Embracing God's Love: A Call to Thankfulness
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the transformative power of God's love and mercy in the lives of believers. He acknowledges the loneliness that some may feel in their faith journey, but assures them that it is during these times that God carries them. The pastor encourages gratitude for God's love and mercy, highlighting that as sinners, we do not deserve reconciliation with the Father, but it is through God's mercy that we receive compassion and grace. He also emphasizes the significance of Jesus as the bridge that allows us to be reconciled and reunited with God. The pastor urges the congregation to be open and willing to share the gospel message with others, emphasizing the importance of putting on the nature of Jesus and proclaiming what God has done in their lives.
The pastor then discusses the importance of being thankful for salvation, deliverance, and blessings in our lives. He emphasizes that the people God puts in our lives are a blessing from Him, even if we may not always see it that way. The pastor directs the congregation to Psalm 100, which encourages them to shout with joy to the Lord, worship Him with gladness, and enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise. He prays for God to search their hearts and reveal anything that doesn't align with His word, so they can repent and make it right.
The pastor also emphasizes the universal reality of sin and the consequences it brings. He acknowledges that all of us are sinners and that the penalty for sin is death. However, he highlights the significance of knowing Jesus as a personal savior, as it brings mercy and salvation. The pastor addresses the potential confusion or disagreement with this concept, stating that even those who have not accepted Jesus can still benefit from God's mercy as long as they are alive.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of worshiping for an audience of one, regardless of the external factors such as music or the presence of a pastor. He encourages the congregation to lay their souls bare before Jesus, expressing gratitude for everything and acknowledging that God is the creator and shepherd of their lives. The pastor also highlights that God is not concerned with our ability, but rather our availability and desire to be alone with Him.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing the importance of thankfulness in all circumstances. He references 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, which encourages believers to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances, as it is God's will for them. The pastor mentions that November is a month where many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, a day set apart to give thanks and honor God. However, he acknowledges that it has become commonly known as "turkey day" and has lost its true meaning for some. The pastor suggests that during this time of the year, it is important to get back to the basics of Thanksgiving and reflect on God's blessings and kindness.
Key Takeaways:
- God's love and mercy are transformative in the lives of believers. Even in times of loneliness and desperation, God carries us. It is through His mercy that we receive compassion and grace, despite our sinful nature. We should be open and willing to share the gospel message with others, proclaiming what God has done in our lives. [12:45]
- Being thankful for salvation, deliverance, and blessings in our lives is crucial. The people God puts in our lives are a blessing from Him. We should enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise, and allow Him to search our hearts and reveal anything that doesn't align with His word. [24:30]
- All of us are sinners and the penalty for sin is death. However, knowing Jesus as a personal savior brings mercy and salvation. Even those who have not accepted Jesus can still benefit from God's mercy as long as they are alive. [36:15]
- Worshiping for an audience of one is important, regardless of the external factors such as music or the presence of a pastor. God is not concerned with our ability, but rather our availability and desire to be alone with Him. We should lay our souls bare before Jesus, expressing gratitude for everything and acknowledging that God is the creator and shepherd of our lives. [48:00]
- Being thankful in all circumstances is God's will for us. During Thanksgiving, it is important to get back to the basics and reflect on God's blessings and kindness. Despite the commercialization of the holiday, we should remember to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalms 100:1-5: "Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
3. 1 Corinthians 11:23-27: "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.' For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the specific actions the Psalmist encourages believers to do in Psalms 100:1-5?
2. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, what are the three commands given and how are they related to each other?
3. What is the significance of the bread and the cup in 1 Corinthians 11:23-27?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Psalms 100:1-5 reflect the transformative power of God's love and mercy?
2. How does 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 relate to the concept of being thankful in all circumstances?
3. How does 1 Corinthians 11:23-27 illustrate the significance of Jesus as the bridge that allows us to be reconciled and reunited with God?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's love and mercy in your life. How did it transform you? How can you share this experience with someone this week?
2. What is one situation in your life right now where it is challenging to be joyful and thankful? How can you apply 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in this situation?
3. How can you make your worship more personal and focused on God, rather than being influenced by external factors?
4. In the spirit of 1 Corinthians 11:23-27, how can you remember and proclaim Jesus' sacrifice in your daily life?
5. As we approach Thanksgiving, how can you ensure that you maintain the true spirit of the holiday and reflect on God's blessings and kindness?
Devotional
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Day 1: Embracing the Transformative Power of God's Love
God's love and mercy have the power to transform our lives. Even in times of loneliness and desperation, we are not alone; God carries us. His mercy grants us compassion and grace, despite our sinful nature. We are called to share the gospel message with others, proclaiming the transformative work God has done in our lives. [12:45]
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's transformative love in your life. How can you share this experience with someone else today?
Day 2: Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude
Gratitude for salvation, deliverance, and blessings is crucial in our spiritual journey. The people God places in our lives are a blessing from Him. We are encouraged to enter His presence with thanksgiving and praise, allowing Him to search our hearts and reveal anything that doesn't align with His word. [24:30]
Colossians 3:15 - "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you are thankful for today? How can you express your gratitude to them?
Day 3: Acknowledging Our Sinfulness and God's Mercy
We are all sinners, and the penalty for sin is death. However, knowing Jesus as a personal savior brings mercy and salvation. Even those who have not accepted Jesus can still benefit from God's mercy as long as they are alive. [36:15]
Ezekiel 18:32 - "For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are struggling with sin? How can you seek God's mercy in this area today?
Day 4: Worshiping with Authenticity and Availability
Worshiping for an audience of one is important, regardless of the external factors such as music or the presence of a pastor. God is not concerned with our ability, but rather our availability and desire to be alone with Him. We should lay our souls bare before Jesus, expressing gratitude for everything and acknowledging that God is the creator and shepherd of our lives. [48:00]
John 4:24 - "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Reflection: How can you make yourself more available to God in your daily life? What does authentic worship look like for you?
Day 5: Being Thankful in All Circumstances
Being thankful in all circumstances is God's will for us. During Thanksgiving, it is important to get back to the basics and reflect on God's blessings and kindness. Despite the commercialization of the holiday, we should remember to always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances. [59:30]
1 Chronicles 16:34 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Reflection: What is one circumstance in your life that you find difficult to be thankful for? How can you find joy and gratitude in this situation today?
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Quotes
"Friends can I tell you that it's the times when we're the loneliest, it's the times when we're the most desperate, it's the times when we feel like we're alone that God himself carries us." [45:34]
"Grace is getting what we don't deserve... God in His Grace has given us a bridge, he's made a way to the cross through Jesus and crosses the canyon of sin so that we can be reconciled and reunited with him." [46:52]
"The people that God puts in our lives are a blessing from God... maybe you're there to be a blessing in their life." ([28:44])
"Because of what Jesus did on calvary's tree I can be thankful that because his body was broken I could understand what healing is and as I look around the room and as I know different people who aren't here because of sickness and I know what happens we live in a fallen world yet because of what Christ did on Calvary we can ask and we can believe God for our healing and I'm so thankful for that scripture says without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin." #!!52:26!!#
"Whether we've got canned music or YouTube videos or Kim's up here or nobody's up here... none of that should matter. We should be worshiping for an audience of one and laying our souls bare and saying, 'Jesus, here I am, God, thank you for everything.'" #!!38:38!!#
"God's not looking for our ability as much as he's looking for our availability and our desire to just be alone with him." #!!39:22!!#
"But imagine that one sin and God says that you lose because if the penalty for sin is death that's what we deserve right but if we've accepted Christ as our savior if we've received God's Gift of Eternal Mercy not because we deserved it not because we're good enough not because we could work at it it's because of who God is then people who haven't received that as long as they're still on this side of Eternity they have the opportunity to be a recipient a recipient of that same Mercy because Jesus didn't go to calvary's tree for an exclusive group of people he came so that none should be lost." #!!35:44!!#
"We have to be thankful that his love saves us. There is nothing that you and I can do to what was done on Calvary to add to it or take from it. He loved us enough that he ransomed all of Heaven itself that his son took our place on Calvary tree." (#!!43:41!!#)
"Always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." #!!22:40!!#
"I thought that at this time of the year especially how fast this year is gone that we should take some time and just really get back to the basics of Thanksgiving." #!!24:49!!#
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