"Always Give Thanks"

(2 Thessalonians. 2:13-17)

Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

INTRODUCTION:

I read a story in an old issue of The Joyful Noiseletter which is published by the Fellowship of Merry Christians. It seems that a family received a Thanksgiving Day card. The card was a picture of a Pilgrim family walking toward a church. Mom showed the children the card and explained that the Pilgrim children liked to celebrate Thanksgiving Day by attending church with their parents. One of her skeptical children asked his mother, "Well, if those children liked to go to church so much, why is their father walking behind them with a rifle in his hand?" (1)

I hope that's not how your kids feel about church and Sunday School. I know that's NOT how most of the children and youth here feel. They enjoy coming to church. They enjoy the programs and the ministries we have. I'm thankful for that, and I hope you are, too.

As we continue in our Stewardship campaign and as we draw closer to and prepare our homes for the Thanksgiving holiday, it's important that we stop and think about giving and especially about giving thanks. Giving thanks has always been one of the hallmarks or major characteristics of the Christian faith. You can see the evidence of that in the Psalms, in Jesus teachings, and in Paul's letters. Especially here in 2 Thessalonians.

I. THE THESSALONIANS:

There was a lot going on in church at Thessalonica. They were a very active and devout group of Christians. They were concerned about the growing persecutions. And they had questions about the second coming of Christ. In his first letter, Paul tried to help them grow in faith and alleviate their fears and worries about the second coming. Unfortunately, they misunderstood what Paul was trying to say. Because of the growing persecutions of Christians, the Thessalonians truly thought that Jesus had returned and they had somehow missed it.

I served a church back in Missouri while going to college. We made some very good friends with many of the members. And we have some very fond memories. Strangely enough, one of those memories involves a book by Hal Lindsey entitled, The Late Great Planet Earth. It was about the end times and the return of Jesus. they also produced a movie version of this book. Mary and I and another couple from the church, Bill and Edna, decided to go see the movie. About two days later I ran over to their house to talk Bill about some upcoming stuff at the church.

This little Church was in the country then and in order to get to Bill's house you had to drive across a dam. Bill was on the back side of the dam, mowing. So, I stopped my truck, left the motor running and the door open and walked down the hill to talk to him. He got off his little tractor and left it running. The neighbor across the road was out washing his car and had the doors open. And the neighbor next door (also a member) had the door open on his pickup. Bill and I walked over under the shade of a tree to talk.

As we were talking, all of a sudden Edna came running up, out of breath and a relieved look on her face. When she finally caught her breath, she started laughing and explained her momenary panic. She said, "When I came out of the house I couldn't see anybody or hear anybody. All I could see and hear were all the vehicles running and they had their doors open. For minute there, I thought maybe Jesus had come and I'd got left behind."

I can't begin to imagine what that would feel like. But that's what the Thessalonians were feeling. It had caused quite a turmoil in their lives and in their faith. So, Paul writes a second time to assure them that they haven't been left behind, they've just misinterpreted his teachings. He tells them "to stand firm and hold fast" to things he taught them while he was with them. And then he prays that they might be comforted and strengthened to continue their good work.

II. PAUL'S THANKFULNESS:

A. In the midst of all of this, Paul says something very wonderful. He says, "We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord." (2:13)

For a people worried about their fate and their faith, this is a wonderful affirmation. Paul says that he and the whole church give thanks not just once in awhile; not just once a month or once a week or even every other day. Instead Paul says, "We must always give thanks to God for you." Their faith and their faithfulness is such that Paul and the other missionaries "give thanks always." Can you think of anyone in your life for which you "always" give thanks?

Every time I think of my pastor, Bob Core, I always give thanks for him and for having known him. I would like to tell you that I always give thanks for my wife Mary. But I don't. Oh, at times I do. But other times I take her for granted. Paul says he "always gives thanks" for the folks in Thessalonica. Wow.

B. You get the impression that these folks were pretty special in Paul's eyes. Why? Why would Paul say such a thing? He lists some very good reasons.

First, Paul says he gives thanks "because God chose the [Thessalonians] as the first fruits for salvation." In other words, they were some of the very first Christian converts, some of the very first who came to know Christ and the joy of salvation.

Second, Paul is thankful because they have been "filled with the Holy Spirit." That means that the power of Pentecost didn't end on Pentecost Sunday. The Spirit is available and fills all believers.

Third, Paul says he is thankful for "their belief in the truth." In other words, even though they've been confused about the Second Coming, they haven't gone running after any and every teaching that has come their way, but have remained faithful.

And Finally, Paul is thankful because they have heard and answered God's call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

III. OUR THANKFULNESS:

A. All of this got me to thinking about thankfulness and giving thanks. Would Paul write that about us? Could Paul write that about us? I'd have to say yes. We may not have been chosen as the first fruits, but the Spirit is present, we are faithful and we are proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. We show the same marks of thankfulness.

Thankfulness is based on gratitude: gratitude for the great gift of life; gratitude for the gift of salvation through faith in Christ; gratitude for God's unmerited love. We give thanks because we are grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon us. We give to the church and the work of the church as an act of thanks giving out of gratitude for these blessings.

Those blessings inspire us to get involved. And our involvement becomes an act of giving thanks; an act of stewardship. You see stewardship isn't just about money or giving. It's about lives and ministry. When we get involved in ministry we grow and it helps others grow. And ministry isn't something complicated. It can be something very simple.

I want to tell you about two people who are some of the silent servants of this Church. People who give of their time because of their love for God and their love for this church. Most people don't know what they do but it hasn't gone unnoticed. When you come in on Sunday mornings and find the Bibles all straight and the chairs all in straight lines. And everything in the Sanctuary just perfect, it's because of one of these men.

And every Sunday you come and find the lawn mowed. We have money set aside in the budget but one of these men spends his day off mowing the church lawn on Fridays so it looks good on Sunday morning. Neither one of these guys wants any credit, that's why I haven't mentioned their names. But they give of themselves out of their gratitude for the love of God and their love for this Church.

B. The little things we do, like stuffing and stapling newsletters or inputing information into the computer all help the overall ministry of St. John the Apostle. They are ways we show our thankfulness and our love for God.

Another way is through the ministries we provide for our children and youth. We have one of the most active children's and youth programs in the District and the Conference. Our 5th and 6th grade fellowship, FYI (Future Youth Incorporated) has become a model for other churches.

Then look at all of the music our children are involved in. I don't know of another church that has a many choirs. It takes a ton of volunteers and a ton of kids. But it is making a difference in their lives and in our lives. The music program doesn't just teach music, it teaches the faith. And maybe even more important, it teaches kids how to work together (especially during Music Camp) and models the Christian Community.

The Deaf ministry is changing lives as well. It has become much more involved in the youth ministry. And it is impacting the Junior High youth greatly, and opening up areas of growth and understanding that might never have happened.

C. But it's not just us who are involved in this ministry. Our Youth and children are involved in ministry, too. Look at the coat drive being sponsored by the FYI. they are looking beyond themselves to reach out and help the needy by giving them coats. They are in ministry and calling us into ministry with them.

And the children are in ministry every Sunday. We don't always talk about it but the Children's Offering each Sunday goes to support Heifer Project International. This is a project that has a direct impact on children and families all around the world by supplying much needed registered livestock. Everything from honey bees to water buffaloes. Guinea pigs, hogs, rabbits, chickens, dairy cows, beef cattle and goats. This livestock offers them better quality livestock, the products like eggs or honey or milk and food. All of this is done with nickels, dimes and quarters. When your kids give to the Children's offering, they are helping other children. Remember that when they fill out their pledge cards.

Our Youth minister to us, also. Some of our most moving Worship Services have been on Youth Sunday when we heard our teenagers giver their personal testimonies. Like I said earlier, we have one of the best Youth Programs in the District. We have quality youth leaders. These folks really give their all to the our youth. They are quality people whose lives are making a difference.

How? Well, five of our kids were part of summer staff at Glen Lake Camp. That says a lot about the quality of our youth and the quality of the leadership of this church. Their lives impacted every child and youth who came to camp this summer. We have a bunch of great folks who give their time in serving God through the children's and youth programs of this church.

We're making a difference in the lives of our children and youth and they are making a difference in our lives.

I want to reiterate something Rick Ratcliff said at Church Conference the other night. You never know how you are going to impact someone else's life.

CONCLUSION:

As we continue in our Stewardship Program, let us consider the great work of this Church, the work of ministry we provide for and share with our youth and children. It's all part of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ, for which "we must always give thanks." To quote Paul. Pray about how you can give thanks and how you can make a difference.

This is the Word of the Lord for this day.

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Bibliography

1. Adapted from Joyful Noiseletter, November, 1992, submitted by Jay Martin, Manistique, Michigan+

Other References Consulted

Lectionary Homiletics, Volume IX, Number 12, November 1998, (Lectionary Homiletics, Inc. Midlothian, VA)

Life Application Notes, WordSearch Computer Bible Program, (Navpress Software, Austin, TX).