Untitled Sermon

Thanksgiving

What is the history of thanksgiving as we know it?

The first thanksgiving

For many of us, the meaning of Thanksgiving usually includes feasting, four-day weekends, football games, floats, family reunions, or a forerunner to Christmas festivities.

The “first Thanksgiving,” however, was neither a feast nor a holiday, but a simple gathering. Following the Mayflower’s arrival at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims suffered the lose of 46 of their original 102 colonists.

With the help of 91 Indians, the remaining Pilgrims survived the bitter winter and yielded a bountiful harvest in 1621. In celebration, a traditional English harvest festival, lasting three days brought the Pilgrims and natives to unite in a “thanksgiving” observance.

Congress sanctioned it as a legal holiday in 1941.

As we turn to the word we will see that there was thanksgiving to God way before the landing of the Mayflower.

Meaning of Thanksgiving - Is Really A Praise to God We see in the word, the meaning of thanksgiving reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering.

Meaning of Thanksgiving - Is Really A Praise to God

We see in the word, the meaning of thanksgiving reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering.

Thanksgiving was a grateful language to God as an act of worship. Rarely, if ever, was thanksgiving extended to any person or thing, except God.

We see in the word, the meaning of thanksgiving reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering. Thanksgiving was a grateful language to God as an act of worship. Rarely, if ever, was thanksgiving extended to any person or thing, except God. “These things I remember as I pour out my soul; how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng” (). Long before the colonists celebrated their successes, Nehemiah assembled two great choirs to give thanks for God’s faithfulness in rebuilding the wall. “ . . . The Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully and dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres” ().

() Says “

When I remember these things,

I pour out my soul within me.

For I used to go with the multitude;

I went with them to the house of God,

With the voice of joy and praise, ( Some translations say thanksgiving )

With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

These things I remember as I pour out my soul; how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng”

Long before the colonists celebrated their successes, Nehemiah assembled two great choirs to give thanks for God’s faithfulness in rebuilding the wall.

()

“ . . .  Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places,

to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.

The true meaning of Thanksgiving focuses upon relationship. Thanksgiving is a relationship between God and man. Upon their arrival at New Plymouth, the Pilgrims composed The Mayflower Compact, which honored God.

The Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully and dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres” We find this in.

The true meaning of Thanksgiving focuses upon relationship. Thanksgiving is a relationship between God and man. Upon their arrival at New Plymouth, the Pilgrims composed The Mayflower Compact, which honored God.

The true meaning of Thanksgiving focuses upon relationship. Thanksgiving is a relationship between God and man. Upon their arrival at New Plymouth, the Pilgrims composed The Mayflower Compact, which honored God.

Thanksgiving begins with acknowledging God as faithful, earnestly giving Him thanks, in advance, for His abundant blessings.

Says

The New King James Version Psalm 100

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

The New King James Version Psalm 100

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name

Says

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name”.

().

().

In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Go().

“. . . but in everything by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Thanksgiving is really an attitude of the heart that reinforces an intimate relationship with God.

So as we fellowship with each other today think of the things that you are thankful for and thank God for all that He has given each one of us.

So as we fellowship with each other today think of the things that you are thankful for and thank God for all that He has given each one of us.

Pray and eat