Returning with Gratitude: A Journey of Faith

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound story of the ten lepers from Luke 17:11-19, focusing on the one who returned to give thanks to Jesus. This narrative challenges us to examine our own lives and ask, "Are we the one?" The lepers, despite their dire condition, called out to Jesus for mercy, and He responded with compassion, healing them. Yet, only one returned to express gratitude, highlighting the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the blessings in our lives.

This story is not just about gratitude but also about faith and faithfulness. The leper who returned demonstrated a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, not just as a healer but as the Master and Lord. This recognition transformed his life, leading him to worship at Jesus' feet. Similarly, we are called to recognize Jesus as our Lord and Savior, allowing this understanding to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with Him.

Reflecting on my mission trips to Brazil, I witnessed the power of unity in Christ. People from diverse backgrounds came together, setting aside differences to serve and worship. This unity mirrors the lepers' collective plea for healing, reminding us that in Christ, we are one body, called to serve with compassion and love.

The journey of faith is not just about receiving blessings but also about returning to God with a heart full of gratitude and a life committed to His service. It is about moving from faith to faithfulness, continually seeking Him and allowing His Spirit to work through us. As we embrace this journey, we become conduits of His love and grace, sharing His healing power with others.

In closing, I invite you to reflect on your own walk with God. Are you the one who returns to give thanks? Are you the one who seeks a deeper relationship with Him? Let us strive to be faithful, to serve with love, and to continually return to Him with grateful hearts.

Key Takeaways:

- Gratitude and Recognition: The story of the ten lepers teaches us the importance of gratitude and recognizing Jesus as more than just a healer. The one who returned understood Jesus as Lord, which transformed his life. This calls us to reflect on our own recognition of Jesus in our lives. [05:01]

- Unity in Christ: Just as the lepers united in their plea for healing, we are called to unite in Christ, setting aside differences to serve and worship together. This unity is a powerful testimony of God's love and grace. [08:52]

- Faith and Faithfulness: Moving from faith to faithfulness is a journey of continually seeking God and allowing His Spirit to transform us. It involves returning to Him with gratitude and a commitment to serve. [28:17]

- Purpose and Service: Each of us is created with a purpose, and we are called to use our God-given gifts to serve others. This service is an expression of our faith and a way to share God's love with the world. [24:41]

- Transformation through Worship: True worship transforms us, leading us to a deeper intimacy with God. It is not about rituals but about a heartfelt connection with our Creator, allowing His Spirit to work in and through us. [20:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:04] - The Story of the Ten Lepers
- [05:01] - Gratitude and Recognition
- [07:30] - Unity in Christ
- [09:56] - Calling on Jesus
- [11:09] - Understanding the Master
- [12:42] - Transformation through Worship
- [16:12] - Who Do You Say He Is?
- [18:06] - The Creator's Purpose
- [19:07] - Adoption into God's Family
- [22:09] - Discovering Your Purpose
- [24:41] - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
- [28:17] - Faith and Faithfulness
- [31:21] - Ministering to Others
- [34:06] - Mission Trip Reflections
- [45:12] - Returning to God
- [53:37] - Invitation to Faith and Healing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 17:11-19

Observation Questions:
1. What was the response of the ten lepers when they saw Jesus, and what did Jesus instruct them to do? [03:04]
2. How did the one leper who returned to Jesus express his gratitude, and what was Jesus' response to him? [04:12]
3. What was the significance of the leper who returned being a Samaritan, and how did this detail contribute to the story? [05:01]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the nine lepers have failed to return to thank Jesus, and what does this suggest about human nature and gratitude? [05:01]
2. How does the story of the ten lepers illustrate the difference between faith and faithfulness? [28:17]
3. In what ways does the unity among the lepers, despite their differences, reflect the unity that believers are called to have in Christ? [08:52]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you received a blessing but failed to express gratitude. How can you cultivate a habit of thankfulness in your daily life? [05:01]
2. The leper who returned recognized Jesus as more than just a healer. How do you perceive Jesus in your life, and how does this perception influence your actions and decisions? [12:42]
3. Consider the unity displayed by the lepers despite their differences. How can you promote unity within your community or church, setting aside differences to serve and worship together? [08:52]
4. The journey from faith to faithfulness involves a commitment to serve. What specific steps can you take to move from simply having faith to living out faithfulness in your daily life? [28:17]
5. Reflect on the concept of being a conduit of God's love and grace. How can you actively share His healing power with others in your community or workplace? [31:21]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our God-given purpose. What gifts or talents do you have that you can use to serve others, and how can you begin to use them more effectively? [24:41]
7. True worship leads to transformation. How can you deepen your worship experience to foster a more intimate relationship with God? [20:05]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing Jesus Beyond the Miracle
In the story of the ten lepers, only one returned to express gratitude to Jesus, recognizing Him not just as a healer but as Lord. This act of returning to give thanks signifies a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. It challenges us to reflect on our own lives and consider whether we truly recognize Jesus beyond the blessings we receive. Are we acknowledging Him as the Master and Lord of our lives, allowing this recognition to transform us? This transformation is not just about gratitude but about a profound relationship with Jesus that changes how we live and worship. [05:01]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you acknowledge Jesus as Lord in your daily life, beyond just thanking Him for blessings?


Day 2: Unity in Diversity Through Christ
The lepers, despite their differences, united in their plea for healing. This unity is a powerful testimony of God's love and grace, reminding us that in Christ, we are one body. Reflecting on mission trips, the power of unity in Christ was evident as people from diverse backgrounds came together to serve and worship. This unity calls us to set aside our differences and work together in love and compassion, serving as a testament to the world of the transformative power of Christ's love. [08:52]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively promote unity within your community, setting aside differences to serve and worship together?


Day 3: From Faith to Faithfulness
The journey of faith is not just about receiving blessings but about returning to God with gratitude and a commitment to His service. It involves moving from faith to faithfulness, continually seeking God and allowing His Spirit to transform us. This transformation is a lifelong journey, where we are called to be faithful in our walk with God, serving others with love and compassion. As we embrace this journey, we become conduits of His love and grace, sharing His healing power with others. [28:17]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can demonstrate faithfulness to God in your daily routine today?


Day 4: Serving with Purpose
Each of us is created with a purpose, and we are called to use our God-given gifts to serve others. This service is an expression of our faith and a way to share God's love with the world. By discovering and embracing our unique gifts, we can fulfill the purpose God has for us, impacting the lives of those around us. This calling to serve is not just about doing good deeds but about living out our faith in a way that reflects God's love and grace. [24:41]

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific gift or talent has God given you, and how can you use it to serve others this week?


Day 5: Transformation Through Worship
True worship transforms us, leading us to a deeper intimacy with God. It is not about rituals but about a heartfelt connection with our Creator, allowing His Spirit to work in and through us. This transformation through worship is a journey of continually seeking God, allowing His presence to change us from the inside out. As we worship, we are drawn closer to God, experiencing His love and grace in profound ways that impact every aspect of our lives. [20:05]

"God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more authentic worship experience in your personal time with God today?

Quotes

"There's something about this house, there's something about this sanctuary, because I remember all the scripture that was placed under here, I was told about it, and I saw it done again at the west side, and the man of the house, he made sure the scripture, that his word, the Lord's word, was all here, and that's basically what I kind of stayed." [00:00:21] (36 seconds)


"I knew something was coming, something more was coming, and I waited, and waited, and waited, and every year, as it unfolded, I seemed to experience more and more, and I was excited, and then I said, Lord, use me, use me, and I was, and still am, over the instructions here, adult education. I know the equipping on our discipleship pathway, and I serve among brothers and sisters who know the word, love Jesus, and teach the word with fervor and commitment, and they continue to teach the word, but then more was asked of us, and has continued to ask us to live it." [00:00:57] (61 seconds)


"And it says in the passage that he entered a certain village and he was met by ten men who were lepers. They stood far off and I stared at that for a while and I said, they stood far off. And then I learned and realized that they were lepers, ten that were sick with one of the rare and worst skin diseases, that this disease was contagious and it was severe and impacted the nerves. Until you didn't feel no pain." [00:06:27] (40 seconds)


"And let me tell you, brothers and sisters, it's a beautiful thing when we can put aside our differences and come to work for the Lord as one in one spirit. And we put aside the bickering and we put aside the doctrine and all of that comes with you're different. And they stood far off, I noticed, from Jesus because they knew that they were contaminated and they kept their distance. But Jesus saw them with compassion." [00:09:16] (33 seconds)


"See, the Lord will look upon you. No matter what your condition is, no matter how weary, how sick, how well, it doesn't matter because sometimes you look good and you smell good, but inside there is a lot of torment that you're trying to hold it together outside so nobody can see your inside. And when we learned here at this house is that the Lord through prayer and through one another, ministering to one another, we touched the heart of God so he could touch you, through his Holy Spirit, to heal." [00:09:56] (38 seconds)


"Because who worships at a man's feet unless he realizes it's not just a man? This Jesus, this is Jesus. I woke up this morning and the first word out of my mouth was Adonai. I said, Lord, Lord, Adonai, Adonai. You know, Adonai means Lord and Master. Because the one said he's not just a master, he's Lord of Lord and King of Kings and true God of true God." [00:14:57] (41 seconds)


"And let me tell you something about the creator. When he creates, he adds value. And how do I know you are so valuable to him? It's because he went to the cross and gave his blood for you. That's how much he values you, each and every one. And you see at this point, this one that came back among the lepers, he isn't aware of the cross, but we are, we are on the other side of the cross." [00:18:11] (32 seconds)


"And I pray right now in the name of Jesus that it doesn't matter what age you are, that you will seek him with all your heart, soul, and mind. And I pray a blessing upon blessing on this day and each and every day and that he continues to give you the strength to return and to answer the call of the great I Am. In Jesus' name, may you be the one. Amen. Go out and serve." [00:57:53] (39 seconds)


"Because Jesus says, I am with you always through the Holy Spirit that is in you. And if you have accepted him as your Lord and Savior, then guess what? You've been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He dwells within you. But if you don't, this is an opportunity to say, I want to be one. I want to be saved. I want to have the indwelling, the Holy Spirit. I want to know Jesus Christ." [00:53:40] (32 seconds)


"remember remember who you are in him and I pray that the Father of Glory the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would impart to you the riches of the spirit of wisdom and the spirit of revelation and to know him through your deepening intimacy with him I pray that the light of God will illuminate your eyes of your imagination flooding you with the light until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling that is the wealth of God's glorious inheritance that he finds in us his holy ones and I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God's power made available to you through faith in Adonai the Lord and master of your life and mine and in Jesus name I bless you to go out to serve him I bless you to go out to serve him" [00:56:24] (65 seconds)


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Transcript
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