Embracing Gratitude: A Journey of Radical Acceptance

 

Summary

In this gathering, we celebrate the profound significance of gratitude, especially as we approach Thanksgiving. Reflecting on the past year, I am deeply thankful for the community that has formed around our devotional times. This journey began with a simple Thanksgiving devotional and has grown into a meaningful rhythm of life, impacting not just me but many others. As we prepare for the Advent season, we will explore the theme of "Radical Acceptance," focusing on the biblical truth that God accepts us as we are, and we are called to accept one another and ourselves in the same spirit.

Thanksgiving, as a virtue, is uniquely Christian, contrasting with ancient classical views that frowned upon indebtedness. Gratitude requires acknowledging that we have received unmerited gifts, which can be challenging for our independent spirits. Yet, it is a skill worth cultivating, as it connects us to God and keeps us from complaining and comparing. Reflecting on the story of the Israelites, we see how quickly gratitude can turn to grumbling, and how important it is to remain present and thankful for God's ongoing provision.

Nancy shared how gratitude has been a guiding force, helping us see God's goodness even when circumstances are not ideal. It prevents us from falling into the trap of comparison, which can be detrimental to our souls. The story of Peter and Jesus in John 21 illustrates how Jesus values gratitude and warns against comparison. Gratitude opens our eyes to the gifts we have and allows us to reflect our thanks back to God.

We also explored the ancient Jewish prayer, Dayenu, which expresses gratitude for God's sufficiency. This prayer teaches us to appreciate the details of our lives, recognizing that even if God had done less, it would have been enough. This perspective encourages us to notice and give thanks for the multitude of blessings we often overlook.

As we enter this Thanksgiving week, I encourage you to reflect on your own Dayenu moments, recognizing how God has been more than enough in your life. Let us give thanks for the countless gifts we have received, from the breath we take to the community we share. May this spirit of gratitude carry us into the Advent season, where we will explore the power of surrender and acceptance.

Key Takeaways:

1. Gratitude as a Christian Virtue: Thanksgiving is a distinctly Christian virtue, contrasting with ancient views that saw indebtedness as undesirable. Embracing gratitude requires acknowledging unmerited gifts, which can be challenging but is essential for spiritual growth. [04:13]

2. The Power of Gratitude: Gratitude connects us to God and keeps us from complaining and comparing. It allows us to see God's goodness even in less-than-ideal circumstances, helping us remain present and thankful. [07:19]

3. Avoiding Comparison: The story of Peter and Jesus in John 21 highlights the danger of comparison. Gratitude helps us focus on the unique gifts God has given us, preventing the soul-damaging effects of comparison. [08:48]

4. Dayenu: Recognizing Sufficiency: The ancient Jewish prayer, Dayenu, teaches us to appreciate the sufficiency of God's gifts. By recognizing that even less would have been enough, we cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude. [11:18]

5. Reflecting on God's Abundance: We are reminded of the abundance of God's gifts, from the breath we take to the community we share. Gratitude helps us recognize and give thanks for the countless blessings in our lives. [17:11]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:07] - Informal Beginnings
- [00:22] - Book Art Mystery
- [00:43] - Airport Encounter
- [01:07] - Drama Scripts and Memories
- [02:02] - One Year Anniversary
- [02:35] - Advent Series Introduction
- [03:40] - Thanksgiving Preparation
- [04:13] - Thanksgiving as a Christian Virtue
- [05:26] - The Skill of Gratitude
- [06:13] - Understanding Gratitude
- [07:19] - Gratitude and God's Goodness
- [08:48] - Avoiding Comparison
- [10:18] - Dayenu Prayer
- [12:05] - Details of Gratitude
- [13:25] - Personal Dayenu Reflections
- [16:56] - Ancient Prayer of Abundance
- [19:04] - Thanksgiving Wishes

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Significance of Gratitude

Bible Reading:
1. John 21:15-22 - The story of Peter and Jesus, highlighting the danger of comparison.
2. Exodus 16:1-3 - The Israelites' grumbling in the wilderness, contrasting with gratitude.
3. Psalm 136:1-3 - A psalm of thanksgiving, emphasizing God's enduring love.

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Observation Questions:

1. In John 21, how does Jesus respond to Peter's question about John, and what does this reveal about the dangers of comparison? [08:38]

2. Reflecting on Exodus 16, what were the Israelites complaining about, and how does this relate to the theme of gratitude? [07:07]

3. According to the sermon, how does the ancient Jewish prayer, Dayenu, help us appreciate the sufficiency of God's gifts? [11:18]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate how gratitude can prevent us from falling into the trap of comparison? [08:48]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Peter and Jesus in John 21 illustrate the importance of focusing on our unique journey with God rather than comparing ourselves to others? [08:48]

2. In what ways does the Israelites' experience in the wilderness serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of ingratitude? [07:07]

3. How can the practice of the Dayenu prayer transform our perspective on God's provision in our lives? [11:18]

4. What role does gratitude play in helping us remain present and connected to God's ongoing provision, according to the sermon? [07:19]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you found yourself comparing your life to someone else's. How can you shift your focus to gratitude for your unique gifts and journey? [08:48]

2. Identify a "Dayenu moment" in your life where you can recognize that God's provision has been more than enough. How can you express gratitude for this? [11:18]

3. Consider a time when you were tempted to complain about your circumstances. How might practicing gratitude have changed your perspective in that situation? [07:19]

4. How can you incorporate the practice of gratitude into your daily routine to help you stay connected to God's goodness, even in challenging times? [07:19]

5. Think of a person in your life who has been a source of support and encouragement. How can you express your gratitude to them this week? [05:53]

6. As we approach Thanksgiving, what specific steps can you take to cultivate a spirit of gratitude in your family or community? [19:04]

7. Reflect on the abundance of God's gifts in your life, from the breath you take to the community you share. How can you make gratitude a central theme in your prayers and interactions this week? [17:11]

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude as a Pathway to Spiritual Growth
Gratitude is a distinctly Christian virtue that requires acknowledging the unmerited gifts we receive. Unlike ancient classical views that frowned upon indebtedness, Christianity teaches that embracing gratitude is essential for spiritual growth. This virtue challenges our independent spirits, as it requires us to recognize that we are recipients of grace and blessings beyond our own efforts. By cultivating gratitude, we open ourselves to a deeper connection with God, allowing us to see His hand in our lives and fostering a spirit of humility and thankfulness. [04:13]

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (Psalm 136:1, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent blessing in your life that you initially overlooked. How can you express gratitude for it today?


Day 2: Gratitude as a Shield Against Complaining
Gratitude serves as a powerful tool that connects us to God and shields us from the pitfalls of complaining and comparing. It allows us to see God's goodness even in less-than-ideal circumstances, helping us remain present and thankful. By focusing on gratitude, we can avoid the negativity that often arises from dissatisfaction and comparison, instead choosing to appreciate the blessings we have. This perspective not only enriches our spiritual lives but also enhances our overall well-being. [07:19]

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where you find yourself frequently complaining. How can you shift your focus to gratitude in that situation today?


Day 3: Embracing Our Unique Gifts
The story of Peter and Jesus in John 21 highlights the danger of comparison and the importance of focusing on the unique gifts God has given us. Gratitude helps us avoid the soul-damaging effects of comparison by encouraging us to appreciate our own blessings and talents. By embracing our individuality and the specific gifts God has bestowed upon us, we can live more fulfilling lives and contribute positively to the world around us. [08:48]

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a unique gift or talent you possess. How can you use it to serve others and glorify God today?


Day 4: Recognizing the Sufficiency of God's Gifts
The ancient Jewish prayer, Dayenu, teaches us to appreciate the sufficiency of God's gifts. By recognizing that even less would have been enough, we cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude. This perspective encourages us to notice and give thanks for the multitude of blessings we often overlook, fostering a spirit of contentment and appreciation for God's provision in our lives. [11:18]

"But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world." (1 Timothy 6:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel lacking. How can you practice gratitude for what you already have in that area today?


Day 5: Reflecting on God's Abundance
We are reminded of the abundance of God's gifts, from the breath we take to the community we share. Gratitude helps us recognize and give thanks for the countless blessings in our lives, fostering a spirit of appreciation and joy. By focusing on God's abundance, we can cultivate a heart of gratitude that carries us through life's challenges and into the Advent season, where we explore the power of surrender and acceptance. [17:11]

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the abundance in your life, both big and small. How can you express gratitude for these blessings today?

Quotes


Thanksgiving does tend to be a distinctively Christian virtue in the ancient classical world it was actually kind of frightened on frowned on Aristotle said that the great souled person the magnanimous man never wanted to be in anybody's debt and if you're thankful to somebody you have to be kind of indebted they have to have done a favor for you something that you did not merit or deserve so thanksgiving was not really a virtue that they looked up to and there is a kind of resistance in our spirit where we don't want to be indebted. [00:04:13]

Gratitude giving thanks is a skill we have to learn yeah no and john alluded to this earlier but so many of you this last two years now have prayed for us when we couldn't pray and have supported us in ways that we will be eternally grateful to you for and it's motivated us to want to do that even more for other people so thank you for being our community. [00:05:26]

I think one of the powers of gratitude is it allows me to see the goodness of god even when I'm not getting what I might want you think about the children of Israel they got freedom after 400 years they were on their way to the promised land that they had only dreamt of they had mana and quail and water but they got so caught in their ungratitude all they wanted was what comfort they knew from the past and I think gratitude keeps me in the present moment with god connected to reality. [00:07:19]

John 21 has been a passage these last couple years that has been a true north for me where Jesus says to Peter somebody's going to lead you to where you do not want to go follow me and that part of the passage has been so helpful in ways that I don't want it to be helpful but in these last two years but then beyond that where Jesus has that interaction with Peter Peter doesn't immediately surrender to that and he looks at the apostle John following them and he says what about him. [00:08:48]

There's a form of prayer that they would actually use uh in Israel that I thought would be cool to talk about today so I'm going to do that while I'm doing that nancy feel real free there's people that are putting stuff in the chat and I'm so glad that you're doing that and by the way if you want to you can write down what are you grateful for and uh yeah put that in the chat numbers of you are writing about gratitude for us and I'm so glad. [00:10:18]

Here's the prayer I'd not heard of but it's associated with the celebration of passover uh in the Jewish tradition and uh it's it's called dayenu and that's from a single word that is apparently translated it would have been enough or it would have been sufficient and so uh there's a prayer that's very very ancient goes back many many many centuries in the celebration of passover where the people will pray a prayer and they will say you know god if you had only done this much and not this much more that you did it would have been sufficient dayenu it would have been enough. [00:11:18]

It may be that uh it reflects how if we stop and think and notice the details of our lives we become much more thankful than if we just give one big global hurried thanks and I was thinking with thanksgiving some of you will remember john madden who is a sportscaster and uh he would get the telestrator he was the first guy to do that and just take a moment to now we'll talk about breaking down a plane analyze it and draw out if there was big gain you know the center block this guy the guard pulled and crossed over. [00:12:05]

I wrote a little dayenu prayer and I'll share with you and then you can think about what that might look like for you as you get ready for thanksgiving this week about all of the ways in which god is more than enough is more than sufficient I was thinking about growing up in rockford illinois some of you are watching this from rockford illinois if he had given me a home without grand being with us in all those years and banana bread and red velvet cake and popcorn that was fried in bacon grease with the bacon cut up and put in without stockholm in or tennis courts at southeast end park or temple baptist church or east high school. [00:13:25]

If he had let me learn without dallas willard or david hubbard or jerry hawthorne ian pitt watson neil warren loose meads max dupree sam reeves john f anderson f as in frederick as in frederick the great would have been enough if he had provided me with nancy as a wife without my having lots and lots of other girlfriends first actually he did provide me nancy with wife without having any other girlfriends first and it was dieting it was sufficient and then I think about this last year. [00:16:56]

If he had sustained us in this year without having a little grandchild to love dayenu would have been if he had provided financially without my getting to do the ministry that I love this kind of thing would have been enough if he would have given us comfort without our getting to meet so many other people together in the fellowship of hurt and suffering so many of you where we got to have conversations and feel like together our pain was something where we received come from gut from god and we were able to be able to help one another and learn together and so there was meaning to it would have been enough. [00:19:04]

If he would have given nancy good work to do without the joy of transforming the bay with christ and her team was just up here this last week and their energy and enthusiasm and love for one another it would have been enough if he would have given us a place to live without the joy of the cabana and chaos in the cabana and mark and heather it would have been enough if he would have walked with my family through my dad's death without the joy of that trip to the galapagos dayenu that would have been enough. [00:20:18]

If he'd allow us to keep making a living without this without the community of the withered hand and the celebration of personal inadequacy without so many of you bravely telling your own stories of loss and pain addiction family heartbreak parenting struggle financial challenge cancer loss of career or relationship or reputation without so many people saying keep going don't give up we can walk through this together dayenu it would have been enough but god has not just done enough god never just does enough he gives far me on that. [00:21:56]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?