Gratitude: A Journey of Remembering Kindness

Summary

In our journey through the series on gratitude, we are reminded that gratitude is not a destination but a continuous journey. None of us have mastered it, and we can all strive to do better. This week, we focus on the importance of remembering kindnesses, as illustrated by the story of King Saul and the people of Jabesh Gilead. Despite Saul's many failures as a king, the people of Jabesh Gilead never forgot the kindness he showed them when he rescued them from the Ammonites. Forty years later, when Saul's body was desecrated by the Philistines, the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead risked their lives to retrieve and honor his body. This act of gratitude was not motivated by Saul's later failures but by the memory of his kindness.

This story challenges us to remember and honor the kindnesses shown to us, even by those who may have had significant flaws. In our culture, often quick to cancel and forget, we are called to remember with mercy and gratitude. This extends to our relationships with others and our relationship with Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, once secret disciples, boldly honored Jesus after His death, moved by gratitude for His kindness and sacrifice. They gave Jesus a king's burial, not knowing that He would rise again, but their act of gratitude was a testament to their transformed hearts.

Gratitude is a powerful force that moves us to action. It compels us to honor those who have impacted our lives positively, regardless of their imperfections. It is a reminder that our acts of gratitude should be directed ultimately to Jesus, who has shown us the greatest kindness through His sacrifice. As we remember His kindness, our service and giving become acts of worship, keeping our faith vibrant and alive.

Key Takeaways:

- Gratitude is a lifelong journey, not a destination. We must continually strive to do better in expressing gratitude, recognizing that it is a powerful force that can move us to action and deepen our relationships with others and with God. [00:35]

- Remembering kindnesses requires us to look beyond the flaws and failures of others. The people of Jabesh Gilead honored King Saul despite his later failures, teaching us to focus on the good and show mercy in our memories. [13:23]

- Acts of gratitude can transform us from secret disciples to bold followers of Christ. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were moved by Jesus' death to publicly honor Him, demonstrating that gratitude can lead us to take courageous steps in our faith. [23:41]

- Our gratitude should ultimately be directed to Jesus, who has shown us the greatest kindness through His sacrifice. When we remember His kindness, our service and giving become acts of worship, keeping our faith vibrant and alive. [35:45]

- Gratitude is not limited to those who are still with us. We can honor the memory of those who have impacted our lives by expressing gratitude to their descendants or by continuing their legacy of kindness. [28:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - Introduction to Gratitude Series
- [03:06] - Saul's Early Victory
- [07:17] - Saul's Downfall and Death
- [13:23] - Jabesh Gilead's Act of Gratitude
- [14:40] - The Power of Remembering Kindness
- [15:35] - Passing on Gratitude to the Next Generation
- [19:43] - Transition to the New Testament
- [23:41] - Joseph of Arimathea's Boldness
- [26:05] - Nicodemus Joins in Honoring Jesus
- [27:45] - The Extravagance of Gratitude
- [28:50] - Gratitude Beyond Death
- [29:56] - The Sacredness of Jesus' Burial
- [34:11] - The Hope of Resurrection
- [35:45] - Serving and Giving as Acts of Worship

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Gratitude as a Lifelong Journey

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Samuel 11:1-11
2. 1 Samuel 31:1-13
3. John 19:38-42

---

Observation Questions:

1. What was the initial reaction of the people of Jabesh Gilead when they were besieged by the Ammonites, and how did Saul respond to their plea for help? [00:35]

2. How did the people of Jabesh Gilead honor King Saul after his death, despite his failures as a king? [13:23]

3. What actions did Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take after the death of Jesus, and what motivated them to do so? [23:41]

4. How does the sermon describe the cultural practice of "cancel culture," and how does it relate to the story of King Saul and the people of Jabesh Gilead? [13:23]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the story of Jabesh Gilead's gratitude towards Saul teach about the importance of remembering kindnesses, even from those who have significant flaws? [13:23]

2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of gratitude as a transformative force in the lives of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus? [23:41]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that gratitude can lead to bold actions in one's faith journey, as seen in the actions of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus? [23:41]

4. How does the sermon challenge the listener to view acts of gratitude as acts of worship, particularly in relation to Jesus' sacrifice? [35:45]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when someone showed you kindness. How have you remembered and honored that kindness in your life? Is there someone you need to thank or honor this week? [13:23]

2. In what ways can you practice gratitude towards those who have impacted your life, even if they are no longer with you? How can you continue their legacy of kindness? [28:50]

3. Consider the concept of "cancel culture" mentioned in the sermon. How can you focus on the good in others and show mercy in your memories, rather than dwelling on their flaws? [13:23]

4. How can you move from being a "secret disciple" to a bold follower of Christ, as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did? What steps can you take to publicly honor Jesus in your life? [23:41]

5. Reflect on the idea that gratitude is a lifelong journey. What are some practical ways you can cultivate a habit of gratitude in your daily life? [00:35]

6. How can you ensure that your acts of service and giving are directed as acts of worship to Jesus, keeping your faith vibrant and alive? [35:45]

7. Identify a person or group in your life who may feel forgotten or unappreciated. What specific action can you take this week to express gratitude and honor them? [14:40]

Devotional

Day 1: Gratitude as a Lifelong Journey
Gratitude is not a destination but a continuous journey that requires constant effort and mindfulness. It is a powerful force that can move us to action and deepen our relationships with others and with God. As we strive to express gratitude more fully, we recognize that it is a lifelong endeavor, one that we must continually work on and improve. This journey of gratitude is not about reaching a final point but about growing and evolving in our ability to appreciate and acknowledge the kindnesses we receive. [00:35]

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one small, consistent action you can take today to cultivate a habit of gratitude in your daily life?

Day 2: Remembering Kindness Beyond Flaws
The story of the people of Jabesh Gilead and King Saul teaches us the importance of remembering kindnesses, even when those who showed them have significant flaws. Despite Saul's failures, the people of Jabesh Gilead honored him for the kindness he once showed them. This challenges us to look beyond the imperfections of others and focus on the good they have done. In a culture quick to cancel and forget, we are called to remember with mercy and gratitude, extending this mindset to our relationships with others and with Jesus. [13:23]

"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone who has shown you kindness in the past but has since disappointed you. How can you honor their past kindness today?

Day 3: Gratitude Transforms Us into Bold Followers
Acts of gratitude can transform us from secret disciples to bold followers of Christ. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, once secret disciples, were moved by Jesus' death to publicly honor Him. Their gratitude for His kindness and sacrifice led them to take courageous steps in their faith, giving Jesus a king's burial. This transformation shows that gratitude can inspire us to act boldly and publicly in our faith, even when it requires courage and risk. [23:41]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: What is one bold step you can take today to publicly express your gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice?

Day 4: Directing Gratitude to Jesus
Our gratitude should ultimately be directed to Jesus, who has shown us the greatest kindness through His sacrifice. When we remember His kindness, our service and giving become acts of worship, keeping our faith vibrant and alive. This perspective shifts our focus from merely acknowledging human kindness to recognizing the divine kindness that underpins all acts of love and mercy. By directing our gratitude to Jesus, we align our hearts with His and allow our lives to be a testament to His love. [35:45]

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally direct your gratitude to Jesus today in a way that transforms your daily actions into acts of worship?

Day 5: Honoring Kindness Beyond Death
Gratitude is not limited to those who are still with us. We can honor the memory of those who have impacted our lives by expressing gratitude to their descendants or by continuing their legacy of kindness. This perspective encourages us to see gratitude as a bridge between the past and the present, allowing us to keep the memory of kindness alive and active in our lives. By doing so, we not only honor those who have gone before us but also inspire future generations to live lives marked by gratitude and kindness. [28:50]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: Who is someone from your past whose kindness you can honor today, and how can you pass on their legacy of kindness to others?

Quotes

1) "Gratitude is not something you ever graduate from. It's not something you'll ever arrive at. All of us can do better. Say it with me, I can do better. I can do better. If you don't believe that, then you're not a grateful person. If you're grateful, you know you could do better. And so don't get weary with me in this series because we're just getting started." [00:35] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "There's a selfishness in all of us to choose us to kind of disregard. This is a next generation. Next generation. They've got nothing to feel like they owe to King Saul. But they were trained to shape their hearts to be grateful for kindness that people show you. So they rally together. This is such a great story. They rally together in verse 11, verse 12. They travel all night. They take down, in a sneak attack, they take down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the water. And they went to the wall of Beth -sham and went to Jabesh. And it doesn't say, but I'm assuming they went and got his head too. These are not cowards. These are crazy. What made them do this? One thing. Gratitude. It's a power that moves you. It's a power that should move you. They're like, there's nothing we wouldn't do. This is a dead body." [14:40] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "If we don't pass on generosity, generosity, if we don't train our children to be grateful, if we don't, if we don't shape our own hearts and they see us being grateful. Some of the, some of my high points as a pastor came from low points. People in the past that for whatever reason, you know, just decided I was a bad pastor or blah, blah, blah. And, and I get caught, I got one here a couple of weeks ago. He was, he came to Christ. His wife came to Christ on Sanibel. He was raised up, became a worship leader. He was the first worship leader of this church when we met at Trafogler. I'm sorry. Well, he was there too, but when we met at the life center, his name's Dale, called him Dale Bob. He was just a rocker. He really wasn't a word. He just, he rocked out and we loved Dale Bob and, and he, his first wife died and he's been remarried now. And, but he called me and he said, you know, I just got to tell you, I'm in a, uh, there, we're using our book, the power of ugly. And, and he said, you know, pastor, I just want to thank you and Kim for who you were. I didn't know who you were because I never compared you to any other pastors. He said, now that I've had several pastors since you, I realized what, uh, uh, you know, he just went on and was very affirming about the fact that we were vulnerable about the fact that we didn't act like we were better than other people and that we had it all together. And, and we modeled, uh, being what we call being ugly. And he just called and thanked, me. Now he didn't really leave bad and I'm, but I get other calls. I usually get about two or three a year. Now people that, you know, pastor, we're sorry, we didn't leave. We never said, thank you. We realize now what we had at the church. And we just wanted to call and say, we love you. Thank you. You know," [15:35] (107 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Gratitude doesn't end when the person dies that did the deed that you're grateful for. It just begins. Gratitude is something that has to be trained. Nicodemus brought, I'm sure he still had money left, but this is an extravagant, lavish worship. Why? Because he remembered. kindness of jesus it changed his life he's grateful he's paying a debt of gratitude i owe you i'm sure they wept as they packed the spices and the al and they wrapped and put it and body now the last thing joseph becomes even more extravagant because he gives something that's so meaningful in verse verse 39 after they made the mixture at about 100 pounds of gratitude i call it verse 40 taking jesus body the two of them wrapped it with the spices and strips of linen this was in accordance with the jewish burial custom at the place so they basically are giving a king's burial because he's a king at the place where jesus was crucified there was a garden and in the garden there's a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid because it was the jewish day of preparation friday and since the tomb was nearby they laid jesus there now if you read the other accounts in the gospels you find out that joseph owns the tomb it was dug out of the rock at great expense this is an elite garden that he may have owned this is for him and his family but nobody has been dead so it's a new tomb someone has called it a virgin tomb like the virgin womb that the joseph that was the stepfather of jesus protected that baby in the virgin womb now another joseph is protecting the body from defilement from vultures from ravens plucking his eyes out god said enough is enough kind hands" [29:56] (140 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Remember kindnesses. Remember them. And then respond appropriately. Ultimately, it's Jesus. We remember when you... I told our team this morning, you know, you, our serving team, we have about 50 people every Sunday that gathers in a circle before service. And we just have a time of celebrating what God's doing among us. And I reminded them, whatever you're doing in the church becomes old news quickly. It doesn't matter. What I do becomes old news. I've done it my whole life. What keeps it fresh is why I do what I do. What keeps it fresh... is who i do it for and when i forget his kindness i start getting grumpy when i forget his kindness it becomes a job when i forget his kindness it becomes religious duty that's boring at best but you think joseph was i don't know i'm gonna have to go no he was energized by the love of the one that had died of his gratitude for his life listen to me i reminded them as a team that when we ring that bell we do it together but it's ultimately unto jesus lord we love you we worship you if you only serve or if you only give your money if you give your money just to the church then you're going to feel like you gave your money to the church" [35:45] (91 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?