Thanksgiving

November 20, 2011

Introduction

 

            It is right to refer to Thanksgiving as Turkey Day?  What is the history of Thanksgiving? 

 

Body

 

I.       How did our Thanksgiving Day begin?

 

1. Thanksgiving In America began with a lot of help from the Indians who were here at that time.

 

1.      The first Thanksgiving followed a very tough beginning for the Pilgrims.

2.      It began with those who came over on the Mayflower.

3.      There were a total of 102 passengers.

 

2. America as we know it today, was started in large part for religious freedom.
3. The first “Thanksgiving was at Plymouth.

 

1.      Only about half of those who left England lived to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.

2.      A native American taught the Pilgrims to cultivate corn, catch fish and extract sap from maple trees.

3.      The first “Thanksgiving” was held in November 1621.

 

II.    The first Thanksgiving did not have some of today’s features.

 

A.      The Pilgrims had no ovens, so there were no cakes or pies.

B.       They were poor, but they had faith

 

(Rev 2:9 NKJV)  "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

 

C.      Thanksgiving is more than a mean.

 

D.      I disagree with our President’s statement that we are no longer a Christian nation.

 

•         In his press conference on April 6 in Turkey, President Obama explained: “One of the great strengths of the United States is … we have a very large Christian population — we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

 

III.  We must be thankful for His Goodness?

 

A.    Influence of a little boy

 

(Isa 11:6 NKJV)  "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

 

1.      Teaching children to pray at a young age

 

(Prov 22:6 NKJV)     Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

 

2.      Learn to be thankful even for little.

 

3.      The Praying Hands

4.      The Story Behind the Picture of "The Praying Hands"

5.       A lesson:   No one ever makes it alone

 

B.     Paul was an example of a hard working man.

 

 (Acts 20:34-35 NKJV)  "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. {35} "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

 

C.     In all things we should be Thankful.

 

(Psa 100:4-5 NKJV)  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. {5} For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

 

1.       Paul admonishes us to be thankful.

 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

 

2.      So much to be thankful for:

 

a.      One lady said,

I am ABSOLUTELY thankful for my husband.

His willingness to pursue his dreams have changed our way of life… without him all the other things I am thankful for would(n’t) exist (our home, our fun adventures, and most importantly our son--Chaunna

 

b.      One man was going to whine, but decided instead to be thankful.

c.       One lady said she was thankful for time .

3.       One man said he was thankful for his health.

4.      One man listed it this way:

 

a.      I am thankful for my wife,

b.      three boys and extended family;

c.       the freedom we have in the United States;

d.      Those who gave their all so we can enjoy it.

e.       Above all I am I am thankful for a God who gave his Son for my sins

f.        so I can have the ultimate freedom.  -- Christopher

 

IV. We need to learn to be content.

 

A.    Paul said he had learned to be content.

 

•         (Phil 4:11-12 NKJV)  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: {12} I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 

B.     Learn to pour out your heart to God!

 

Conclusion

 

•         Be Thankful

•         Give your life to God!

 

 

 

Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

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