THANKSGIVING SUNDAY – DYLAN & TES JAHNIG
Scriptures:
Isaiah 54:1-3
Matthew 14:15-21
Points:
1. Stretch
2. Strengthen
3. Serve
This Thanksgiving, we’re reminded of the incredible power of gratitude and how it can transform our lives and communities. The central message revolves around the idea that when we bring what we have to God with thanksgiving, He multiplies it beyond our imagination. We see this beautifully illustrated in the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 from Matthew 14. Just as Jesus took the five loaves and two fish and fed thousands, He can take our seemingly small offerings and use them to impact countless lives. This story challenges us to look at what we have – our time, talents, and treasure – not as insufficient, but as seeds of potential when placed in God’s hands. It’s a powerful reminder that our ‘loaves and fish’ – whether it’s a skill, a passion, or even our presence – can be the catalyst for transformation in our families, workplaces, and communities when offered with gratitude.
Stretch, Strengthen, Serve:
In a world that often feels marked by scarcity and limitation, there’s a profound truth that can transform our perspective: God takes what we have and makes it more than enough. This principle, beautifully articulated by Ann Voskamp in her book “A Thousand Gifts,” reminds us of the power of gratitude in unlocking abundance in our lives and communities.
Imagine a church that started with just a handful of people and an accounting degree. It might seem like an unlikely beginning for a thriving church, but that’s exactly the point. God doesn’t look at our qualifications or our resources the same way we do. He sees the potential in what we’re willing to offer Him with open hands and grateful hearts.
This year, that same church celebrated planting a new campus that now serves nearly 200 people every weekend. They’ve seen over 180 people give their lives to Christ this year, families find a home, and countless lives touched through the Gospel. All of this grew from what seemed like small beginnings.
The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14 serves as a powerful illustration. When faced with a hungry crowd in a remote place, the disciples saw only scarcity. They wanted to send the people away to fend for themselves. But Jesus had a different perspective. He said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
This challenge from Jesus echoes through time to us today. In the face of overwhelming challenges in our world, it’s easy to feel inadequate. We might think, “What difference can I really make?” But Jesus invites us to bring what we have – however small it may seem – and offer it with thanksgiving.
The miracle wasn’t just in the multiplication of food. It was in the disciples’ obedience to bring what little they had, and in Jesus’ act of giving thanks before the distribution. Gratitude precedes abundance.
When we approach life with thankfulness, acknowledging God’s goodness in what we already have, we position ourselves to see and participate in His miraculous provision. It’s not about having more; it’s about recognising the potential in what God has already given us.
The beauty of this “multiplier effect” is that it often works in ways we can’t predict or control. A church decides to invest in education programs in their city, and suddenly they’re seeing increased literacy rates, improved academic performance, and even shifts in the economic prospects of entire neighbourhoods.
This approach to life and faith challenges us to reframe how we view our time, talents, and treasures. Instead of focusing on what we lack, we’re invited to ask, “What do I have that I can offer with thanksgiving?” It might be time, skills, financial resources, or simply a willing heart. When offered to God with gratitude, these become the raw materials for miracles.
There’s a beautiful invitation to participate in God’s work of renewal and restoration in the world. We’re not called to solve every problem or meet every need. We’re called to bring our “loaves and fish” – whatever they may be – and offer them with thanks. God does the multiplying.
The challenge, then, is to live with open hands and open hearts. To resist the temptation to hold back of ourselves out of fear of scarcity. To give thanks for what we have, even when it seems inadequate. And to step out in faith, offering our “loaves and fish” to a God who specialises in doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
As we do this, we may find ourselves echoing the wonder of those disciples on that hillside long ago, marveling at how God can take our little and turn it into more than enough. And in that process, we ourselves are transformed into living testimonies to the abundance that flows from a grateful heart.
Discussion Questions
- How does the concept of God taking our ‘little’ and making it ‘more than enough’ challenge our perspective on giving and serving?
- In what ways can we apply the idea of ‘stretching, strengthening, and serving’ to our personal spiritual growth and impact?
- How might viewing our church or community as part of a larger story impact our approach to our mission and ministry in the world?
- What does it mean to you personally when Jesus says, ‘You give them something to eat,’ and how can we apply this in our daily lives?
- How can we cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving that transforms not just our individual lives, but also our families and communities?
- How does the story of feeding the 5000 challenge our perceptions of scarcity and abundance in our personal lives and efforts?
- What ‘loaves and fish’ do you have in your life that you may be overlooking, and how might God want to use them?
- In what ways can we be more intentional about inviting others into the story God is writing through our church and community?
Prayer: Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings. We offer our lives—small and imperfect—as an act of gratitude, trusting that You can multiply what we bring to You. Stretch our faith, strengthen our hearts, and help us serve others with joy. May our offerings, however small, become vessels of transformation in Your hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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