Thanksgiving Day, USA
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle B
Seasonal Theme
The Pentecost Season is one of Christian growth and learning about the way of discipleship.
Theme For The Day
Giving God proper thanks for all our many blessings, including our Savior Jesus the Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Joel 2:21-27
God Gives Rain
This is a passage about God's blessings and how we should celebrate them. The pastures will be green, the trees bear fruit, the vine yields well, and it's all because of both early and late rain. It's abundant rain ... a real blessing in that part of the world. And because God gives the abundant rain there will be a great harvest and the people will eat well. The author says all this prosperity proves to the people that God is with them (v. 27) and is their God. Verse 25 seems to indicate that this abundance makes up for the years of insects that had marched on them like an army. So maybe this blessing of rain will move the people of Israel to a right relationship with their God. In my opinion this will be a "tough sell" to the poor of our day: to indicate that prosperity is a sign that God is in their midst! And then what do we say about the times and people of draught? However, the "be glad and rejoice" will work for a day of Thanksgiving. Some have regarded verse 23 as the seat of the Qumran Essenes' title of their leader: "Teacher of righteousness" (moreh). I doubt this is the place, as did the New Revised Standard Version translators.
New Testament Lesson
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Pray With Thanksgiving
It's an easy interpretation. Paul says to Timothy:
Verses 1-2: We should pray for everyone and with Thanksgiving.
Verses 3-4: We have a Savior who wants all to be saved.
Verse 5: That Savior is our mediator between us and God.
Verse 6: He gave himself as a ransom for all.
Verse 8: Paul was called to be a herald and apostle of this truth to us Gentiles.
The theme of thanksgiving is found in verse 1, "... and thanksgiving."
The Gospel
Matthew 6:25-33
The Birds Of The Air
No doubt this passage would be more palatable to those who have plenty, than to those who live on the edge of starvation! Perhaps the theme is not to worry (v. 25) and the rest are illustrations of how God provides for us, and that worrying doesn't improve the situation anyway. The King James version missed the translation when it said, "take no thought" about the necessities of life. This NRSV is much closer with its, "do not worry about your life" (v. 25). Verses 26-30 must have been a Hebrew poem in which the lines rhyme in their sense even though not in their sounds. The message is obvious: If God has given us our lives, God will surely provide what we need to sustain them. Our emphasis according to verse 33 is to work for God's Kingdom and for God's righteousness -- the bonus is that all these other things will be added, too! By the way, when I read this Gospel to the congregation and put it in the worship bulletin, to be a little more inclusive, I'll use the footnote translation for verse 35 and instead of "his righteousness," I'll say "its righteousness."
Preaching Possibilities
Because this is a national holiday in the U.S., we will have to go with a topical theme of Thanksgiving. All three readings can easily stand alone. But probably the easiest homiletic is to use all three readings, making the following emphasis:
A. Old Testament: God's blessing us through abundance is cause of our rejoicing. Just to have enough to eat is a great cause for thanking God.
B. New Testament: Because God came as the Savior Jesus who made all things right between us and God, we also celebrate with thanksgiving. And, like Paul, we need to tell others about it.
C. The Gospel: Because God cares for even the birds of the air, we can be sure God will care for us. So we ought not worry so much and, rather, concentrate on the things of God's kingdom. And share this Good News with others, too.
While it's not so much in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Gospel's words of Jesus about worry surely will hit home with our people. It could be a very meaningful sermon for people of American lifestyles. You could begin relating some of the things that really worry you, the preacher, like your own and the church's finances, your children, crime in the community, your old age, your present health, etc. Then move to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25, 27, 31. Be open about the fact that telling someone not to worry doesn't necessarily help him to stop. The answer is in verse 33. We strive to be faithful disciples in the kingdom and, thus, just don't have the time to worry about little things like what to wear, etc. It might work.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
I'll try a letter sermon for this day.
A. It will begin by being addressed to a relative to whom I am turning down an invitation to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family because I have to preach at our service.
B. Then I'll tell him what I will do in my sermon:
1. I'll begin with a review of the story of the first Thanksgiving in America, which I'll find at our town library.
2. Then I'll tell them about three personalities in the Bible and their reasons for thanksgiving. They are Joel in the Old Testament Lesson, Paul in the New Testament Reading, and Jesus in the Gospel. Their reasons are listed above in the "Preaching Possibilities" section.
3. Then I'll tell them my reasons for being thankful this year and remind them of the many reasons that the congregation ought be thankful as well.
4. Next, I'll explain that, while my relative and I can't be together this Thanksgiving, we will join together over the miles when we take the bread and wine of the Eucharist (the "thanksgiving"). This will prepare our hearers to receive communion today if it is going to be offered.
C. Then I'll frame the letter sermon by mentioning again the first Thanksgiving in America and sign the letter from me.
Note: A letter sermon ought to be in an envelope with stamp, etc., and pulled out in the pulpit and read in letter form: "November 23, 2002, St. Mark's, Lima, Ohio, Dear Uncle George, Sorry I cannot be there today," etc. It will preach!
Prayer For The Day
Our hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving for all the ways you bless us with food, clothing, a place to live, and this precious community called a congregation. Now help us to respond by being the instruments through which you bless others much less fortunate than we are. And give us lots of bravery to tell others about your blessings. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
According to Kenneth W. Morgan in his book Reaching for the Moon on Asian Religious Paths, Buddhists believe "... what we think and desire as well as what we do shapes what we become."
Yi, Narith from Cambodia wrote in a paper for me, "... we produces one to two hundred local congregations between 1989 to 1993. (He got a video of Jesus' life and went around Phnom Phen with a few fellow Christians.) I used to pray, fasting once a week, and lived a most simple life. Not many people want me to marry their daughters. I had nothing, not even proper dress and shoe, but relation with congregational members and joy in God." Jesus says, "Strive first for the kingdom ..." (Matthew 6:33a).
Chim Pich of Cambodia and Stella Min of Myanmar (Burma) both tell of the same practice by Christians in their countries. Before they cook rice, they always take the first handful of dry grain and put it in a special container, which is set aside to be brought to church each Sunday. This rice is then used to feed the poor and for the victims of the annual flooding in their countries.
If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. One third of the world does not have access to even one.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed that the million who will not survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and/or alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch their shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe in God's willingness to hear and answer prayer.
If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, you are part of a very small minority in the world.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all.
The Pentecost Season is one of Christian growth and learning about the way of discipleship.
Theme For The Day
Giving God proper thanks for all our many blessings, including our Savior Jesus the Christ.
Old Testament Lesson
Joel 2:21-27
God Gives Rain
This is a passage about God's blessings and how we should celebrate them. The pastures will be green, the trees bear fruit, the vine yields well, and it's all because of both early and late rain. It's abundant rain ... a real blessing in that part of the world. And because God gives the abundant rain there will be a great harvest and the people will eat well. The author says all this prosperity proves to the people that God is with them (v. 27) and is their God. Verse 25 seems to indicate that this abundance makes up for the years of insects that had marched on them like an army. So maybe this blessing of rain will move the people of Israel to a right relationship with their God. In my opinion this will be a "tough sell" to the poor of our day: to indicate that prosperity is a sign that God is in their midst! And then what do we say about the times and people of draught? However, the "be glad and rejoice" will work for a day of Thanksgiving. Some have regarded verse 23 as the seat of the Qumran Essenes' title of their leader: "Teacher of righteousness" (moreh). I doubt this is the place, as did the New Revised Standard Version translators.
New Testament Lesson
1 Timothy 2:1-7
Pray With Thanksgiving
It's an easy interpretation. Paul says to Timothy:
Verses 1-2: We should pray for everyone and with Thanksgiving.
Verses 3-4: We have a Savior who wants all to be saved.
Verse 5: That Savior is our mediator between us and God.
Verse 6: He gave himself as a ransom for all.
Verse 8: Paul was called to be a herald and apostle of this truth to us Gentiles.
The theme of thanksgiving is found in verse 1, "... and thanksgiving."
The Gospel
Matthew 6:25-33
The Birds Of The Air
No doubt this passage would be more palatable to those who have plenty, than to those who live on the edge of starvation! Perhaps the theme is not to worry (v. 25) and the rest are illustrations of how God provides for us, and that worrying doesn't improve the situation anyway. The King James version missed the translation when it said, "take no thought" about the necessities of life. This NRSV is much closer with its, "do not worry about your life" (v. 25). Verses 26-30 must have been a Hebrew poem in which the lines rhyme in their sense even though not in their sounds. The message is obvious: If God has given us our lives, God will surely provide what we need to sustain them. Our emphasis according to verse 33 is to work for God's Kingdom and for God's righteousness -- the bonus is that all these other things will be added, too! By the way, when I read this Gospel to the congregation and put it in the worship bulletin, to be a little more inclusive, I'll use the footnote translation for verse 35 and instead of "his righteousness," I'll say "its righteousness."
Preaching Possibilities
Because this is a national holiday in the U.S., we will have to go with a topical theme of Thanksgiving. All three readings can easily stand alone. But probably the easiest homiletic is to use all three readings, making the following emphasis:
A. Old Testament: God's blessing us through abundance is cause of our rejoicing. Just to have enough to eat is a great cause for thanking God.
B. New Testament: Because God came as the Savior Jesus who made all things right between us and God, we also celebrate with thanksgiving. And, like Paul, we need to tell others about it.
C. The Gospel: Because God cares for even the birds of the air, we can be sure God will care for us. So we ought not worry so much and, rather, concentrate on the things of God's kingdom. And share this Good News with others, too.
While it's not so much in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Gospel's words of Jesus about worry surely will hit home with our people. It could be a very meaningful sermon for people of American lifestyles. You could begin relating some of the things that really worry you, the preacher, like your own and the church's finances, your children, crime in the community, your old age, your present health, etc. Then move to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:25, 27, 31. Be open about the fact that telling someone not to worry doesn't necessarily help him to stop. The answer is in verse 33. We strive to be faithful disciples in the kingdom and, thus, just don't have the time to worry about little things like what to wear, etc. It might work.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
I'll try a letter sermon for this day.
A. It will begin by being addressed to a relative to whom I am turning down an invitation to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family because I have to preach at our service.
B. Then I'll tell him what I will do in my sermon:
1. I'll begin with a review of the story of the first Thanksgiving in America, which I'll find at our town library.
2. Then I'll tell them about three personalities in the Bible and their reasons for thanksgiving. They are Joel in the Old Testament Lesson, Paul in the New Testament Reading, and Jesus in the Gospel. Their reasons are listed above in the "Preaching Possibilities" section.
3. Then I'll tell them my reasons for being thankful this year and remind them of the many reasons that the congregation ought be thankful as well.
4. Next, I'll explain that, while my relative and I can't be together this Thanksgiving, we will join together over the miles when we take the bread and wine of the Eucharist (the "thanksgiving"). This will prepare our hearers to receive communion today if it is going to be offered.
C. Then I'll frame the letter sermon by mentioning again the first Thanksgiving in America and sign the letter from me.
Note: A letter sermon ought to be in an envelope with stamp, etc., and pulled out in the pulpit and read in letter form: "November 23, 2002, St. Mark's, Lima, Ohio, Dear Uncle George, Sorry I cannot be there today," etc. It will preach!
Prayer For The Day
Our hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving for all the ways you bless us with food, clothing, a place to live, and this precious community called a congregation. Now help us to respond by being the instruments through which you bless others much less fortunate than we are. And give us lots of bravery to tell others about your blessings. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Possible Metaphors And Stories
According to Kenneth W. Morgan in his book Reaching for the Moon on Asian Religious Paths, Buddhists believe "... what we think and desire as well as what we do shapes what we become."
Yi, Narith from Cambodia wrote in a paper for me, "... we produces one to two hundred local congregations between 1989 to 1993. (He got a video of Jesus' life and went around Phnom Phen with a few fellow Christians.) I used to pray, fasting once a week, and lived a most simple life. Not many people want me to marry their daughters. I had nothing, not even proper dress and shoe, but relation with congregational members and joy in God." Jesus says, "Strive first for the kingdom ..." (Matthew 6:33a).
Chim Pich of Cambodia and Stella Min of Myanmar (Burma) both tell of the same practice by Christians in their countries. Before they cook rice, they always take the first handful of dry grain and put it in a special container, which is set aside to be brought to church each Sunday. This rice is then used to feed the poor and for the victims of the annual flooding in their countries.
If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed. One third of the world does not have access to even one.
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed that the million who will not survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world.
If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and/or alive, you are very rare, even in the United States.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them, or even touch their shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you prayed yesterday and today, you are in the minority because you believe in God's willingness to hear and answer prayer.
If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God, you are part of a very small minority in the world.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read anything at all.
