September 8, 2024
Hard Hearts and Gratitude
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
Luke 17:11 NIV
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
Luke 17:12-13 NIV
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!”
Luke 17:14 NIV
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
Faith is critical to answered prayers.
James 1:5 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:6-8 NIV
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Luke 17:15-16 NIV
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.
When was the last time you simply dropped everything to thank God?
Luke 17:17-18 NIV
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Luke 17:19 NIV
Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Cultivate a garden of gratitude by:
1. Pulling up bitter roots.
Hebrews 12:15 NIV
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
2. Going to Jesus as often as you need.
Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
3. Giving thanks daily… no matter what you are going through.
“Hard knocks are inevitable . . . but then so are blessings. These days I prefer to encourage those I serve to remember that we are either coming out of a season of unspeakable blessing, in the middle of a season of unspeakable blessing, or heading into a season of unspeakable blessing. While hard is inevitable, so is the blessing of the presence of God.” – Dr. Alan Ahlgrim, Soul Strength: Rhythms for Thriving
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalms 107:1 NIV
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalms 107:2a NIV
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.