Thanksgiving according to Jesus

Preach for a Year #1 With Christ in Thanksgiving

I. Introduction

A. The Plans for Thanksgiving Pretty well Completed

1. Thanksgiving dinner with the family

2. Probably a day of food and football

B. If Jesus came to your House

1. If you are a Christian, Christ will come to your house

2. For what would Jesus give thanks?

II. Body

A. Christ Thankful for the Simplicity of the Gospel (Matt. 11:25)

English Standard Version Chapter 11

25 hAt that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, iLord of heaven and earth, that jyou have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and krevealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your lgracious will.7

3. The road to blessing is the road of humility

a. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God ()

b. “He that humbleth himself shall be exalted” ()

4. Christ thankful, as He looked over the multitude, that education, riches, and fame could not earn heaven

5. You must come to Christ as a little child

B. Christ thankful for the Sufficiency of the Father ()

1. The setting and the scene: Feeding of the five thousand

2. The need and the resources at hand

a. How would you like to have that crowd drop in for Thanksgiving?

b. Philip’s dilemma: not enough to meet this need

c. Jesus proving Philip … Philip would be a better man

d. The comfort … He knew what He would do

3. Christ thankful for the provision

a. He made the universe, yet was thankful for loaves and fishes

b. Called forth the first stalk of wheat, yet was thankful for bread

c. Spoke the first fishes into existence, yet was thankful for those given to Him

4. How little we show our thankfulness!

5. How much we take for granted!

C. Christ thankful for Salvation through the Cross ()

1. Christ with the disciples in the Upper Room at time of the Passover

2. Thanksgiving for the food

3. But this is not just thanksgiving for the food

a. “This is my body which is broken for you.”

b. “This is the New Testament in my blood.”

4. What amazing love! Thankful even for the cross

5. Thankful that men can be saved even though it takes the cross

III. Conclusion

A. How will your thanksgiving measure up?

B. What are you Going to do about it?

Roger F. Campbell, Preach for a Year (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1997), 187–188.