- English Sermon
- 11/23/2025
Thanksgiving
Sunday Worship Service
Thanksgiving
Sunday Worship Service
Psalm 103:1~5
“What Do You Remember?”
- Introduction
Hallelujah! Today is Thanksgiving Sunday.
Let’s greet the person next to you: “Happy Thanksgiving!”
This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and the day after is known as Black Friday.
You all know what Black Friday is, right? It’s a nationwide shopping day.
Do you know why it’s called Black Friday? Because until this day, many stores were in the red—operating at a loss—and on this day, they turned the books to black, making a profit.
In the U.S., traditionally, losses are written in red ink and profits in black ink. Interestingly,
there is the same expression in Korean, 적자 and 흑자. So, Black Friday literally means “the Friday of profit.” In the same way, we used to live in deficit—our lives ruined by sin—but through faith in Jesus, we’ve become people in the black. Never forget this and give thanks.
Let me share a story. On Black Friday, a man was driving around a crowded shopping center looking for a parking spot. He prayed: “God, if You help me find a spot, I will never miss church again.” Immediately, a car drove away. He parked and said, “I found a spot. You can stop helping me, God.” This is a simple story that reminds us to reflect on our gratitude, especially on Thanksgiving.
Don’t we sometimes live like this—forgetting to give thanks? If we forget gratitude, we cannot live happily. Are you happy? Do you want to be happy? Then be thankful! In fact, most people experience life in the same way: about half the events are things we desire, and half are things we don’t. The difference between happy and unhappy people is what they remember. Happy people remember the good and give thanks. Unhappy people remember the bad and complain. Happiness does not depend on circumstances. It depends on what we choose to remember. Do you want to live a happy life? Then focus on remembering the good.
In today’s passage, the word “bless” (or “praise”) is repeated many times. Furthermore, Psalm 103 ends with ‘bless the Lord’. The Hebrew word for “bless” is ‘barak’, which can also mean give thanks. Therefore, to bless the Lord is to remember His grace and give thanks. Also verse 2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,” showing that blessing is remembering God’s goodness with gratitude. On this Thanksgiving Sunday, may we remember God’s blessings and give Him praise and thanks.
- 1. What to Remember
Then, what exactly does the psalmist remember? Verses 3-5 list the blessings David recall.
3-5 “He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, crowns you with love and compassion, and satisfies your desires with good things, renewing your youth like the eagle’s.”
He remembers that God forgives our sins, heals our bodies, rescues us from life’s crises, grants our desires, and restores our vitality. “Renewing your youth like the eagle” refers not to age, but to restoring energy and life.
Aren’t these the blessings God has given us as well? Think about it. Haven’t your prayers been answered? Sometimes we just forget His answer. Sometimes we don’t want to acknowledge God’s work like the driver I mentioned earlier. In reality, Some prayers were answered immediately, some were delayed, and some were answered no. Still, God has granted us many requests. Think about it. We can worship here today because God has given us health and restored us from sickness, even from viruses. Above all, we must remember God’s grace of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven, and we are now God’s children. When we remember God’s grace, we can live with gratitude and happiness.
- 2. Tools for Memory
Humans tend to forget. So, we need tools to help us remember blessings. One of the most powerful tools is music. Songs help us memorize difficult things—like the ABCs, the periodic table, or Scripture. Psalm 103 itself is a song. The entire Psalm is a praise sogn. Singing helps us recall God’s blessings. Even music can act as a time machine. Listening to songs from our past brings back memories of God’s faithfulness. Hymns we sang during hard times remind us of how God carried us through.
May we all have our favorite hymn, the song that recalls God’s grace in our lives.
- 3. Hindrances to Gratitude
What hinders us from giving thanks and living happily? Comparison. Comparing ourselves with others destroys gratitude. King Saul is an example. He was Israel’s first king, yet he became unhappy when David, his servant and son-in-law, succeeded. Constant comparison led to jealousy and a tragic life. Even today, many live like Saul, measuring their worth against others.
As the saying goes, “I can endure hunger, but I cannot endure stomachache.”
This doesn’t mean physical stomachache. It’s the pain of seeing someone else succeed while we feel left behind. This is humanity’s sinful nature. But when we follow Jesus, our perspective begins to change. The Holy Spirit helps us focus on the blessings we’ve received rather than envying others. Gratitude requires training—constantly noticing God’s gifts to us rather than comparing ourselves with others. Like athletes who train their eyes to follow the ball, we must train our hearts to see God’s blessings. Those who do this live with joy and gratitude.
- Conclusion
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, reflect on the prayers God has answered and the blessings He has given. Thanksgiving is not just about gathering with family, eating, and shopping. It is literally a day to give thanks—to give thanks to God, the Creator of all things. There is much to be thankful for. We often take it for granted, but every blessing counts. Having a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, the ability to drive are privileges enjoyed by only about 20% of the world. So we are the top 20% rich. Also, we live in a beautiful, clean environment. We can walk and move freely. These are all reasons to be grateful.
The English word thank and think share the same root. To think is to give thanks. Those who do not give thanks live without thought, but we are called to remember God’s grace, bless Him, praise Him, and live in gratitude. May we all be thankful, remembering God’s blessings, praising Him, and living joyfully.
“What Do You Remember?”
- Introduction
Hallelujah! Today is Thanksgiving Sunday.
Let’s greet the person next to you: “Happy Thanksgiving!”
This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and the day after is known as Black Friday.
You all know what Black Friday is, right? It’s a nationwide shopping day.
Do you know why it’s called Black Friday? Because until this day, many stores were in the red—operating at a loss—and on this day, they turned the books to black, making a profit.
In the U.S., traditionally, losses are written in red ink and profits in black ink. Interestingly,
there is the same expression in Korean, 적자 and 흑자. So, Black Friday literally means “the Friday of profit.” In the same way, we used to live in deficit—our lives ruined by sin—but through faith in Jesus, we’ve become people in the black. Never forget this and give thanks.
Let me share a story. On Black Friday, a man was driving around a crowded shopping center looking for a parking spot. He prayed: “God, if You help me find a spot, I will never miss church again.” Immediately, a car drove away. He parked and said, “I found a spot. You can stop helping me, God.” This is a simple story that reminds us to reflect on our gratitude, especially on Thanksgiving.
Don’t we sometimes live like this—forgetting to give thanks? If we forget gratitude, we cannot live happily. Are you happy? Do you want to be happy? Then be thankful! In fact, most people experience life in the same way: about half the events are things we desire, and half are things we don’t. The difference between happy and unhappy people is what they remember. Happy people remember the good and give thanks. Unhappy people remember the bad and complain. Happiness does not depend on circumstances. It depends on what we choose to remember. Do you want to live a happy life? Then focus on remembering the good.
In today’s passage, the word “bless” (or “praise”) is repeated many times. Furthermore, Psalm 103 ends with ‘bless the Lord’. The Hebrew word for “bless” is ‘barak’, which can also mean give thanks. Therefore, to bless the Lord is to remember His grace and give thanks. Also verse 2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,” showing that blessing is remembering God’s goodness with gratitude. On this Thanksgiving Sunday, may we remember God’s blessings and give Him praise and thanks.
- 1. What to Remember
Then, what exactly does the psalmist remember? Verses 3-5 list the blessings David recall.
3-5 “He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases, redeems your life from the pit, crowns you with love and compassion, and satisfies your desires with good things, renewing your youth like the eagle’s.”
He remembers that God forgives our sins, heals our bodies, rescues us from life’s crises, grants our desires, and restores our vitality. “Renewing your youth like the eagle” refers not to age, but to restoring energy and life.
Aren’t these the blessings God has given us as well? Think about it. Haven’t your prayers been answered? Sometimes we just forget His answer. Sometimes we don’t want to acknowledge God’s work like the driver I mentioned earlier. In reality, Some prayers were answered immediately, some were delayed, and some were answered no. Still, God has granted us many requests. Think about it. We can worship here today because God has given us health and restored us from sickness, even from viruses. Above all, we must remember God’s grace of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Our sins are forgiven, and we are now God’s children. When we remember God’s grace, we can live with gratitude and happiness.
- 2. Tools for Memory
Humans tend to forget. So, we need tools to help us remember blessings. One of the most powerful tools is music. Songs help us memorize difficult things—like the ABCs, the periodic table, or Scripture. Psalm 103 itself is a song. The entire Psalm is a praise sogn. Singing helps us recall God’s blessings. Even music can act as a time machine. Listening to songs from our past brings back memories of God’s faithfulness. Hymns we sang during hard times remind us of how God carried us through.
May we all have our favorite hymn, the song that recalls God’s grace in our lives.
- 3. Hindrances to Gratitude
What hinders us from giving thanks and living happily? Comparison. Comparing ourselves with others destroys gratitude. King Saul is an example. He was Israel’s first king, yet he became unhappy when David, his servant and son-in-law, succeeded. Constant comparison led to jealousy and a tragic life. Even today, many live like Saul, measuring their worth against others.
As the saying goes, “I can endure hunger, but I cannot endure stomachache.”
This doesn’t mean physical stomachache. It’s the pain of seeing someone else succeed while we feel left behind. This is humanity’s sinful nature. But when we follow Jesus, our perspective begins to change. The Holy Spirit helps us focus on the blessings we’ve received rather than envying others. Gratitude requires training—constantly noticing God’s gifts to us rather than comparing ourselves with others. Like athletes who train their eyes to follow the ball, we must train our hearts to see God’s blessings. Those who do this live with joy and gratitude.
- Conclusion
As we celebrate Thanksgiving, reflect on the prayers God has answered and the blessings He has given. Thanksgiving is not just about gathering with family, eating, and shopping. It is literally a day to give thanks—to give thanks to God, the Creator of all things. There is much to be thankful for. We often take it for granted, but every blessing counts. Having a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, the ability to drive are privileges enjoyed by only about 20% of the world. So we are the top 20% rich. Also, we live in a beautiful, clean environment. We can walk and move freely. These are all reasons to be grateful.
The English word thank and think share the same root. To think is to give thanks. Those who do not give thanks live without thought, but we are called to remember God’s grace, bless Him, praise Him, and live in gratitude. May we all be thankful, remembering God’s blessings, praising Him, and living joyfully.
123 N. Plum Grove Rd. Palatine, IL 60067
847-757-8362 (Church)
[email protected]
© 2012 The New Elim Church. All Rights Reserved.
847-757-8362 (Church)
[email protected]
© 2012 The New Elim Church. All Rights Reserved.