TRANSFORMATIVE POWER:
The Transformative Power of Gratitude:
Five People in the Bible Who Gave Thanks
with All Their Heart
November 4: Hannah
Scripture: 1 Samuel 1-2:21
Gospel Lesson: Luke 2. 41-52
Transformative Gratitude: Gave her son back to God…
Who Is she? 1 Samuel 1.1-2
https://youtu.be/h2K3-cnfDPc children’s book read
What is her story?
Childless one of two wives (See https://youtu.be/51Rp33mArNY re: polygamy
Her sorrow: .5-.8
Her promised expression of gratitude: 9-.11
Her assurance of faith through Eli the Priest: .12-20
Her abundant and sacrificial gratitude .21-.28
Hannah’s Song of Prayer 2.1-11
Peace Home Church Discussion Questions
Note the depth of Hannah’s sorrow. How might Hannah’s childlessness been exaggerated as second wife?
Notice how the Bible attributes her childlessness to the Lord. (1.5-6) How would you present/discuss this with a childless couple today? Medical science? Act of God? Combination?
Note as well it was a chronic condition (.7) About how long did it take for her prayer to be answered? Discuss the nature of waiting, praying, waiting for God to respond to your heartfelt prayers.
Hannah is a story of those who are powerless and often berated by the powerful. What is one such example today? How might you encourage a (seemingly) powerless person with Hannah’s story?
Notice the length of sorrow (year after year) and how her longing keeps persevering before God. She is the story of perseverance, hope and encouragement. How might her story encourage yours?
Her gratitude is overwhelming – to the point of giving back to God that which is most precious and most sought, year after year. She never took her eye off of the Gift-giver; was not distracted to prioritize the gift! Where might that be true in your life?
November 11, 2018: King David and His Response of Praise
Scripture: Psalm 23 and many others; 2 Samuel 7:18-29 “Who am I O soverign Lord…”
Gospel Lesson: John 10.1-5
Transformative Gratitude: Praised God in All Circumstances
Infographic Summary of King David https://www.pinterest.com/pin/524599056567785294
Who is he? A Legend of Our Faith, A Man After God’s Own Heart
What’s his story?
Chosen by God as Youngest Son from Least Prestigious Tribe to Become Powerful King
2Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
How did gratitude transform his life?
Authored ~75 Psalms: 3-9; 11-41; 51-65; 68-70; 86;101;103; 108-110; 122; 124; 131; 133; 138-145
He celebrated God’s victories and danced before the Lord with all his might! 2 Samuel 6.14
Moved him to courageous acts
David and Goliath story: 1 Samuel 17
David killed his Tens of Thousands 1 Samuel 18.7
Lived His Life Out of Forgiveness
Nathan Rebukes David 2Samuel 12
It took David about 15 years to become King after he was anointed by Samuel. During which time he was sometimes running for his life. Why might have God allowed such time to pass prior to him taking office? What parallel might you find in your life (waiting/wondering about God’s fulfilled promises)?
Lots of Psalms, lots of praise, lots of heartfelt seeking of the Lord – David was a prestigious writer. Consider Psalm 103 and then write a 3-5 verse psalm of your own praising God for your circumstance.
Against Goliath David not only trusted to the Lord, but pointed toward the Lord as the victor of a battle not yet fought! What might that look like in your life? What current struggle could you right now as God’s victory –however improbable it looks?
After he had become King and essentially had it all, he wanted just a little more. His affair with Bathseba and arranged murder of her husband Uriah marked the beginning of decline in his Kingdom. He was forgiven, but there were consequences that nonetheless followed. How can we, as Christians, both completely forgive and deal with consequences that remain?”
November 18, 2018: Paul and His Zeal for the Lost
One of the Bible’s greatest encouragers and instructors, Paul was a man who faced various trials and tests even to the point of death.
Scripture: 2 Cor 4.8-9; 1 Thess 5.16-18
Gospel Lesson: Mark 1. 14-20
Who is he? Christian Persecutor Become an Apostle
What’s His Story? Called to Suffer for the Name of Jesus
His Upbringing/His Dark Side as a Religious Terrorist: A prosecutor of The Way (Acts 7.58 – 9.1)
His Conversion and Calling to Suffer for the Name of Christ (Acts 9.1-18)
His Missionary Journeys
Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4–14:26) – (Circa 46–47) Barnabas and Paul first visited Barnabas’s home region of Cyprus before sailing to the southern region of Asia Minor. When they reached Perga in Pamphylia, John Mark left the group and returned to Jerusalem. Making their way to Antioch (in Pisidia), Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, Paul and Barnabas were driven out of each city by jealous Jewish religious leaders. Later they returned by the same route, strengthening the new churches as they went. From Attalia they set sail for their home in Antioch of Syria
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (Acts 15:36–18:22) – (Circa 49–51) Paul and Silas revisited the places in Asia Minor where Paul had preached on his first journey (cf. map), while Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul and Silas visited Derbe, Lystra, and Antioch in Pisidia. From there Paul and Silas traveled to Troas, where Paul received a vision of a man from Macedonia calling to them. Crossing into Europe, they passed through several towns along the Egnatian Way and traveled to the cities of Athens and Corinth in southern Greece. Then, sailing to Ephesus and Caesarea, they visited the church in Jerusalem before returning to Antioch of Syria.
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey (Acts 18:22–21:17) – (Circa 52–57) Paul’s third missionary journey traversed much the same ground as his second. Passing through Galatia and Phrygia, he proceeded directly to the great port city of Ephesus. After three years of preaching and teaching there, Paul traveled again through Macedonia and Achaia, strengthening the believers, and then finished with a visit to Jerusalem.
Prolific Writing in NT w 13 Letter/Epistles Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.
God can save anyone! Every person matters to God.
Saul would qualify as either a terrorist or some kind of enforcer, depending on your point of view from the book of Acts. Can you name rough equivalents from history or today’s news? Try and discuss/imagine some heinous criminal coming to know the Lord?
What emotions and objections typically rise up? What does it tell us about the nature of God that he can and has turned around people like Saul?
Anyone can share of the love of Jesus (Acts 20.19)
Sometimes the unchurched believe there is an ethical criterion to which we must measure up to either be a Christian or proclaim Jesus. How does Paul completely invert this understanding? (Cf. 1 Timothy 1.15)
How does it inform your understanding of who and how to share the gospel message?
Try filling in the blanks with a brief version of your own story of redemption. “I used to be ____________, but now, through Christ, I am ________________… You might not be “chief of sinners” (as Paul defined himself) but consider how your own sin has hindered your life and how Jesus has redeemed it!
His spiritual journey and circumstances serve as inspiration for generations
Read 2 Cor 11.16 – 12.10 for Paul’s paradoxical summary of being strong when he is weak. Consider how he and myriad Christians throughout history have striven through incredible difficulties. Compare or contrast to your life experience and ask the Lord to inspire you, me and us all to serve with even a small capacity of those who have gone before us to bring the faith to us!
How Did Gratitude Transform His Life?
In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, Paul said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
This is the same Paul who said in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Thanksgiving Eve: The Healed Leper
Scripture: Luke 17. 11-19
Transformative Gratitude: Redirected his steps; his life (He took the long way home; the road less traveled); Praised God with a loud voice!
Lepor Healed in John 8 https://youtu.be/H7oJ3SDmVTA
Children’s cartoon https://youtu.be/LzZUDRrKgI8
Who Is He?
The 10% who went out of his way to show gratitude
What’s His Story?
The lowest of the low castes isolated and shunned, healed and returned
How Did Gratitude Transform His Life?
Forever recognized for his gratitude; an inspiration for thousands of years to millions of people
November 25: Jesus (Deacon Peter Grund)
Scripture: “eucharisteo” (giving thanks) as a lifestyle
Gospel Lessons
Luke 10.21 …hidden these things from the wise…
Matthew 15.36 … 7 loaves and 2 fish and gave thanks….
Luke 22.17-19 …gave thanks for bread and wine….
Transformative Gratitude: Surrendered to the Father’s will, suffering for our sake… and gave thanks for every opportunity to point to the glory of the Father!
Who is he?
The Son of God
What’s His Story?
The Word that became flesh, dwelt among us and suffered for us, but rose triumphantly
How Did His Gratitude Transform Our Life?
Our lives are lived out of gratitude for the amazing grace, the incredible love, and the powerful faith with which we have been gifted in baptism.
Complete this sentence, I am grateful to God for my baptism because ___________________.
(i.e., provides objective assurance of your salvation…)
What’s it like to be around ungrateful people? How might we witness to them/tell them of all our gratitude?
2 Corinthians 9.10-15 identifies the link between gratitude and generosity. How does your personal generous response increase when you are grateful?
12 Verses of Thanks : Briefly describe/define the role of gratitude. Find one that speaks to you and describe it’s impact in your life.
“O Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Ps. 95:1-3
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Ps. 100:4-5
“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever.” Ps. 118:29
“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Ps. 9:1
“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.” Ps. 7:17
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faithwill grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Col. 2:7
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Col. 3:15
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col. 4:2
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Phil 4:6
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Ps. 103:1-5
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thess. 5:18