“Be Ye Thankful”

Introduction

I. 	Have you ever done something for someone and never receive a “Thank you” from them?
A. 	Perhaps its just opening a door for them.  
B. 	Possibly you have simply complimented them for something they have done.
C. 	You may have given them a gift, or bought them a meal or helped them with some work.
D. 	How do you feel when others do not say, “Thanks” when you’ve done something for them?
II. 	  Jesus experienced this upon healing the ten lepers when nine of 	the ten did not say, “Thanks.”  Luke 17:11-19.
A. 	Isn’t it interesting that the one who gave thanks was a Samaritan and that the nine, who were probably Jews, did not express their thanks.
B. 	This should serve as a warning to us that, we, as Christians, should be the first to give thanks for what is done for us.
C. 	We are taught to be thankful.  Col. 3:1-17.  (Note vss. 15 and 17).
III. 	 Let us study some of the scriptures which teach us to be 	thankful.	

Body
 
I. 	We should be thankful to God for our salvation. Col. 3:1-4; 13, 15, 17.
A. 	God enabled us to change from being servants of sin to being servants of righteousness.  Rom. 6:17-18.
B. 	He arranged to deliver us out of the power of darkness and to translate us into the kingdom of God.  Col. 1:9-17.
C. 	Like Paul, we should be thankful that Christ Jesus came to save sinners.  I Tim. 1:12-17.

II. 	Paul gave the example of being thankful to God for faithful brethren in Christ.
A. 	He was thankful for the Romans’ faith which was proclaimed throughout the world.  Rom. 1:8-15.
B. 	He was thankful that the Corinthians had received so many spiritual gifts.  I Cor. 1:4-9.
C. 	He gave thanks for the Ephesians’ and Colossians’ faith in Christ and love of the saints.  Eph. 1:15-16; Col. 1:3-8.
D. 	He was thankful for the Thessalonians in many ways.  I Thess. 1:2-10; II Thess. 1:3-5.
E. 	Special thanks were given for the Philippians.  Phil. 1:3-7; 2:25-30; 4:10-20.

“Be Ye Thankful,” page 2.

III. 	We should be thankful for faithful Christians.
A. 	We should be thankful for their help as were the widows for whom Dorcas had made garments.  Acts 9:39.
B. 	We should be thankful when those who are spiritual help us to overcome our sins.  Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20.
C. 	We should be thankful for those who have taught us.  Heb. 13:7, 17-19.
D. 	We should be thankful for the good examples of those who are young.  I Tim. 4:12-16.
1. 	Those who are young often face opposition because they are faithful to God.
2. 	They may be rejected because they “run not with them into the same excess of riot.”  I Pet. 4:3-4.

Conclusion

I. 	Yes, we should truly be thankful for the salvation that God has provided in Christ Jesus.
II. 	We should be thankful for faithful Christians.
III. 	Let us give more attention to being thankful to God and others.
IV. 	God’s greatest blessing is eternal life, and He offers it to you as a gift if you will fulfill His will.  Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9.
V. 	Obey the Lord today.

Prepared by:
	David Arnold
	October 13, 1996