2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Luke 17:11-19
Sunday's readings will be from the new Common English Bible.
Thanksgiving Sunday
Sunday's message: Multiplying many expressions of thanksgiving
Our procession of special Sundays brings us this week to Thanksgiving Sunday, the last day of the church year; and to the first Sunday of our stewardship drive.
Have we indeed been blessed? In the current economic climate we may think that our blessings are in question. Yet in material terms American Christians are the most blessed Christians the world has ever seen.
Deuteronomy, then, has a warning for us: in enjoying our blessings, we are not to forget God or God's ways. We are not to begin to assume ourselves to be self-dependent. Perhaps the economic downturn cured us of a little of that.
"Remember the LORD your God!" in what particular ways are we do that? I'm glad you asked! I'll have some ideas to share on Sunday.
Paul writing to the Corinthians is promoting one of his favorite projects: a collection for the poor in Jerusalem, still the center of the Christian enterprise in his day. He notes that, as far as blessings go, the one who sows just a few seeds gathers a small crop. He wants the good folks at Corinth to give cheerfully and from the heart, not with hesitation or because of pressure. But still, few seed, small crop. Then Paul says something amazing:
Your ministry of this service to God’s people isn't only fully meeting their needs but it is also multiplying in many expressions of thanksgiving to God. They will give honor to God for your obedience to your confession of Christ’s gospel. They will do this because this service provides evidence of your obedience, and because of your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. They will also pray for you, and they will care deeply for you because of the outstanding grace that God has given to you.In the kingdom, service and gifts and blessing multiply exponentially. But that's not an excuse for small giving (knowing that even small gifts multiply); it's an exhortation to give generously, so that unbelievable things may happen. I'll read some interesting figures about this on Sunday morning.
The story from the good news according to Luke is a story about healing and thanksgiving. Ten lepers beg Jesus for healing mercy. He grants it; and as they go to the priest for the required inspection, each becomes clean. Only one of them, a Samaritan foreigner, turns around and comes back to thank Jesus. "Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?" How have we been blessed, cleansed, healed, restored, forgiven, sanctified, redeemed, saved? Have we taken steps and gone out of our way to thank Jesus and to praise God by our actions?
Recently I've finished reading a most interesting book. It's called Passing the Plate. The name is ironic. The gist of the book is that, while American Christians have been blessed far beyond anything Christians in other times and places have know, we've largely passed the plate along instead of putting something in it. A sociological study, the book seeks to explain why this is so. It contains interesting insights, some of which I'll share with you Sunday morning. I'll see you there.
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