Thanks Living: Cultivating Gratitude Through Generosity
Summary
The sermon begins with a call to worship through giving, emphasizing that the act of giving is not for personal gain but to minister effectively for God. The speaker shares a family tradition of expressing gratitude at Thanksgiving and recounts the story of Matthew Henry, a theologian who found reasons to be thankful even after being mugged. This story sets the tone for the sermon's main theme: living a life of gratitude, or "thanks living," regardless of circumstances.
The speaker then addresses practical matters, such as the need for technical upgrades in the church to enhance the sharing of the gospel. A special offering is announced to meet this need, and the congregation is invited to participate in an upcoming community event, Breakfast with Santa, as an opportunity to serve and share the gospel.
The sermon delves into the keys to living a thankful life, with the first being the replacement of complaining with contentment. The speaker challenges the congregation to be satisfied with what they have and to recognize that life does not owe them a perfect existence. The story of Matthew Henry is revisited to illustrate contentment in the face of loss. The speaker also encourages replacing selfishness with service, suggesting that serving others can amplify acts of thankfulness and help cultivate a grateful heart.
The concept of "thanks living" is further explored through biblical references, such as Ephesians 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which call for giving thanks in all circumstances. The speaker questions what enabled Matthew Henry to be grateful even after being mugged and how to cultivate a similar attitude in our own lives.
Finally, the sermon addresses the contrast between thankfulness and greed, particularly evident during the holiday season. The speaker describes the shift from gratitude to greed that often occurs from Thanksgiving to Black Friday and challenges the congregation to replace greed with giving. By focusing on generosity and serving others, the speaker argues that we can live out thankfulness daily and not just on special occasions.
Key Takeaways:
- True contentment is a key to living a life of gratitude. It involves being satisfied with what we have and understanding that life is not meant to be perfect. This mindset allows us to face challenges with grace and maintain a thankful heart, even when things do not go as planned. Contentment is not complacency; it is a deliberate choice to appreciate our blessings and trust in God's provision. [32:54]
- Serving others is not just an act of kindness; it is a transformative practice that shifts our focus from self to community. When we serve, we step outside our own desires and problems, gaining perspective on the blessings we possess. This act of selflessness is a powerful antidote to the entitlement and dissatisfaction that can erode our sense of gratitude. [36:04]
- The story of Matthew Henry, who found reasons to be thankful even after being robbed, exemplifies an extraordinary level of gratitude. His response challenges us to consider how we might cultivate a similar attitude of "thanks living," where gratitude permeates our daily lives and is not confined to moments of abundance or ease. [31:55]
- Generosity is a natural outflow of a thankful heart. When we recognize that our possessions are not solely for our benefit but for the blessing of others, our grip on material things loosens. Giving to others not only combats greed but also opens our eyes to the abundance we have been given, fostering a deeper sense of thankfulness. [45:51]
- The holiday season often reveals the tension between gratitude and greed in our culture. The speaker's reflection on the transition from Thanksgiving to Black Friday serves as a reminder to resist the consumerist pull and instead focus on the true spirit of the season. By choosing to give rather than accumulate, we honor the essence of thankfulness and celebrate the generosity that God has shown us. [41:56]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 5:20 - "Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 5:20, in what circumstances are we called to give thanks? How does this align with the concept of "thanks living" discussed in the sermon? [30:33]
2. What reasons did Matthew Henry find to be thankful after being mugged, and how do these reasons reflect a heart of gratitude? [28:45]
3. How does the speaker suggest we replace complaining with contentment, and what is the basic definition of contentment provided? [32:17]
4. What is the significance of the special offering mentioned in the sermon, and how does it relate to the theme of giving and serving others? [07:59]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How might the practice of giving thanks in all circumstances, as instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, transform a person's outlook on difficult situations? [31:21]
2. In what ways does serving others help to cultivate a grateful heart, according to the sermon? How does this practice counteract selfishness? [37:42]
3. The sermon contrasts the attitudes of gratitude and greed, especially during the holiday season. How does the shift from Thanksgiving to Black Friday illustrate this contrast? [41:01]
4. Reflecting on Matthew Henry's response to being mugged, what can we learn about maintaining a thankful attitude even in adverse situations? [29:44]
#### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent situation where you found yourself complaining. How could you have approached it with a mindset of contentment instead? What steps can you take to cultivate contentment in your daily life? [32:17]
2. Identify a specific way you can serve others in your community or church this week. How might this act of service help you shift your focus from self to others and enhance your sense of gratitude? [37:42]
3. Reflect on your spending habits during the holiday season. How can you practice generosity and resist the consumerist pull that often accompanies this time of year? What specific actions can you take to replace greed with giving? [41:01]
4. Consider the story of Matthew Henry and his ability to find reasons to be thankful after being mugged. How can you apply this perspective to a challenging situation you are currently facing? What are some things you can be thankful for in that situation? [29:44]
5. The sermon encourages us to live out thankfulness daily, not just during special occasions. What are some practical ways you can incorporate "thanks living" into your everyday routine? How can you remind yourself to be thankful in all circumstances? [48:41]
6. How can you involve your family in practicing gratitude and generosity during the holiday season? What are some traditions or activities you can start to help cultivate a thankful heart in your household? [27:47]
7. Reflect on the upcoming community event, Breakfast with Santa. How can you participate in this event to serve others and share the gospel? What impact do you hope to have through your involvement? [09:27]
Devotional
Day 1: Contentment Overcomes Complaint
True contentment is found in embracing our current blessings rather than lamenting what we lack. It is a conscious choice to appreciate what we have, understanding that perfection is not the promise of life, but grace and provision are. This perspective allows us to face life's challenges with a thankful heart, even when our plans go awry. Contentment is an active state of gratitude, not passive satisfaction. [32:54]
Hebrews 13:5 - "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"
Reflection: How can you practice contentment today in an area where you usually feel discontent?
Day 2: Service Shifts Perspective
Serving others is a transformative act that shifts our focus from our own needs to the needs of those around us. It is in this selflessness that we gain a new perspective on our own blessings and develop a heart of gratitude. Service is a powerful antidote to the entitlement and dissatisfaction that can cloud our sense of thankfulness. [36:04]
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What is one act of service you can perform this week to shift your focus from your own needs to the needs of someone else?
Day 3: Gratitude in All Circumstances
The extraordinary example of gratitude shown by Matthew Henry, who found reasons to be thankful even after being robbed, challenges us to live with a constant attitude of thankfulness. "Thanks living" is about letting gratitude permeate our daily lives, not just in times of abundance but also in moments of hardship. [31:55]
Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Reflection: Can you identify a difficult situation in which you can choose gratitude today?
Day 4: Generosity Reflects Thankfulness
Generosity is the natural expression of a thankful heart. When we give, we acknowledge that our resources are not just for our own benefit but to bless others as well. This act of giving loosens our grip on material possessions and opens our eyes to the true abundance we have been given. [45:51]
2 Corinthians 9:11 - "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."
Reflection: What is something you can give this week, whether material or not, to reflect the thankfulness in your heart?
Day 5: Resisting Greed with Gratitude
The holiday season often highlights the tension between gratitude and greed. Choosing to give rather than accumulate honors the true spirit of thankfulness and reflects the generosity God has shown us. This choice is a deliberate rejection of consumerism and an embrace of the essence of the season. [41:56]
Luke 12:15 - "Then he said to them, 'Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.'"
Reflection: How can you resist the pull of consumerism this holiday season and focus on the spirit of giving and gratitude?
Quotes
"Contentment is just simply being satisfied with what you have. That's it, being satisfied with what you have." [32:54] (Download)
"Replace selfishness with serving. I think many of us are already doing some of this, but it can be amplified. It can be more." [37:15] (Download)
"Be thankful in all circumstances. This is God's plan for you. That's a great verse to memorize. Be thankful in all circumstances. That's God's plan for you." [31:55] (Download)
"When you start giving to people, it starts opening the doors of thankfulness. When you're giving and you're generous, you're more thankful than when you're greedy." [45:16] (Download)
"It goes from Thanksgiving to all Christmas all the time. That's it. Like it's all from, oh, I'm so thankful to, oh, I want instantly. It's just like an instant change." [41:56] (Download)
"Don't just give thanks. Live thanks. Don't just give thanks this holiday season as we go into Thanksgiving. Don't just give thanks. Live thanks daily." [48:45] (Download)
"We are doing this so that as people come into this place, they are able to hear and see the gospel presented with not distractions and things pulling them aside, making it easier for us to share Christ with people." [09:40] (Download)
"When you open up your eyes and you start serving other people, it's much easier to be thankful for the blessings that God has already given you." [38:39] (Download)
"Always give thanks in everything to our God and Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Always give thanks in everything." [31:01] (Download)
"He was living thankfulness in his daily life. And so when he got mugged, he was simply thankful. He was a part of his life. He was part of who he was. He lived out thanks." [47:45] (Download)
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