Hosts, Context, and Sponsor

    •    Noah Wagner — returning after family health issues

    •    Seth Pippin — co-host

    •    Lyndon filled in the week before

Release timing: Wednesday before Thanksgiving

Sponsor: Fresh Grounds Coffee

Local, affordable, fresh-roasted, grinds in-house, offers good food, knows customers by name, and exists to further the mission of God locally and globally.

⸻

Thanksgiving Foods and Traditions

Noah’s Thoughts

    •    Loves turkey — “we only have it once a year.”

    •    Prefers smoked turkey; baking this year.

    •    Tips: brine for days, baste often, inject with butter.

    •    Deep-fried turkey also a favorite.

    •    Loves leftovers.

Seth’s Thoughts

    •    Prefers ham day-of; loves turkey mostly as leftovers (sandwiches).

    •    If money weren’t an issue: prime rib or brisket.

    •    Jokes that turkey being “high-maintenance” says something.

Family and Logistics

    •    Multiple family meals can be draining.

    •    Seth once gained 10 pounds in one day between morning and night weigh-ins.

    •    Noah planned Tennessee travel but stayed local due to his son’s hospitalization.

    •    Noah and Deanna ended up with a “small turkey” that was actually 21 pounds.

Seasonal Shift

    •    No Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.

    •    Except Noah helped decorate early because his wife is pregnant with twins.

⸻

Coffee Segment

Noah

    •    Gingerbread shaken espresso — loves the seasonal flavor.

Seth

    •    Iced white mocha with brown sugar, cinnamon, sweet cream splash, caramel drizzle, brown butter toffee cold foam.

    •    “Basically a dessert, but incredible.”

    •    Usual orders: brown sugar shaken espresso; dirty chai.

    •    Reminder: drink what you like — just don’t call frappes “coffee.”

⸻

American Thanksgiving: Historical Roots

    •    1620: Pilgrims flee religious persecution, cross 66 days on Mayflower, arrive late; nearly half die during winter.

    •    1621: Wampanoag help settlers plant and fish; after harvest, Bradford proclaims a thanksgiving feast (3 days; venison, local fowl).

    •    1623: Another thanksgiving after drought.

    •    1789: Washington proclaims national day of thanks.

    •    1863: Lincoln makes Thanksgiving a permanent holiday.

Theme across all: Thanking God for provision.

⸻

Biblical Foundation: Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)

Deuteronomy 16:9–12

    •    “Pentecost” = 50 days after Passover.

    •    Harvest thanksgiving: bring a freewill offering as the Lord blesses.

    •    Celebrate with family, servants, Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans.

    •    Remember slavery; respond with joy, obedience, and generosity.

Emphasis: God provides the harvest.

⸻

Acts 2 Pentecost: Harvest of Souls

Timeline:

    •    Passover → Crucifixion & Resurrection

    •    Ascension (Acts 1) → “Wait for the Spirit”

    •    50 days after Passover → Pentecost

Event Highlights

    •    Sound like rushing wind; tongues as of fire.

    •    Jews from “every nation under heaven” in Jerusalem for the feast.

    •    Miracle of languages: everyone hears the gospel in their own language.

    •    Two views:

    1.    Apostles speak actual languages they never learned.

    2.    Apostles speak but hearers miraculously understand.

    •    Either way: known languages, understood content — “the mighty works of God.”

    •    Peter preaches; crowd asks, “What shall we do?”

    •    Response: Repent and be baptized.

    •    About 3,000 saved that day.

Point: As God brings in the harvest of crops, He brings in a harvest of souls.

⸻

Living It Out: Gratitude and Evangelism

Why Christians Should Be Most Thankful

    •    God provides life, food, safety, breath, and ultimately salvation.

    •    Once “dead in sin,” now made alive in Christ.

Daily Thankfulness Rhythms

    •    Mealtime prayers.

    •    Bedtime prayers with kids.

    •    Thanking God even for withheld desires.

    •    Journaling gratitude.

Thanksgiving as an Evangelism Bridge

    •    Ask people: “What are you thankful for?”

    •    Then share what you’re thankful for: God’s provision, salvation, Jesus Himself.

⸻

Matthew 9:35–38 — The Harvest Is Plentiful

    •    Jesus sees crowds “harassed and helpless.”

    •    Says harvest is plentiful, laborers are few.

    •    Pray for the Lord to send laborers — then go.

Not a harvest problem — a laborer problem.

⸻

Simple Evangelism Framework: BOB

    •    B — Burden: “God, burden my heart for the lost.”

    •    O — Opportunity: “Open my eyes today.”

    •    B — Boldness: “Give me courage to speak.”

⸻

Actions & Next Steps

    •    Start gospel conversations Thursday: ask “What are you thankful for?”

    •    Pray BOB this week — and follow through.

    •    Build daily gratitude habits.

    •    Study thankfulness passages in Scripture.

    •    Carry the momentum into Christmas gospel opportunities.