Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude: A Biblical Perspective on Thanksgiving

Introduction

Illustration: Share a personal story or a historical anecdote about someone who showed profound gratitude in difficult circumstances.

Talk about Chris…and the gratitude he learned to share.

10. Charles Dickens: “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” (Source: [ConsultClarity.org] )

Purpose: Introduce the concept of thankfulness as a biblical virtue, not just a cultural practice.

Part 1: Understanding Biblical Thankfulness

Scripture Focus:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 , Psalm 107:1, Philippians 4:6

Explanation: Explain the context and the meaning of these verses. Emphasize how thankfulness is a command, not just a suggestion.

Illustration: Use a real-life example of someone who expressed gratitude during trials.

This first verse is another letter from prison…Paul stressed the need for us to “give thanks” even when He was in prison.

It’s a command!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

what about David?

He wasn’t afraid to express his emotions negative or positive to God and yet he constantly remembered to give thanks to God as a huge part of who he was.

Psalm 107:1 ESV

1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

What about anxiety?

What about cancer?

What about surgery coming up?

What about health failing?

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

God doesn’t call us to live with blinders on but he calls us to take action with our anxieties.

God commands us to live with gratitude.

Part 2: The Power of a Thankful Heart

Scripture Focus: Luke 17:11-19 (The story of the ten lepers)

Leprosy represented several conditions at that time. It was contagious, almost always fatal, and many just contracted it outside their control.

So many things that form us are outside of our control.

The family we were raised in.

The money we had or didn’t have.

The things people did to us or didn’t do.

Luke 17:11–19 ESV

11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Explanation: Discuss the story, focusing on the one leper who returned to thank Jesus.

Illustration: Compare the attitude of the one leper with modern-day attitudes of entitlement or ingratitude.

How much of your success do you feel entitled to?

How often do you just stop and thank God for the many ways He has been good to you?

When you see brokenness around you remember you are where you are only by the grace of God.

We must guard against thinking we’ve pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps. Because by and large, we haven’t.

6. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” (Source: [DevelopGoodHabits.com] )

How much do we have to be grateful for in terms of God bringing us to where we are today?

God has been good to each of us....

Stories throughout congregation.

Part 3: Cultivating Thankfulness in Daily Life

Scripture Focus:

Colossians 3:15-17, Ephesians 5:20

Explanation: Discuss how these verses show that thankfulness should permeate every aspect of a Christian's life.

Illustration: Share a testimony from a church member who practices daily gratitude.

In response to your post earlier, I’ve definitely seen time and again how much verbally expressing gratitude and praise to the Lord all throughout the day drastically changes the atmosphere of our home. Our children reflect my responses most of the time, good and bad :) Once you start to praise the Lord and choose to see what He is doing and how He has blessed and is near us even when things are messy and hard, you enter into fellowship with Him and it makes all the difference! I heard someone say o that you can’t worship and worry/stress at the same time.—Kate Stewart

Colossians 3:15–17 ESV

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

How can you weave active thankfulness into more of your life?

How can you guard against complaining?

Story of Christy winning and my attitude for a moment at the end of the day.

3. Voltaire: “Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” (Source:

Part 4: Thanksgiving and Community

Scripture Focus: Acts 2:46-47

Explanation: Explain how early Christians practiced gratitude and how it strengthened their community.

Illustration: Offer a modern example of a community coming together in thankfulness, perhaps even within your own church.

Acts 2:46–47 ESV

46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

What’s the opposite of thankfulness?

It’s complaining. It’s sitting at home thinking how the church failed you or others irritate you.

The early church was taking action, showing love, focusing on what they could do, not what they lacked.

I read this recently: Questions to ask yourself before you start complaining about your church:

If the church service depended solely on MY worship….. how full of worship would the service be?

If the church had to depend solely on MY faithfulness…… how faithful would my church be?

If the church had to survive solely on MY prayer life….. how much prayer would be going on?

If the church could only go as deep as MY relationship with God goes….. how deep would my church be?

If we had to make it on MY Bible reading and knowledge……. How knowledgeable would my church be?

If we have to go by my offerings, how BIG would the church outreach be?

If the preaching depended solely on my response to the preaching and the altar call…….. how responsive would my church be?

If it all depended on me……. What would happen?

Before you start complaining…….. make sure the you’re:

The first one praying

The first one worshiping

The first one reading and studying

The first one responding

The first one fasting

The first one faithful

The first one giving

“I just don’t get anything out of his preaching” isn’t a valid argument. You’re there to worship Jesus & serve the lost.

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Remember: we can’t complain if we’re not being what we say we want. Author Unknown

Conclusion

Summary: Recap the key points about biblical thankfulness.

Call to Action: Encourage the congregation to cultivate a habit of thankfulness, providing practical tips or a challenge.

Closing Illustration: End with a powerful story or quote that leaves a lasting impression of the value of thankfulness.

Closing Prayer

Focus on thanking God for His blessings and ask for a heart that is consistently grateful.