The Communion of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Deeper Christian!

As we conclude our three part miniseries on thanksgiving, we go through a short review of the first two concepts and then further discuss the idea that thanksgiving is more than a day we celebrate, it is the lifestyle of every believer.

Throughout the episode, we emphasis the connection between thanksgiving and communion and give three practical ways we can develop a life of thankfulness. 

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Show Notes / Additional Resources

Thanksgiving is to be in every activity, every moment of the day

• Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• Ephesians 5:20 – giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
• Philippians 4:6 – do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Thanksgiving is to abound in our lives

• Colossians 2:7 – rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
  • Abounding: to be abundant or plentiful; existing in large quantities

Thanksgiving is to increase … and be for God’s glory

• 2 Corinthians 4:15 – For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

Thanksgiving is God’s will for your life

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 – Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thanksgiving is the language of the Kingdom of God

• Ephesians 5:4 – Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a LIFESTYLE

What would your life look like if all the complaining, frustration, anxiety, problems, issues, circumstances, gripping, distrust, confusion, criticizing, and grumbling were swallowed up in a life of thanksgiving? If the fragrance of your life was Jesus rather than the stench yourself? Read more on this.

Thanksgiving is more than a meal

• It is not merely a once a year celebration … it is to be the tenor of the life of the Christian
• Old Testament Usage – thanksgiving is closely tied to the verb “to bless” and the Hebrew word for “thanks” (תּוֹדָה, todah) is derived from the verb “to praise or confess.”
• New Testament Usage – thanksgiving (εὐχαριστία, eucharistia / eucharisteo) is tied to the idea of “grace”—in fact, most of the Greek words for thanks, thanksgiving, thankful, are all from the same root word as “grace” (χάρις charis).
  • where we get our word “Eucharist” (Lord’s Supper/Communion).
  • Communion is an act of pure thanksgiving.
  • It is a time to give thanks for the greatest gift and sacrifice ever made, the death (and life) of Jesus on your behalf.

The Communion of Thanksgiving

• Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20)
  • He “gave thanks” (eucharisteo)
  • A picture of the Gospel, an exchange of lives.
    • We partake of His life, allowing Him to permeate our being
    • But He also partakes of our lives

3 Ways to Develop and Live a Life of Thankfulness

1. Turn upward – spend time daily praising and thanking God for who He is, what He has done, and what He means in your life

2. Turn outward – purposefully find ways to thank and bless others (even for small things) … for example write or verbally tell someone how grateful you are for them, what they have done, or how you see God working in their lives

3. Turn inward (heartward) – journal or record your gratitude and thanksgiving daily or weekly

• Consider writing a list of 100 things you are grateful for
• Develop a daily or weekly habit of giving thanks and remembering the goodness of our God

Psalms of Thanksgiving

• Psalm 26:7 – That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
• Psalm 26:7 – That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
• Psalm 50:14 – Offer to God thanksgiving, …
• Psalm 69:30 – I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
• Psalm 75:1 – We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.
• Psalm 92:1-2 – It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,
• Psalm 95:2-3 – Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods.
• Psalm 107:22 – Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.
• Psalm 118:1 – Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
• Psalm 100 – A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Join the Conversation

Question: How can you take this holiday and make it a lifestyle of thanksgiving?

Leave a response or ask a question and we will try to address it in a future episode.

The difficulty with podcasts is that they are one-sided—so each week I ask one question for you to participate in the conversation. Head over to the deeperChristian Facebook page to leave a comment and join in the conversation.

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About NRJohnson

NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) is a Christian who has an overwhelming passion for Jesus, the Gospel, and Studying God’s Word. He is a writer, teacher, and communicator who helps other believers understand and apply the Bible as they grow and mature in their faith—desiring that they gain greater intimacy with Christ, experience the victorious Christian life, and transform the world through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Read more about him here.

About the Deeper Christian Podcast

Many Christians feel frustrated because they don’t grow spiritually. The Deeper Christian Podcast helps equip Christians to understand the Word of God and cultivate a passionate love for Jesus that turns the world upside down.

Whether you want to learn how to study God’s Word, grow in your faith, cultivate a powerful and effective prayer life, share the Gospel boldly, deepen your intimacy with Jesus, live victoriously, or transform the world through the indwelling life of the Holy Spirit, the Deeper Christian Podcast with NRJohnson (Nathan Johnson) will encourage and equip you to grow spiritually and live a Christ-centered life.