The Attitude of Gratitude

This is my (expanded) outline to a church homegroup I led the other day. It's about the attitude of gratitude.


Opening Question:
What was your most significant highlight for the week?

Question:
As an American what do you think is our worse character trait? My answer is "entitlement." The definition of entitlement is "the right to do or have" (Oxford Dictionary). It seems like Americans are programmed to think that we are entitled to whatever we want or can afford.

Question:
What was the most important character trait that you were taught in grade school?
Sharing
Teamwork
Honesty
Staying Within the Lines

For me it was saying Thank You. I had a fourth grade teacher who taught the class to say thank you and then if we did not say it in time, she would say "your welcome" anyway. Being competitive, I learned how to say thank you real fast. I learned to be polite, but being grateful is another lesson.


Topic: The Attitude of Gratitude
I'm a man stuck on learning to live by grace. In this way I am being taught by grace (Titus 2:11-12). There are enemies to living by grace and one of the most predominant in this culture is entitlement. Entitlement says we have earned (deserved) what we have and it is my right to have it. Entitlement does not acknowledge the gift (grace) or the giver.

Question:
What do you deserve today?
Sustenance- food & shelter
Liberty
Justice

Doesn't a single mother in the Sudan desert have a right to these things? Why doesn't she have them?


Entitlement presumes we are deserving and have earned the right to the things we have and enjoy. If we have earned the right to the things we have then we void grace and stop acknowledging God's hand in the world. Grace is a free undeserved gift not a reward. It is God who supplies.

The attitude of gratitude reminds and reinforces that the things we receive are gifts. It is a grace-tude. The word root of gratitude is gratis. This is Latin for grace (free gift).

Gratitude is more than polite behavior. Being polite is about respecting people. Gratitude is about living in humility and grace. This is where my soul is going to live for eternity. Ultimately, gratitude is a happy response (recognition) to God's love and care for us.


Question:
How do you feel about being thankful for eternity?
Thinking about this is humbling to me.

Gratitude verses: Colossians 2:7, 3:16 (There are a lot more)

Anti Grateful Verse: Romans 1:21


Question:
How do you show gratitude?

My suggestion:
Be appreciative and smile. Look people in the eye and say thank-you. Acknowledge the giver and the grace (gift, service) given to you.
Rejoice in the Lord always, be anxious for nothing, in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:4).

Conclusion:
Being grateful and showing gratitude are powerful ways to remind ourselves that by grace God supplies our needs. The attitude of gratitude is the anti-entitlement weapon of choice. Gratitude by its nature helps us to live in humility. With gratitude we become a more able instrument to receive and live in God's wonderful grace.


Worship Time: Two songs


Prayer Time: Pray for needs


Desert Time