Give Thanks to the Giver

Give Thanks to the Giver; NV 11/23/03 a.m. 1 Chronicles 29:10-16

OS: If there was ever a church that should be thankful we are that church.

I.       This is Dan…

A.     The one primary attitude that any church or individual Christian must have to be amazingly used by God:

                       1.       All decisions are based on God’s will. (not comfort, reasonableness, etc.)

                       2.       God has chosen to do His work through people and when that attitude is present I believe that opens the flood gates of God’s work and blessings, and progress.

B.     I believe this church is a living example of that truth. If there was ever a church that should be thankful we are that church.

                       1.       Several years ago this church was faced with a question – Can we allow SCS to use our building? (Comfortable? NO / Could it be rationalized away? YES – God? He would want us to share, be hospitable, and use His building for something good and worthwhile during the week rather than just on Sunday and Wednesday.)

                       2.       The school grew / the church grew / and space became a problem.

                       3.       Let’s build – but what next? (Land locked)

                       4.       Sell? – (Comfortable? / NO, Could it be rationalized away? YES – God? He would want us to do something so great that He would have to be involved to bring it about.) Survey – If that’s what it takes to do His work. We sold it.

                       5.       Property search – What piece of property? (Price? / Convenience? / ) No, it would be the place we felt we could do the best work for God. That piece of property wasn’t even officially for sale. We found it, and we bought it.

                       6.       Building – First it was build what we can afford – Then financing opportunities came up that would enable us to do more. Design what we need to do His work best. That financing hasn’t materialized and may never, but we decided to bite the bullet, take a step of faith, and do something so great that it is destined to fail unless God be in it.

C.     Now we all have that once in a life time privilege and honor to be a part of a church that does something so big that God’s presence is clearly seen.

I.        I am thankful to God for the Grace He has shown to me. (Where I came from)

A.     Ephesians 28 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.  10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

II.     I am thankful to God for the Plan He has for me. (What I’m doing Here)

A.     Jeremiah 2911 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

III.   I am thankful to God for the Home He has for me in heaven. (Where I’m going)

A.     2 Corinthians 5:1, Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

B.