A Heart Of Gratitude. RCCG Sunday School Manual

Memory Verse: ” And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine ? ”

Bible Passage: Luke 17: 11-19.

Introduction

Thanksgiving is the art kg giving thanks, or a show of gratitude and appreciation for something done for you. Why are people not showing appreciation to God? Is it that God has not done anything ? Jesus Christ appreciates thanksgiving. He was surprised that only one of the ten lepers came back to express appreciation. All of them were in need , all crowd for mercy, all persevered , all believed and obeyed but only one returned to express appreciation after the healing ( Luke 17:17-18).

Lesson Outlines

1. Only one came back.

2. The Christian approach.

Only one came back

Only one out of the ten lepers came back to express appreciation and he was a Samaritan. It is like saying that out of every member of a church, only one person who does not even know much about Jesus gives thanks. The rest may see no reason to thank God because of :

1. Discouragement and tribulations (Daniel 2:23). Daniel was a captive at the time he began thanking God.

2. Lack of knowledge of God’s word (Col. 4:2).

3. Taking God for granted and using thanksgiving as a substitute for obedience (Luke 18: 9-14).

4. Fellowship with the wrong crowd (Eph. 5:1-5).

Refusal to take account of what God has done (Luke 17:18).

The Christian Approach

Real Christians should find time to thank God for the following reasons among others :

1. Thanksgiving is a command ( 1 These. 5:18; Eph. 5:20; Col. 3:17). We are to come to His presence with Thanksgiving (Ps. 100:4).

2. For the salvation of our souls and hope kg eternal life with God ( Luke 10: 17-21).

3. It is a show of appreciation for what the Lord has done (Ex. 15:1-21; Like 17:11-19; 1:46).

4. It is a means of praying by faith e.g in the case of Lazarus (John 11:41).

5. It’s a potent weapon of warfare (2 Chro. 20:20-27).

6. It’s an evangelistic tool (Ps. 54: 4-11; 2 Sam. 22:1-2).

7. It sustains selflessness and humility ( Daniel 2:23-24; Luke 18:9-14; 1 Timothy 1: 12-13).

8. It puts a seal of perfection on our testimonies. The man who came back to express appreciation was made whole ( Luke 17:19).

9. We are called to show forth the praise of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light ( 1 Peter 2:9).

CONCLUSION

We have no reason to disobey the call to give thanks always.

Questions

1. What is thanksgiving?

2. For what reasons should Christians give thanks?

Action Point
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