Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO The traditions of men (Thanksgiving Sunday) Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA November 19, 2006 Main Scripture text: Mark 7:5-9, 13 Some Christians refuse to participate in celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas because these celebrations are "traditions of men." But in Mark 7, Jesus doesn't speak against all traditions of men. He speaks against those human traditions that lead people away from God rather than to Him. The celebration of Thanksgiving as an official American holiday certainly qualifies as a "tradition of men." While the idea of giving thanks is clearly biblical, there is no biblically prescribed day set aside as "Thanksgiving Day." And, yes, we are actually in danger of Thanksgiving becoming a negative tradition of men -- one that actually leads people away from living God. The object of our thanks has grown vague in the public mind. People are thankful -- but to no one in particular. The reality is that the Thanksgiving holiday is meant to acknowledge our debt of gratitude to God Almighty, who called this nation into being and made it great. History records -- in the words of the early pilgrim leaders and in evidence of America's subsequent growth and greatness -- that God has blessed this country. He has graciously sustained us through difficult seasons. He has shown us His mercy. Today, we again face tough times. We have a new enemy who seeks to destroy us by using our cherished open freedom to commit acts of terrorism on innocent civilians. Our freedom -- and freedom around the world -- hangs in the balance. But there is a pathway of deliverance. Psalm 50 says this: "Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me…. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." In these difficult days, we must we celebrate Thanksgiving not as a tradition of men, but as a means of positioning ourselves to receive God's deliverance and salvation. Only the Lord can save us. Only He can lift us from the boggy mire of war, grief, and despair. Only He can save us from death and destruction and give us victory. In the face of tragedy, hardship, and war, we must draw closer to Him -- for the Lord is our salvation. We must enter his gates with thanksgiving, come into his courts with praise, and bless His holy name. Supporting texts: Psalm 100:1-5 | Psalm 50:14-15, 23 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (26 min.). (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of the sermon summarized above is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 061119a: The Traditions of Men. © 2006 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us