Give Thanks in All Circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:12-19)
Gary McManus, 04/17/2016Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
April 17, 2016
1 Thessalonians 5:12-19 (p. 1171 / p.1188-9)
Pastor McManus’ messages are usually sharing
what he believes and reads in God’s Word.
Last week was on practicing forgiveness.
This week we will talk about practicing
gratitude.
Pollyanna, a book written in 1913. The main
character, an orphan practiced finding something
good in adverse circumstances. The word
“Pollyannaish” is now often an insulting term
for being absurdly optimistic and good-hearted.
Pastor is not encouraging Pollyannaish behavior.
Today’s message is NOT simple optimism.
The message is based on Jesus and God’s Word.
Remember Isaiah 61, Luke 4, Matthew, and
Isaiah 55:8-9.
Today’s text is one of 50 Bible texts calling us
to give thanks (and especially to give thanks
to the Lord). [1 Chronicles 16:34, 23:30]
Dr. Alex Korb, The Upward Spiral: using
neuroscience to reverse the course of depression
Specifically p. 152.
For the Apostle Paul it was a learning process:
Philippians 4:11-12.
Optimism has to do with the way you think.
Jesus, the Bible and modern psychology clearly
state that you and I can think differently than
we think today. Paul told us to renew our minds
(Romans 12:2) and Jesus said he came to change
things (referenced above).
The key to this training is called REFRAMING.
Get God’s perspective.
Personal examples from Pastor McManus. . .
Our situation?
A practical assignment, two choices:
1. When today is over, write down three
good things that happened today.
Then do it again tomorrow and the next day
. . .all week.
2. Express gratitude to those who have made
a positive difference in your life. Start a list
of those who had a positive influence.
Write down how and why. Then communicate
that gratitude to that person.
Guarantee?
That is what the other man said.
But Pastor will start the ball rolling. . .
Amen.
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
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