There are few better ways to thank God than through singing his praise, and even more so when we get to sing together. Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to make a loud and joyful noise to the Lord. Brian looks at the story of David returning the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem to teach us how to join in reverent and joyful worship.

We often call this communion, which is an Anglican term, but I would far rather we call it the Eucharist – the Greek, Biblical word “eucharisteo” which literally means “thanksgiving”. So, when we break bread together we are performing an act of thanksgiving (not our modern emphasis on remembrance as a solemn act). Let’s remember every week as we gather at the table that we are thanking Jesus for his loving sacrifice.

Surely you are thankful when you receive a gift, at Christmas or for your birthday? Well, God has given to us some of the most amazing gifts we can imagine, the gifts of his Holy Spirit. Let’s eagerly receive and use those gifts to thank God and build one another up, as Paul encourages us to do, just as every good gift comes from the Lord.

God has blessed us not only through a relationship with him, but by restoring our relationships to one another. We are to be thankful for one another, because we can support, encourage and love one another as a body. We are not alone, and for that we should be faithful! This message will lead to a number of talks looking at things within our church body that we are to be thankful for.

It can be hard to feel grateful when things aren’t going as we would want them to, when life is hard and circumstances seem to be against us. But the Bible tells us that even in those moments there are things to be thankful for. How can we be thankful even in the most challenging of situations? Sometimes being thankful can seem like a sacrifice, it can be costly to make yourself thank God when you don’t feel like it, but the rewards for doing so are eternal.

You have hope! In Japanese pottery when a vase was broken the restorer of the vase would not try to hide the damage, but instead would fill the cracks with gold to make the restored vase even more beautiful. God is the master potter. No matter what the circumstance, how desperate or broken things may seem, God is able to restore the ruins and rebuild our broken lives, he is a God of restoration. We must thank him that for putting back together what once was broken into something even more glorious.

We can build our lives on many things, but there is nothing secure except for the sure and certain knowledge that Jesus has won the victory over sin and death. We can stand firm upon that ground, establishing a foundation that will last for all eternity. Let us be thankful that we do not need to fear anything, even death!

Due to a guest speaker not being able to make it, this topic was added in to the series to fill a slot. John looks at the meaning of the word "Hallelujah", which has been a common theme coming up in the church life. We see how we can come against the enticing desires of this world by raising a Hallelujah.

God gives us so much that we do not deserve, because of his mercy. Instead of judgement, punishment and death he brings Forgiveness, blessings and as many fresh starts as we need. Has God’s mercy changed your life? Are you making the most of the fresh start he has given you? Are you still in awe at the eternal life that is now yours in Christ Jesus?

This phrase is a popular refrain throughout Scripture. We are not only to thank God for what he has done, but for who he is. God could be all sorts of things – tyrannical, distant, cruel – but he is not. God is Good and His Love Endures Forever! Let us always be thankful for that.