Gratitude on SermonAudio

In Colossians 2:6–10, Paul calls believers to abound in thanksgiving and warns them against teaching that would draw them away from Christ. Dave Jenkins explains how remembering what God has given us in Christ strengthens discernment. He discusses the ordinary means of grace, testing spiritual claims by Scripture, correcting error with gentleness, and seeking wise counsel in the local church. For more from Contending for the Word, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-podcast/

Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Lasting contentment grows as Christians learn to treasure Christ and submit their desires to God's Word. Continuing the November series, Contentment in a Restless World, Dave Jenkins considers Colossians 3:1–4 and Matthew 6:19–21. He explains how union with Christ gives believers a secure identity and how Jesus' teaching about treasure challenges the pursuit of fulfillment through possessions, recognition, and success. Dave also offers seven practical ways to cultivate biblical contentment through Scripture, prayer, gratitude, generosity, and hope in Christ's return. For more from Equipping You in Grace, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/equipping-you-in-grace-2/

LORD'S DAY 32 Question 86: Since then we are delivered from our misery, merely of grace, through Christ, without any merit of ours, why must we still do good works? Answer: Because Christ, having redeemed and delivered us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit, after His own image; that so we may testify, by the whole of our conduct, our gratitude to God for His blessings, and that He may be praised by us; also,that every one may be assured in himself of his faith, by the fruits thereof; and that, by our godly conversation, others may be gained to Christ. Question 87: Cannot they then be saved, who, continuing in their wicked and ungrateful lives, are not converted to God? Answer: By no means; for the holy scripture declares that no unchaste person, idolator, adulterer, thief, covetous man, drunkard, slanderer, robber, or any such like, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2) ~~~~ Remembrance Sunday ~~~~ *1/ Asking help of God. 2/ Receiving help of God. 3/ Giving thanks and acknowledging the help of God.* **Sermon Summary:** This sermon explores the believer's relationship with the living God through the lens of asking for, receiving, and acknowledging divine help, grounded in Psalm 121:2. The message emphasises that true reliance on God begins with recognising one's own insufficiency and helplessness, a state that drives the soul to seek assistance through prayer. It illustrates this principle with biblical examples such as Jacob, David, Hezekiah, and Daniel, as well as historical references to national deliverance during wartime, demonstrating that God often answers prayer through providential means. The preacher urges the congregation to discern God's hand in these answers, moving beyond natural explanations to recognise the spiritual grace at work. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a response of deep gratitude and worship, directing praise not merely to the gift received but to the Giver, thereby glorifying God in both temporal and spiritual deliverance.

The sermon explores the theological concept of cultivating holy affections through the expulsive power of a new love for Christ, arguing that mere avoidance of sin is insufficient without a positive replacement. Drawing on Thomas Chalmers and Scripture, the message outlines four practical principles for steering the heart: beholding the glory of Christ in faith, yielding to God's promises through delight, praying consistently for the Holy Spirit's transformation, and choosing gratitude amidst trials. The speaker emphasizes that sanctification is a deliberate, active process of meditation and submission rather than a passive emotional state, challenging the notion of 'easy button' holiness. By contrasting the human tendency toward complaint with the biblical call to joy, the sermon presents a holistic view of Christian growth where faith, duty, and affection work together to transform the believer into the image of Christ.

This sermon examines the biblical command to be filled with the Holy Spirit, distinguishing it from the initial indwelling of the Spirit at salvation. It clarifies that while all believers possess the fullness of the Spirit, they must actively yield to His influence to avoid living in the flesh. The message contrasts the loss of control associated with drunkenness with the self-control and joy produced by the Spirit, emphasizing that the fruit of the Spirit includes temperance rather than spiritual intoxication. The preacher outlines practical means for maintaining this filling, such as daily immersion in Scripture, prayer, and obedience to God's directives. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life characterized by gratitude, submission, and Christ-like conduct, urging believers to let the Spirit govern their relationships and service.