Giving Thanks in 2020

Thanksgiving was started to remind us to give thanks for the abundance of blessings bestowed upon us by God.

giving thanks around the dinner table

This year, we look back and wonder if there is much to be thankful for

Australian brush fires burned over 47 mil acres

Split in the British Royal family

Covid 19 with over 20 mil infected and over 751k deaths

Tragic death of Koby Bryant and his daughter

barrage of sexual assault allegations from Hollywood

Stock market crash in March

Violent protests

Murder hornets

Explosion in Beirut

West Coast fires

Fierce and contested Election cycle

for what will we give thanks for this year?

Story from the Early Church, and what they had to be thankful for.

Disruption (19)

“scattered” Root word seed. Diaspora a people scattered involuntarily

after death of Stephen the church was scattered

Acts 8

Church was growing in Jerusalem, but not much further

only getting out by pilgrims coming and returning home

The church never left!

There was a disruption

Covid 19 was a disruption

pull mission team from field

stop meeting in person

schools went online

These early Christians had a disruption

people were trying to kill them!

leave homes

notice

speaking Jesus to only Jews

still not convinced that Gentiles needed gospel too.

God Moved (20-24)

Cypress and Cyrene

heard the gospel through Peter Acts 2

preached to Greeks

Different approach

gospel for all

What did they do in their disruption?

preached the Lord Jesus

what do we do

complain about our right to wear or not wear a mask?

complain our kids have to be home with us?

The hand of the Lord was with them

image of working

Send Barnabas to check it out

“he witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.”

He knew things were going to get hard

resolute: to plan or purpose in advance

to remain in the Lord

We expect things to get hard again

are we resolute in heart?

are we encouraging others to be resolute in heart?

the result

considerable numbers brought to the Lord

Imagine church growth, if we faced disruption with thankfulness?

instead of complaining we said Thank Father for this!

Thankfulness in disruption (25-26)

Barnabas needed help

Imagine that conversation

thankfulness

Saul converted and strong in faith

heart for Gentiles to know Jesus

Church was exploding around them

“It was from this new church, started by Christians who endured a major disruption in their lives, that Paul and Barnabas were call to be missionaries. Here where we see the name Christian first used. The church was on the cusp of major missionary work, major growth, both spiritually and numerically. All because of a disruption in their lives.”

We have only seen a small portion of all God is doing through this

Can we be thankful?

Can we be thankful for 2020?

Gospel gone out from here to all over the country.

podcast

Aug 2019 222 subscribers, 681 downloads, 70 streams, total of 751 x we had been listened to.

seeing some families coming out stronger

highlighting those families in need/struggling

Can we be thankful for 2020, yes!

Conclusion

we can be thankful

this disruption can make us stronger

it can be used to grow our faith and bring us back to God

As you gather around your table on Thursday

be thankful. point out what God has done through this season for you and your family

some struggled, fear over took them and they seek to find peace

peace can only be found in the Father

loves you enough to die for you so you can have forgiveness, a relationship…peace in your heart

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Perseverance

Two frogs fell into a can of cream,

Or so I’ve heard it told.

The sides of the can were shiny and steep,

The cream was deep and cold.

“Oh, what’s the use?” croaked number one.

“Tis fate, no help’s around.

Good-bye, my friend!

Good-bye, sad world.”

And weeping still, he drowned.

But number two, of sterner stuff,

Dog-paddled in surprise.

The while he wiped his creamy face,

And dried his creamy eyes.

“I’ll swim awhile at least,” he said,

Or so I’ve heard he said;

“It really wouldn’t help the world,

If one more frog were dead.”

An hour or two he kicked and swam,

Not once he stopped to mutter,

But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked,

Then hopped out, via butter!

God knows the way to life, He has given you all you need in Jesus

Don’t drown in despair, when he has offered you life.

If you could just open your heart to see it.