Luke 17:1119

1
Luke 1711-19
2
Gratitude
3

• Understanding Gratitude from the Samaritan Leper
• More than politeness
• A good starting point with children (remember to
  say Thanks)
• Genuine, heart-felt gratitude goes deeper
• v.15-16 Glorified God Fell on his face, giving
  thanks
• From hopelessness to healing
• Nine others were ungrateful

Gr a t i t u d e
4

• What is Gratitude?
• The quality or condition of being thankful or
  grateful
• Thank occurs in the Bible 134-168 times (dep.
  on trans.)
• Gratitude occurs less frequently, but is
  equivalent to thankfulness
• Grk. nouns charis (gift/grace), eucharistia
  (well giving freely / thanksgiving)
• Grace and gratitude charis is used both in
  the objective sense of the gift itself and in the
  subj. senses of the disposition of bestower
  gratitude of receiver

Gr a t i t u d e
5

• Grace in Our Lives
• Everything that we have is a gift
• 1 Corinthians 47
• James 117
• Ephesians 25-8
• Our blessings come from a gracious God Numbers
  622-27
• Gratitude is recognizing and acknowledging our
  gifts
• (re-cognize)
• Grace is unearned
• Once we perceive grace, we should be grateful

Gr a t i t u d e
6

• Gratitude Made Known
• When we are sincerely thankful, we tell others
  Psalm 91, 107 Proverbs 3128-29
• Gratitude to God is manifested in praise and
  blessings to Him (heart-felt worship) Psalm
  92, 1004-5, 1111
• Gratitude should be also manifested in personal
  evangelism Luke 838-39
• We should tell others what Jesus has done for us
  2 Cor. 915

Gr a t i t u d e
7

• Gratitude in Scripture
• Its commanded. Give thanks / Be thankful in
  the imperative sense used 33 times in scripture
  Colossians 315-17
• Ingratitude is universally condemned - Murmuring
  of Israelites (Num. 215), Nabal, King David, 9
  lepers, Unforgiving servant (Mt. 1821-35)
• Gratitude at all times
• - Job 121 29-10
• - Daniel 610
• - Paul (Philippian letter from jail)
• 1 Thess. 518

Gr a t i t u d e
8

• Gratitude is Good For Us

Gr a t i t u d e
9
Gr a t i t u d e
How the new science of gratitude can make you
happier
10

• Gratitude is Good For Us

Our research has led us to conclude that
experiencing gratitude leads to increased
feelings of connectedness, improved
relationships, and even altruism. We have also
found that when people experience gratitude, they
feel more loving, more forgiving, and closer to
God. Gratitude, we have found, maximizes the
enjoyment of the good--our enjoyment of others,
of God, of our lives. Happiness is facilitated
when we enjoy what we have been given, when we
"want what we have."
Gr a t i t u d e
11

• Gratitude is Good For Us, cont.

• Counting blessings better than counting burdens
  or hassles
• A grateful heart is a healthy heart heart
  rhythms
• A grateful life may equal a long life
• Gratitude helps unknot negative emotions
• Grateful people tend to take better care of
  themselves
• Scarcity or deprivation can lead to gratitude
  (being grateful vs. feeling grateful)

Gr a t i t u d e
12

• Obstacles to Gratitude
• Harried, distracted lives
• Negativity bias (counting hassles rather than
  blessings)
• Wish to be independent (must acknowledge
  interdependence)
• Past conflicts with the giver (fear message
  gratitude would send, but must forgive)
• Narcissism (an overly high opinion of self,
  leading to feelings of entitlement,
  self-absorption)
• Comparison thinking (concentrating on what we
  dont have)

Gr a t i t u d e
13

• Obstacles, cont.

• Comparison thinking (Get rich quick?)

I cannot tell you anything that, in a few
minutes, will tell you how to be rich. But I can
tell you how to feel rich, which is far better,
let me tell you firsthand, than being rich. Be
grateful...It's the only totally reliable
get-rich-quick scheme. --BEN STEIN, actor,
comedian, economist
Gr a t i t u d e
14

• The Fruits of Gratitude in Christians
• Humility / Absence of Pride
• Contentment
• Benevolence
• Gentle, Forgiving Spirit
• Heart-felt Worship
• Devoted Obedience to God
• Evangelism
• Perseverance

Gr a t i t u d e