THANKSGIVING
More Than A Nice Idea
Tom Louis
Part of Thanksgiving 2021—More Than a Nice Idea
November 20, 2021

THANKSGIVING: More than a Nice Idea

November 21, 2021

Tom Louis

More than a nice idea (1).png

Three elements displayed in the act of giving thanks:

o We

the value of the gift

o We

the source of the gift

o We

gratitude to the giver

Thanksgiving is

, not passive.

The Bible states it is

appropriate to give thanks & praise to God.

We don’t need a special

to do it

The Earth is the LORD’s & all it contains, The World & those who live in it. —Psalm 24:1

Everything was

by God, everything to God, including us!

Praise & thanksgiving is an

of our recognition of this truth.

I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. —Psalm 34:1

Enter His gates with Thanksgiving & His courts Praise. Give thanks to Him & bless His Name! —Psalm 100:4

From the rising of the Sun until its setting the Name of the Lord is to be praised! —Psalm 113:3

God is so

, His Name alone is worthy of all day long.

Romans 1:20-22 indicates that the

of thanksgiving was into Creation & the human heart.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. —Romans 1:20-22

Jesus seemed to

thanksgiving & was when it wasn’t given.

Following the Resurrection of Jesus & the coming of the Holy Spirit, much praise & thanksgiving

from the experience of .

After writing 11 Chapters about salvation, the Apostle Paul ran out of

to describe the magnificence of God’s & provision for the human race.

Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM, THAT IT WOULD BE PAID BACK TO HIM? For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen! —Romans 11:33-36

Continuum of God's -TL.jpg

The Continuum of God’s Goodness, Grace & Glory, illustrates the

of God’s plan & purpose for humans to in the Eternal Enterprise of Salvation.

Where are

on the “Continuum of God’s Goodness, Grace & Glory?”

1. Our spiritual journey

when we recognize we have a problem.

2. We are

of God’s Spirit when we to Jesus Christ as Savior.

3. We

in spiritual maturity & fruitfulness as we our lives back to God.

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. —Romans 12:1-2

Grasping the wonder of our Salvation,

actions that are physical & mental.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 1:18-20

Additional Prayers and Passages that elaborate on these Truths:

Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 2:12-13

Ephesians 3:14-19

Imagine the

on our lives, our homes, our workplaces, & on Gateway Church as we with God on the Continuum of His Goodness, His Grace & His Glory!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen! —Ephesians 3:20-21