The holidays, even an American holiday like Thanksgiving, are relentless. They come around every year whether we are ready or not, and we preachers feel the need to leverage the holidays toward the gospel to help our people keep a God-focus in a season of multiple distractions. Even if you are in a series through a Bible book, why don’t you step out of it for Thanksgiving and Advent. It gives your people a break and readies them to view the season through a gospel lens. This will be the 42nd Thanksgiving Sunday I’ve preached. I thought I’d share some Thanksgiving sermon ideas I’ve used across the decades to prime your pump if you need it.
What a Friend
We Have in Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Lifted the idea from a Fred Craddock’s sermon “Doxology.” I
personify Thanksgiving and tell stories of taking him along with me into
situations both easy and difficult. By the end of the sermon, living 1 Thessalonians
5:18 seems more possible for people.
The Richest Man
in the World
2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:15
Though rare for me in a sermon, I give personal testimony of
the riches I have in Christ: salvation, calling, church, etc. My aim is to
prime the pump for people to explore and own the riches they have in Christ …
and give thanks.
Give Thanks for
He Is Good
Psalm 136:1-3
Since Psalm 136 is a recitation of thanksgiving to the Lord
for his goodness evidenced by his love that endures forever, I cite stories
from the OT and consider how the story might have turned out if God is not
good. I finish that survey with Jesus. My aim is that the church gains a fresh
understanding of God’s goodness and, like the psalmist, is moved to give thanks.
Manna Again?
Numbers 11:4-6
We explore the attitude of the Israelites who were beginning
to tire of manna. How often do we take for granted incredible blessings God
gives us?
Thankful to the
Bone
2 Samuel 6:12-23
We join David in Jerusalem as he gets the ark of the covenant
into the city and breaks out into a dance of praise. We consider the responses
to his dance. My aim is to help our people realize that in the wake of God’s
blessings, sometimes you just got to dance.
Count Your Many
Blessers
Philippians 1:3
The sermon’s aim is to help people think through the many persons
God puts in our lives to serve as his agent of blessing. I hope when folks get
home from the sermon they will make a call or a text or write a note of thanks
to someone who has blessed their lives. (A preacher could use any list Paul
makes at the end of his letters of people who have blessed him—even Romans 16.)
Grateful No
Matter What
Habakkuk 3:17-19
A poignant text in which Habakkuk expresses his desire to
give thanks no matter the circumstances in which he and Judah find themselves
with Babylon banging on the door.
Gratitude Can’t
Wait
Luke 17:11-19
The classic story of Jesus healing ten lepers only one of
whom comes around to thank him. The aim is to spur immediate thanksgiving when
God blesses us. A preacher can have a lot of fun with this text.
In All Circumstances?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 or Ephesians 5:20
How does a person give thanks when times are hard?
****
I hope these ideas stir up some of your own ideas as you
preach on Thanksgiving Sunday this year. By the way, for more ideas on Thanksgiving
preaching, check out David Allen’s Preaching Coach Podcast episode on preaching
the Thanksgiving sermon.
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