A young mother gets on a crowded bus during rush hour. She
struggles with a couple of packages and a small child as she begins
to walk towards the back of the bus. About halfway back, a young man
suddenly stands up and offers her his seat. His generosity stuns her
so much she faints.
A short time later she awakens and is helped into the seat. At
his point, she looks at the young man and says, "Thank you."
The young man is so stunned, he faints…
A. Giving Thanks Is Often Taken For Granted.
B. We Have Many Reasons To Be Thankful.
C. What Are Some Of Our Reasons To Be Thankful?
Body: 2 Corinthians 4: 13 - 18
I. Thankful For God's Grace.
A. Grace should cause thanksgiving to abound.
1. 2 Corinthians 4: 15 "For all things are for your
sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may
cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God."
2. Ephesians 4: 7 "But to each one of us grace was
given according to the measure of Christ's gift."
3. 2 Corinthians 8: 9 "For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your
sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might
become rich."
B. Grace has made us who we are.
1. Ephesians 2: 8 "For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the
gift of God,"
2. Ephesians 4: 7 "But to each one of us grace was
given according to the measure of Christ's gift."
3. 1 Corinthians 15: 10 "But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but
I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but
the grace of God which was with me."
II. Thankful For Salvation.
A. God has provided salvation to us.
1. Titus 2: 11 "For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5: 9 "For God did not appoint us
to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ."
3. Luke 18: 26, 27 "And those who heard it said, 'Who
then can be saved?' But He said, 'The things which are
impossible with men are possible with God.'"
B. Christ paid the price for our salvation.
1. 1 Peter 2: 24 "Who Himself bore our sins in His
own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins,
might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were
healed."
2. Acts 4: 12 "Nor is there salvation in any other,
for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved."
C. We now have hope.
1. Hebrews 9: 28 "So Christ was offered once to bear
the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He
will appear a second time, apart from sin, for
salvation."
2. 2 Corinthians 4: 14 "Knowing that He who raised up
the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and
will present us with you."
3. Romans 13: 11 "And do this, knowing the time, that
now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our
salvation is nearer than when we first believed."
III. Thankful For Suffering.
A. Suffering which comes from persecution (1 Peter 3: 17).
B. Suffering which comes from discipline (Hebrews 12:5,6).
C. Suffering which comes from growth (James 1: 2 - 4).
D. Suffering which comes from service.
1. Feet which ache should remind us of those we have
taught the Gospel.
2. Knees which ache should remind us of the hours we
have spent in prayer.
3. A back which aches should remind us of the burdens
we have borne.
4. Hands which ache should remind us of the people we
have helped.
5. Arms which ache should remind us of the love we
have shared.
6. A neck which aches should remind us of our ever
looking upward.
7. A head which aches should remind us of our Bible
study.
Conclusion:
A. Are You Abounding In Thanksgiving?
1. Do you give thanks for the blessings you have received?
2. Do you give thanks for the spiritual blessings you have and
will receive?
B. Being Thankful Requires Our Obedience.
1. Have you obeyed His command to give Him thanks?
2. Have you obeyed His command by obeying the Gospel?