Step Three Gratitude

Big Idea - There is so much that divides us - but gratitude can unite us

Me:

1. The Things that divide us.

a. What’s your favorite bible translation?

i. Camp 1 = The KJV only folks (Top Seller)

ii. Camp 2 = The most accurate literal - NKJV - ESV - NASB – NRSV

iii. Camp 3 = “Accurate” but readable - NIV - CSB – NLT (Number 2 Seller)

iv. Camp 4 = Whatever translation gets the point across - There are about 30

b. Now what group do you think your pastor is in?

i. Camp 1 - The problem is the KJV only folks think I’m a reprobate

1. I think they are a misguided nut job - I know of one in our association. They requested a guest speaker use only KJV when they speak.

2. I doubt I will ever be invited to speak.

ii. Camp 2 – Being a mostly topic preacher I’m not really a preacher. Book by book verse by verse is the true way to preach

iii. Camp 3 – I can relate

iv. Camp 4 – I have specific goal in mind when I preach

We:

2. Who are your friends?

a. Who did you support for president?

i. Trump ________________

ii. Biden ________________

b. If you picked Trump

i. How many friends do you have that support Biden?

ii. Or vice versa

c. Do you wear a mask?

i. Do you shame those that don’t?

ii. Should we quarantine or throw caution to the wind

d. We live in a divided country

i. We worship in divided churches

ii. The early church had its issues also

1. See Acts 15

iii. However, one thing brought them together.

God:

3. Gratitude

a. Let’s have a look at Acts 2:42-47

i. The church is brand new – Acts 1 and that miraculous event.

ii. They were a diverse group

iii. But you can hear their excitement in passage

b. Act’s 2:42-47

i. Acts 2:42–47 (NLT) — 42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. 43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

c. What brought the church together?

i. Worship v:46

ii. Teaching v:42

iii. Fellowship v:44

iv. A ministry v:45

v. The gospel v:47

d. What is the foundation for all of this?

i. Salvation

ii. A Spirit of Grace

You:

4. What poisons the heart

a. Ingratitude

i. When you are ungrateful you stop your worship

ii. When you are ungrateful you don’t listen to sound doctrine

iii. When you are ungrateful your ministry stops – people are not served

iv. The baptistery has cobwebs growing in it. Evangelism stops

b. When you are ungrateful you lose “goodwill”

i. V:47 praising God and having favor with all the people.

ii. This word “favor” as the ESV translates it means

iii. “favorable attitude toward someone or something”

iv. NLT 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

v. Think about this for a minute

1. Do you look at a Biden supporter like a two headed rattlesnake

2. Do you wear a mask or not?

3. Are you KJV only

c. But your view is right – correct?

i. This is how I see it,

ii. That is not what I think,

iii. SMH

iv. Have you ever got your point across on Facebook?

We:

5. The Spirit of Grace

a. The glue that holds us together

i. The early church understood that the remedy for keeping out this spirit of division was to embrace a spirit of grace.

ii. They knew if we would slow down, choose gratitude, and thank God for one another, we would live like Christ.

iii. Ultimately, they knew this was the way to make a difference in the world.

b. What if…

i. What if we expressed gratitude for one another?

ii. What if we said words of thanks?

iii. What if we wrote words of thanks?

iv. What if we prayed words of thanks?

c. If we make gratitude a habit, our hearts will soften to one another.

i. And eventually, what we have in common will outweigh our differences.

ii. Do you love Jesus