Building an Altar of Thanksgiving: Embracing God's Love
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound theme of thanksgiving through Psalm 136, focusing on how to build an altar of thanksgiving in our lives. We began by acknowledging the various barriers that prevent us from giving thanks daily, such as busyness, distraction, entitlement, and bitterness. Psalm 136, a liturgical hymn sung by the Israelites, serves as a powerful reminder of God's steadfast love and His enduring faithfulness. The psalmist repeatedly declares, "For His steadfast love endures forever," emphasizing the importance of this truth in our lives.
We delved into three key truths to help us build an altar of thanksgiving. First, we must repeat the refrain, "God's steadfast love endures forever," to remind our souls of this foundational truth. This repetition helps us internalize God's infinite love, making it a second-nature response in both good times and bad. Second, we recount God's character and give thanks. By remembering God's mighty works as Creator, Deliverer, Identity Giver, and Provider, we anchor our faith in His unchanging nature. Lastly, we must receive God's love intentionally. Knowing God's love on a theological level is different from experiencing it deeply in our spirits. We must open our hearts to receive His love, allowing it to transform us.
In recounting God's character, we see that He is the Creator of all things, the Deliverer who rescues us from sin, the Identity Giver who defines our worth, and the Provider who meets our needs. These attributes of God are not just historical facts but present realities that shape our lives. We are encouraged to live in a Christ-centered community where we can declare these truths over one another, especially in times of struggle.
The sermon concluded with a call to action: to be more intentional in building an altar of thanksgiving by repeating the refrain, recounting God's character, and receiving His love. This practice will help us stand on a firm foundation of God's love, even when the world around us is chaotic and uncertain.
### Key Takeaways
1. Repeat the Refrain: God's Steadfast Love Endures Forever
- Repeating the truth of God's steadfast love helps internalize it, making it a second-nature response in both good and challenging times. This repetition stabilizes us, reminding us of God's unchanging love in an ever-changing world. [06:13]
2. Recount God's Character and Give Thanks
- By remembering God's mighty works as Creator, Deliverer, Identity Giver, and Provider, we anchor our faith in His unchanging nature. This act of remembrance helps us build a life of thanksgiving, rooted in the truth of who God is. [12:36]
3. Receive God's Love Intentionally
- Knowing God's love on a theological level is different from experiencing it deeply in our spirits. We must open our hearts to receive His love, allowing it to transform us and shape our identity in Christ. [29:27]
4. Live in a Christ-Centered Community
- Being part of a Christ-centered community allows us to declare God's truths over one another, especially in times of struggle. This mutual encouragement helps us stand firm in our identity as beloved children of God. [19:04]
5. Embrace an Eternal Perspective
- God's provision is not always about prosperity but about His presence and eternal promises. We must trust in His eternal perspective, knowing that He will finish what He started and redeem all things for those who profess Jesus. [20:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:58] - Introduction and Loaded Question
[01:49] - Psalm 107:1 and Thanksgiving
[02:43] - Psalm 136 and Congregational Participation
[03:26] - Theological Truths from Psalm 136
[04:29] - God's Supremacy and Modern Idols
[05:27] - Three Truths for Building an Altar of Thanksgiving
[06:13] - Repeat the Refrain: God's Steadfast Love
[07:14] - The Power of Repetition
[08:00] - Depth of God's Love
[08:58] - Stabilizing Truth in Chaos
[09:42] - God's Love is Like Sand
[10:15] - God's Love Never Quits
[11:01] - Recount God's Character and Give Thanks
[12:36] - Acts of Remembrance
[14:16] - God's Character: Creator and Deliverer
[15:49] - God's Character: Identity Giver
[17:28] - Our Identity in Christ
[19:04] - Importance of Christ-Centered Community
[20:43] - God's Provision and Eternal Perspective
[22:21] - God of Heaven and Eschatological Hope
[23:56] - Building a Life of Thanksgiving
[25:14] - Personal Story: Lost Wedding Ring
[27:50] - Recounting God's Character
[29:27] - Receiving God's Love
[32:17] - Testimony of God's Love
[33:41] - Call to Action and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Psalm 136:1-26 (ESV)
- John 3:16 (ESV)
- Galatians 3:29 (ESV)
### Observation Questions
1. What is the repeated refrain in Psalm 136, and how many times is it mentioned? ([06:13])
2. According to the sermon, what are the four attributes of God highlighted in Psalm 136? ([14:16])
3. How does the sermon describe the Israelites' use of Psalm 136 in their worship practices? ([02:43])
4. What analogy does the pastor use to describe God's love, and what does it signify? ([09:42])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is the repetition of the phrase "God's steadfast love endures forever" significant for the Israelites and for us today? ([06:13])
2. How does recounting God's character help us build a life of thanksgiving, according to the sermon? ([12:36])
3. What does it mean to receive God's love intentionally, and how is this different from merely knowing it theologically? ([29:27])
4. How does living in a Christ-centered community support our understanding and experience of God's love? ([19:04])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. What are some specific barriers that prevent you from giving thanks regularly? How can you address these barriers? ([00:58])
2. Think of a time when you experienced God's steadfast love during a challenging situation. How did this experience shape your faith? ([08:58])
3. How can you incorporate the practice of repeating the refrain "God's steadfast love endures forever" into your daily life? ([06:13])
4. Identify one attribute of God (Creator, Deliverer, Identity Giver, Provider) that you need to focus on this week. How can you remind yourself of this attribute daily? ([14:16])
5. In what ways can you be more intentional about receiving God's love? Are there specific actions or practices you can adopt to open your heart more fully to His love? ([29:27])
6. How can you support and encourage others in your Christ-centered community to remember and declare God's truths, especially during times of struggle? ([19:04])
7. Reflect on your current perspective on God's provision. How can you shift your focus from material prosperity to trusting in God's presence and eternal promises? ([20:43])
Devotional
Day 1: Internalize God's Steadfast Love
Repeating the truth of God's steadfast love helps internalize it, making it a second-nature response in both good and challenging times. This repetition stabilizes us, reminding us of God's unchanging love in an ever-changing world. By continually declaring, "God's steadfast love endures forever," we anchor our hearts in a truth that transcends our circumstances. This practice is not just about rote memorization but about embedding a divine truth deep within our souls, so it becomes our default response in every situation. [06:13]
Psalm 136:1-3 (ESV): "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever."
Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you remind yourself of God's steadfast love in this situation today?
Day 2: Remember and Give Thanks for God's Character
By remembering God's mighty works as Creator, Deliverer, Identity Giver, and Provider, we anchor our faith in His unchanging nature. This act of remembrance helps us build a life of thanksgiving, rooted in the truth of who God is. Reflecting on God's character and His past faithfulness provides a solid foundation for our present and future. It shifts our focus from our problems to His power, from our needs to His sufficiency. [12:36]
Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV): "Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"
Reflection: Take a moment to write down three specific ways God has shown His faithfulness in your life. How can these memories help you trust Him more today?
Day 3: Experience God's Love Deeply
Knowing God's love on a theological level is different from experiencing it deeply in our spirits. We must open our hearts to receive His love, allowing it to transform us and shape our identity in Christ. This involves moving beyond intellectual assent to a heartfelt embrace of God's love, letting it permeate every aspect of our being. When we truly receive God's love, it changes how we see ourselves and others, leading to a life marked by grace and gratitude. [29:27]
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to feel God's love? Ask God to help you experience His love more deeply in those areas today.
Day 4: Engage in Christ-Centered Community
Being part of a Christ-centered community allows us to declare God's truths over one another, especially in times of struggle. This mutual encouragement helps us stand firm in our identity as beloved children of God. Community provides a space where we can remind each other of God's promises, share our burdens, and celebrate His faithfulness together. It is in this shared life that we find strength, support, and a deeper understanding of God's love. [19:04]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your community can you encourage today with a reminder of God's love and faithfulness? How can you intentionally build deeper connections within your Christ-centered community?
Day 5: Trust in God's Eternal Perspective
God's provision is not always about prosperity but about His presence and eternal promises. We must trust in His eternal perspective, knowing that He will finish what He started and redeem all things for those who profess Jesus. This trust involves surrendering our limited understanding and embracing God's greater plan, even when it doesn't align with our immediate desires. It is a call to live with an eternal mindset, focusing on God's ultimate purposes rather than temporary circumstances. [20:43]
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God's eternal perspective more? How can you shift your focus from temporary challenges to His eternal promises today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "In an ever-changing world, we give thanks for God's unchanging love. And as we learn about the psalm today, I'm going to just give you three truths. Three truths that you can build an altar of thanksgiving in your own life. And the first one is this. We need to repeat the refrain. God's steadfast love endures forever." [05:27] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God's love is like sand. How many went to the beach this summer? Okay, guys, we live so close. I want to see more hands next time. But you go to the beach and the sand gets in between your toes and you go for a walk and there's just a trail of sand and it gets in your car and it's on your hair. It's in your dog's hair. It's in the rug. It's in the sheets. Like you just can't get rid of this sand. That is God's love. It is everywhere, all encompassing. You can't escape it, and it's never ending." [09:42] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The crux of the Christian message is God is love. We get to be receivers of this love. And I love that the message paraphrase version is, So the ESV, God's steadfast love endures forever. The paraphrase version of the Psalmist text says this. God's love never quits. It never quits. So as we repeat this refrain, we repeat this truth over our lives. God's love never quits." [10:15] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So in our ever-changing world, we give thanks to an unchanging God. And like I said, knowing His love and receiving it, two different things. We might know it on a theological level. But do we know it? Have we experienced it within the depths of our soul and our spirit? So we build this altar of thanksgiving. We repeat the refrain. His love endures forever." [11:59] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So sometimes we just need that physical reminder. God loves me. So we brought cute little bracelets for you guys on the way out. You can grab one at the door and it just says, Jesus loves me. And when you go about your day, I just want you to look on that and reflect upon the simple truth. And I think every time we reflect upon that truth, we go just a little deeper with the Lord." [32:17] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So what we're going to do with this text is prayerfully consider what are the theological truths that I can pull out from this text and apply to my life. And my situation. All right? So looking at the psalm, the leader would say it, and then the congregants would repeat the refrain. So you are going to say, For his steadfast love endures forever." [03:26] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So our thoughts, they begin to shape our ethics, our decisions, our morals, our relationships, just the whole of our life. So when chaos comes into a certain situation or when things feel a little uncertain or you have the greatest success in all the land, you need to be stabilized. You need to be stabilized with the theological truth that God's steadfast love endures forever. And every other truth of who God is is rooted in that truth that God is love." [08:58] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So understanding that passage, as we recount God's character, we give thanks because God is creator. He is creator, and the psalmist is praising God and his mighty works. And then the next portion of scripture, verses 10 through 20, I'll just paraphrase it for us. We just talked about it. But basically, the psalmist writes about the Exodus, talking about the plagues and how the Israelites leave Egypt, they cross the Red Sea, and God defeated two kings. So we give thanks because God is creator, and we give thanks because God is deliverer. He is our deliverer." [14:16] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So in biblical history, the granting of this land fulfills the promises that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is an extremely significant moment within church history. And scholar Sandra Richer, she's an Old Testament scholar, she says that, she calls this covenant framework. Basically, she just says, this is where God has promised the Israelites people, place, and his presence. And we see all that in the biblical events that that unfolds." [15:49] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So we build this altar of thanksgiving. We repeat the refrain. His love endures forever. Here's the second part. We recount God's character and we give thanks. So this is the acts of remembrance. So if you, so, okay. We already read three of the verses. Did you see what was repeated outside of God's love endures forever? Give thanks. Give thanks. Give thanks. Give thanks. Give thanks as the psalmist wrote this four times throughout Psalms 136. And the last verse says it again. Give thanks." [12:36] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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