Andrew Fountain - Celebrating Thanksgiving

  • We start with the origins of our Thanksgiving Day,
  • work through the kind of things Jesus gave thanks for,
  • and look briefly at modern discoveries of how thanksgiving changes your brain.
  • Then we do it!

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Sermon Outline - Celebrating Thanksgiving

Goal:

To help and enourage the practice of being thankful, and giving thanks to God.

Celebrating Thankgiving

  1. The Origins of Thanksgiving Day
  2. Gratitude is Good for you (very good)
  3. What to give thanks for?
  4. Practical Suggestions for growing in Thankfulness

Martin Frobisher’s ship stuck in ice

Martin Frobisher's ship stuck in ice

Leviticus 23 – Festival of Booths

  1. “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a complete rest, and on the eighth day shall be a complete rest.
  2. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
  3. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
  4. You shall live in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall live in booths,

Psalm 118

  1. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good
    and his loyal love endures forever!
  2. Let Israel say,
    “Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
  3. Let the family of Aaron say,
    “Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
  4. Let the loyal followers of the LORD say,
    “Yes, his loyal love endures forever!”
    •  
  5. In my distress I cried out to the LORD.
    The LORD answered me and put me in a wide open place.
  6. The LORD is on my side, I am not afraid!
    What can people do to me?
  7. The LORD is on my side as my helper.
    I look in triumph on those who hate me.
    •  
  8. It is better to take shelter in the LORD
    than to trust in people.
  9. It is better to take shelter in the LORD
    than to trust in princes.
  10. The LORD gives me strength and protects me;
    he has become my deliverer.”
  11. They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly.
    The LORD’s right hand conquers,
  12. I will give you thanks, for you answered me,
    and have become my deliverer.
  13. The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.
  14. This is the LORD’s work.
    We consider it amazing!
  15. This is the day the LORD has brought about.
    We will be happy and rejoice in it.
  16. Please LORD, deliver!
    Please LORD, grant us success!
  17. You are my God and I will give you thanks!
    You are my God and I will praise you!
  18. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good
    and his loyal love endures forever!

based on NET Bible with some changes by amf


2. Gratitude is Good for you (very good)

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

_The Happiness Advantage_ by Shawn Achor

B. Thankfulness makes us healthier.

  • 16% fewer physical symptoms
  • 10% less physical pain
  • 8% more sleep, with improved quality
  • Depressive symptoms reduced 30%
  • Blood pressure reduction
  • Even studies that suggested an increase in lifespan

C. Thankfulness helps us socially

  • Studies have shown that increasing thankfulness has the results:
  • More Friendly
  • Better Marriage
  • More Respect
  • More Friends
  • Deeper Relationships

D. Numerous other benefits

  • Personality
    • More Optimistic
    • More Self-Esteem
  • Emotional
    • More Resilience
    • More Good Feeling
    • Less Depression
  • Career success

3. What to give thanks for?

What did Jesus do?

Grace - 1918 photo by Enstrom

Grace - 1918 photo by Enstrom

Image source: Eric Enstrom

4. Practical Suggestions for growing in Thankfulness

_The Happiness Advantage_ by Shawn Achor

_The Happiness Advantage_ by Shawn Achor

2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Updated on 2020-10-05 by Andrew Fountain