Grateful Hearts: Living a Life of Thanksgiving Week 1: Grateful for Sacrifice

Announcements:

Offering box is in the back

2. Bible reading plan is on the back table

3. Thank you all again for the pastor appreciation service last week!

4. It is so exciting to be able to start using the student ministries unit this week! God is good but with more space comes more financial responsibilities. We can only do what we are doing because of your obedience and faithfulness to giving to the Lord in prayer, finances and your time. Thank you!

5. Dec 6th Event at Hogsends (Pastor Charity)

Worship:

Graves into Gardens

2. See a Victory

3. What He’s Done

Play opening video of Marines singing “Days of Elijah” from Camp Pendleton

Introduction (Honoring Those Who Serve):

Today, we begin our Grateful Hearts series. And there is no better place to start than today — on the week our nation pauses to honor Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is not just a holiday. It is a reminder of something sacred: freedom always has a cost.

Before we move forward, we want to honor those among us who have served.

If you are a veteran, would you please stand? Church family — let’s thank them. (Pause for applause.) You may be seated.

Veterans, thank you. Your service reminds us of a powerful truth: real love is willing to sacrifice. Whether on a battlefield far away or in quiet acts of courage at home, your willingness to stand in the gap for others reflects something deeply spiritual.

Jesus said in our text this morning in:

John 15:13 CSB

13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

As we bring this series on Grateful Hearts, we must understand that gratitude begins by remembering sacrifice — the sacrifice of others, and ultimately, the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, first of all this morning, I would like to encourage us to get out the litmus test of gratefulness. As we talk about some key points this morning, I want us to look at ourselves and see how we measure up when it comes to having a grateful heart; specifically being grateful for the sacrifice that has been paid.

Transition: the first litmus test of a grateful heart when it comes to bring grateful for sacrifice is to:

I. Honor the Sacrifice of Others

Scripture tells us that honoring sacrifice is right and godly.

Romans 13:7 CSB

7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Veterans teach us that courage is not the absence of fear — it’s doing what's right even when fear is staring you in the face or it requires the ultimate cost.

Illustration: Desmond Doss — “Lord, Help Me Get One More”

During World War II, there was a young man named Desmond Doss. He was a medic — but unlike everyone around him, he refused to carry a weapon. Not because he was weak. Not because he was afraid. But because he believed with all his heart that his calling was not to take life, but to save life.

When his unit was sent into the battle of Okinawa, the fighting was fierce. Artillery thundered. Smoke filled the air. Bodies fell. The wounded cried out for help. And one by one, the soldiers around Desmond retreated for safety.

But Desmond didn’t run.

He crawled into the line of fire… He dragged bleeding men across the dirt… He tied ropes under their arms… And he lowered them down a steep cliff to safety — one soldier at a time.

Not with bullets. Not with strength. But with courage and love.

No one would have blamed him for stopping — for saving himself — for saying, “That’s enough.”

But instead, every time Desmond lowered a man to safety, he didn’t collapse… he didn’t give up… he prayed:

“Lord, help me get one more.”

By the end of that night — he had saved 75 men. Seventy-five souls who lived because one man refused to stop loving when it was hard.

Not with glory. Not with applause. But with sacrifice.

Turn to the Message:

Church — that is what love looks like. Real love moves. Real love sacrifices. Real love keeps going even when it costs something.

Veterans remind us of that kind of courage. And every act of bravery like that whispers of a greater love still — the love of Christ who did not run from the battlefield of our sin… but ran toward it.

You see, even the greatest earthly courage points us to the greatest act of love ever displayed!

Transition: not only do we have to honor the sacrifice of others, but we also need to:

II. Remember the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ

John 15:13 does not just describe military sacrifice — it describes Jesus Himself. Paul encourages us to have the same attitude Jesus had when he said in:

Philippians 2:6–8 CSB

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

And He did this not for the deserving, but for the undeserving.

Romans 5:8 CSB

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Illustration: The Rescue Under Fire

I want you to imagine something with me for just a moment.

You’re on the battlefield. The air is thick with smoke and dust. You can hear gunfire cracking around you. You hit the ground, but it’s too late — you’re exposed. There is nowhere to move… nowhere to hide.

You know — this is it. There is no way out. You cannot save yourself.

But then — before the shot meant for you lands — a fellow soldier dives across your body. He shields you with his own. He takes the impact. He takes the wound. He takes the death you were about to face.

And you live — because he didn’t.

You didn’t earn that. You didn’t deserve it. You didn’t have time to prove yourself worthy of it.

You just received a life that somebody else paid for.

Now Bring It to the Gospel:

Church — that is the Cross.

Jesus saw us pinned down by sin, wounded by the attacks of the enemy, helpless, unable to save ourselves from the penalty of sin… and He did not stand at a distance and hope we could crawl our way out.

He ran toward us. He threw Himself over us. He took the full impact of sin, death, judgment, and wrath — so we could stand up and live.

We are alive today because He took our place.

Transition: And when we remember His sacrifice, gratitude is no longer just a feeling — it becomes a way of life. Not only do we have to honor the sacrifice of others, and remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, but we also need to respond to the sacrifice others and Jesus Christ has given by:

III. Live a Life Worthy of Sacrifice

Romans 12:1 CSB

1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.

We don’t just remember His sacrifice — we respond to it.

Improved Illustration: The Medal and the Flag

Some of you have seen this moment in person. Maybe you lived it. Maybe someone you love did.

A military officer stands before a family — a mother, a wife, a husband, a child. Their world has been changed forever.

The room is quiet. Hands shake. Eyes are full — not just of tears, but of memories… and of sacrifice.

The officer steps forward. He does not speak many words — because in moments like this, words feel too small.

He places a folded flag — triangle-shaped, precise, deliberate — into the hands of the family.

Then he places a medal — shining, but heavy — heavier than its weight should allow… because everyone in that room knows what it cost to receive it.

That medal says:

“Your loved one paid a price so others could live in freedom.”

That flag says:

“Their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”

The family does not hide that medal in a drawer. They honor it. They remember it. They live with an awareness that freedom has a name… and that name is written on a sacrifice.

Now Bring It to the Gospel:

Church — we have been handed something too.

Not a medal. Not a flag. But a Cross.

A symbol that says:

“Your freedom has a cost.” “Your life was purchased.” “Someone died so you could live.”

The Cross is not just a decoration. It is not jewelry. It is not just a church symbol.

It is a reminder of the greatest sacrifice ever made — and the greatest love ever shown.

So we don’t live casually. We don’t live carelessly. We live with honor. We live with purpose. We live with gratitude.

Because Jesus paid the price so we could live.

Transition: We talked about honoring the sacrifice of others, remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and living a life worthy of sacrifice. But, how do I live a life worthy of sacrifice?

Application #1 — Live a Life of Service

Christ served us, so we serve others.

Mark 10:45 CSB

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Questions to Reflect:

Who has God placed in my life to serve this week?

Where am I expecting others to serve me instead?

Challenge: Serve one person intentionally this week — especially someone who cannot repay you.

Application #2 — Live a Life of Faithfulness

Don’t treat salvation casually. Honor Christ by staying steady and obedient.

Hebrews 2:3 CSB

3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

Questions to Reflect:

Where am I drifting or losing spiritual focus?

What is one step of obedience I need to take today?

Challenge: Choose one spiritual habit to recommit to this week.

Application #3 — Live a Life of Gratitude

Gratitude is not a feeling — it is a practice.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 CSB

18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Questions to Reflect:

Am I more focused on what I lack or what I’ve been given?

Who have I not thanked that I need to?

Challenge: Write down three things you are grateful for every morning this week.

Communion — Remembering the Greatest Sacrifice

One of the most powerful ways we remember and respond to Christ’s sacrifice is through Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (CSB) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

As we take the bread — we remember His body broken. As we take the cup — we remember His blood poured out.

Before we receive, take a moment of silent reflection:

Lord, is there gratitude in my heart?

Is there obedience in my life?

Am I living in remembrance of Your sacrifice?

(Pastor leads prayer.) Now distribute and receive communion.

Closing Challenge

Gratitude begins with remembrance. So…

Honor the sacrifice of others.

Remember the sacrifice of Christ.

Live a life worthy of that sacrifice.

May we be a church marked by grateful hearts — Grateful for freedom. Grateful for grace. Grateful for Jesus.

Application Summary for Preaching

Serve others → Because Christ served you.

Stay faithful → Because salvation is precious.

Practice gratitude → Because remembering His sacrifice changes everything.

Amen.