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“WITH GRATITUDE FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS & LOVED ONES” (11/21/10)

SCRIPTURES: I Timothy 5: 1-8 & John 15: 12-17.
KEY CONCEPT: Expressing our gratitude as our annual Thanksgiving celebration
approaches in less than a week. With some time off, will we express our thanks to others?
OPENING COMMENTS:
In less than 4 days, many of us will gather around a table to celebrate with people we love
and to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with. Every 4th Thursday of November is
designated as our nation’s day for gratitude and thanksgiving. On that day, we join all the
citizens and immigrants of this great country to focus on what we’re grateful for. Additionally,
our church community has as its November worship theme, “EXPRESSING OUR
GRATITUDE”, with our focus today being on gratitude for our family, friends and loved ones.
It DOES help me to know that throughout ancient history as well as modern times, many
cultures have given thanks for their bountiful harvest. And although the way cultures give
thanks may differ in their forms and presentations, the spirit of gratitude and appreciation is
similar. Setting aside a date to reflect on life's blessings is one reality that can unite diverse
cultures, persons and nations.
In some cultures people associate their celebrations with harvest festivals in gratitude of the
God who protects them and their crops. Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were
held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians, to
name a few. (Summarized from: http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/round_the_world.htm)
And so this morning, before we pray, I ask you this question? On this the Sunday before
Thanksgiving, what would you like to thank God for?
WILL YOU PRAY WITH ME? PRAYER:
GRATITUDE IN THE GOSPEL – JOHN 15: 12-17:
In relation to Christ: In the earlier verses of John, chapter 15, Jesus informs his disciples
that if they want to know what he’s doing and follow God, they need only to “abide in Christ”.
A believer’s responsibility was to relate to Jesus by “abiding” or standing with or being with
him. Our greatest gift from God is Jesus Christ. And our greatest gift to God is choosing to
live our lives in such a way that we ‘abide with, stand beside and become’ like Christ.
In relation to each other. In today’s reading (v. 12-17), Jesus reveals what ‘abiding in him’
will look like to the external world. The world will know we are Christians by how we relate to
each other. Jesus commanded us to “love each other as Jesus Christ loves us”. Jesus’
sacrificial death became the standard for love. When we love God & others, we are less
selfish and more sharing. What does that old hymn remind us of?
• They will know we are Christians by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by
our love!
• When we love people, there is a willingness to walk with each other in the midst of our
diversity. When we love people, there is also a willingness to work “side by side” in
dignity & with humility & pride for what we can do together.
• Abiding in Christ looks like what we read in our November ‘verse of the month’:
NOVEMBER THEME VERSE:
Our theme verses are Colossians 3: 16-17:
Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly as you teach & admonish one another with
all wisdom, & as you sing psalms, hymns & spiritual with gratitude in your hearts to
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God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus,
giving thanks to God through him.
GRATITUDE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS FROM TIMOTHY 5: 1-8:
Today as we intentionally focus on being grateful for our family, friends & loved ones, we
receive some clear instructions from our reading in I Timothy.
• Honor the older men (& women) as fathers & mothers
• Treat younger men & women as brothers & sisters
• Honor widows, their children & grandchildren
• Teach religious instruction in the home & through the family unit
• Care for widows who will never remarry (because they devote themselves & their time
to a ministry of continual prayer)
• Provide for relatives – especially family members – as a testament to your faith
These instructions are practical examples of how we’re to treat each other if God is truly
leading us. Again these deeper teachings afford followers of Christ, an opportunity to live out
their (our) faith by how we treat our biological family & even our family of choice.
Personally, I believe the only obstacle to Our Hope MCC being a 75 – 100 member
church is us. Some of us have forgotten that God calls us to serve with a grateful
heart – for the good of Christ & other people – not merely for what we can get for
ourselves. The call to discipleship is costly: It costs us our time – our energy – our
resources (which DOES include our money) & it costs us our selfishness. Abiding in
Christ means Jesus gets his way with us instead of us always getting our own way!
CLOSING: EXAMPLE OF “LOVING EACH OTHER”:
In a few minutes, we will celebrate around table as we share our annual Thanksgiving
potluck. And before I conclude the sermon, I want to offer these thoughts to you – just so
you’ll be aware – as we host our guests & eat together as family. Over the years, hundreds
of people have joined us for our potluck & benefited from some of the finest cooking in
Athens. Today, we’ll all partake in this year’s feast & now I need to speak to the church
members! Guests, this does NOT pertain to you…
Church members….we need to all drop to our knees & thank God for the skeletal crew of
people that literally put this event on by themselves – year after year! People like Dondi
Vickers (who for 7-8 years has coordinated & carried this event.) None of us really know
how many hours; Dondi spends each November making sure we have a beautiful
presentation & enough food as well as a variety of food. Why, some of us say – do you
bother & fret? Because for some of us – TODAY is OUR Thanksgiving meal & out of love for
“our faith family” – Dondi (& her crew) want this meal to be special!
For those of us that have been here for years, we’ve forgotten how to pitch in & make life
easier for Dondi & the few people who graciously volunteer to help. Most of us just show up
& eat! Members that are “just showing up”, eating & leaving – I need you to stay & clean up
today! I understand that you’re busy! Who isn’t busy these days?
Newcomers, like Tony & Wayne Freeman, even realize how much work is involved,
because they graciously volunteered to cook both turkeys, carve them to insure sure we’ll all
be fed. As well as Cheri Hoy, Kris Garner, Kelly Burns & Shannon Davis who also
agreed to purchase & prepare our hams? All in the midst of really busy lives!
And what about council member, Benjamin Milano who is captain of our clean up crew!?
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And servant leaders – Chris Langford, Mike Nolan, Tony Wells, Wendy Wynne – to name
a few who quietly & without fanfare see what needs to be done & does it?
As we seek to express gratitude – to our family, friends & loved ones today – I want to
publicly thank each of these people named! AND I want to thank everyone who has the gift
of hospitality & who prepare these types of events that benefit us all. AND even if you don’t
have the gift of hospitality – you can serve - AND that is what I’m ask each of our members to
do “just a little today”- out of love & appreciation for each other.
And as this year winds down & we turn our attention toward 2011, I would invite you to start
TODAY to pray about what God is asking of you with regard to loving God, loving neighbor &
living out your faith here at Our Hope MCC. Because in the New Year, as your pastor, I’m
going to ask you step up to serve, step out by faith & step fully into the spiritual reality that
God has for you!

Amen! 