[re]discover Colossians. For the person who follows Jesus a grateful heart is not only a...

[re]discover Colossians

For the person who follows Jesus a grateful heart is not only a

possibility, it is a requirement

Gratitude is the natural response of a life that has been blessed by God

[re]discover: Gratitude

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is

God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thess. 5:16–18 “Make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Eph. 5:19–20


“And be thankful.Let the message of Christ dwell among you

richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and

songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Col. 3:15–17


Developing a grateful heart:

1. Think about people


2. Think about experiences

3. Think about gifts you have received

“All sin is ingratitude towards God” Alister McGrath


“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things.” Psalm 103:2-4


Gratitude springs from an ongoing relationship with God

The bigger our sense of entitlement, the smaller our sense of gratitude


If I believe I am owed something, I will not be thankful

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him,

but their thinking became futile.” Romans 1:21


Prayers of gratitude

• The 18 benedictions: Eighteen common things that God’s people gave thanks to Him for several times a day

• The Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” Deuteronomy 6:4–5


The general principle that they lived by was to bless God for every gift

“A person must not taste anything until they have blessed it.”

Rabbinic teaching

The Book of Common Prayer

“Almighty God, Father of all mercies… we your unworthy servants… do give you most humble and hearty thanks. We bless you for our creation, our

preservation, all the blessings of this life, but above all, for your inestimable love

in the redemption of our world by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We owe our ultimate gratitude for God's ultimate gift - Jesus

The Book of Common Prayer

“So above all, followers of Jesus, in plenty and in need, in palaces and in prison, thank God for his

gift of Jesus: his matchless life, his unrivaled teachings, his sacrificial death, his triumphant

resurrection. Blessed are you, O Lord.”

We owe our ultimate gratitude for God's ultimate gift - Jesus


Experiments in Gratitude

• pray your own “benedictions” – morning and evening

• to write a “gratitude letter”


“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

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