A Fitting End and Firm Beginning
Renew
September 27, 2020
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
God has chosen Christians to be bearers of thanksgiving—woven into worship and centered in the Lord’s Supper—because thankful living strengthens faith, fuels mission, and testifies to Christ, even though we often fall short and must repent of grumbling.
Summary
Drawing on Nehemiah and Paul, the sermon argues that thanksgiving is not optional but a divinely appointed identity for God’s people: God chose some to dwell in Jerusalem by lot as a picture of being chosen to give thanks, and Paul calls believers to put on the new self as thankful witnesses. Thanksgiving should be embedded in worship (with the Lord’s Supper as the most direct reminder of Calvary) because it strengthens believers, fuels mission, and serves as both a fitting end and a confident beginning for God’s work. Yet many Christians become thankless, leading to grumbling and weakness, so the church must repent and cultivate ongoing, corporate thanksgiving.
Key Points
- God chose his people to give thanks (illustrated by Nehemiah 11:1 and casting lots).
- Every Christian is obligated to be a bearer of thanksgiving as part of putting on the new self (Paul).
- Thanksgiving is woven into worship; corporate reminders help keep us thankful.
- The Lord’s Supper uniquely reconnects us to Calvary and functions as a direct act of thanksgiving and witness.
- Thanksgiving strengthens faith, fuels mission, and frames both reflection on past work and confidence for future work.
- Despite its centrality, thanklessness leads to grumbling; the church must pursue repentance and become a thankful people.
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