Ppt

1. Gratitude
“But we are bound to give
thanks to God always for you,
brethren beloved by the Lord,
because God from the
beginning chose you for
salvation through sanctification
by the Spirit and belief in the
truth.” {2 Thessalonians 2:13}

2. Gratitude Is a Basic Attitude
• This short verse says much about
gratitude.
• From time to time, we need to examine the
“short verses.”
• Defining gratitude:
– “the state of being grateful and thankful;
appreciative of benefits received.”

3. Three Things About Gratitude
• We ought to have gratitude toward God.
• We ought always to have gratitude.
• We ought to be grateful for one another.

4. We Need to Be Grateful to God
• What has God done for me?
– My being (my life)
– “Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as
though He needed anything, since He
gives to all life, breath, and all things…for
in Him we live and move and have our
being, as also some of your own poets
have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”
{Acts 17:25,28}

5. • What has God done for me?
– All physical blessings
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and comes down from the
Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow of turning.”
{James 1:17}
We Need to Be Grateful to God

6. • What has God done for me?
– Jesus and forgiveness
– “In Him we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace.” {Ephesians 1:7}
– “As His divine power has given to us all
things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us
by glory and virtue.” {2 Peter 1:3}
We Need to Be Grateful to God

7. • We express our gratitude:
– In repentance.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness,
forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the
goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
{Romans 2:4}
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some
count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come
to repentance.” {2 Peter 3:9}
We Need to Be Grateful to God

8. • We express our gratitude:
– In our prayer lives
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us.” {Ephesians 3:20}
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God.” {Philippians 4:6}
We Need to Be Grateful to God

9. We Need Always to Be Grateful
• “Giving thanks always for all things to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
{Ephesians 5:20}
• “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to
which also you were called in one body; and be
thankful…And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through Him.”
{Colossians 3:15,17}

10. • We need to have constant regard for
God’s blessings:
– “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will
say, rejoice!” {Philippians 4:4}
– “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” {Philippians 4:13}
We Need Always to Be Grateful

11. • Consider the lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
– They regarded Jesus ONLY WHEN IN NEED.
• Lack of gratitude was a constant problem with
Israel.
– “For My people have committed two evils: They
have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And
hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can
hold no water.” {Jeremiah 2:13}
• Will God hear our prayers?
We Need Always to Be Grateful

12. We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another
• Fellowship is a great blessing!
• It existed in the early church.
– “Now all who believed were together, and
had all things in common, and sold their
possessions and goods, and divided them
among all, as anyone had need. So
continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to
house, they ate their food with gladness
and simplicity of heart.” {Acts 2:44-46}

13. • Fellowship is a great blessing!
• We watch for one another.
– “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of
you an evil heart of unbelief in departing
from the living God; but exhort one
another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest
any of you be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin.” {Hebrews 3:12,13}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

14. • Fellowship is a great blessing!
• We watch for one another.
– “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those
who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak, be patient with all. See
that no one renders evil for evil to anyone,
but always pursue what is good both for
yourselves and for all.”
{1 Thessalonians 5:14,15}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

15. • Fellowship is a great blessing!
• We watch for one another.
– “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any
trespass, you who are spiritual restore
such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself lest you also be
tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and
so fulfill the law of Christ.”
{Galatians 6:1,2}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

16. • Writings of Paul as testimony.
– “Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to
this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints.”
{Ephesians 6:18}
– “For God is my witness, how greatly I long
for you all with the affection of Jesus
Christ.” {Philippians 1:8}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

17. • Words of John the apostle
– “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and
testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk
in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that
my children walk in truth. Beloved, you do faithfully
whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers,
who have borne witness of your love before the
church. If you send them forward on their journey in
a manner worthy of God, you will do well.”
{3 John 3-6 }
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

18. • What ties us together?
– “That which we have seen and heard we
declare to you, that you also may have
fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship
is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ. And these things we write to you
that your joy may be full.”
{1 John 1:3,4}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

19. • What ties us together?
– “Only let your conduct be worthy of the
gospel of Christ, so that whether I come
and see you or am absent, I may hear of
your affairs, that you stand fast in one
spirit, with one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel.” {Philippians 1:27}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

20. • What ties us together?
– “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one
another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another; not lagging in diligence,
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope,
patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in
prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given
to hospitality.” {Romans 12:9-13}
We Need to Be Grateful
for One Another

21. Concluding Thoughts
• Are You Grateful
for the blessings
you receive from
God?
• How do you
express your
gratitude?