An Attitude of Gratitude: Intentional Gratitude (Worship 11/23/25)

Devotional

Day 1: Return to Jesus with loud, intentional thanks.

Choose to be like the one who turned back—let gratitude interrupt your routine, move your feet, and raise your voice; name Jesus as the Giver, bow low in humility, and give public praise for what He has done, is doing, and will do, even if others stay silent—be intentionally thankful, and let your worship be heard. [42:30]

Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Reflection: Before lunch today, step aside and speak out loud three specific things Jesus has done for you this week—then send a brief text, call, or note to someone you need to thank because God blessed you through them.

Day 2: Count your blessings; remember God’s great works.

Gratitude grows as you remember—make a record of God’s faithfulness across your life, from childhood to today; write names, moments, rescues, provisions, and answered prayers, and keep the list where you will revisit it, because counting blessings trains your heart to see that every good thing has come from His hand. [32:58]

1 Samuel 12:24 (NIV)
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

Reflection: Create a “blessing timeline” right now—write at least two gifts from childhood, two from your teen years, two from early adulthood, and two from this year; which one surprised you, and how will you thank God tangibly for it this week?

Day 3: Thank God for the little things, daily.

Slow down and notice the azaleas, the hydrangeas, the spring-green leaves, the crisp fall colors, the wagging pet, the warm meal, the safe roof—thanking God for “small” gifts recalibrates perspective and naturally overflows into prayer for people you pass, turning ordinary moments into ongoing conversation with the Lord. [36:48]

Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection: On your next walk from your car to a door today, name five tiny details of creation you see or hear and thank God for each before you reach the handle.

Day 4: Trust God’s good work in hard seasons.

Even when life hurts, choose an attitude of gratitude and trust that your Father is at work for good; gratitude in trials strengthens faith and opens space for healing of mind, body, emotions, and spirit, because you are crediting God as present and active in the very place that feels most painful. [50:15]

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Identify one current hardship and pray Romans 8:28 over it; what is one faithful, concrete step you can take today (a call, apology, appointment, boundary, or act of service) that aligns with trusting God’s good work in it?

Day 5: Practice all-circumstance gratitude every single day.

Build a simple, sustainable rhythm: a journal entry, a pocket list, mealtime prayers that go beyond food, five daily “thank You” pauses (wake-up, breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime), or intentional words of thanks to cashiers, coworkers, and neighbors—pick one practice and make it a daily habit of obedience and joy. [55:34]

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Choose one daily trigger (wake-up, meals, commute, or bedtime) and set a phone alarm or place a sticky note now; what exact sentence of thanks will you pray every time it cues you today?

Sermon Summary

As we enter Thanksgiving week, I invited us to aim our lives toward gratitude, not as a feeling that drifts in and out, but as a deliberate posture of the heart. In Luke 17:11–19, ten lepers cry out to Jesus and are healed, yet only one returns to offer thanks. That returning is the turning point. Gratitude is intentional. He comes back loudly praising God, falls at Jesus’ feet, and he’s a Samaritan—an outsider. That detail matters. Gratitude is not about status or polish; it’s about seeing grace and responding to it with our whole selves.

I laid out four practical ways to live this out. First, count your blessings. Samuel told Israel, “Consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Sam. 12:24). Make a list—from childhood to this morning—so God’s goodness is not a blur. Second, thank God for the little things. When I began noticing flowers, changing leaves, and faces on campus, small thanks turned into ongoing conversation with God and intercession for people I passed. Third, say thank you—to God and to people. The healed man returned and spoke his thanks. Our words can restore dignity to cashiers and servers, shift atmospheres, even deepen a spoon at Chipotle. Fourth, find a daily gratitude practice—journal a short list, pray thankful prayers at meals, add morning and evening thank-yous, tip with a note, extend hospitality, or share the good news with someone. These simple habits re-train our attention to grace.

We also saw that gratitude moves outward. A room of 60,000 students singing “How Great Is Our God” spilled into generosity to combat modern-day slavery. George Washington’s first national Thanksgiving proclamation named our duty to acknowledge God’s providence. And gratitude holds steady in suffering. Dr. Helen Roseveare, beaten during the 1964 Congo rebellion, thanked God for His presence and the strange gift of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. That pain became a platform for deeper witness among people who knew trauma firsthand. Finally, Jesus links gratitude and faith when He says, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Gratitude opens us to healing—in mind, body, spirit—and keeps us anchored to the Giver. So pick one concrete practice this week and return to Jesus with loud thanks.

Key Takeaways

1. Gratitude is an intentional daily choice. Gratitude rarely appears on its own; it must be chosen before we feel it. When we choose gratitude, we turn our attention from what’s missing to what God is doing. That choice is a quiet act of worship that re-orders our inner life. It’s how we “return” to Jesus in ordinary moments. [24:26]
2. Count your blessings; remember God’s acts. Memory is discipleship. When we list God’s mercies across the years, our lives are reinterpreted by grace rather than by luck or loss. Naming blessings dismantles entitlement and nurtures awe. The heart that remembers becomes the heart that trusts. [31:53]
3. Thank God for the overlooked little things. Small thanks trains big faith. Noticing azaleas, a kind smile, or a warm meal keeps us awake to the nearness of God. Gratitude for the ordinary turns commutes into prayer walks and routines into communion. The mundane becomes a meeting place with the Lord. [34:37]
4. Return to Jesus with loud thanks. The healed man didn’t whisper—he praised loudly, fell at Jesus’ feet, and made his gratitude visible. Expressive thanksgiving breaks our self-consciousness and centers our story on the Giver, not the gift. It also crosses boundaries—like a Samaritan among Jews—making gratitude a witness to those watching. [40:54]
5. Gratitude grows faith and heals. “Your faith has made you well” ties thanksgiving to wholeness. Gratitude doesn’t deny pain; it locates God within it, and that location becomes the seedbed of healing. As we thank Him, our trust expands, our perspective clears, and our spirits are steadied for the road ahead. [49:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:03] - Scripture: Luke 17:11–19
[27:37] - Passion Conference: the sound of praise
[29:20] - Gratitude fuels generosity
[30:31] - Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation
[31:15] - How can we show gratitude?
[31:53] - Practice 1: Count your blessings
[34:37] - Practice 2: Thank God for little things
[38:06] - Practice 3: Say thank you
[40:54] - Praise loudly; bow at Jesus’ feet
[43:59] - Practice 4: Daily gratitude rhythms
[45:33] - Gratitude in everyday interactions
[49:43] - Gratitude, faith, and healing joined
[50:43] - Helen Roseveare: gratitude in suffering
[56:40] - Invitation to prayer and worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading:
Luke 17:11–19 (ESV)
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Observation questions:
- In Luke 17, what did Jesus tell the lepers to do, and at what point were they healed (before, during, or after obeying)?
- Only one of the ten returns. What three things does the text say he does when he comes back (v. 15–16)?
- What details does Luke give about this thankful man’s identity? Why might Luke include “Now he was a Samaritan” (v. 16)?
- The pastor noted, “One of them intentionally came back.” What numbers and actions did he highlight to show the contrast? [38:38]

Interpretation questions:
- Jesus says, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well” (v. 19). How does gratitude relate to faith and wholeness in this story? The pastor tied gratitude to healing: “Go, for your faith has made you well.” [49:43]
- Why might it matter that the one who returned was a Samaritan? What does that say about who often “sees” grace and responds?
- The pastor said, “It is a choice to live a life of gratitude.” How is choosing thanks before feelings change an act of worship that re-orders attention? [24:26]
- The man came back “praising God with a loud voice.” Why could expressive, visible thanksgiving be important for our witness and our own hearts? [40:54]

Application questions:
- Count your blessings this week. Make a list across your life (childhood to today). What two memories surprised you as gifts from God? When and where will you write your list? (“Consider what great things He has done for you.”) [31:53]
- Thank God for the little things. On your next commute or walk, name out loud five small gifts you see (colors of fall, a kind smile, a warm cup of coffee). What daily cue will you use to remember? (“Give God thanks for the little things.”) [34:37]
- Use your words. Plan two intentional thank-yous to people who serve you this week (cashier, server, delivery driver). What exact words will you say? How could you restore dignity in that moment? The pastor told how a sincere thanks even changed a worker’s countenance—and sometimes “they just dip that spoon a little deeper.” [46:06]
- Return loudly. Pick one place to praise God out loud this week (car, shower, family table). What holds you back from expressive thanks, and what simple step will help you cross that line? (“Praising God in a loud voice.”) [40:54]
- Choose one daily gratitude rhythm and tell the group which one you’ll practice: journal three thanks, pray thankful prayers at meals, morning/evening thank-yous, tipping with a note, or hospitality. When will you do it and who will keep you accountable? (“Five times a day… thank you, Lord, that I’m awake.”) [49:12]
- Gratitude in hardship. Name one current challenge. What is one sentence of honest thanksgiving you can pray in it (for God’s presence, help, or growth)? The pastor told of Dr. Helen Roseveare who “would thank God for His presence being there” in suffering. [53:32]
- Let gratitude move outward. Where could thankful worship become generosity this week—time, money, advocacy? What specific step will you take and by when? (Students at Passion “raised over $3 million” to fight modern slavery out of gratitude.) [29:57]

Sermon Clips

gathered in the Georgia Dome. I want you to think about that crowd for a moment, 60,000. If you've ever been down there for the ACC Tournament, you'll know about what 60,000, usually there's a little bit more than that for the ACC Tournament, are crowded in that dome. And these 60,000 college students were there for the Passion Worship Conference. The goal of that conference was simply this, to worship and give glory to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. That was all it was about. [00:27:30] (39 seconds)

So important to remember that God is the giver of every great thing that we have. All benefits that we experience day in and day out come from Almighty God. May we never forget what He has done for us. And may we name those things. May we claim those things. It's so important. Even when things aren't going well. Remember Andy brought up the scripture last week from Romans 8.28. That says all things were for the good for those who love the Lord. God is working on our behalf. Even when we're going through the trials of life. The sufferings of life. The challenges of life. And so may we never forget what He has done for us. [00:33:40] (49 seconds)

I started knowing the different seasons as I walked around. The change of the leaves in the fall and the beautiful tree colors. The oranges, the yellows, the browns, the reds. I especially love those bright red and bright orange trees. Right? I started noticing the spring green that came about as the leaves came back in. That spring green different from any other time of the year. And I started to take all that in as I walked around campus. I thanked God for the little things. And what it did was it gave me a different perspective. [00:36:17] (37 seconds)

From there, I started praying for people that I saw as I walked by who had needs. And who I felt needed an extra touch in prayer. And so it led to this great conversation with God. A great building of relationship. And so we need to do that more often to thank God for the little things. To thank God for our pets. Thank God for His creation. Even the pets that wake us up three nights in a row. Including this morning at 4 a.m. Little puppies. Right? We need to give God thanks for all of them. Right? [00:36:55] (36 seconds)

But we need to thank God for those daily interactions. For the friends that we have in our life. We can thank God for roofs over our head. Uh, cars in the driveway. For food on the table. Thank God for the little things. Often things that we might take for granted. Because we're just used to them being there. Right? Make sure that we thank God for the little things. So important in our lives. [00:37:39] (28 seconds)

The third thing. So we've got count our blessings. Thank God for the little things. Uh, and, uh, the next one is to say thank you. To say thank you. To say thank you to God every day. Make sure that we do that. If we're doing the first two things, we're doing that. Right? But to make sure that we're thanking God. But then also, that we use that word, that attitude of gratitude, to thank others as well. Right? [00:38:06] (31 seconds)

We need to sing loudly to praise God for what he has done, what he is doing, and what he will do. And so, may we never stop doing that. May we be in the shower and just light it up. Right? You're at the gym and you're taking a shower. Or, you can sing God's praise with others hearing. Right? Sing the shower in your house. Be a witness for your house. Right? [00:41:18] (26 seconds)

May we always have that attitude of gratitude at school, at work, at home. May we display it with our families this Thanksgiving, where we are bowing down to Jesus all the time. Where we're naming him as God and we're not. As we're acknowledging that every good thing comes from him. Not because we worked hard, but because he has blessed us that much. Right? [00:42:14] (30 seconds)

But to thank God for the little things. Right? The little blessings. To make that list. So that we keep up with it. Right? And make sure that we're doing that. Another daily practice of gratitude. Is to make sure that we're saying thank you. You know, go back to the last point I made for a minute. And the thanking others is so important. I'm going to give you two examples from my life. Because in thanking others, you help transform their lives. You help shine the light of Christ to them. But it can also give you benefit. All right? [00:44:53] (41 seconds)

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