Embracing Gratitude: A Heartfelt Response to God

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude Transforms Our Perspective

In life, we often face burdens and struggles that can weigh us down. However, turning our hearts towards God in gratitude can transform our perspective and bring us closer to Him. The story of the ten lepers in the Gospels illustrates this beautifully. Out of the ten who were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus. This act of gratitude not only honored Jesus but also strengthened the leper's faith and relationship with God. No matter what circumstances we are facing, we should strive to be like the one leper who returned, always acknowledging God's goodness in our lives. [15:24]

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you turn your heart towards God in gratitude for His presence and blessings during that time?

Day 2: Worship as an Expression of Gratitude

Worship is more than just singing songs; it is an expression of a heart filled with gratitude. When we gather to worship, we are reminded of God's love and the incredible things He has in store for us. Worship allows us to lift our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and express our thankfulness for His blessings. Let our worship be a reflection of our thankful hearts, acknowledging God's goodness and love in every aspect of our lives. [15:52]

Psalm 100:1-2 (ESV): "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!"

Reflection: During your next worship time, focus on expressing your gratitude to God. How does this change your experience of worship?

Day 3: Celebrating God's Unfailing Love

We are part of God's family, and He loves us deeply. This love is evident in the salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. As we reflect on this, let us be filled with gratitude and celebrate the fact that "hell lost another one." Our future is secure in God's hands, and His love for us is unwavering. This assurance should fill our hearts with thankfulness and joy, knowing that we are deeply loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father. [16:20]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV): "Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will."

Reflection: Reflect on the moment you accepted Jesus as your Savior. How does knowing you are part of God's family fill you with gratitude today?

Day 4: The Habit of Acknowledging God's Blessings

Just as the one leper returned to thank Jesus, we should make it a habit to acknowledge and thank God for His blessings. This act of gratitude not only honors God but also strengthens our faith and reminds us of His constant presence in our lives. By regularly acknowledging God's goodness, we cultivate a heart of thankfulness that permeates every aspect of our lives. Let us strive to be mindful of the blessings God has poured out on us and make it a daily practice to thank Him. [16:47]

Psalm 103:2 (ESV): "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

Reflection: Take a moment to list three specific blessings you have received recently. How can you make it a habit to thank God for these blessings daily?

Day 5: Lifting Our Eyes to Jesus

In times of worry and adversity, lifting our eyes to Jesus can bring peace and perspective. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and focusing on Him helps us to be thankful despite our circumstances. By keeping our eyes on Jesus, we are reminded of His love, grace, and the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Let us continually lift our eyes to Jesus and be filled with gratitude for His presence and guidance in our lives. [16:20]

Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Reflection: When you face a difficult situation, how can you intentionally lift your eyes to Jesus and find peace in His presence?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Bayside family. Today, we gathered to worship and reflect on the importance of gratitude in our lives. I shared a story from the Gospels where Jesus healed ten lepers, but only one returned to say thank you. This story serves as a powerful reminder for us to always turn our hearts towards God in gratitude, no matter what circumstances we are facing. Whether we are burdened, worried, or walking through difficult times, we should lift our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and express our thankfulness for His blessings.

We sang about how "hell lost another one," celebrating our salvation and the incredible future God has for us. This is a moment to remember that we are part of God's family, and He loves us deeply. As we continue to worship, let our hearts be filled with gratitude, just like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus. Let us be mindful of the blessings God has poured out on our lives, beginning with the gift of Jesus Christ.

In our prayer, we asked God to help us lift our eyes above our struggles and worries, to focus on Him, and to be filled with gratitude. We prayed to be like the one healed leper who came back to say thank you, acknowledging God's goodness and love. As we worship together, let this spirit of thankfulness permeate our hearts and minds.

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Key Takeaways

1. Gratitude in All Circumstances: No matter what burdens or struggles we face, we should always turn our hearts towards God in gratitude. This act of thankfulness can transform our perspective and bring us closer to Him. Remember the one leper who returned to thank Jesus; let us strive to be like him, always acknowledging God's goodness in our lives. [15:24]
2. The Power of Worship: Worship is not just about singing songs; it's about expressing a heart filled with gratitude. When we gather to worship, we are reminded of God's love and the incredible things He has in store for us. Let our worship be a reflection of our thankful hearts, lifting our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. [15:52]
3. God's Unfailing Love: We are part of God's family, and He loves us deeply. This love is evident in the salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. As we reflect on this, let us be filled with gratitude and celebrate the fact that "hell lost another one." Our future is secure in God's hands, and His love for us is unwavering. [16:20]
4. The Importance of Acknowledgment: Just as the one leper returned to thank Jesus, we should make it a habit to acknowledge and thank God for His blessings. This act of gratitude not only honors God but also strengthens our faith and reminds us of His constant presence in our lives. [16:47]
5. Lifting Our Eyes to Jesus: In times of worry and adversity, lifting our eyes to Jesus can bring peace and perspective. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and focusing on Him helps us to be thankful despite our circumstances. Let us continually lift our eyes to Jesus and be filled with gratitude for His blessings. [16:20]
### [16:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:22] - Guest Introduction and Contact Card
[14:49] - Story of the Ten Lepers
[15:24] - Encouragement to Be Thankful
[15:52] - Worship with Gratitude
[16:20] - Prayer for Gratitude
[16:47] - Closing Prayer
[33:47] - Worship Song 1
[39:34] - Worship Song 2
[45:16] - Worship Song 3
[49:30] - Sermon Introduction
[54:16] - Main Sermon
[58:54] - Sermon Conclusion
[63:01] - Final Worship Song
[67:09] - Announcements and Closing
[73:41] - Benediction and Farewell

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

How many lepers did Jesus heal in the story, and how many returned to thank Him? (Luke 17:11-19)
What did the one leper do differently from the other nine after being healed? (Luke 17:15-16)
According to the sermon, what should we do when we are burdened or worried? [15:24]
What is the significance of the phrase "hell lost another one" as mentioned in the sermon? [15:24]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think only one leper returned to thank Jesus, and what does this tell us about human nature? (Luke 17:15-18)
How does expressing gratitude to God, even in difficult circumstances, transform our perspective according to the sermon? [15:24]
What does it mean to lift our eyes to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, in times of adversity? [16:20]
How does acknowledging God's blessings and expressing gratitude strengthen our faith, as discussed in the sermon? [16:47]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent difficult situation in your life. How can you turn your heart towards God in gratitude despite the challenges? [15:24]
In what ways can you incorporate gratitude into your daily worship and prayer life? [15:52]
Think about a time when you felt God's love deeply. How can you remind yourself of this love during times of worry or adversity? [16:20]
Identify one specific blessing in your life that you often overlook. How can you make it a habit to thank God for this blessing regularly? [16:47]
How can you encourage others in your small group or community to adopt a heart of gratitude, especially during tough times? [15:24]
What practical steps can you take to lift your eyes to Jesus when you are feeling overwhelmed or burdened? [16:20]
How can you celebrate and share the message that "hell lost another one" with those around you, reinforcing the joy of salvation? [15:24]

Sermon Clips

1. "And I want to challenge you today. I want to encourage you today that no matter what you're walking through, what circumstances or burden you brought in here, what weight you're feeling, what you're worried about, what you're walking in the middle of right now, I want to encourage you to turn your eyes and your heart towards the Lord and to just say, thank you. God's been good and he is good." [15:24] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you're in Christ, that's you. That you are now a part of, a part of the, the family of God and God loves you. And he has incredible things ahead for you. And so one of the things that, that we do when we gather together is we just worship with a heart filled with gratitude. And so I want to encourage you and challenge you today that as we sing, as we worship, as we're here in this place, that that would be what's reflected in your heart." [15:52] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Lord, we pray that right now, we would be able to lift our eyes to the author and the perfecter of our faith. His name is Jesus. And we'd be able to be thankful, filled with gratitude and say, thank you for the blessings that you've poured out on our lives, beginning in Jesus Christ. And so as we worship you today, as we lift up our hearts to you, would we be like that one of the 10 men who was healed to come back and say, thank you." [16:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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