Thanksgiving: More Than a Holiday, A Lifestyle

When I look back over my life, my soul can’t help but cry out in gratitude for all that God has done for me. There is no God like our God—He has set us free, shown us mercy, and given us a reason to praise. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, it’s easy to get caught up in the traditions, the food, and the busyness, but let’s not lose sight of the true centerpiece: God Himself. The turkey on the table is not the reason we gather; it’s the God around the table who deserves our deepest thanks and praise.

Reflecting on the origins of Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims didn’t make the meal the focus. They had endured persecution, loss, and hardship, yet when God sent the harvest, they gathered to worship and give thanks—not for the abundance of food, but for the faithfulness and mercy of God. Their gratitude was born out of reflection, remembering God’s promises and His presence through every trial. We, too, are called to remember: “Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever.”

Sometimes, we let the pressures and distractions of life steal our gratitude. We fret over the details, just like we fret over the turkey, but God calls us to slow down, let our souls “cook” in His presence, and allow thanksgiving and praise to overflow from our hearts. It’s not about having everything perfect; it’s about recognizing that God has hemmed us in, laid His hand upon us, and delivered us from sin to righteousness. He knows us intimately, pursues us relentlessly, and never lets us go.

This Thanksgiving, let’s make it more than a holiday. Let’s make it a lifestyle—a daily posture of gratitude for who God is, for where He found us, and for how He has changed us. Let’s not just attend church or go through the motions, but truly make God the God of our house and our hearts. Whether you feel unfinished or still in the “cooking” process, trust that God is at work. He has chosen you, adopted you, and filled you with His love. Give thanks for the people around your table, but above all, give thanks for the God who is with you, who has never left you, and who is worthy of all our praise.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Make God the Centerpiece, Not the Tradition It’s easy to let traditions and details overshadow the true meaning of Thanksgiving. When we make God the focus—rather than the meal or the busyness—we experience deeper gratitude and joy. True thanksgiving flows from recognizing God’s presence and faithfulness, not from perfect circumstances or celebrations. [35:16]
• 2. Let Your Soul “Cook” in God’s Presence Just as a turkey needs time to cook, our souls need time to rest and soak in God’s presence. Don’t rush through life or your relationship with God. Slow down, turn off distractions, and allow gratitude and praise to rise from a heart that has spent time with Him. This is where transformation and true thanksgiving begin. [44:51]
• 3. Remember God’s Relentless Pursuit and Mercy God has searched us, known us, and hemmed us in with His love. Even when we ran, He pursued us, delivered us, and called us His own. Reflecting on His mercy and relentless pursuit should stir deep gratitude, reminding us that we are never forgotten or forsaken. [46:56]
• 4. Thanksgiving Is a Lifestyle, Not Just a Day Gratitude shouldn’t be reserved for a single holiday. When we make thanksgiving a daily practice—thanking God for who He is, what He’s done, and the people He’s placed in our lives—we cultivate a heart of worship and contentment that endures through every season. [51:45]
• 5. Move from Attending to Encountering God It’s not enough to simply attend church or go through religious motions. Like Jacob at Bethel, we must encounter God personally and make Him the God of our house and our hearts. This encounter transforms us, fills us with purpose, and gives us a reason to truly give thanks. [63:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:29] - Call to Worship and Praise
• [32:56] - Reflections on Gratitude
• [33:55] - The Enduring Mercy of God
• [35:16] - Thanksgiving No Turkey: The True Centerpiece
• [37:08] - The Pilgrims’ Purpose and Perspective
• [39:37] - A Misunderstood Message and Modern Thanksgiving
• [40:45] - Celebrating the God of the Holiday
• [42:06] - Pilgrims’ Praise Amid Hardship
• [43:39] - A Child’s Prophetic Word: Let It Cook
• [44:51] - Letting Your Soul Cook in God’s Presence
• [46:56] - God’s Relentless Pursuit and Knowledge
• [48:49] - Standing in Awe of God
• [50:27] - You Are Known and Chosen
• [51:45] - Thanksgiving as a Lifestyle
• [53:13] - You’ve Got a God, Not Just a Turkey
• [54:34] - Praise That Comes from the Soul
• [56:12] - The Liberty of the Holy Ghost
• [56:56] - Remembering Where God Found Us
• [58:36] - The Good Shepherd’s Pursuit
• [60:00] - Thankful for Truth and Adoption
• [62:32] - Jacob’s Encounters: From Luz to El Bethel
• [63:49] - Making God the God of Your House
• [66:34] - Responding to Struggles and God’s Invitation
• [68:34] - A Call to Real Change and Prayer
• [69:13] - God’s Breakthrough and Confidence

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Thanksgiving—No Turkey, Just God

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Bible Reading

Psalm 107:1 (ESV)
> Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 139:1, 5 (ESV)
> O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
> ...
> You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Luke 15:20-24 (ESV)
> And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

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Observation Questions

1. According to Psalm 107:1, what are the two main reasons given for giving thanks to the Lord?
2. In Psalm 139, what does it mean that God has “searched” us and “hemmed us in, behind and before”?
3. In the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), what was the father’s response when he saw his son returning home?
4. The sermon mentioned that the Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving was not about the abundance of food, but about God’s faithfulness and mercy. What hardships did they endure before giving thanks? [[37:08]]

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Interpretation Questions

1. The Psalmist says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” How does remembering God’s goodness and mercy change the way someone approaches Thanksgiving? [[32:56]]
2. The sermon talks about letting your soul “cook” in God’s presence instead of rushing through life. What does it look like for someone to “let it cook” spiritually? [[44:51]]
3. The story of the Prodigal Son shows a father running to embrace his lost child. How does this picture of God’s relentless pursuit and mercy affect the way a person sees their own story? [[58:36]]
4. The pastor said, “It’s not enough to simply attend church or go through religious motions. Like Jacob at Bethel, we must encounter God personally and make Him the God of our house and our hearts.” What is the difference between attending and truly encountering God? [[01:03:49]]

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Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to make God the centerpiece of our Thanksgiving, not the traditions or the meal. What is one practical way you can shift your focus from the details of the holiday to God Himself this week? [[35:16]]
2. The pastor shared a story about worrying over the turkey and a child saying, “If it needs to cook, let it cook.” Is there an area in your life where you are rushing or fretting instead of letting God work? What would it look like to “let it cook” and trust God’s timing? [[44:51]]
3. Sometimes, the busyness and stress of life can steal our gratitude. What is one distraction or pressure you need to set aside in order to spend more time in God’s presence and let thanksgiving overflow from your heart? [[40:45]]
4. The Pilgrims gave thanks in the middle of loss and hardship, not just abundance. Can you think of a time when you found it hard to be thankful? How did remembering God’s faithfulness help you in that season? [[42:06]]
5. The sermon said, “Thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not just a day.” What is one habit you can start this week to make gratitude a daily part of your life, not just something you do on holidays? [[51:45]]
6. The pastor talked about moving from just attending church to truly encountering God and making Him the God of your house. What is one step you can take to invite God more deeply into your home and your heart? [[01:03:49]]
7. The message reminded us to give thanks for the people around our table, but above all, for the God who is with us. Who is someone at your table (family, friends, church) you want to intentionally thank this week, and how will you do it? [[01:00:00]]

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