRIST.

And we say to ourselves,

• that’s semantics,
• Just say what you were going to say and remember to give God some ‘love’n’
• Give God some credit
• make sure you name God and Jesus in your lists of thanksgiving appreciations.
• Check that off the list and get to the turkey and fixing, ball games and naps.

Paul’s words to the Church have little to do with our tradition of natives and settlers sharing a meal of fellowship.

Paul is reminding us to order life in God’s Purpose.

(he is reminding us that the Home Run life is living in the fruit of God’s grace and purpose:

Say to your neighbor: I am Thankful God. I am thankful for God.

• It is because of God, that we HAVE a share in Christ’s inheritance.
• It is because Christ has rescued us from sin and death,
• It is through Christ that we are children of light and 
• It is through Christ that we are co-heirs of God’s kingdom.
• It is Jesus that we give thanks.

Remind Your Neighbor of Paul’s words to the church: I am thankful for Jesus

• Jesus who makes God visible and approachable to God,
• It is because of God’s Power who has 
• authority and power above all other things.
• It is because God has created all things for God’s purpose,
• The cause to give thanks is that even though God who is the author of all things, has created us for God’s purposes, for God’s order. God’s order is through the church. 

Tell another neighbor: I am thankful God purpose include us in the church

• God is the head of the body
• God is the beginning of the purpose
• God is the author of life.
• God who is all this, places God’s own self into Jesus who then sacrifices himself for us.

As Christians, we are to take every day to GIVE GOD THANKS, but on this holiday of THANKSGIVING, we witness to the world about what God has done and is doing in the world.

Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang recall our national heritage of breaking bread and giving thanks because of the fruitful work of cooperation and teamwork. And we can “KEEP” the tradition going for another generation and NEVER mention the PRIMARY reasons we have to be THANKFUL AND GIVE THANKS.

Tell your neighbor there is a difference between BEING Thankful and GIVING Thanks.

“There is a difference between BEING Thankful and GIVING Thanks.

When acknowledging all the things, people and opportunities we have we are tempted to highlight only what we have done or to

highlight what others have done, but 

BUT, as PEOPLE of JESUS CHRIST

Paul is reminding us to ALWAY be GIVING Thanks to God.

What does that mean in every day life and 

how Does this make our Holiday different from a national tradition.

IT IS A THIRD BASES activity. To use our Home Run Life model.

We are taking the context of a National Holiday and to REMIND one another and to 

WITNESS to the WORLD, that God is the FIRST recipient of our THANKS and PRAISE

• GIVE our Praise to God
• GIVE credit to God
• GIVE Christ the appreciation

Actively connect the skills, relationships, opportunities we have as gifts from GOD.

• And then has God is at work in the others in our lives

And then as God is work in our blessings and labors

Therefore for us, as the church and the people of Jesus Christ

May we use this occasion to teach the nation, the world and one another

• that would not be the people we are without God
• we would not have to peace and love without Christ
• we would not have purpose, power, and plan without God’s Holy Spirit.

This is the difference in REMEMBERING history, tradition, and values, and LIVING, modeling and thriving in the authority of God, the love of Christ and power of the Spirit.

Tonight we gather to give thanks as a church family

This week we gather with others to give thanks

my invitation to you, through Paul’s words,

• it to make it about all about God, make all about Jesus, make it all about the church
• and we will not only show our love and praise to God
• We will teach the world the Good News and WHY we are Thankful.

Give it all to God

Tell you neighbor :  “I am all in for God.”  I AM ALL IN,