On Being Thanksgivers (outline)

Max Fernandez

Thanksgiving • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

Colossians 3:15–17

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Transcript

Handout

Introduction:

There are really only two kinds of Thanksgivers. There are those who give thanks as a form of ritual or good practice only. These are those who may see thanksgiving as purely an “attitude of gratitude”.

The second kind of thanksgiver is the one who offers thanksgiving because it is the fruit, the product, the offspring of union with Christ.

Illustration: The difference is the same as that between potted flowers and cut flowers.

The danger with thanksgiving is that both of these often look the same in practice, but one kind of thanksgiver will lead to eternal death and hell while the other kind of thanksgiver will continue to strengthen unto full maturity in eternity.

“Which kind of thanksgiver are you or do you aspire to be?”

The book of Colossians is written by someone who seems to have the least to be thankful for, yet he writes multiple times about thanksgiving. The Apostle Paul is in prison when he writes this letter, but notice Colossians 1:3, 12, 2:6-7, 3:15-17.

Paul’s point in writing this letter is found in Colossians 2:6-7. Because of a mix of Jewish and pagan religion there were Christians who were being tempted to begin relying upon prior practices to find completeness with God.

In response to this, Paul teaches that Jesus is the original Creator, and that through union with Himself, Jesus has begun the new Creation. In Christ, the Colossian Christians are complete (Colossians 2:10).

Among the many things Paul exhorts the Colossians to understand about their Union with Christ, he tells them to be thankful. Colossians 3:15.

We need this same exhortation today because, both outside the church and especially inside the church, thanksgiving has been made to simply be an attitude of gratitude, but the Bible teaches us different.

Prop: So, Today, will you be a biblical Thanksgiver?!?

Paul gives three consecutive verses that describe for us something a Thanksgiving Community.

Preview: (I) Thanksgivers are a Community of Unity - Colossians 3:15, (II) Thanksgivers are a Throng of Song - Colossians 3:16, (III) Thanksgivers are a Congregation of Invocation - Colossians 3:17

(I) Thanksgivers are a Community of Unity - Colossians 3:15

“15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

(a) A Call to Peace. Union is the root.

(b) The discipline of Thanksgiving is the fruit.

(d) Quotes:

John Owen, Union with Christ is the principle and measure of all spiritual enjoyments and expectations [Beeke, A Puritan Theology, p. 483]

Thomas Goodwin, Being in Christ, and united to him, is the fundamental constitution of the Christian.” [Ibid, 483].

Beeke, Union is the basis and great means by which God applies all blessings...”

(e) Doctrine of Union with Christ

Union with Christ is a phrase used to summarize several different relationships between believers and Christ, through which Christians receive every benefit of salvation. These relationships include the fact that we are in Christ, Christ is in us, we are like Christ, and we are with Christ. - Grudem,

Illustration: Grafted Apple Trees. You cannot produce the fruit, if you are detached from the root. Better, you cannot be a fruit-bearing branch if you are detached from the vine.

(f) Doctrine of Union with One Another (two-way peace) - Colossians 3:8-9.

App:

Are you truly in union with Christ? Are you at peace with God and others? Colossians 2:12-15.

(I) Descriptively: Thanksgivers are a Community of Unity

(II) Thanksgivers are a Throng of Song - Colossians 3:16

“16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

(a) Congregation is the habitation of Christ.

(b) Not just place of God’s verbal communication.

(d) We welcome God’s presence through word-hospitality. (preaching, singing, praying, and reading God’s Word).

(e) Particularly - Psalm singing (Psalm 65, 76)

(f) Thanksgiving is the context (grace)

App:

The test of a congregational song is not whether it motivates you. The test is whether it is a biblically-credible, theologically-rich, thought-provoking, gospel-clarifying, affection-expressing, congregationally-appropriate song of the word of Christ.

Do you expect your congregational singing to have the same affect on you as your car-ride music, gym music, easy-listening music?

Let the scripture, and not your misguided nostalgic emotions, shape your expectations.

(I) Descriptively, a community of unity

(II) A throng of song

(III) Thanksgivers are a Congregation of Invocation - Colossians 3:17

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

(a) Ambassador language - as Jesus as Lord - Lordship language

(b) Language of prayer - through him

This collective thanksgiving is the context here in Colossians. To let others hear your thanksgiving (1) encourages them to do so and (2) confirms that no one is above the kindnesses received in Christ from the Father.

App:

Are you humble enough to give thanks to God, in front of others, through Christ?

Illustration: Isn’t this really the test of Peter?

Conclusion:

(IV) Response

As I said at the beginning, there are only two kinds of thanksgivers. There are those who do so just out of form or good practice. It is not rooted in Union with Jesus. Then, there are those who do so because of Union with Jesus.

How is it that Christ became the one through whom we can now offer thanksgiving?

He was the perfect ThanksGiver [(1) When He fed thousands, (2) when the Father hid spiritual truths from wise and made them known to babes, (3) when the Father heard him at the tomb of Lazarus, and (4) AT THE LAST SUPPER - Matthew 26:27].

Jesus went to the Cross with Thanksgiving on his lips. For what kind of people did Jesus go to the Cross? [II Timothy 3:1-2, Romans 1:21].

True thankfulness is impossible without Jesus Christ.

Thankfulness is a mere sentiment without Jesus Christ.

To the Christless person, when you die and spend eternity in Hell, people will not praise you for how good of a thanksgiver you were because in that moment, you will see how hollow your “attitude of gratitude” was.

Will you receive Jesus as your Lord today?

But for those who have Christ, you are in such a Union with Christ that the discipline of giving thanks to God is a fruit that will continue for all eternity.

So, put on thanksgiving!

Only two kinds of ThanksGivers: one who sees it as a good moral activity, a mere “attitude of gratitude” and the other who is a “Thanksgiver” by union with Christ, whose heart has been transformed and has the discipline of Thanksgiving as a fruit from the root.

Gospelize the community through Thanksgiving.

Ask, “Why are you thankful?” “What makes the thanksgiving of a true Christian different from a non-Christian?”

“Is it possible to be truly thankful to the one true God while simultaneously refusing God’s Son?” If not, encourage others to receive the Son, through whom they then can offer true thanksgiving.