Sermon Title: Aligning with God and Giving Thanks

11.23.2025

Themes: Thanking God and loving others.

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Weekly Question: Is your gratitude evidence of His plan for your life?

Sermon Points:

1. Alignment with God.

Jeremiah 29:11-13. Aligning with God’s plan for your life is

foundational for living a life of gratitude. Do you know God’s plan for your life? Do you know

your spiritual gifts? You were called to Christ for a purpose and you are called to purposely use

your spiritual gifts for His glory.

2. Unity in the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:1–6. Paul urges us to walk worthy of our calling in

a specific manner because it’s not enough to simply say we are serving the Lord. How are we to

fulfill our calling?

We are to walk in humility, gentleness, patience, and love while maintaining the unity of the

Spirit in the bond of peace. The way we serve Him is as important as serving Him. Psalm 133:1.

Publicly giving thanks should not be one day a year. Just as we prepare for Thanksgiving by

cooking a meal, so too can we ready ourselves for God’s service with a heart of gratitude by

thanking the Lord for putting us in community with others. You spell community with unity! We

are called to live as one body. Colossians 3:15.

3. Giving thanks.

Gratitude is the meaning and mission of Thanksgiving. To be grateful is to be

joyful. Being grateful focuses our heart and mind on the important things, such as family and

friends. We are most grateful when we are most aligned with God’s purpose for our life. He is

faithful, so we can be thankful. Psalm 106:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

We are blessed when we are grateful toward God with others, even in the little things. Your

shout for joy is sweeter when it is heard by others. Psalm 100.

As children of God, we are triumphant in the Lord. Ours is a shared victory. Notice the words

all, us, and we. Just as God created you in time and place, He called specific people to share your

space.

The people in our lives reflect a measure of the goodness of God for which we should be

grateful. Is your heart thankful today? Prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings in your life are a

great way to change your heart from discontentment to joy.

To be grateful is to be joyful! Thanksgiving isn’t just about you. It’s also about the God who

calls you, the plan He as for you, and the people with whom He calls you.

Reflection: Lord, this Thanksgiving give me the wisdom to align myself with Your plans and to

be grateful for the people You have place in my life with a purpose.