Thanks in Action

SERMON TITLE:                 “Thanks in Action”
SERMON TEXT:                  1 Corinthians 16:5-20
PREACHER:                         Rev. Kim James
OCCASION:                         November 20, 2016, at First UMC
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
                I had to go shopping the other day for a greeting card that I should have sent two weeks ago.  That negligence got me to thinking how often our actions don’t match up to our thoughts, feelings, and words.  We’re so busy or distracted that we often don’t get around to doing the things that we want to do.  As I stood there in the store aisle, surrounded by birthday, anniversary, and thank you cards, I decided that our human failure to act as we wish must be why so many greeting cards begin with something like, “I don’t say this nearly often enough, but I appreciate you so much.” 
It’s so important to say things like, “I love you,” and “I appreciate you.”  We shouldn’t leave such sentiments in any doubt.  At Thanksgiving, hopefully we are able to put some words together to thank God and each other for all the good things in our lives.  But gratitude is more than spoken words or fancy language printed on a card.  True thankfulness will also be backed up by action.  So, on this Sunday before Thanksgiving, I thought it might be good to take a look at the 16th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.  In those verses, Paul doesn’t ever use the words Thanksgiving or give thanks or be thankful.  But Paul is definitely talking about behaviors that convey gratitude.  Let’s dig into this chapter and learn some ways to put thanks in action.

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