Sermon Tone Analysis

Expressions of Thanksgiving

We are to give thanks IN all circumstances.

This doesn’t mean that we must give thanks FOR all circumstances, because not everything that happens to us in life is a good thing.

We are to give thanks IN all circumstances.

This doesn’t mean that we must give thanks FOR all circumstances, because not everything that happens to us in life is a good thing.

We are to give thanks IN all circumstances.

This doesn’t mean that we must give thanks FOR all circumstances, because not everything that happens to us in life is a good thing.

For example, it’s hard to give thanks when a loved one passes away.

That is a heart-wrenching time, but we can give thanks if our loved one is in Christ or is a Christian.

That makes their passing somewhat bearable.

So, in all circumstances we must somehow find a way to give thanks to God.

There is something for which to be thankful in every circumstance of life if we will look for it.

ILL.- Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit.

He always found something for which to be grateful.

One Sunday morning the weather was so bad that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won’t think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this."

Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God, that the weather is not always like this." Yes, if nothing else, during bad situations in life we can be thankful that they will eventually pass.

And, of course, normally when we think of giving thanks, we think of giving thanks for our meals.

ILL.-

The preacher asked the little girl at church, “Do you say a prayer before you eat your meals?”

She replied, “No, we don’t do that because mom’s a good cook.”

If your mom is a good cook then perhaps you don’t need to give thanks for the food or ask God’s blessing on it.

Is that right?

No, I don’t think so.

I think all the food that God gives us (good, bad or otherwise) should be received with thanksgiving.

Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving!

Does this mean we can eat anything?

The Reason for Thanksgiving

Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving!

Does this mean we can eat anything?

Our food is consecrated by prayer!

Or perhaps by the prayer of thanksgiving.

Consecrated.

Meaning what?

To consecrate something is to make it sacred.

Does praying over our food make it sacred?

Could be.

At least, we should give thanks for whatever we have and ask God to bless it and make it useful to us, give us energy, etc.

Does this work for junk food too?

When we pray and give thanks for our food, it may be as we’ve heard it prayed before: that we ask God to bless our food to our bodies and then our bodies to His service.

I believe there is something to that since we all are supposed to serve the Lord and we need physical energy to be able to do that.

I think it’s always right to give thanks for everything good in life and ask God’s blessing on it whether it’s food, our work, our lives, our loved ones, our ministries, etc.

The book of Psalms is full of praise to God.

We can learn from the Psalms and from David who penned many of the Psalms.

PROP.-

The book of Psalms gives us more insight into our expressions of thanksgiving.

1- The reason for thanksgiving

2- The place of thanksgiving

3- The way of thanksgiving

The Reason for Thanksgiving

ILL.-

A little boy was softly saying his night prayers kneeling by his Mother.

"Say your prayers louder, darling, I can’t hear you," said little Johnny’s Mother.

"But I’m not talking to you" was the instant reply.

The Place of Thanksgiving

ILL.-

A little boy was softly saying his night prayers kneeling by his Mother.

"Say your prayers louder, darling, I can’t hear you," said little Johnny’s Mother.

"But I’m not talking to you" was the instant reply.

The God of heaven should always be the object of our prayers.

The reason for thanksgiving is because of who God is!

No matter what other gods people have, HE IS THE GOD OF GODS!

He is a better God!

He is the best God because He is actually the only God there is! Consequently, how can we not be thankful to Him?! It’s just totally unthinkable to not give thanks to the God who created us and gives every good and perfect gift to us!

We would be nothing and we would have nothing were it not for Him! It’s a shameful thing to not give thanks to Him and do it often!

No matter what other gods people have, HE IS THE GOD OF GODS!

He is a better God!

He is the best God because He is actually the only God there is! Consequently, how can we not be thankful to Him?! It’s just totally unthinkable to not give thanks to the God who created us and gives every good and perfect gift to us!

We would be nothing and we would have nothing were it not for Him! It’s a shameful thing to not give thanks to Him and do it often!

The Place of Thanksgiving

How would you parents feel if your kids never said, “Thank you” to you for the things you do for them or give them?

- Someone has well said, “An ingrate is neither ‘in’ nor ‘great.’”

- “Giving thanks is a course from which we never graduate.”

If we’re smart, the older we get, the more we’ll give thanks!

- “If you have nothing to be thankful for, make up your mind that there is something wrong with you!” AMEN!

ILL.-

A Sunday School asked her class of little children what they were thankful for.

One little boy said, “I’m thankful for my glasses.”

He went on, “They keep the boys from fighting with me and the girls from kissing me.”

We all have something or many things for which we should be thankful and the biggest of all is our great God and Father!

ILL.-

The owner of a large department store offered a prize of $5,000 to the one giving the best answer to the question: “How can my business be most speedily and surely improved?”

Many people submitted different lengthy answers.

Roy McCardell received a check for $5,000 for simply writing on a postal card, “Tell your clerks to say ‘Thank you!’ ”

The Place of Thanksgiving

ILL.-

The owner of a large department store offered a prize of $5,000 to the one giving the best answer to the question: “How can my business be most speedily and surely improved?”

Many people submitted different lengthy answers.

Roy McCardell received a check for $5,000 for simply writing on a postal card, “Tell your clerks to say ‘Thank you!’ ”

I don’t know if saying thank you will improve the retail business but it won’t hurt it either.

We’ve all been checked out by people who never said thank you, get out of here or anything.

I do know, however, that the one big thing that could improve our standing with God is having an overflowing appreciation to Him for who He is and what He’s done for us!

No one.

No one gives thanks to God too much, but we should try!

The Place of Thanksgiving

Where do you give thanks the most?

At the dinner table?

At other times?

At other places?

The Way of Thanksgiving

Among the throngs of people I will praise you.