Grounds for Gratitude!

God’s grace is reason enough to be thankful. As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on the story from Luke 7:36-50, where a woman known as a sinner comes to Jesus, weeping and anointing his feet with oil. Her act of love and gratitude stands in stark contrast to the cold reception Jesus receives from Simon the Pharisee. This passage reminds us that the depth of our gratitude is often tied to our awareness of how much we’ve been forgiven. The woman’s extravagant love flows from her recognition of her own need and the grace she has received.

We are all debtors—no matter our status, wealth, or background. The parable Jesus tells makes it clear: whether we owe much or little, none of us can repay what God has given. Yet, God’s grace levels the playing field. The same grace that saves the wealthy saves the poor, the educated and the unlearned, the respected and the outcast. There are no bragging rights in the kingdom; we all stand on the same ground of grace. This should move us to humility and a deeper gratitude, not comparison or pride.

But there’s another layer to gratitude: deliverance from people and circumstances. The woman in the story was not only bound by her past but also by the judgment of her religious community. Jesus delivers her from both. Sometimes, the greatest praise comes not just from being set free from sin, but from being set free from the opinions and condemnation of others. When God delivers you from people, your praise reaches a new level. Many have been hurt by religious communities that know how to “do church” but not how to do Christ—lacking mercy, compassion, and love. True gratitude is rooted in knowing that our hope is not in the shifting sands of this world, but in the unshakeable foundation of Jesus Christ.

As we gather this week, let us remember that our gratitude is not based on material things, but on the enduring grace and presence of God. Storms may come, but God’s grace is sufficient. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Let us walk on grounds of gratitude, refusing to let anyone steal our joy, and remembering that God is yet faithful.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Grace Levels the Playing Field No matter our background, status, or past, we all stand equally in need of God’s grace. There is no hierarchy in the kingdom—no one is better or more deserving. This truth should humble us and foster a spirit of unity and gratitude, as we recognize that the same grace that saved us is available to all. [11:29]
• 2. Deliverance from People Brings Deeper Praise Being set free from the opinions and judgments of others can be as liberating as being set free from sin itself. When God delivers us from the bondage of people’s expectations or condemnation, our worship and gratitude become more authentic and exuberant. True freedom in Christ means we no longer live for the approval of others, but for the joy of the Lord. [15:18]
• 3. Religious Activity Can Miss Christ’s Mission It is possible to be deeply involved in religious practices and still miss the heart of Jesus. The Pharisee invited Jesus but misunderstood his mission and grace. We must guard against doing “church” without doing Christ—knowing the rules but missing mercy, compassion, and love. Our gratitude grows when we truly encounter Jesus, not just religion. [20:53]
• 4. Gratitude Is Rooted in God’s Unshakeable Foundation Material things and worldly achievements are fleeting, but the hope we have in Christ is eternal. When our gratitude is grounded in Jesus—his sacrifice, his presence, his promises—we can withstand any storm. This kind of gratitude is not dependent on circumstances, but on the unchanging faithfulness of God.
  
  ** [24:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:11] - The Woman with the Alabaster Jar
• [01:58] - Jesus’ Parable of the Two Debtors
• [02:20] - Contrasting Responses: Simon and the Woman
• [04:08] - Story of Forgiveness in South Africa
• [06:25] - Amazing Grace in Action
• [07:30] - Misunderstanding Jesus’ Mission
• [10:09] - We Are All in Debt
• [11:29] - God’s Grace Levels Us All
• [13:36] - Grounds for Gratitude
• [14:02] - Deliverance from People’s Opinions
• [17:33] - Finding Jesus Beyond Religion
• [20:53] - Doing Church vs. Doing Christ
• [24:52] - Gratitude on a Sure Foundation
• [26:57] - Thanksgiving and God’s Faithfulness
• [29:19] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
• [31:28] - Invitation and New Members
• [40:05] - Announcements and Baby Dedication
• [48:18] - Benediction and Blessing

Bible Reading

Luke 7:36-50 (ESV) —
> 36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Observation Questions

1. What are the different ways Simon the Pharisee and the woman each respond to Jesus when he enters the house? ([02:20])
2. According to Jesus’ parable, what is the connection between the amount forgiven and the response of love? ([01:58])
3. What did the woman do that showed her gratitude and love for Jesus? ([01:11])
4. How did the people at the table react when Jesus forgave the woman’s sins? ([03:23])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus say that the woman’s many sins are forgiven “for she loved much,” and what does this reveal about the relationship between forgiveness and gratitude? ([02:42])
2. The sermon says, “When you come to God, you are on the same level as everybody else.” How does this idea challenge the way people sometimes compare themselves to others in church? ([11:29])
3. The pastor mentioned that being delivered from people’s opinions can bring a deeper level of praise. Why might freedom from others’ judgment be so important for authentic worship? ([15:18])
4. The sermon warns that it’s possible to “do church and not do Christ.” What does it mean to miss Christ’s mission even while being religiously active? ([20:53])

Application Questions

1. The woman in Luke 7 was known for her past, but she still came to Jesus despite the judgment of others. Is there an area of your life where you feel held back by what people think? What would it look like to bring that to Jesus this week? ([14:02])
2. The sermon says, “God’s grace levels the playing field.” Are there ways you sometimes feel “better than” or “less than” others in your faith community? How can you remind yourself that everyone stands on the same ground of grace? ([11:29])
3. The pastor shared that “when God delivers you from people, your praise goes to a whole nother level.” Can you think of a time when you were set free from caring about others’ opinions? How did that change your relationship with God? ([18:55])
4. The message warns against “doing church and not doing Christ.” Are there church activities or habits in your life that have become routine but lack real love, mercy, or compassion? What is one step you can take to make your faith more about Jesus and less about just “doing church”? ([20:53])
5. The sermon says, “Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” When life gets hard or circumstances change, what helps you stay grounded in gratitude? Is there a specific promise of God you need to hold onto right now? ([24:52])
6. The pastor encouraged the church not to let anyone “steal your joy.” Who or what tends to steal your joy most often? What practical step can you take this week to protect your gratitude and joy in Christ? ([27:33])
7. The woman’s gratitude was tied to her awareness of how much she’d been forgiven. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God’s grace in your own life, especially during this Thanksgiving season? ([02:42])