OPEN BIBLE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

NAME: KER4RY-ANN MOORE

TUTOR: DR. RAMBALLY

COURSE: PULPIT SPEECH

ASSIGNMENT: TEXTUAL SERMON

TEXT: PSALM 107:1 OH GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HE IS GOOD,

FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVES ENDURES FOREVER.

THEME: THE CHOICE OF GIVING THANKS

TITLE: THANKSGIVING

OBJECTIVE: TO HELP BELIEVERS DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF

THANKS

PROPOSITION: TO BRING THEM TO A PLACE OF GIVING THANKS

INTRODUCTION: Many years ago, as the story is told, a devout king was

disturbed by the ingratitude of his royal court. He prepared a large banquet for

them. When the king and his royal guests were seated, by prearrangement, a

beggar shuffled into the hall, sat down at the king's table, and gorged himself with

food. Without saying a word, he then left the room. The guests were furious and

asked permission to seize the tramp and tear him limb from limb for his
ingratitude. The king replied, "That beggar has done only once to an earthly king

what each of you does three times each day to God. You sit there at the table and

eat until you are satisfied. Then you walk away without recognizing God or

expressing one word of thanks to Him."

Many of us are guilty of ingratitude towards God however, this is not the case of

our sister tonight. We are here because she has chosen to give thanks to God.

1. GIVING THANKS TO GOD- it’s a choice

From the moment we opened our eyes, we have a choice to thank Him. It’s an

attitude that we need to develop, it is a personal decision we have to make on a

daily basis. The word of God states in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give

thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. It is God’s will

for His children to be thankful. Thankful for the many blessings he has bestow

upon us. Giving thanks will determine how you see life or as the proverbial phrase

states; is the glass half full or half empty. It is how you how you view the glass. If

you are always viewing it half empty you will never try to praise God or to be

thankful to Him, but rather complain and murmur about life’s dissatisfaction.

As a people we have gotten use to receiving and unashamedly, walking away

without a thank you! We walk around with an attitude that the person is obligated
to- ‘ah gimme attitude, without any gratitude!’ and sadly, it is the same way we

treat God. Just as the nine lepers who were healed and never looked back. Only

one remembered to turn back and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and with a loud

voice gave Him thanks. Thanks, is remembering God’s kindness, provision, tender

mercies, and his unfailing love. It is always left up to us to give God thanks. It is a

choice!

a. GIVING THANKS THROUGH CHALLENGES- discipline

It is easier to thank God with songs, dance, and praises, when things are in your

favor, when everything is going uphill, and you are dancing to the beat. But are

you discipline enough to thank God during your trials, your storms, ‘the why me

moments’? ‘The downhill moments.’ It takes great strength and discipline to

thank Him, to thank Him during those challenging times. You see, it is easier to

focus on the negative, ‘woe is me’ the challenge to see through those teary eyes, to

find a reason to thank Him despite your situation. Paul and Silas pain and suffering

they push through and were able to praise and thank God. They rejoice and pray

without ceasing giving God thanks in everything. This could have only come about

by true discipline, great discipline and painful discipline, a sacrifice to thank God
no matter the outcome. Discipline during hardship allow you to overcome your

many battles and thank Him through it.

2. THE GOODNESS OF GOD- He is faithful

We all struggle with short comings, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of

life, despite our daily struggle God is still good to us. Therefore, it should become

easy to give God thanks all the time, knowing that we are not deserving of His

tender mercies. It is easy to think of oneself as unworthy, when we are reminded of

our many mistakes, if it were up to man, we would have already been condemned,

cast away or banished. But what makes our God awesome is when we remembered

the many times, He was good to us, in spite our many sins. If nothing else qualify

us to give God thanks, his GOODNESS should; it should give us many reasons to

be thankful to Him. The leper who came back did not hesitate to give God thanks

and in so doing he received an additional blessing; he was made whole and made

whole ONLY after giving God thanks- you gained more than you EXPECTED

when you give God thanks. Some of us are waiting to receive our blessing, to

experience his goodness in a greater way. But how can we? If we don’t sincerely

thank Him
 3. TAKING EXAMPLE FROM THE GREATEST TEACHER- JESUS

Jesus Christ a God in a human form, was faced with many challenges. In the

gospel John 11 one such challenge was when Lazarus died. Jesus Christ was heavy

hearted and wept but the most amazing thing is He could have easily raised

Lazarus at once, but He first gave thanks to His Father for hearing his prayer.

Every chance Jesus got He thanked His heavenly Father; at the last supper Jesus

offered thanks, when He broke the five loves and two fishes, He gave thanks. He

gave thanks at the Passover.

The greatest teacher lived a life of Gratitude and desire us to be thankful, and to

live by His example.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion the choice is always up to us, to have an attitude of gratitude or have

an attitude of ingratitude. This evening our sister Adana chose to have an attitude

of Gratitude for all that the Lord has done and about to in her life and her

children’s life. The many times God has kept her and provided for her. Just as

Jesus, regardless of her situation she is giving thanks today to the Almighty. Will

you today take up example of the greatest teacher to ever walked the face of the

earth and give thanks to God in every situation? Will you? The choice is yours!