Charis

“Grace → Gratitude → Grace Returned”

INTRODUCTION – THEOLOGY AS THE SEED OF DOXOLOGY

“Theology is the seed of doxology.” Right understanding of God produces right worship of God.

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and approach the Lord’s Table, Scripture leads us to see the pattern of the Christian life:

Grace received → produces gratitude → produces a grace-shaped life.

And we begin where Paul begins: with the God who is “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4).

1. GRACE RECEIVED — Ephesians 2:4–10

Paul opens with the decisive intervention of God: “But God…” This contrast is absolute: from spiritual death (2:1–3) to spiritual life (2:4–10).

Grace is unmerited favor—and more. We contributed nothing to awaken His mercy or earn His love. Paul reinforces this:

“By grace you have been saved…”

“Not a result of works” (vv. 8–9)

Salvation is monergistic—God’s work alone. Yet grace here is not merely pardon; it is resurrection. God “made us alive… raised us up… seated us with Christ.” Union with Christ grounds every aspect of salvation.

COMING UP FOR AIR #1 — Thanksgiving Connection

Ask: “Where have you received God’s undeserved grace this week?”

Encourage: “Name one undeserved grace at your Thanksgiving table.”

2. GRACE IS MULTIFACETED — Ordinary, Saving, Sanctifying

A. Common (Ordinary) Grace

God shows real, sustaining kindness to all people

Matthew 5:45 “so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Acts 14:17 “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.””

breath, food, beauty, relationships. This is not saving grace but preserves life and reveals God’s goodness.

COMING UP FOR AIR #2:

“The first grace on Thursday morning is breath in your lungs.”

B. Special (Saving) Grace

Ephesians 2 highlights saving grace:

Grace that forgives

Grace that unites us to Christ

Grace that raises us with Him

Grace that secures salvation

Saving grace is effectual, particular, and rooted in God’s eternal purpose.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

C. Sanctifying Grace

Eph 2:10: “We are His workmanship…” Grace not only rescues—it remakes. We are created for good works, not saved by them. The works God requires are the works God prepares.

This safeguards Reformed doctrine: grace produces effort; effort never produces grace.

3. THE RICHNESS OF GRACE — Hebrew 

A. Hebrew Khen

Conveys God’s favor, kindness, and relational nearness

Genesis 6:8 “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

Exodus 33:12–13 “Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.””

Khen often signals God’s covenantal approach toward His people.

B. Greek charis

Broader than “grace” in English:

unmerited favor

gift

gratitude

empowerment

mercy

spiritual gifts (charismata)

Ephesians 4:7 “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Ephesians 4:12 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

Charis captures God’s generosity in action and the grateful generosity it produces in believers.

4. GRACE THROUGH THE BIBLE — THE COVENANT STORY

A. Grace in Eden

Creation itself is grace: life, breath, image-bearing, dominion, fellowship.

B. Grace in the Curse —

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Judgment comes, yet grace is proclaimed. The promise of the serpent-crushing Redeemer is pure grace.

C. Grace to Noah and Abraham

God calls, covenants, and commits Himself (Gen 15). The covenant is upheld by God alone— unilateral grace.

D. Grace through Moses

Law is grace: it reveals God and exposes sin. Sacrifice is grace: it points forward to atonement. The presence of God in the tabernacle is grace.

E. Grace to David

God grants a king, a covenant, and a promised eternal throne.

F. Grace Fulfilled in Christ

Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”

in a Person. Christ is the embodiment of divine grace, fulfilling the entire covenant storyline.

5. GRACE LEADS TO GRATITUDE — Theology → Doxology

Seeing grace throughout Scripture leads to gratitude

There is reason to be thankful to God for what He has done for you and what He has done in your life, but church, there is so much more to be thankful for.

This posture of gratitude requires practice.

Ask: “Does grace daily produce praise in you?”

6. GRATITUDE LEADS TO GRACE RETURNED TO GOD

Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

After unfolding eleven chapters of mercy, Paul says, “Therefore… present your bodies.” Gratitude becomes consecration.

COMING UP FOR AIR #4:

“What if Thanksgiving were not only about being glad, but about being given?”

7. GRATITUDE LEADS TO GRACE RETURNED TO OTHERS

A grace-shaped life becomes a grace-giving life:

Rom 12:3–8 — serve with your charismata

Eph 4:29 — speak words that give grace

1 Pet 4:10 — steward God’s varied grace

2 Cor 8–9 — generosity as grace

COMING UP FOR AIR #5:

“Some of you will sit with difficult people. Grace trains us here as well.”

Invite: “Ask God for grace to show grace at your table.”

8. CULMINATION IN DOXOLOGY — Praise Rises

Theological truth leads to adoration:

“To Him who is rich in mercy be glory forever.”

9. COMMUNION — The Grace That Feeds Us

Communion is a means of grace—not salvific, not empty symbol, but a Spirit-given strengthening of faith and participation in Christ. The term Eucharist means thanksgiving.

At the Table we behold:

the grace that saved us

the grace that sustains us

the grace that will bring us home

COMMUNION TRANSITION

“We have traced grace from Eden to Calvary. Grace leads to gratitude, gratitude to consecration, and consecration to worship. Now we come to the Table, where thanksgiving becomes communion and communion becomes worship.”

1 Corinthians 10:16–17 “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

1 Corinthians 11:27–29 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when 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 also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Respond with “How Great Thou Art”