Rev. David Holwick ZO- COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE
First Baptist Church
West Lafayette, Ohio
November 23, 1988
Matthew 26:26-28
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I. History of Thanksgiving.
A. Pilgrims in 1621.
1) Reaffirmed in 1623 by Governor Bradford.
B. George Washington proclaims Day in 1789; Jefferson stops it.
C. Mrs. Hale, author of "Mary Had A Lamb," campaigns for holiday.
1) In 1863 President Lincoln proclaims Thanksgiving, for
North and South.
D. Congress gives final approval - in 1941. (War a factor?)
E. 1963: Famous prayer of thanks -
"We thank you for the flowers so sweet;
We thank you for the food we eat;
We thank you for the birds that sing;
We thank you God for everything."
Reason for fame - the Supreme Court declared this prayer
to be illegal, and thereupon banned all prayers from
public schools.
F. But not illegal to give thanks in private, as here.
II. Thankful for easy things.
A. Food.
1) Multiple blessings: Jews thanked God for each course.
Consider dilemma for current Thanksgiving!
B. Jobs, health.
1) Nothing wrong with this - Jesus gave thanks for common
necessities in life also.
C. Family, friends.
1) Jesus blessing little children.
D. God's love.
1) Jesus thanked God for answered prayer. John 11:41
At raising of Lazarus:
"Father, I thank you that you have heard me."
E. Rote recitation of thanks is a danger. Focus on God.
1) Prayer of thanks by a young boy at kindergarten dismissal:
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures. Here we go!"
III. Thankful for hard things.
A. First Thanksgiving - conclusion to terrible suffering.
1) Half of all residents die.
2) Four out of 24 families wiped out.
3) 14 out of 18 wives.
4) Yet decision made to thank God, and continue on.
B. Jesus.
1) Thankful for last supper bread, cup.
a) Ritual?
b) Deeper meaning - Gethsemane. Thankful for his death.
1> May cup pass from me.
2> Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.
2) Jesus thankful for all things, because they come from
his Father, no matter how hard they are to take.
C. Apostle Paul.
1) Always thankful in all things.
a) Good as well as bad.
2) Death is no barrier.
a) Aristeides in 125 A.D. writes to friend about Xnty.
"If any righteous person among the Christians passes from this
world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they escort
his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting
out from one place to another nearby."
D. West Lafayette.
1) Many good things in town.
a) Don't take them for granted.
b) Will all say thanks in prayer at meal?
2) Many hard things as well.
a) Empty places at table.
b) Lives that have changed (for worse?).
3) God is still in control, and it is proper to give thanks
to him.
IV. Thanks is often taken for granted.
A. Do you believe God is in control of your life?
1) Do you feel he loves you?
2) Are you saved?
B. Are you thankful for it?
1) Or is God lucky to have you?
C. Only one leper out of ten gave thanks.
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