Historical Posts
Be Thankful
Recognise your blessings and be thankful.
Paul wrote: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Genuine gratitude must be expressed. When we are truly grateful, we cannot help but say so. But, often we don’t say “thank you” enough. Be thankful and express it.
We should be thankful to parents for the love, nurture and direction they gave to us as we developed into mature adults. We should be thankful to teachers who patiently taught us the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic, the building blocks of education. We should be thankful to loving mates who have stood by us through thick and thin offering encouragement and support. We should be thankful to employers for the opportunity to work and provide for our families.
We should give thanks for the “little things” without which we could not survive. Are you thankful for the air you breathe? The sunshine? The rain? The changing of the seasons? Rather than complain about the weather, we should stop to give thanks.
We should be thankful for the people who have blessed and enriched our lives. It may have been a simple smile or an encouraging word, but it made a difference. Did we give thanks?
Most of all, we should be thankful to God who is the giver of all. For “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). As Paul also wrote: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of God? Of who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever” (Romans 11:33-36 KJV).
We are ever in His debt. We should give thanks daily for His blessings! This nation may pause once a year to express thanksgiving, but those who truly understand will not let a day pass without giving thanks to God.
Are you thankful? Would you like to know more about His blessings?
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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More Thankful
Decide To Be More Thankful – With Thanksgiving, Let Your Requests Be Made Known To God
Many years ago I heard a story about two young men riding a motor cycle up a hill when the motor suddenly died. At that very moment a truck crested the hill headed straight for them. It was clear the truck would not be able to stop, and they had no time to get out of its path. One of the boys screamed at the other, “Pray, John, Pray!” But John shouted back, “I don’t know how to pray!” “Just say what your dad always says when he prays,” his friend cried. And so John prayed, “Lord, help us to be more thankful for what we are about to receive!”
Obviously, the incident didn’t really happen, but it still serves to illustrate one of the sad realities of life. Some people only turn to God in times of desperation! Sadly, then it is often too late.
If we want to be able to look up in times of difficulty, we need to be looking up when things are going well. The apostle Paul admonished the Christians in the city of Thessalonica to “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
If we talk to God when life is good, those lines of communication will be open when life comes crashing in around us. Problems come in every life, but the blessings far outweigh the burdens. We should count our blessings, be more thankful, and give thanks! God has been good to us. We live in comfortable homes, wear nice clothing, and have more to eat than we need. But even more importantly, He has met our every spiritual need through Jesus. It is no wonder, then, that Paul exclaimed, “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Take time today to count your blessings. Being more thankful will give you a new appreciation for life, and a new outlook on the future. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Thank You, Dorcas – audio
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Tomorrow is the national day of Thanksgiving. Christians, however, should be thankful all the time, not just one day of the year (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There are many things we are thankful for, and also many people. Dorcas is one person many were thankful for (Text: Acts 9:36-42).
Dorcas was full of “good works and charitable deeds.” She made clothing for people, which was readily displayed. God is pleased when we do good and share (Hebrews 13:16), and Dorcas did not forget to do just that. By giving clothes to those that are without, Jesus says we do it unto Him (Matthew 25:34-40).
Dorcas was dead, but lived again. When she was presented alive, no doubt many people had great joy. Imagine the joy that one would feel when seeing someone again after not seeing them for a long time. Jesus taught of a man that had a son who was “dead and alive again (Luke 15).” We all die spiritually, but through Christ we can be made alive (Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Physically, we must die and then can live again forever with God (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Because of Dorcas, many people believed on the Lord. While Jesus walked the earth, many of the Jews saw the things He did and believed in Him (John 11:45). After Jesus ascended into Heaven, many people saw the things the apostles did and believed on the Lord. No doubt those that were witnesses of the good works and charitable deeds of Dorcas believed on the Lord.
I am thankful for the Biblical record of people such as Dorcas, who had a great influence. I am thankful for you who serve the Lord and influence others. I am thankful to God for sending His Son to die for us that we might live again. What about you? Who are you thankful for?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Help! audio
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Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).
I suppose we’re more likely to obey the first part of that verse than we are the second. It’s easy to let all of life’s stresses cause us to forget our need to praise God for everything good. If we’re not careful, talking to God can be more like a 911 call – something when do only when we find ourselves in a difficult spot.
Talking to God, though – praising him – ought to be what we do in every situation.
When we’re hurting or sad, we pour out our hearts to him.
When we’re joyful – when he’s blessed us – we praise him.
James recognizes that life has its ups and downs.
We’ll have problems like everyone else; when we do, we pray about it. But we should also recognize that God gives us so many joys.
What’s right in your life today?
Can you hear the birds singing outside? Perhaps you’ve already taken a walk in the cool springtime air this morning. God’s blessings surround us, and most of us have quite a few things to smile about.
A soft bed and a comfortable house. Water to drink and food to eat. A job that supports our families, healthy kids, faithful friends, a stable, peaceful country.
And most of all, of course, we’ve got Christ. Even if we have problems, which we do, nothing can dampen the fact that we’re forgiven.
Saved from sin. Washed in the blood. Justified, sanctified, and soon to be glorified.
So today, take time to praise.
List the blessings God’s poured into your life, and thank him for every single one of them.
But especially thank him for giving you hope in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Praise – audio
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Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).
I suppose we’re more likely to obey the first part of that verse than we are the second. It’s easy to let all of life’s stresses cause us to forget our need to praise God for everything good. If we’re not careful, talking to God can be more like a 911 call – something when do only when we find ourselves in a difficult spot.
Talking to God, though – praising him – ought to be what we do in every situation.
- When we’re hurting or sad, we pour out our hearts to him.
- When we’re joyful, when he’s blessed us, we praise him.
James recognizes that life has its ups and downs. We’ll have problems like everyone else; when we do, we pray about it. But we should also recognize that God gives us so many joys.
What’s right in your life today?
Can you hear the birds singing outside? Perhaps you’ve already taken a walk in the cool springtime air this morning. God’s blessings surround us, and most of us have quite a few things to smile about.
A soft bed and a comfortable house. Water to drink and food to eat. A job that supports our families, healthy kids, faithful friends, a stable, peaceful country.
And most of all, of course, we’ve got Christ.
Even if we have problems, which we do, nothing can dampen the fact that we are forgiven.
Saved from sin. Washed in the blood. Justified, sanctified, and soon to be glorified.
So today, take time to praise.
List the blessings God’s poured into your life, and thank him for every single one of them.
But especially thank him for giving you hope in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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1 Corinthians 15:14-20 Thankful for the Murder of Christ – audio
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Text: 1 Corinthians 15:14-20
Introduction
This morning we studied how Stephen accused his listeners of being betrayers and murderers of Jesus Christ. I am very thankful that these things did happen!
Paul taught the Corinthians that Jesus had to die to rise again; if Christ had not risen, we would not have any hope of eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:14-20).
Thus, God gave us a gift that cannot be described (2 Corinthians 9:15).
Body
I. God gave us Jesus Christ.
A. God loved us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son (John 3:16).
B. The gift of Jesus Christ results in our justification from sin (Romans 5:16-18).
C. God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
II. God gave us grace.
A. Grace is God’s gift for salvation, but must be accompanied by faith (Ephesians 2:8).
B. God gives us faith through study of His Word, another precious gift (Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
III. God gives us everything.
A. God gives us every good and perfect gift (James 1:17).
B. It was God’s will to bring us forth by the word of truth (James 1:18). His Son and Word are truth (John 14:6; 17:17).
Conclusion
As Joseph’s brothers intended harm for him but God for good (Genesis 50:20), so did the people harm Christ for evil but God meant it for good. I am thankful that Christ died for my sins and that through Him I can find salvation and everlasting life (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
“Gratitude…goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.”—Henri J. M. Nouwen
“It is delightfully easy to thank God for the grace we ourselves have received, but it requires great grace to thank God always for the grace given to others.”—James Smith
Content by Richard Dillon
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Thanks Giving – audio
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Sometimes my prayers of thanksgiving are motivated more by habit than by heart.
“Father, I thank you so much for this food and for this day and for my family and for every blessing. Thank you for our house and our clothes and our friends. And, of course, thank you for Jesus.”
I can say all that—and quite a bit more—without thinking at all about what I’ve said.
Do you ever do this?
We fall so easily into the rut of ritualism, going through the motions because it’s what we’ve always done.
It can infect our worship. Have you ever sung an entire song without thinking about any of its words?
It can hurt our relationships. Our conversations with our spouse might never get deeper than the superficial.
“How are you?”
“Good—you?”
“Fine. How are the kids?”
“Oh, they’re good. How was your day?”
“Fine.”
We say a lot of stuff without really thinking about it.
One of the things I like about Thanksgiving is that it hasn’t yet become completely commercialized. At least not as much as most holidays. It’s still mostly about an important attitude, that of gratitude.
Let me urge you this week to take some time to do some focused thanks-giving.
Not the ritualistic, thank-you-for-this-day kind of gratitude, but genuine from-the-heart thanks giving.
Take a few minutes in a prayer that’s exclusively focused on thanking. During this prayer, don’t ask for anything. You can do that in another prayer today, but for now, just thank God.
Thank Him for who he is and what he’s done.
Thank Him for his creation, for his Son, for his church, for his salvation.
Thank Him for your family, your food, your friends.
Just thank Him.
George Herbert wrote:
“Thou hast given so much to me, Give one thing more—a grateful heart; Not thankful when it pleaseth me, As if Thy blessings had spare days, But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.”
And Paul wrote:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Psalm 100 Truly Thankful – audio
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Text: Psalm 100:1-5
Introduction
Perhaps we have become too accustomed to our blessings.
Perhaps we need to be reminded as we approach Thanksgiving Day that there are some things for which we need to be truly thankful.
Psalm 100 is a Psalm of praise and Thanksgiving.
(Read Psalm 100:1-5)
Body
I find seven things in Psalm 100:3 and Psalm 100:5 for which we as Christians should truly be thankful.
I. THE LORD IS GOD – Psalm 100:3
Why should we be thankful that the Lord is God?
It is He that answers prayer.
It is He that protects.
It is He that forgives and gives eternal life through His Son.
It is He that says “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”
No matter what goes wrong in your life today, the Lord is God!
No matter who is in the White House, the Kremlin, or Buckingham Palace, the Lord is God!
No matter how you feel the Lord is God!
He is always in control.
He is sovereign.
Nothing gets by Him.
Nothing takes Him by surprise!
II. THE LORD IS CREATOR – Psalm 100:3
It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
My life is full of obligations, but my biggest obligation is to God.
One of the reasons that I am obligated to give thanks to God is because He is the one who has given me life.
He is my creator.
I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my wonderful God who created me.
And the human body is a marvelous creation – Psalm 139:14
III. GOD IS OUR FATHER – Psalm 100:3
We are his people…
When this Psalm was written it was the children of Israel who could say We are his people…
Today God’s people are those who are His children:
Christian, your Heavenly Father loves you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father hears your prayers.
Christian, your Heavenly Father corrects you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father protects you.
Christian, your Heavenly Father is looking out for you.
Of course, this is another reason to be truly thankful!
IV. JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD – Psalm 100:3
We are his people and the sheep of His pasture.
What is the job of a shepherd?
The job of the shepherd is to take care of the sheep.
That is exactly what Jesus, the Good Shepherd does – John 10:27-28
The best description of Jesus’ activity as the Good Shepherd is found in Psalm 23:1-5.
V. THE LORD IS GOOD – Psalm 100:5
The Lord is good.
· You have a home in Heaven. The Lord is good.
· You receive an answer to prayer. The Lord is good.
· You get a raise in pay. The Lord is good.
· A friend finds Christ as Savior. The Lord is good.
· You have a faithful and loving husband or wife. The Lord is good.
· You have great parents and/or kids and grandchildren. The Lord is good.
· You lose your job. The Lord is good.
· You are sick. The Lord is good.
· You lose a loved one. The Lord is good.
· Your spouse divorces you, your parents and children despise you. The Lord is good.
The Lord is good no matter what happens to you.
He does not stop being good.
He continues working all things together for good in our lives, even the bad things! – Romans 8:28
VI. THE LORD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING – Psalm 100:5
When it comes to God’s mercy, His loving kindness, there is no limit.
God’s mercy or loving-kindness is at work in my life:
· When potential problems are solved God shows his loving-kindness.
· When He provides guidance God shows his loving-kindness.
· When He provides His peace God shows his loving-kindness.
It excites me to think that this loving-kindness to me is everlasting.
VII. THE LORD’S TRUTH ENDURES TO EVERY GENERATION
Sometimes we get concerned for our children and our grandchildren because of the increase in wickedness and danger in our society.
But God has given us His promise:
He will be faithful to the next generation of believers
As he has been to this generation
And to all the generations in the past
Conclusion
Psalm 100 has given us 7 reasons to be truly thankful:
1. THE LORD IS GOD – Psalm 100:3
2. THE LORD IS CREATOR – Psalm 100:3
3. GOD IS OUR FATHER – Psalm 100:3
4. JESUS IS OUR SHEPHERD – Psalm 100:3
5. THE LORD IS GOOD – Psalm 100:5
6. THE LORD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING – Psalm 100:5
7. THE LORD’S TRUTH ENDURES TO EVERY GENERATION – Psalm 100:5
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Prayer Principles
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(The Principles of Prayer)
Introduction
1. In last weeks sermon we saw that few truly benefited from prayer
a. Children of God, who became such through obedience to Jesus Christ
b. Sinners, seeking after truth and righteousness, who will be heard in that God will provide them opportunity to hear and obey the truth
2. The full benefit of prayer comes only as the principles of prayer are observed
a. Principles laid down by Jesus and His inspired apostles
b. Principles that determine the final outcome of our prayers
Body
I. WE MUST PRAY IN FAITH
A. PRAYER REQUIRES FAITH…
1. And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. – Matthew 21:22
2. Otherwise, prayer will not be answered – cf. James 1:5-8
B. FAITH IN GOD
1. That He is, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him – Hebrews 11:6
2. Such faith comes from the Word of God – Romans 10:17
II. WE MUST PRAY WITH HUMILITY
A. HUMILITY BEFORE GOD
1. A virtue highly valued by God – Isaiah 57:15; 66:1-2
2. The Lord is near, and saves those with contrite spirits – Psalm 34:18
3. He gives grace to the humble – Proverbs 3:34
B. HUMILITY IN PRAYER
1. Exemplified in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector – Luke 18:9-14
2. Humility leads to exaltation by God – Luke 18:14; James 4:10
III.WE MUST PRAY IN HARMONY WITH GOD’S WILL
A. GOD’S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS…
1. Prayers are answered favorably if we ask according to His will – 1 John 5:14
2. Prayers more concerned with our will than God’s are turned down – James 4:3
B. HIS WILL BE DONE
1. So Jesus taught us to pray – Matthew 6:9-10
2. So He prayed in the garden at Gethsemane – Luke 22:42
3. Such praying made easier when our will is to do God’s will – John 4:34
IV. WE MUST PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING
A. PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING…
1. Giving thanks always for all things to God – Ephesians 5:20
2. in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving – Philippians 4:6
3. prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving – Colossians 4:2
4. “pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks” – 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
B. THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
1. God’s people were always to be thankful – Psalm 100:4; Colossians 3:15
2. Ingratitude an indication of apostasy – Romans 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:2
3. Do we seriously think God will help us with our present burdens if don’t take the time to thank Him for past blessings?
V. WE MUST PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS
A. PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS
1. Taught by Jesus Himself to His disciples – John 14:13-14; 16:23
2. Commanded by Paul to the Christians at <a target=”_blank” href=”http://www.biblemap.org/#Ephesus”>Ephesus</a> – Ephesians 5:20
B. THE NAME OF JESUS AND PRAYER
1. Means more than simply adding “in Jesus’ name” at the end of our prayers
2. We acknowledge Jesus as the only way by which we can approach God – John 14:6
3. We recognize Him as our high priest who intercedes for us – Hebrews 7:24-25; John 14:13
Conclusion
1. In summary, the principles of prayer we have examined are these
a. We must pray in faith
b. We must pray with humility
c. We must pray in harmony with the will of God
d. We must pray with thanksgiving
e. We must pray in the name of Jesus
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Prayer Purposes
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(The Purpose Of Prayer)
Introduction
1. In August 2005, Newsweek and Beliefnet asked 1,004 Americans what they believe and how they practice their faith
2. One of the questions was this: What do you think is the most important purpose of prayer?
3. Here are their responses…
a. To seek God’s guidance (27%)
b. To thank God (23%)
c. To be close to God or the divine (19%)
d. To help others (13%)
e. To improve a person’s life (9%)
f. Other (4%)
g. Don’t know (5%)
[What is the purpose of prayer? As the answers above suggest, there are many reasons to pray. One way to remember “The Purpose Of Prayer” is with the acronym ACTS, where “A” stands for…]
I. ADORATION
A. EXPRESSING ADORATION…
1. God is certainly worthy of our praise, our adoration
2. While we can praise God in song, we can also praise God in prayer
B. EXAMPLES OF ADORATION IN PRAYER…
1. When Paul prayed for the Ephesians, he took time to praise God – Ephesians 3:14-21
2. David provides an example of offering adoration and praise – 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
[Expressing adoration was not one of the responses in the aforementioned survey, but it is certainly an important purpose of prayer. Continuing with our acronym ACTS , “C” stands for…]
II. CONFESSION
A. CONFESSING OUR SINS…
1. There is mercy to be found in confessing one’s sins – Proverbs 28:13
2. The Christian enjoys cleansing of sin by the blood of Jesus – 1 John 1:7-10
B. EXAMPLES OF CONFESSING SINS…
1. Jesus provided an example in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican – Luke 18:10-14
2. Again, David provides an example with his confession of sin – Psalm 51:1-13
[Obtaining forgiveness by confessing sins is a blessing now enjoyed only through Christ (John 14:6). Once we have put on Christ (cf. Galatians 3:27),prayer is crucial to remaining forgiven. “T” stands for…]
III. THANKSGIVING
A. OFFERING THANKSGIVING…
1. Being thankful is emphasized repeatedly in exhortations to pray – Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
2. The antidote to anxiety is to pray for everything, with thanksgiving – Philippians 4:6
B. EXAMPLES OF OFFERING THANKSGIVING…
1. Christ set an example of thanksgiving – Matthew 11:25; 26:27; John 6:11; 11:41
2. Daniel had the custom to thank God three times a day – Daniel 6:10
[We cannot discount the importance of thanksgiving in our prayers. Especially if we expect God to answer us as we make requests for future blessings. This leads to the final letter, where “S” is for…]
IV. SUPPLICATION
A. MAKING SUPPLICATION…
1. We are encouraged to let our requests be known to God – Philippians 4:6
2. We are commanded to make supplications for all men – 1 Timothy 2:1-2
B. EXAMPLES OF MAKING SUPPLICATION…
1. “Real widows” are known for their supplications night and day – 1 Timothy 5:5
2. Solomon made supplication at dedication of the temple – 1 Kings 8:28-29
3. Jesus made supplication as He was crucified; Stephen also, as he was being stoned – Luke 23:34; Acts 7:59-60
Conclusion
1. With the aid of a simple acronym (ACTS), we should never forget “The Purpose Of Prayer”…
a. Adoration
b. Confession
c. Thanksgiving
d. Supplication
2. It is good to understand prayer’s purpose, but do we also…
a. Appreciate the power of prayer?
b. Even have the privilege of prayer?
c. Understand the principles of prayer?
d. Manifest the persistence of prayer?
e. Engage in the practice of prayer?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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