1. Thanksgiving. Really? How REAL or how RELIGIOUS is our thanksgiving?

2. A Good Recipe for Thanksgiving

3. For a RELIGIOUS Thanksgiving: Just go online Buy a Recipe Book Or talk to Michele Stelljes

4. A Good Recipe for Thanksgiving For a REAL Thanksgiving: Learn from the 10 lepers story: Luke 17: 12-19

5. A Good Recipe for Thanksgiving 12 As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

6. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude The account of the healing of the ten lepers is replete with lessons, especially the lesson of gratitude. Too many fail to be thankful for all God has done.

7. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Observations: Vs. 12, 13: Lepers were isolated (Lev. 13: 46). The ten lepers appeared to have known of Jesus (cp. Matt. 4: 23, 8: 2, 3). Vs. 14: Jesus tested their faith. He answered their request and had mercy on them. But they had to obey Jesus’ command to be healed.

8. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Leprosy was a horrible disease during Bible days. It was a very serious disease. Members would fall off at the joints: there was no cure.

9. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Ten left and were healed on the way.

10. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Observations: Vs. 15, 16: They were healed on the way as they obeyed Jesus. The Samaritan returned (others were probably Jews). 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

11. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Only one healed leper returned to give thanks!

12. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Observations: Jesus was really surprised that no one would come back to thank and praise God. Vs. 17, 18: Ten per cent only gave thanks. Vs. 19: Jesus declares that his faith made him whole.

13. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Some reasons to be thankful: 1.Remission of sins (Acts 2: 38). 2.Jesus’ death, etc. (Rom. 5: 6-8). 3.The church (Matt. 11: 11, Eph. 1: 3). 4.Power of prayer (Phil. 4: 6). 5.The promise of heaven (I Pet. 1: 4). 6.Difficulties in life bring spiritual growth (Jas. 1: 2-4). 7.God’s fidelity & protection (Heb. 13: 5, 6).

14. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude “15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3).

15. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Learn with the Samaritan leper and thank and praise God. In RELIGIOUS Thanksgiving people get sad because they haven’t got what they want. It is about things & food. In REAL Thanksgiving people praise God for who He is and for His mercy. It is about HIM>

16. The Ten Lepers and Gratitude Surprise Jesus coming back to HIM to thank HIM and praise HIM this Thanksgiving.