Join Jeff Archie of the International Gospel Hour and his co-host Jay Webb as they delve into the Bible’s teachings on thankfulness and gratitude. Through the study of 2 Corinthians 9, discover how a heart full of gratitude impacts our spiritual journey and community service. Explore the indescribable gift of God and how it enriches our lives in unimaginable ways.
Thanks be to God. Oh, how there is so much of which to be thankful to God. So may our thanksgiving become thanksgiving. And let’s thank God with our study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web. Greetings and hello everyone. It is great having you with us today once again for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. You know, Hebrews 11 and verse 6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. May our seeking today be done in diligence, and may we seek God always through our studies of His Word. We’re going to begin today with 2 Corinthians 9, beginning with verse 11. This is an awesome text penned by inspiration to the church at Corinth, the saved, the called out in service to God. Beginning with verse 11 and through verse 15, 2 Corinthians 9 reads, “…while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men. And by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you, thanks be to God for his indescribable gift. Now what the saved, the church, learned then, and when one is taught and can also learn now from 2 Corinthians 9, 11-15, get this. One is to be enriched to give bountifully because of thankfulness. One supplies the needs of fellow saints because of thankfulness. One serves the Lord Christ and others glorify God because of thankfulness. One is blessed by the grace of Christ because of thankfulness. Indeed, thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. Now, it is said that if we really understand and appreciate the indescribable or unspeakable gift God has given, that our lives will be saturated with gratitude. And what God has given us is so great, so accessible, that mere words cannot express or embrace the magnitude of it. We simply say the best that we know, thank you, God. Thus, that’s our study just ahead. Thank you, God. But first, our J-Web with our free publication today.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our free publication today is Reason and Revelation, a monthly journal courtesy of our friends at apologeticspress.org. International Gospel Hour has secured a limited supply of this awesome publication of apologetics well proven over 40 years. Get your free copy today by calling toll free at 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say, Reason. That’s it. Again, that’s 855-444-6988. Leave your name and address and just say, Reason. You can also send your request through our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us your name and address and put reason in the message box. We will send you a copy. Again, we have a limited supply, so get yours now.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, we are indeed grateful to offer everything from International Gospel Hour that’s absolutely free. We will not ask for your money. We appreciate you tuning in and listening. We’re grateful for our friends at Apologetics Press and the Good Brethren with God and demand.com and others that share free materials with us that we can make available to you. And we are honored. Let’s simply say, thank you, God. a number of things of which to be thankful. Let’s begin by, Thank you, God, for your love. John 3, verse 16, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. You know, that has long been celebrated as a powerful and succinct declaration of the gospel message. Of well over 31,000 verses in the Bible, it may be the most popular single verse used in evangelism and one of the most well-known verses in the world. Now, many may not apply it correctly, but they seem to acknowledge it. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I think about the letter E for all of what I’m about to say. God so loved, what an emotion. He gave His only begotten Son, what an expression. Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. What an encouragement. the emotion, the expression, the encouragement. And we simply say, Thank you, God, for your eternal plan through Christ. Friends, I am thankful to God for His love. Thankful for you for listening. Will you be obedient unto God? You see, when we believe in Christ, we’re going to believe in Him because He is the Christ. John 8, 24, that’s what He taught us. If we believe in Christ, we’re going to believe in His teaching of repentance that He preached on this earth, Luke 13, 3 and 5. And part of His great commission to the apostles and to all the world, Luke 24, 44-47 says, And certainly on the day of Pentecost, repentance was preached. Acts 2 verse 38. Then also to confess the Christ as He said in Matthew 10, 32 and 33. And based upon our faith to be baptized into Jesus Christ in order to be saved. That’s Mark 16, 16. The words of Jesus. To believe in Him. To embrace Him. Thank you God for your love. Second, thank you God for your goodness. In Romans 2 and verse 4, Paul says, Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? God’s goodness is intended to cause man to repent. when we look at His goodness, His forbearance and long-suffering in dealing with us, if you will, He wants us to come to repentance. God says, I’m bearing with you because I want you to change. Oh, how good God has been to us when we had no goodness demanding His mercy. You know, in Acts 17, 30 and 31, He told them there on Mars Hill, rather Paul did, At the times of this ignorance, God winked at but now commands men everywhere to repent. And how he is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3.9. How thankful we are for his goodness, his grace. According to Titus 2.11, for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that… denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. denying ungodliness and living godly. That’s a definition of repentance. It is a change of decision resulting in a change of direction, and we’re allowed to do that because of the goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering of God. I’ve had individuals say, Jeff, how come the Lord has not returned with the sorry shape this world is in? And I’ve looked at some people and say, maybe He’s waiting on you. He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He’s good towards you. He is forbearing. He’s long-suffering. He’s waiting on you to make a move of repentance. How grateful we are for His goodness with our goodness unto Him through repentance and obedience. So with that, we will say with our response, Thank you, God. Friends, how thankful we are to God. And this is part one of three lessons simply titled, Thank You, God. To be thankful for what He has done in order to move us to respond in thankfulness to Him. We want to offer one of our Bible studies as we try to do each and every broadcast. And we have a free online Bible study through our friends at World Bible School. Very easy to sign up. As a matter of fact, I’m going to defer to our J-Web, and he’ll let you know what you need to do to receive that Bible course by mail.
SPEAKER 02 :
How about an online study of the Bible? That’s right. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. A study helper will assist you in answering questions and provide feedback for your lessons. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour has sent you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, we hope that online study will be of help to you. We also realize that many may not have an online opportunity to study. We will also send you another option. We’ll send you our free Bible correspondence course by mail. We’d like for you to give that a try if you prefer. So if you don’t have online capability, but you’d like to receive a free Bible study in the mail, I’ll get it right in a moment. All you do, it’s simple. Call us at 855-444-6988. Leave us your name and address and just say Home Study. That’s all you have to do. 855-444-6988, and just say, Home Study. Be sure to leave us your name and address so we can mail it to you. And again, it’s absolutely free. We want to wrap up our broadcast by saying once again how much we appreciate you being with us, but also to say, thank you, God, for your redeeming love and your goodness for a better life. We’ll continue this study together next time. But for now, thank you for joining me on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory.
