Pentecost 18 — October 12, 2025

Generosity → Gratitude: The Dynamics of Divine Giving

Navigating Life Through Divine Cause and Effect

Text: Luke 17:11–19 Goal: To move hearts to live in daily gratitude, seeing God’s undeserved generosity to us in Christ. Malady: We too often take God’s blessings for granted, like the nine lepers who never returned. Means: Christ shows us ultimate generosity in cleansing us from the leprosy of sin by His cross, producing gratitude in our hearts.

Introduction

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Every why hath a wherefore.” Shakespeare said it. We live it. Actions have consequences, choices have ripple effects. If that is true in everyday life—health, finances, relationships—how much more is it true in God’s kingdom?

In these last Sundays of the Church Year, God shows us that His kingdom operates on divine causes and eternal effects.

God gives—and His giving produces change.

His truth sets us free.

His grace brings joy.

His judgment establishes peace.

His promises are fuel prayer.

At the center of every cause is Christ—His cross, His empty tomb, His living Word. And at the heart of every effect is our life in Him—grateful, prayerful, free, enduring, joyful, peaceful, watchful.

Over the next seven Sundays we will walk through several divine cause/effect truths:

Today we begin with Generosity → Gratitude

Next week, Promises → Prayer

Then, Truth → Freedom

And so on down the line.

Together we will discover how navigating life with Christ means seeing every cause in God’s hand and every effect shaped by His grace.

“Every why hath a wherefore.” Shakespeare’s old phrase reminds us that nothing just happens in a vacuum. There is always a cause and always an effect. In life, when we see the cause clearly, we understand the effect better.

Think about gratitude. Gratitude never appears out of nowhere. There’s always a reason for it.

First, there’s the deservedness factor: if I help my neighbor and later he helps me, I’m grateful—but not overwhelmed—because in a sense I “deserved” his help. But if I’ve been a terrible neighbor and he still helps me? My gratitude shoots through the roof.

Second, there’s the generosity factor: if I pick up the neighbor’s mail for three days and he thanks me, fine. But if he hands me a $100 bill? I’m stunned by the generosity.

Apply that to God. How much do we deserve from Him? And how generous has He been toward us? When we put those two factors together, we begin to see gratitude not as a polite “thank you” but as an overwhelming, life-changing response. That’s the cause-and-effect we hear in today’s Gospel:

God’s undeserved generosity leads to our overflowing gratitude.

I. We are undeserving—and God owes us nothing (Deservedness Factor)

Jesus is traveling the borderland between Samaria and Galilee. Out come ten men, lepers. They stand at a distance—outcasts, untouchables, excluded. Their disease meant they had no claim on society, no place in the temple, no right even to come close to Jesus.

Leprosy is a contagious bacterial disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities. 

The humiliation of being a leper never ended. The custom of Jesus’ day mandated that a leper could never wash his or her face (another constant reminder that you are always unclean). Furthermore, a leper was required to always hold a cloth under his or her nose to cover the bottom part of the face. The painful reality was that lepers were abandoned, anonymous, faceless people condemned to live under perpetual rejection.

Lepers were also forbidden from going to the Temple to offer the required sacrifices and offerings. How in the would one get “right with God.” Imagine the hopelessness. What must it have been like for a leper to walk around every day feeling in his soul that God had abandoned him and, furthermore, being convinced there was nothing he could do about it?

That’s the picture of you and me before God. Our problem is much more than skin-deep. In many ways I am much worse off than these lepers. I’m not in need of a cure that has infected my skin, I’m spiritually dead in my transgressions and sins, and I deserve nothing but separation from God. Where can I go? Do I try and hide it, or cover it?

There are times that I can't stand the sight of myself. It’s not because I'm having a bad hair day, it’s because I know what I’ve said, done, and thought. And I don’t like the image that’s looking back at me. But Jesus doesn’t recoil.

He sees all the leprosy of my sin. All the shame and again he reaches out in love and he makes me who is unclean, clean in the the best possible way. Cleansed forever by him and because that is so wonderful, I don't need to hide from Him.

Sin infects every thought, word, and deed. Our conscience reminds us: we deserve nothing from God but judgment. As Paul says, “The wages of sin is death.” The deservedness factor? We have none. Before God, we stand with the lepers, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

I am spiritually dead in my sin, and I deserve nothing but separation from God. And yet, God has forgiven my sin and thrown them away as far as the east is from the west. I should be shouting for joy and telling the world what God has done. And this is true of us all.

Like the nine lepers who were healed, how often do I forget all God has done for me? He saved me from eternal damnation!

Or how often does God deliver me from my problems day-by-day? As soon at the problems go away I have a bit of “thanks-mnesia”, and I go on to the next thing.

Yet, you and I have been saved from an affliction not of the skin, but of the soul, from hell. And here’s the question: do I come back with a loud voice and glorify God? Is that what my wife sees behind closed doors, the loud voice of praise and thanksgiving before God?

The truth is, our old sinful nature forgets, complains, takes God’s generosity for granted. But the Spirit of God, through the Gospel, brings us back—again and again—to the feet of Jesus. There He reminds us: “Your faith has saved you.” And from that Gospel truth flows gratitude—deep, lasting, overflowing.

Well, that’s a little of the deservedness factor, now let’s look at the other side of this coin: the Generosity Factor.

II. Christ gives generously, far beyond what is deserved (Generosity Factor)

Jesus sees the leprous men. He hears their cry. He doesn’t turn away in disgust. He doesn’t demand repayment. He simply commands: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” The Greek grammar is very specific: “In the going, this is what happened!” In other words, as they went on their way they are cleansed.

What generosity! Healing, restoration, new life. But even more—Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, where He will give not only healing for this dreaded skin disease, but salvation for souls: yours and mine. On the cross, He will bear the leprosy of sin itself, carry it to death, and rise with healing in His wings.

Luther describes the healing our leprous sin through Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross as a profound spiritual transaction where Christ takes our sins upon Himself, healing us through His stripes, and delivering you from sin and granting eternal life not by our own merits, but through faith by which we take hold of Christ. 

Luther goes on to say that this forgiveness is not without payment, but the cost was Christ’s own body, life, and blood — no human offering can pay for sin, only Christ’s sacrifice, which gives you His innocence and righteousness to overcome your sin and death.

Think about all that Christ has given for you and me. Forgiveness of every sin. Adoption as children of God. Daily bread and every good gift. Eternal life promised and secured.

Christ Jesus drowns and smothers your sins in baptism and the Cross, and proclaims that He gave His body and poured out His blood for the forgiveness of your sins. When you believe this, your sins are forgiven, you are made righteous. 

None of it deserved.

All of it generous.

III. Gratitude is the effect: worship, thanks, generosity

Ten were healed. Only one came back. Only one truly grasped both the undeservedness and the generosity of the gift. He was a Samaritan—a foreigner, doubly despised.

Jews considered Samaritans heretical and viewed them as half-breeds, due to the intermarriage between Israelites and pagan colonist after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. The Samaritans faced severe discrimination, being isolated and prohibited from eating, working, or interacting with Jews, and forced to live on the outskirts of towns. The hatred between Jews and Samaritans reached a climax in 128 B.C. when the Jewish king destroyed their temple, and in Jesus’ time, stories of atrocities abounded on both sides.

And so this healed Samaritan saw clearly. Jesus looked beyond who he was and healed him anyway. This is grace. So he threw himself at Jesus’ feet, glorifying God in a loud voice and giving thanks.

That’s gratitude. Not a polite nod of the head, not a muttered “thanks” as we move on with life, but worship, praise, joy overflowing. And Jesus says to him: “Your faith has saved you.” Not just healed, but saved.

You know, most people can’t be bothered to thank God. Most are not filled with grace and love. Most don’t see that God has made them rich and made them well.

But this man turns to Jesus and praises God with a LOUD VOICE, and Jesus said “Rise, go. Your faith has made you well.” Literally, has saved you.

This man, who was probably ashamed to be see by others, is now not unashamed to proclaim God before others everywhere he goes. Why? Because he realizes how much he has been given.

And here’s the effect: gratitude doesn’t stop at words. Gratitude spills over into a life of generosity. That’s what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:11 

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” 

Christ’s generosity is not just for the lepers in the story, but for you, right now. His grace is new every morning, covering you with love and mercy. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, His invitation remains—come, receive, and be transformed.

Application

So where do we go from here?

When you face uncertainty at work, when relationships are strained, or when you're celebrating life’s joys, know that Christ’s presence is with you, offering you guidance, strength, and peace.

And because sin is likened to leprosy, do we hide it or confess it? You know, God wants to heal you. We don’t want to admit our uncleanness, but God desires to wash you clean through the words of absolution spoken by your pastor.

And do we give thank as we ought? How often do we pray for healing, and it comes, but then keep the results to ourselves?

Or, we pray about a problem and as soon as it goes away, we kind of get “thanks-misa”, and just go on to the next pleasure or the next pain I have to deal with.

Friends, we have been saved from hell. Wouldn’t it be great if we lived more like the leper who returned to glorify and praise God with a loud voice for all to hear? I love that detail in today’s gospel reading — with a loud voice.

Illustration: I remember when I was a boy we had to write thank you notes, and make a phone call. The additional blessing from the phone call — I love you.

We are reminded of Christ Jesus work in saving us each time we come to the Lord’s Supper, where He says: “Take and eat . . . Drink of it all of you” . . . imparting forgiveness.

Conclusion

Today Christ still brings believers close: when He baptizes us we are adopted into God’s family and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Every time we pray, read Scripture, we have moments of awareness of Christ’s presence.

As we reflect on the healing of the lepers, remember that Christ's invitation is for you today. He invites you into a deeper relationship, where His grace meets you in your everyday challenges and triumphs.

So today, as we count the numerous blessings our Lord has lavished on us, marvel at God’s generosity, and live lives overflowing with gratitude, which gives us every reason to cry out with a loud voice, sharing what Christ has done for you.

For Christ has healed us from much worse than leprosy, and given us much more than our earthly lives back. He has given us eternal life.

May you walk in the blessing of Christ’s generosity, experiencing His grace in every heartbeat, every breath, and every step you take.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer of the Church –

P: Almighty and merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, today we come before You as the Samaritan once did—bowing low, lifting high our voices, and giving You thanks.

You have looked upon us in our uncleanness and have not turned away.

You have heard our cry for mercy and, through Christ, have healed us from the leprosy of sin.

For Your undeserved generosity, Your forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life, we praise and glorify You. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord, Your generosity knows no bounds.

You daily load us with benefits—food, shelter, strength for work, rest for our bodies, and fellowship in Your Church.

Grant that these gifts never become ordinary to us.

Move our hearts from forgetfulness to gratitude,

that we may live as those who have been made clean by grace. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

We thank You for Your holy Church, gathered and nourished by Your Word and Sacraments.

Empower Your people to reflect Your generosity in the world:

to speak the Gospel with joyful voices,

to serve the poor with compassionate hands,

and to live holy and thankful lives before all.

Give us the mind of Christ, that we may seek the lost, bind up the brokenhearted,

and proclaim liberty to the captive. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

We praise You for the abundance of creation and the daily bread You provide.

Teach us to be wise stewards of what You entrust to us.

Bless the work of farmers, laborers, business owners, and all who provide for others’ needs.

Make us generous toward those who depend upon us,

that through our giving many may glorify You. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

Lord of compassion, look with mercy upon all who are suffering in body, mind, or spirit— especially those known only to us.

As You once spoke healing to the lepers,

speak peace and comfort to all who cry out to You today.

Strengthen the faith of the afflicted, and through their endurance let Your goodness be made known. Lord, in Your mercy, C: Hear our prayer.

We give You thanks for those who have gone before us in faith and now rest in Your presence. Keep us steadfast until that day when, with all the redeemed, we will raise our voices in eternal thanksgiving before Your throne.

And, Lord, be merciful to all: when we reach our final hour,

grant us a blessed departure from this world and, on the last day, a resurrection into Your glory.

Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting not in our worthiness but in Your boundless generosity, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven…