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Joy — Thanksgiving and Evangelism

Bryan Schiele
05/11/25 - Sun Worship

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)

Let’s continue our “Cross Training” journey with our discussion on joy, comes when we receive the gospel, build our hope, respond with thanksgiving, and teach others through evangelism. Let’s consider two more aspects of joy — thanksgiving and evangelism.

Thanksgiving (Action)

Enjoy God’s Blessings Gratefully

In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray lives the same holiday every day. He arises each morning with dread until he realizes all the gifts and opportunities that day holds. And when we look past the doldrums and difficulties of our day, we welcome a different kind of repeat holiday. We discover that Thanksgiving is more than turkey and stuffing. We carry the aim of that November Thursday into all our days, celebrating the grace of life by expressing our appreciation to the Giver of every good gift. So how do we enjoy thanksgiving all year round?

What You Need to Know

When someone gives our kids a present, we ask them, “What do you say?” We understand that receiving a gift creates a debt — not for repayment, but thanks. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned “giving him thanks” (Luke 17:16). “Where are the nine?” Jesus asked, “Was no one found to return and give praise to God but this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18). As we go on our way, do we notice we’re blessed beyond measure and return to praise God?

God’s people are created for praise and thanksgiving, as we enjoy his fullness (cf. Isaiah 43:7,21; Psalm 95:6). God made a “very good” universe that thrives by his blessing (Gen. 1:28-31). “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:4). But when we take all this in mindlessly, without witnessing the gifts and acknowledging their source, our hearts darken, our thoughts turn futile (Rom. 1:21). We can wall ourselves off from a grateful heart through entitlement, comparison, worry, and pride. Beware of anything that closes your heart, extinguishes your joy, and stifles your view of God’s glory (Psalm 13:5; Prov. 4:23).

What You Need to Do

Before we can give thanks, we have to notice the blessing. Sometimes I sleepwalk through a whole week without taking in what God is doing in my life. No wonder Scripture links gratitude with alertness. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Recognize that today is the blessing (Psalm 90:12-15) — open the eyes of faith to see God’s gracious hand (Psalm 23:6; 42:8). As Maya Angelou said, “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”

Let your gratitude out by giving thanks! Thanksgiving naturally arises in “the voice of song” (Isaiah 51:3). Sometimes — overwhelmed with joy — our songs come with the exuberance of “a great shout” (Ezra 3:11) or “a joyful noise” (Psalm 95:2). But it’s the melody we make to the Lord in our hearts that best expresses our thanks (Eph. 5:19-20). Even in everyday conversations, let thanksgiving set the tone rather than complaining or “foolish talk” (Eph. 5:4).

Present your life as an offering of thanks to God (cf. Rom. 12:1). As grace fills our lives, it overflows into other lives! What a sacred privilege — to channel this grace! To become his conduits, to the “overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Cor. 9:12)! When we give our money and possessions, we “will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Cor. 9:11). We also “speak” the good news to others, “so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15).

Through the Week

• Read — Luke 17:11-19; 1 Chron. 16:8-36; 1 Thess. 5:16-18; James 1:16-18; Ps. 107:1-43
• Reflect — Ask yourself, “What changes in me when I decide to live in gratitude for my life and the joy available to me in Christ?”
• Request — Pray, “Let me see your grace all around me, Lord, and overflow with thanksgiving” (cf. Col. 2:7).
• Respond — Go on a “gratitude walk” looking for God’s blessings.
• Reach Out — Ask someone “How does loss open you to gratitude?”

Evangelism (Community)

Share the Good News Joyfully

Watching TV or scrolling through social media, you often find celebrities and influencers recommending some hot new product. But are they genuinely recommending it or just getting a truckload of cash to talk about it? It’s enough to make your head hurt! If people only do things because they get paid — well, that’s sad. Is there a more authentic way to introduce people to something truly life-changing? How do we share our joy with the world as authentic ambassadors for Jesus?

What You Need to Know

We’re Christ’s representatives in this world, boldly persuading people to come back to God so he can deliver them (Col. 2:9-15; 2 Cor. 5:11, 20). We are a “a letter from Christ ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God” (2 Cor. 3:3). As God “has shone in our hearts” we want him to “give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Because we’ve seen the transformational power of the gospel, we can’t stop talking about our newfound joy (Acts 4:18-20).

We don’t need flowery language or a college degree to teach people about Christ — we already have all the tools and information we need (1 Cor. 1:17; 2:1-5)! Jesus didn’t send out scholars or motivational speakers; he sent ordinary people — like you and me — armed with an extraordinary message (Mark 6:7-13; 16:15-16; Matt. 28:19-20). God loves it when the gospel spreads, as Isaiah said, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:14-15).

What You Need to Do

Equip yourself with a constant readiness to speak, “as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15). From the beginning of the gospel’s spread, fear has threatened to extinguish it, but his people met that fear with boldness, prayer, and trust in God (Acts 4:23-31; 5:25-42; 16:22-31). Are you afraid of saying the wrong thing, offending people, or maybe even facing imprisonment? What if someone says “yes” to your invitation — will you be forced outside of your comfort zone? So may our joy and faith overwhelm our fear as we shamelessly shout the good news of the Lord’s salvation to everyone we can (Rom. 1:16).

Write down the names of people you want to bless with the gospel. Think of each person in your neighborhood, at work, and among your family and friends. Consider workers at local businesses, acquaintances in your groups and activities. Go through each name regularly, praying for God to extend his grace and peace to them. Ask for wise, courageous speech (Col. 4:5-6). And beyond those we know now, pray for new openings, “that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:3), praying in faith that God will “advance the gospel” (Phil. 1:12).

Invite people to find out for themselves (John 1:45-46). Ask them to study with you, invite them to worship with you, or make yourself available to pray with them and talk with them about their questions (Acts 8:30-31). Our job isn’t to strong-arm anyone into submission — even if we think we know what they need. It’s simply to invite, to say, “Come” (Rev. 22:17) and allow them to take the free water of life if they want it. When we “reason together” with people (Acts 17:2; 24:25; Isa. 1:18), offering “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 16:17; 18:26), it’s like dropping a seed into the soil and letting God’s power do the rest (1 Cor. 3:6). God’s word is the seed that always brings new life to the willing heart (Matt. 13:18-23; Isa. 55:10-11).

Through the Week

• Read — Mark 6:7-13; John 1:40-49; 4:27-42; Rom. 10:10-17; 1 Cor. 9:16-23
• Reflect — Ask yourself, “Who in my life can Christ bring hope and peace?”
• Request — Pray, “Lord, teach me to plant and water, trusting you to provide the increase.” (cf. 1 Cor. 3:6)
• Respond — Invite someone to hear the good news, whether in a gathering or over coffee.
• Reach Out — Ask someone “What blessings do you wish your unbelieving friends knew?”