January 19, 2020

 So Much More: The Heart of Gratitude
January 19, 2020
Pastor Jonathan

Recently, has anyone made a specific effort to say “thank you” to you for something you have done? If so, can you share how it made you feel?

Open: Today we continue our series, “So Much More,” as we look for ways to live our lives where the power of God produces infinitely more ‘than we can ask or think.’ We all want a life where blessings pour out over the top! What does that look like, and what does it require? A heart filled with gratitude and praise is one that will glorify God—and heart full of thankfulness will keep us from a life of pride.

Key Verse: Ephesians 3:20: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”

Focal Passage: Luke 17:11-19.

The Struggle to be Grateful [can be defeated if:]

We live entitled lives. “I DESERVE THIS AND MORE”

• Read 1 Samuel 25:14-16. What had Nabal been told regarding the protection of his servants and his livestock?
• Read verse 11. When Nabal had been told of the protection by David’s men, how did he respond? How would he have reacted if he had had a grateful heart?

We live discontented lives. “IF I ONLY HAD MORE…”

• Read Genesis 3:1-5. What did Adam and Eve have in the Garden of Eden?
• How did their actions show they were unwilling to have even one thing denied them? They lost the Garden of Eden because they wanted more!

We live jealous lives. “THEY DON’T DESERVE THAT.”

• Read Luke 7:44-46. What did Jesus say Simon had done for Him when He had entered Simon’s house to eat?
• Read verse 39. What was Simon jealous of? Why did he think the woman did not deserve for Jesus to show mercy to her? Do you know people who are angry at God because He has forgiven your for past sins?

LIVING WITH GRATITUDE

TURN EVERY BLESSING INTO PRAISE

Praise God for your NEW POSITION

• Read Luke 17:15. When you came to salvation, what were some of the things in your life that changed?

Recognize the MASSIVE DIFFERENCE GOD HAS MADE IN YOUR LIFE

• Read John 9:24-25. What difference did Jesus make in this man’s life when He stepped into it? How is that synonymous with the spiritual difference God made in your life at salvation?

Recognize WHERE YOU WOULD BE IF IT WERE NOT FOR JESUS

• If you were saved as an adult, what are some things that changed in your life (spiritual or physical)?

Praise God for HIS PROVISIONS

• Read Luke 17:16. What had Jesus provided for this man? How would his life be different now?
• Read Exodus 16:17. What type of provision did God make for Israel in the wilderness?
• Why should our joy never be based on our circumstances?

Praise God for THE POSSIBILITY OF IMPACT

• Read Luke 8:26-29. How do you envision this man’s life possibly impacting his village? Read verse 39b. What did the demoniac do? Read verse 40. What was the result of his impact in his town?
• Read Isaiah 6:1, 5, 7-8. What radical change was made in Isaiah’s life when he saw the Lord? What was his immediate response upon salvation?
• Be a blessing in SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE! Were you “saved to serve,” or ‘saved to sit and sour’?
• What are the two main ways we show our grateful thanks to God for saving us?
• Read Matthew 28:19-20. What responsibility has God given to His children whom He has saved? How can you thwart His will for your life?
• Thank God Always!

For what GOD HAS DONE                                                                 

• Read 1 Chronicles 16:9b. When David gave this command to his people, what was he actually telling them to do?
• We know witnessing is just “telling our story.” Why is it so hard to do this?

For God IS OUR REWARD

• Read verse 10. What do you think of when someone mentions ‘reward’?
• Where will we receive our ultimate reward? What will it be?

For GOD IS OUR GOD AND HE WILL NEVER CHANGE

• What are some of the acts of God from Genesis to Revelation?
• How does it effect you that His resurrection power is yours, as His child? If you have His power available to you, what does that mean to you personally in your life?

For GOD SAVED US FOREVER

• Read 1 John 2:17. Why do we have to take ‘eternity’ and ‘forever’ by faith?
• Read Hebrews 10:14. We cannot truly understand the concept of eternity. What are some of the things you think of as you try to grapple with being in heaven for eternity?

Francis Schaeffer: “The beginning of a man’s rebellion against God was, and is, the lack of a thankful heart.”

Close: Most of the things in our lives that make for a healthy, happy, or contented life do not come about because we have practiced them a few times in succession. There’s an old cliche that says a habit is something that has been done three times. The truth is, those things which give us a beautiful life are the results of continual discipline. Ask any person who has a dedication to a sport or a hobby and they will tell you of the long hours that have been required to achieve the results they desire.

A passionate spiritual life requires the same type of discipline. Going to church, daily prayer times, or hours of Bible study are not habits that can be taken for granted; they will almost always be the result of a godly self-discipline. In Genesis 3:19, God told Adam, “you will eat your bread by the sweat of your brow.” It is not a long stretch to realize God could just as well have said, “you will learn of Me—the Bread of Life—by sweating though hours of discipline.”

Not only is spiritual growth the result of discipline, but also the growth of maturity and wisdom in our character as well. Today’s quality of gratefulness is not acquired by giving a brief “thank you” for something kind done for us. It might be in forcing yourself to drive back to town when you’re almost home, just to tell the person in the grocery store “thank you!” Eventually the inconvenience in order to right a wrong (not in the moral sense, but in training yourself in the way you should go) will help you remember the quality you’re trying to instill in yourself. How do you teach yourself hard lessons that last a lifetime? When you answer that question for yourself, you will be on the road to teaching yourself how to “love life and see good days! (I Peter 3:10). May we all take the time and self-discipline to see that we hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence: God Himself sought that standard for us when He told us, “Be holy, as I am holy”. Ask Him to help you be ‘so much more’ in your character as a Christian than you can ‘ask or think.’