A Grateful Heart
November 18, 2012 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must be intentional in our thanks to God and others.
Focus Passage: Luke 17:11-18
Supplemental Passage: Psalm 100
Introduction: Make personal remarks about Thanksgiving past and Thanksgiving present. State “To whom are people grateful on Thanksgiving who refuse to believe in God?” Give personal story of eating with a family at Thanksgiving who all held hands and declared what they were thankful for, but did not pray and just began to eat the dinner. State “As Christians, we want to believe that Thanksgiving is still a Christian holiday, but sadly, it isn’t true any longer.”
I. Appropriate Gratitude
a. The lepers were healed and that needed to be acknowledged
i. Explain leprosy and the cultural implications
ii. Relate how being lost is like having leprosy, except we are able to come to Jesus to be healed!
b. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (Philippians 1:3 NASB)
II. Expectation of Gratitude
a. Jesus questioned the fact that only one leper returned to express thanks
i. Jesus commented that the only one to return was a foreigner. As Christians, we must be careful to always give thanks to God!
b. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (Psalms 136:1-3 NASB)
III. Attitude of Gratitude
a. We must be ready to give thanks to God in all things at all times
i. Since we have been made alive from death, we ALWAYS have something to be thankful for!
b. in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)
Invitation: What is the ultimate expression of gratitude to God? Living your life as if it is NOT your own!
