Series: Life With the King
Sermon: Kingdom Thanksgiving
Scripture: John 11:41
Date: November 25, 2018
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me." (John 11:41)
Americans are most #thankful for...
- You
- Life
- People
- Family
- Everything
- Love
- Friends
- Everyone
- Today
- God
Being thankful is:
- Good for your brain
- Decreases pain levels
- Better sleep
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Increases energy
- Improves relationships
- Makes you happier
- Strengthens relationships
WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Spend some time in your alone time with Jesus this week thanking Him for the things that a non-believer cannot thank Him for.
Let's look at three reasons why God's kingdom gives us a reason to be a grateful people:
- There is a Master who is in control
- Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me." (John 11:40-41)
- Here are two important reasons to be grateful for our Master who is in control:
- He can do something about the situation.
- Many times how we respond to something is more important than what happens to us. Will we give thanks or grow angry? Will we be grateful or grumble?
- He can do something in you.
- God works by faith.
- Your hard stuff can make you better or bitter. It depends on your reaction to it.
- There is a misery that courts
- What will you do instead of giving thanks to God? Instead of being grateful to God?
- For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-24)
- There is a mission that continues
- "American Christianity is messed up. We forget that Jesus is the prize, that reigning with Him and being with Him is the reward." -Terrence Jones
- What you do today counts.
- We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
- It matters to Jesus that you do them and how you do them.
- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV)