CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to God for all His benefits.
TEXT:
Psalm 103:1-6, Thessalonians 5:18
INTRODUCTION
Simply put, thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude or gratefulness to someone especially to God. People have always given and continue to give thanks to God for whom He is and will continue to be.
The first thanksgiving recorded in scriptures was that of Cain and Abel but God rejected Cain’s. We are however, not told why God rejected Cain’s offering, but God who knows all secrets and saw something that displeased Him about Cain and his offering. He is not interested in our offerings alone, but in the totality of our being. He is interested in our motive or sincerity in whatever we do, even in thanksgiving.
The scriptures enjoin us to give thanks always. However, most congregations have adopted the practice of setting aside one day or more in the year in which their members and in most cases even non-members are expected to thank God apart from the daily expression of thanksgiving to God by the individual. Like the Psalmist says, it is a good thing to thank the Lord, but the worrisome thing about thanksgiving is the
way it is done among some today.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
1. To appreciate thanksgiving.
1. To examine reasons why we should give thanks.
2. To highlight reasons why we can express our gratitude to
God.
3. To understand what’s an acceptable thanksgiving.
4. To appreciate some benefits of thanksgiving.
BIBLE TRUTH
1. WHAT IS THANKSGIVING?
Thanks is to express gratitude to God. Reader’s Digest Illustrated Dictionary defines ‘gratitude’ as an appreciative awareness and thankfulness, as for a kindness shown or gift received. Therefore, thanksgiving is the expression of an inward conscious gratitude to God for mercies received. It should be voluntarily expressed for it to be a thanksgiving indeed.
Thanksgiving to God comes as a result to deliberate meditation on what God has done in the past.
2. WHY THANKSGIVING?
1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 100, 103:1-6; Luke 17:11-18
Psalm 100 tells us to remember God’s goodness and dependability, and then to worship with thanksgiving and praise. God is our creator, we did not create ourselves. Some people live as though they are the creator and center of their own little world. When we realize that God created us and gave us all we have, our lives will be an embodiment of gratitude to Him. God the Father allowed the Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins and by that we are saved today is enough to give thanks. Just close your eyes for a moment and ponder on the mercies of God, you will have reasons to appreciate His goodness and thank Him.
3. HOW SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS?
Exodus 25:1-2; Leviticus 22:29; Revelation 7:10-12; 2 Corinthians 9:6-9; 1 Chronicles 29:6-9
Thanksgiving should be done willingly from the heart. Whatever we do for the worship and service of God, should be done freely, and pleasantly for God loves a cheerful giver, 2 Corinthians 9:7. In the old
dispensation this was the standard and it cannot be less today. If people who were under the law willingly offered thanks to God we who are under grace should not do otherwise. When we consider such large blessings of grace the Lord has freely given to us though undeserving, we should in return give back to Him
willingly. It is important to do thanksgiving with a sincere heart and Godly motive, not grudgingly or under compulsion.
4. ACCEPTABLE THANKSGIVING.
2 Corinthians 8:5, 9:7; Leviticus 22:17-24; Malachi 1:7-9
What is acceptable to God is what is done according to His standard. No matter what man says or does if it’s not said and done according to His will, it is not acceptable. Similarly, one may come with boxes of money or great material things for thanksgiving, but if the heart is not right with God it is not acceptable to him, Matthew 5:23- 24; 1 John 3:14-15. Whatever is to be offered in sacrifice to God should be without blemish, otherwise, it cannot be accepted. The Almighty Father gave us an example, 1 Peter 1:18-19. The Lamb the Father offered for our redemption was without blemish. Thanksgiving sacrifices made from stolen or defrauded money is not acceptable to God though men may applaud us. The Lord sees the heart. Those who make vows they know that they will not redeem are unacceptable to the Lord no matter how huge the vow is; it is better not to vow than to vow and not redeem. Every giving should be without hypocrisy, must be free willed, with a cheerful and convinced heart. This is what makes an acceptable thanksgiving.
5. SOME WAYS WE CAN EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO GOD.
1 Chronicles 16:8-9; 2 Chronicles 35:9; Ezra 7:13- 23; Genesis 4:3-4
There are various ways we can express our gratitude to God. The value and quantity of what is used to give thanks to God varies from person to person. When the Red Sea parted for the children of Israel to pass through on dry land to safety, while the Egyptians perished in it, Miriam led other women to give thanks with a song, Exodus 15:20-21. The Leper that was healed came back and gave thanks to Jesus. “He fell
down at His feet” … put himself I the most humble, reverent posture he could, Luke 17:15-16. There can be no one particular way to offer thanks to the Lord; much depends on the giving thanks as long as it is from the heart and of one’s own will. Sometimes people try to wait for a more “convenient time” to offer thanks, this ought not to be so. Time may wear out the significance of the good the Lord has done. Take example from the Leper that returned immediately to give thanks.
6. BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING.
From 2 Corinthians 9:6- 15 and Luke 17:15-16, the class should highlight some of the benefits of thanksgiving.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
God loves thanksgiving and He is worthy to be thanked. Everyday should be for thanksgiving. However, the church does choose a day which is specially designated for congregational thanksgiving. Although like many other things, thanksgiving services have been abused, that does not change the need for and the importance of thanksgiving. We should notforget that all things must be done decently and in order. Let us therefore give thanks to our God with a grateful heart for indeed he has been good to us, this we cannot deny.
MEMORY VERSE
Psalm 105:1
“Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
Mon: Cain and Abel’s offering.
Genesis 4:1-16
Tue: Noah thanked God. Genesis
8:15-22
Wed: Don’t give a worthless offering.
2 Samuel 24:16-25
Thu: God rejects imperfect sacrifices.
Malachi 1:6-14
Fri: The grateful Leper.
Luke 17:11-19
Sat: God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-9