1. Building Blocks For A Better Church Part 5 – Freedom To Be Thankful

2. Freedom To Be Thankful “It is good to speak of God today.” Thank You for coming and worshiping.

3. Freedom To Be Thankful I hope you celebrated our 238 th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with an understanding of the FREEDOM involved.

4. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for blessings that freedom brings in our lives

5. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for sacrifices made for our freedom

6. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to choose the Lord

7. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for blessings He brings to us

8. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for sacrifice(s) He made to bring to us freedom from the cost of sin Galatians 3:13KJV 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 1 Peter 3:18NKJV 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

9. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives

10. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s plague on our everyday life

11. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s plague on our everyday life Romans 7:11KJV 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Isaiah 59:2KJV 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Psalms 66:18KJV 18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

12. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s damage to our own and other’s lives Proverbs 8:36NKJV 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”

13. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s effect on the freedom in our lives Proverbs 11:19NKJV 19 As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

14. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s penalty to our souls Romans 6:23KJV 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

15. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom that serving Him brings in our lives Sin’s tearing down our happiness and those around us Hebrews 3:13KJV 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

16. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom from “Lordly” and despotic control in our lives

17. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to repay our debts

18. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to seek God in our lives Psalms 30:12KJV 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

19. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to seek good in our lives

20. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for the time in which we live

21. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom the knowledge and assurance that He is coming again brings to our lives

22. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for His knowledge of us and His preparation for us John 14:1-7KJV 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

23. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for His knowledge of us and His preparation for us John 14:1-7NASB 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 “And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said * to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

24. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for our friends

25. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to choose our friends

26. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for our family

27. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful we don’t have the freedom to choose our family

28. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for freedom to choose our spouse, our church, Pepsi/Coke, chicken/beef/PORK, etc.

29. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for the freedom to choose the Lord

30. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful He chose us! John 15:12-17NKJV 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

31. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for our Brother and Sisters in the Lord that we might love as He commands

32. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for New Beginnings and all the good that it brings to my life (and others)

33. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for New Beginnings and all the good that it brings to my life (and others) Thankful for all those who work and help make New Beginnings happen

34. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for New Beginnings and all the good that it brings to my life (and others) Thankful for all those who work and help make New Beginnings happen Thankful for the chance to make a few mistakes (and correct them)

35. Freedom To Be Thankful Thankful for New Beginnings and all the good that it brings to my life (and others) Thankful for all those who work and help make New Beginnings happen Thankful for the chance to make a few mistakes (and correct them) Thankful for the opportunity to serve you (and the Lord)

36. Freedom To Be Thankful We need to be more thankful, more vocal, more active about our thanks to the Lord Psalms 35:18KJV 18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

37. Freedom To Be Thankful We also need to be more appreciative for each other and more vocal in proclaiming it. Psalms 106:47KJV 47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

38. Freedom To Be Thankful BE THANKFUL YOU ARE FREE