SUNDAY LESSON, 11/24/24
BEYOND THANKFUL
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Luke 17:11-19
I have a Facebook friend who is from Africa, a pastor in Kenya. Last year at this time he and I were messaging each other when he asked what I was preaching on the following Sunday. I told him I was preparing a Thanksgiving sermon. When he asked about our Thanksgiving holiday, I told him it was a day that our forefathers set-aside to remind us to be thankful for God’s blessings. He then poignantly asked, “You need a holiday for that?”
We shouldn’t need a holiday to remind us to be thankful, but sadly many Americans either forget to thank God for His abundant blessings or simply take His blessings for granted. A lack of gratitude, however, is not only an American problem. Over 40 times in his letters to the churches the apostle Paul reminded his Christian readers the importance of being thankful to God every day and in every situation.
Come join us Sunday as we study how Jesus responded to a group of men that He had blessed for their lack of gratitude shown Him and to one who was BEYOND THANKFUL to Jesus for the very the same blessing.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
LUKE 17:11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
