#1 - THE HEART OF GRATITUDE

"THE HEART OF GRATITUDE"

MOMENT OF TITHING AND OFFERINGS

"Before we move into our giving time, I want to share something that connects directly to what we're going to talk about today. Listen to this verse:

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT) — "Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with new wine."

Here's the thing: giving isn't about the amount—it's about the attitude of the heart.

When we give with gratitude, we're saying to God, 'I trust you. I recognize that everything I have is already a gift from you.'

That's stewardship. That's gratitude in action.

Whether it's your first dollar or your hundredth, when you give with a grateful heart, you're participating in God's kingdom. So as we give today, let's do it with thanksgiving, knowing that our generosity flows from a heart that recognizes God's goodness."

WELCOME TO NEW VISITORS

"I want to take a moment to welcome our new friends and visitors who are here with us today.

We are so glad you're here! You didn't wake up this morning by accident—God brought you to The Way, and we believe that's significant.

Here's what I want you to know: church isn't just about Sunday mornings.

We're a family that connects throughout the week, and we'd love for you to be part of that!

Here's how you can connect with us:

Conversation Clubs & Small Groups — We have groups meeting all across the city during the week. These are spaces where we dig deeper, ask real questions, and build genuine friendships. No judgment, just real community.

Social Media — Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and our Podcast for updates, encouragement, and ways to stay connected.

Talk to someone today — Our team members are wearing name tags. Don't be shy—grab one of us and ask questions!

We believe that real faith happens in community, and we want you to experience that. You're not just a visitor—you're family.

And I want to leave you with this verse:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) — "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

Welcome home. We're so glad you're here."

INTRODUCTION: "THE STAR MOMENT"

"How many of you woke up this morning and thought, 'I'm so grateful for my alarm clock'?

Yeah, me neither. But here's the thing—most of us go through life taking things for granted.

We wake up, we breathe, we have food, we have people who love us, we have a God who died for us... and we barely notice.

We're grateful when something good happens.

We're grateful when we get a promotion, or we fall in love, or we get good news from the doctor.

But what about the regular Tuesday morning?

What about the hard day?

What about when things don't go the way we planned?

Here's what I'm learning:

gratitude isn't about your circumstances—it's about your perspective.

And that's what we're exploring today.

Because the Bible says something radical in

Psalm 107:1—it says, 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.'

Not 'give thanks when things are good.' Not 'give thanks when you feel like it.' Just... give thanks.

Today, we're going to discover what that really means and why it might be the most powerful spiritual practice you've never tried."

MAIN VERSE & CONTEXT

Psalm 107:1 (NLT) "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Historical & Literary Context:

The Audience: The people of Israel, returning from captivity, needing encouragement and spiritual restoration.

this week I need as encouragement it was a tough week, grama, sickness, work..

The Purpose: Psalm 107 is a thanksgiving psalm—a song of praise celebrating God's faithfulness through difficult seasons.

It's structured as a call to gratitude, reminding God's people that even in exile, even in hardship, God's love never fails.

The opening verse sets the tone for the entire psalm: gratitude is not conditional on circumstances; it's rooted in God's unchanging character.

POINT ONE: GRATITUDE IS A CHOICE, NOT A FEELING

Psalm 107:1 (NLT) — "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

The Greek/Hebrew Word Study:

Hebrew: "Yadah" (יָדָה) — to give thanks, to praise, to acknowledge

This word literally means "to throw" or "to cast."

In ancient Hebrew culture, when you gave thanks, you were throwing your praise toward God—it was an active, deliberate gesture, not a passive feeling.

Gratitude in the Bible is always a verb, not just an emotion.

Supporting Scripture & Biblical Characters:

Philippians 4:4-7 (NLT) — "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand."

Notice what Paul is saying here: even in prison, even facing execution, he's commanding the church to give thanks.

Why?

Because gratitude isn't about your mood—it's about your decision.

Biblical Character:

Job

Job lost everything—his children, his wealth, his health.

And in Job 1:21, he says: "The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. May the name of the Lord be praised."

That's not natural. That's not a feeling. That's a choice.

Job chose gratitude in the midst of devastation.

Quote

Charles H. Spurgeon said: "Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul; and the heart has not been made grateful, it has missed a great opportunity for improvement."

Spurgeon understood that gratitude isn't something that happens to you—it's something you cultivate. It's a discipline.

Illustration:

The Warmth Moment

"You know what I realized?

I don't feel like doing dishis. My kids don't feel like cleaning their rooms. But you know what? We do it anyway because my wife ask us to—or because we know it needs to be done.

The same is true with gratitude. You don't have to feel grateful to be grateful. You just have to decide to do it.

I have a friend who, every morning, writes down 3 things he's grateful for—even on the hard days. He told me, 'Pastor, some mornings I'm writing down things like, "I'm grateful for coffee" or "I'm grateful that my alarm didn't go off at 4 AM." But you know what? By the time I finish writing, my whole perspective has shifted.'

That's the power of choosing gratitude."

Reflective Questions:

What's one thing you've been taking for granted lately that you could choose to be grateful for today?

When was a time you chose to be grateful even though you didn't feel like it? What happened?

Practical Application:

This week, try this:

Every morning for 7 days, write down or think about three specific things you're grateful for—even small things.

Don't wait to feel grateful. Just do it. Choose it.

Notice how your perspective shifts as the week goes on.

The goal isn't to become a Pollyanna who ignores real problems. The goal is to train your brain to notice God's goodness alongside the challenges.

2: GRATITUDE SHIFTS OUR FOCUS FROM WHAT WE LACK TO WHAT WE HAVE

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) — "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The Greek/Hebrew Word Study:

Greek: "Eucharistia" (εὐχαριστία) — thanksgiving, gratitude

This word comes from "eu" (good) and "charis" (grace). So literally, it means "good grace" or "recognizing grace."

When you're grateful, you're acknowledging that something good has been given to you—that you didn't earn it, you didn't deserve it, but you received it as a gift.

Supporting Scripture

Colossians 3:15-17 (NLT) — "Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."

Notice the connection: peace comes when gratitude rules your heart.

When you're focused on what you're grateful for, anxiety loses its grip.

Biblical Character:

The 10Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)

Jesus healed ten lepers. Ten. But only one came back to say thank you.

And Jesus said to that one man: "Your faith has healed you."

Wait—weren't all ten healed? Yes. But only one experienced the fullness of healing because only one recognized it with gratitude.

The other nine were so focused on what they'd lost (their health, their place in society) that even when it was restored, they couldn't see it.

That's the power of gratitude—it helps us actually see what we have.

Quote :

C.S. Lewis wrote: "If we forget this, we shall be left to our own devices, and I can tell you what those devices are. They are the ravings of a madman."

Lewis understood that when we lose gratitude, we lose perspective. We become consumed by what we don't have instead of celebrating what we do.

Illustration:

The Competence Moment

"Here's something fascinating from neuroscience: gratitude literally rewires your brain.

A study from UC Berkeley found that people who practice gratitude regularly show increased activity in the areas of the brain associated with dopamine and serotonin—the chemicals that make you feel happy and content.

But here's the kicker: it's not because their circumstances changed.

It's because they trained their brains to notice the good stuff.

Think about it this way: your brain is like a filter.

Right now, it's probably filtering for problems. You wake up, and your brain says, 'What's wrong? What do I need to worry about? What's missing?'

But when you practice gratitude, you're reprogramming that filter to say, 'What's good? What do I have? What's working?'

Same life. Different filter. Different experience."

Reflective Questions:

What are you currently focused on that you lack? How might gratitude shift that focus?

If you changed your mental filter from 'What's wrong?' to 'What's good?', what would you start noticing?

Practical Application:

This week, try this:

When you catch yourself complaining (and you will), pause and ask: "What's one good thing about this situation?"

Share one thing you're grateful for with someone else each day.

Notice how your conversations change when you lead with gratitude instead of complaints.

POINT THREE: GRATITUDE CONNECTS US TO GOD'S CHARACTER

Psalm 107:1 (NLT) — "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

The Greek/Hebrew Word Study:

Hebrew: "Tov" (טוֹב) — good, beneficial, beautiful, morally right

When the psalmist says God is "good," they're not just saying He's nice.

They're saying He's fundamentally, essentially, eternally good. His goodness isn't dependent on circumstances or moods. It's His nature.

Supporting Scripture & Biblical Characters:

Psalm 34:8 (NLT) — "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"

Notice the language: "taste and see."

Gratitude isn't abstract—it's experiential.

When you give thanks, you're actually tasting God's goodness.

You're experiencing it.

Nahum 1:7 (NLT) — "The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him."

Even in trouble, God is good. Even when we don't understand what's happening, His character doesn't change.

Biblical Character:

David

David wrote more psalms of thanksgiving than almost anyone in Scripture. And here's the thing—David's life was hard.

He was hunted, betrayed, he made terrible mistakes.

But throughout the Psalms, he keeps coming back to gratitude.

Why?

Because he understood that gratitude isn't about denying reality; it's about connecting to a reality bigger than your circumstances.

In Psalm 23, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." That's gratitude in the midst of darkness—gratitude for God's presence, not for the absence of problems.

Quote :

Billy Graham said: "Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more grateful you are, the more joyful you become."

Graham understood that gratitude isn't just nice—it's transformative. It's the gateway to joy.

Illustration:

The Awe Moment

"I want to tell you about a woman named Maria who came to our church about two years ago. She'd been through everything—divorce, job loss, health problems. She was angry at God. She felt abandoned.

One Sunday, she heard a message about gratitude, and something shifted. She decided to start a gratitude journal. And here's what she told me: 'Pastor, the first week was hard. I was writing things like, "I'm grateful for my bed" and "I'm grateful for hot water."

But by week two, I started noticing deeper things. I'm grateful for my daughter. I'm grateful that God didn't give up on me even when I gave up on Him.'

Fast forward to today: Maria is one of the most joyful people in our church. Not because her circumstances magically changed—she's still dealing with real challenges. But because she reconnected with God's goodness through gratitude.

She told me recently, 'When I started thanking God, I started trusting God again. And when I started trusting God, I started experiencing His peace.'

That's the power of gratitude. It's not about pretending everything is fine. It's about connecting to a God who is good, even when life is hard."

Reflective Questions:

When have you experienced God's goodness in a difficult situation?

How does knowing that God is eternally good change how you approach your current challenges?

Practical Application:

This week, try this:

Spend time in prayer thanking God specifically for His character—His faithfulness, His love, His strength.

When you face a challenge, pause and ask: "How is God's goodness showing up in this situation, even if I can't see it yet?"

Share your story with someone about a time God's goodness surprised you.

POINT FOUR: GRATITUDE IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP

Hebrews 13:15 (NLT) — "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."

The Greek/Hebrew Word Study:

Greek: "Thusia" (θυσία) — sacrifice, offering

In the Old Testament, sacrifices were the highest form of worship. They cost something. They required surrender.

When the writer of Hebrews calls gratitude a "sacrifice of praise," they're saying that gratitude is worship at the highest level. It costs you something—it costs you your pride, your right to complain, your focus on what's wrong.

Supporting Scripture & Biblical Characters:

Philippians 4:6 (NLT) — "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Notice the order: prayer, then thanksgiving. We bring our requests to God, but we also bring our gratitude. Both are forms of worship.

Revelation 4:9-11 (NLT) — "Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever), the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say: 'You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.'"

In heaven, worship is continuous gratitude. The elders are constantly thanking God for who He is and what He's done. That's the ultimate expression of worship.

Biblical Character:

Jesus at the Last Supper

In Matthew 26:26-27, Jesus takes bread, gives thanks, and breaks it. Even in His final meal before the cross, even knowing what was coming, Jesus gave thanks. He modeled for us that gratitude is worship, regardless of circumstances.

Quote :

Warren W. Wiersbe wrote: "Thanksgiving is the language of heaven, and gratitude is the highest form of worship."

Wiersbe understood that when you give thanks, you're not just expressing an emotion—you're aligning yourself with heaven itself. You're joining the angels in worship.

Illustration:

The Warmth Moment

"You know what's funny? We spend so much time asking God for things. 'God, give me this. God, help me with that. God, can you fix this situation?'

And God's like, 'I've already given you so much. Can you just say thank you?'

It's like if your kid came to you every single day asking for stuff, but never once said, 'Dad, thanks for the house. Thanks for the food. Thanks for loving me.'

You'd be like, 'Hey, I appreciate the requests, but can we just have a moment where you recognize what I've already done?'

That's what God is saying. Gratitude isn't about being ungrateful for what we ask for. It's about recognizing what we've already received."

Reflective Questions:

How does it change your perspective to think of gratitude as worship?

What would your prayer life look like if you spent as much time thanking God as you do asking Him for things?

Practical Application:

This week, try this:

Spend one day focusing your prayers on thanksgiving instead of requests. Just thank God for who He is and what He's done.

Before you ask God for anything, pause and thank Him for something He's already provided.

Notice how your relationship with God shifts when gratitude becomes your primary language.

CONCLUSION:

THE POWERFUL TAKEAWAY

"Here's what I want you to remember as you leave here today:

Gratitude is not a luxury. It's not something you do when you feel like it. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that transforms your life.

We've talked about four things today:

Gratitude is a choice, not a feeling. You don't have to wait to feel grateful—you just have to decide to be grateful.

Gratitude shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have. It rewires your brain to notice God's goodness instead of your problems.

Gratitude connects you to God's character. When you give thanks, you're acknowledging that God is good, that His love endures forever, and that He's trustworthy.

Gratitude is worship. It's the highest form of praise you can offer to God.

But here's the real question: What are you going to do with this?

Because knowing this stuff doesn't change anything. Doing this stuff changes everything.

The psalmist didn't say, 'Think about giving thanks to the Lord.' He said, 'Give thanks to the Lord.' It's an action. It's a decision. It's a practice.

So this week, I'm challenging you: Choose gratitude.

Not because your circumstances are perfect. Not because you feel like it.

But because you know that gratitude connects you to a God who is good, who loves you, and who is worthy of your praise.

And here's what I believe will happen: As you practice gratitude, you're going to start experiencing a peace you haven't felt in a long time.

You're going to start noticing God's goodness in places you never saw it before. You're going to start living like someone who trusts God—because you will be trusting God.

That's the power of gratitude. That's the heart of gratitude."

ALTAR CALL / APPEAL

"I want to invite you into something today. Not just to think about gratitude, but to practice it. To commit to it.

If you're here today and you've been struggling—struggling with anxiety, struggling with discontent, struggling with anger at God—I want to invite you to surrender that to Jesus right now.

Here's what I mean: Jesus came to give us an abundant life. But we can't experience that abundance if we're focused on what we don't have.

We can't experience that abundance if we're angry at God. We can't experience that abundance if we're not grateful.

So I'm going to pray, and I want you to pray with me. And if you want to make a commitment—a real commitment—to practice gratitude this week, to choose thankfulness, to reconnect with God's goodness, I want you to stand up. Not because you have to. But because you want to. Because you're ready to let gratitude transform your life.

Let's pray:

"Father, thank you. Thank you for this day. Thank you for this church. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for Your love that never fails.

I confess that I've been focused on what I don't have instead of what I do. I've been complaining instead of celebrating. I've been angry instead of grateful.

Today, I'm choosing differently. I'm choosing to practice gratitude. I'm choosing to see Your goodness. I'm choosing to trust You.

Help me this week to notice the small things—the coffee, the sunrise, the people who love me, the God who never leaves me.

Transform my heart through gratitude. Transform my life through praise.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

"If you stood up, or if you want to talk to someone about what that commitment looks like, our team is here. We're going to have some people available after service. Don't leave without connecting with someone.

And everyone else—I want to challenge you too. This week, practice gratitude. Write it down. Speak it out loud. Share it with someone. Let it transform you.

Because gratitude isn't just a nice idea. It's the gateway to joy. It's the pathway to peace. It's the language of heaven.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

Let's worship together."

THE LORD'S SUPPER / COMMUNION MOMENT

(4-5 minutes — THE POWERFUL CONCLUSION THAT TIES IT ALL TOGETHER)

[Invite people to remain seated or to move forward for communion. Speak with reverence and tenderness.]

"Before we conclude today, I want to invite you to something sacred. Something that embodies everything we've talked about.

The Lord's Supper. Communion. The Table of Christ.

You see, this isn't just a ritual. This is gratitude in its most powerful form.

Let me show you:

When Jesus sat down with His disciples for the last time, He did something profound. Luke 22:19 says: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"

Jesus gave thanks. Even in His final meal before the cross. Even knowing what was coming. Even facing His suffering. Jesus gave thanks.

Do you see what that teaches us? Gratitude is not about your circumstances. It's about your connection to God.

What This Table Means:

First, it's a table of REMEMBRANCE.

When we take communion, we're remembering what Jesus did. We're remembering His sacrifice. We're remembering His love. We're remembering that He died for us.

And remembrance is gratitude in action. We're saying, "Jesus, I will not forget what you did for me. I will not take it for granted. I remember. I'm grateful."

Second, it's a table of GRACE.

You don't come to this table because you've earned it. You come because you've been invited. You come because Jesus paid the price. You come because of grace.

And that's what we've been talking about all morning: recognizing that everything is a gift.

The bread? A gift.

The cup? A gift.

Your salvation? A gift.

Your life? A gift.

This table reminds us that we don't deserve any of it. And yet, God gives it to us anyway. That's grace. That's why we give thanks.

Third, it's a table of COMMUNITY.

We don't come to this table alone. We come together as a family. We come as the body of Christ.

And when we eat and drink together, we're saying, "We're grateful for each other. We're grateful for God. We're grateful to be part of something bigger than ourselves."

That's the power of this table.

It's not just about me and Jesus. It's about us as a family saying thank you to God together.

The Connection to Gratitude:

Here's what I want you to understand: This entire sermon has been building to this moment.

We talked about choosing gratitude. We talked about shifting our perspective. We talked about connecting to God's character.

But the deepest expression of all of that is right here at this table.

Because when you take communion with a grateful heart, you're doing exactly what we talked about:

✅ You're choosing to give thanks (even if you don't feel like it)

✅ You're shifting your focus from what you don't have to what you do—the sacrifice of Christ

✅ You're connecting to God's character—His love, His mercy, His grace

This is gratitude at its highest level. This is worship.

How to Approach This Table:

As you come to this table, I want to invite you to:

First: PAUSE and Remember.

Before you take the bread and cup, pause for a moment. Remember what Jesus did. Remember His love. Remember His sacrifice.

Let that remembrance fill your heart with gratitude.

Second: THANK God.

Whether silently or out loud, thank God. Thank Him for Jesus. Thank Him for salvation. Thank Him for grace.

You don't need fancy words. Just gratitude. Just a heart saying, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for saving me."

Third: COMMIT to Practice Gratitude.

As you take the bread and the cup, make a commitment. A commitment to practice gratitude this week. A commitment to choose thankfulness. A commitment to remember what Jesus did and live in response to that love.

Invitation to the Table:

"If you're a follower of Jesus, if you've committed your life to Him, if you believe He died and rose again for your sins, then this table is for you. Come and take communion.

If you're not sure about your faith yet, if you're still exploring, that's okay. You're welcome here. But for now, just observe. Let this moment minister to your heart. And know that Jesus is inviting you to follow Him.

Let Me Pray Over This:

"Father, thank you. Thank you for this bread. Thank you for this cup. Thank you for Jesus.

Thank you that He loved us enough to die for us. Thank you that He rose again. Thank you that through Him, we have forgiveness. We have grace. We have eternal life.

As Your people come to this table, open their hearts to gratitude. Help them remember. Help them recognize Your goodness. Help them experience Your love in a fresh way.

And help us all to leave this table transformed. Not just having eaten bread and drunk wine, but having encountered You. Having experienced Your grace. Having been reminded of Your love.

Transform our hearts through this table. Transform our lives through gratitude and remembrance.

In Jesus' name, Amen."

"As you take the bread, remember that Jesus' body was broken for you. His suffering was for your healing.

As you take the cup, remember that Jesus' blood was spilled for you. His death was for your forgiveness.

Take it. Receive it. Let gratitude fill your heart.

Remember. Give thanks. And know that you are loved."

After Communion — Reflection (1-2 minutes):

[After everyone has taken communion, speak with warmth and conviction]

"Do you feel it? Do you feel the presence of God in this moment?

This is what gratitude does. When we remember. When we give thanks. When we come to Jesus with humble hearts. When we acknowledge His sacrifice and His love. This is when we experience His presence.

This is why we practice gratitude. This is why we choose to be thankful even when things are hard. Because gratitude connects us to God.

And when we're connected to God, everything changes.

So here's what I want you to remember as you leave here today:

You came in with the same struggles. The same stress. The same questions. The same doubts.

But you've encountered Jesus again in this moment. You've been reminded of His love. You've experienced His grace.

Now go. Go and practice gratitude. Go and remember what Jesus did. Go and live in response to His love.

Because when you live with gratitude, you live with peace. You live with hope. You live with the presence of God.

That's the power of gratitude. That's the heart of gratitude.

Let's worship together. Let's sing. Let's celebrate what Jesus has done."