LESSON EIGHTEEN (18)
DATE: SUNDAY 1ST OF JANUARY, 2023
TOPIC: THANKSGIVING
SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN
1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds be black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
MEMORY VERSE: “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms”. Psalm 95:2
BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalms 100:1-5
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
INTRODUCTION: To be thankful literarily means to be full of thanks or appreciation. It is an expression of gratitude to someone. Thankfulness in this context is an act of thanksgiving or a show of gratitude to God. Though some people are ungrateful for various reasons, we must not be ingrates because of its attendant dangers.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. REASONS AND BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING
2. DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
1. REASONS AND BENEFITS OF THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a command (1Chronicles 16:8). The request of a believer should start and end with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6). We thank God for victories over battles of life (Jonah 2:9). It is important to thank God for His mercies and divine provisions (Psalm 68:19; Micah 7:18-20). Thanksgiving is offered to God for His miracles and restoration of hope (1Samuel 2:1-5; Psalm 126:1-2). The primary reason God created us in His image is for fellowship, thanksgiving, praise and joyful heart (Isaiah 43:21)
If you will cultivate the habit of showing gratitude to God, you will compel overflowing blessing from Him. These blessings include: answer prayers (John 11:41-44); abundant provision (Mark 8:6-8); deliverance from bondage (Acts 16:25-26). Thankful people are peaceful and joyful (Philippians 4:6-7). They enjoy divine presence (Psalm 22:3; 95:2), completed restoration, wholeness (Luke 17:16-19) and victory without a fight (2Chronicles 20:21-23).
2. DANGERS OF INGRATITUDE
Ingratitude is the result of vain imagination and darkened heart. Sometimes your thanksgiving is senseless to the ordinary person but it is more profitable to be thankful than to complain (Romans 1:12; Proverbs 15:8). There are several reasons people are ungrateful to God. Sin or Spiritual blindness (Ephesians 4:17-18). Refusal to take account of what God has done (Romans 1:12). Pride (Acts 12:21-23).
Every act of ingratitude comes with it’s attendant danger. Risk of losing the existing blessing, salvation and Heaven (Matthew 25:24-25, 30). Limiting one’s blessing or answered prayers (Luke 27:12-16,19). It could result in emptiness and sorrow (Proverbs 15:13; 17:22) thereby, making restoration practically difficult.
CONCLUSION: Showing gratitude to God ensures continuous divine presence and fellowship.
QUESTIONS:
1. Mention some of the reasons for thanksgiving.
2. Why is ingratitude dangerous?
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