Creative Way to Say Thanks

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Calm Down! (I’m Kidding.)

 

I think it would be awesome to practice this line of thanks…
 
When someone does anything nice… say in a very syrupy voice…
 
“Ohhhh thank you… it’s the least  you could do.”

Using Thanksgiving to Teach Covenant Renewal

The Peace Offering (Lev 7.11-36) of the Old Testament was the only of the five levitical offerings that could be eaten by the laity (the people who weren’t priests).

It was an offering we sometimes call “the Fellowship Offering,” “the Thank Offering,” the “Sacrifice of Thanksgiving” or “the Sacrifice of Praise.”

Look for similarities to our Thanksgiving Day meal, and then we will find the connection to our weekly meal at the Lord’s table in our churches.

– The peace offering was a gift given by a person and was eaten by him.

– It was shared by him, his family, and needy people that were in his community.

– It was eaten in order to give thanks for God’s grace/provisions/blessings/salvation.

It is normal for God’s people who have been saved, to renew the memory and awesome sense of peace with God and neighbor through covenant renewal – celebration of peace / fellowship / thanksgiving.

The Greek word for “fellowship” is koinwnia, which we also translate as COMMUNION.

The Greek word for “thanksgiving” is eucharistia — EUCHARIST.

This is not a surprise, because the Lord’s meal was instituted in the Passover, and the Passover, was the most famous of all Peace Offerings in the Old Testament…. A community sharing offering that was in thankful response to salvation and was eaten by the people, not just the priests.

Thanksgiving – November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving – A Litany of GOD’s Actions – Psalm 136

See also: Using Thanksgiving To Teach Covenant Renewal

 

1. Yhwh is good
2. Yhwh is God
3. Yhwh is Lord (ruler/king)
4. Yhwh is creator
5. Yhwh redeemed us from Egypt
6. Yhwh conquered the land of Canaan
7. Yhwh stoops to us
8. Yhwh protects us
9. Yhwh provides for us

• Because he loves us…
• He acts for us…
• So we know that he loves us;
• Therefore let us worship him,
• And recognize who he is.

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
   for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.