Bible Class: Thanksgiving -- In all Circumstances?

Thanksgiving: In All Circumstances? What situations or circumstances is it hardest to be thankful? 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18  Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.  (16)  Rejoice always,  (17)  pray continually,  (18)  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. What, according to this text is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus? 1. ___________________________ 2. ___________________________ 3. ___________________________ 4. ___________________________ 5. ___________________________ Most difficult and why? ______________________________________________________________________ Easiest? ___________________________________________________________________________________ Great concept difficult application _____________________________________________________________ How do we get there? _______________________________________________________________________ I. Realize the blessing of your salvation II. Realize the God who made you is in control III. Focus on the promise of Heaven IV. Refocus in your trials YOUR SALVATION Romans 3:22-24  This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,  (23)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  (24)  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 7:24-25  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  (25)  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. What is the reality of your salvation? ___________________________________________________________ GOD IS IN CONTROL Psalms 115:3  Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Jeremiah 29:11  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. Isaiah 14:24  The LORD Almighty has sworn, "Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen. Why is this important to thanksgiving? _________________________________________________________ HEAVEN Hebrews 13:14 (NLT) For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. John 14:1-4  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  (2)  My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  (3)  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  (4)  You know the way to the place where I am going." Why is this important? ______________________________________________________________________ REFOCUS IN TRIALS Read the following verses and determine what we could/should focus on in our times of trials. 1Pe 5:10  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.  Focus? ____________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  (18)  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Focus? ___________________________________________________________________________________ John 16:33  "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Focus? ____________________________________________________________________________________ Romans 8:18  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Focus? ____________________________________________________________________________________ So What? _________________________________________________________________________________ Next Sunday: Thanksgiving: Will Change your life