Title: The Curious Case of Thanks
Author: Jeff Geyer
Text: Luke 17:11-19
Big Idea:
If we're so focused on what we don't have, we don't thank Him for what we do have.
Intro:
Detailed in their book, The Hiding Place, the barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested. They had been able to miraculously smuggle a Bible into the camp. As they read the Bible, they come across Paul's message that in all things they were to give thanks and that God can use anything for good.
So Betsie decided that this meant thanking God for the fleas. Corrie was not buying that-thanking God for fleas that are a painful nuisance?!-no way. Betsie insisted Corrie to join her in thanking God for the fleas.
I'll circle back up to the story in a bit.
Connection/Tension:
In the meantime, let's think for a moment. There are not a lot of us thinking like Betsie. We may be hard pressed to find anyone who would think like Betsie. Our culture has grown into entitlement, which can be defined as "an unrealistic, unmerited or inappropriate expectation of favorable living conditions and favorable treatment at the hands of others." In other words, I expect my parents, boss, spouse, business, government, or church to deliver no matter the cost.
Here are some signs of entitlement that we may see or you may show:
- Everything isn't enough
- Whine when the TV or electronics go off or when parents say "no" during shopping
- Shift blame to others
- Unable to handle failure or disappointment
- Rules do not apply to them
- Obey only when there's a reward
- Expects someone to bail them out
- Only thinks about how it affects them
We've noticed this with kids as they are coming from an "over-parenting [culture that includes]-over-protecting, over-pampering, over-praising, and over-paying-to meet our child's endless demands." The result of wanting our kids ...
Author: Jeff Geyer
Text: Luke 17:11-19
Big Idea:
If we're so focused on what we don't have, we don't thank Him for what we do have.
Intro:
Detailed in their book, The Hiding Place, the barracks where Corrie ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, were kept in the Nazi concentration camp Ravensbruck were terribly overcrowded and flea-infested. They had been able to miraculously smuggle a Bible into the camp. As they read the Bible, they come across Paul's message that in all things they were to give thanks and that God can use anything for good.
So Betsie decided that this meant thanking God for the fleas. Corrie was not buying that-thanking God for fleas that are a painful nuisance?!-no way. Betsie insisted Corrie to join her in thanking God for the fleas.
I'll circle back up to the story in a bit.
Connection/Tension:
In the meantime, let's think for a moment. There are not a lot of us thinking like Betsie. We may be hard pressed to find anyone who would think like Betsie. Our culture has grown into entitlement, which can be defined as "an unrealistic, unmerited or inappropriate expectation of favorable living conditions and favorable treatment at the hands of others." In other words, I expect my parents, boss, spouse, business, government, or church to deliver no matter the cost.
Here are some signs of entitlement that we may see or you may show:
- Everything isn't enough
- Whine when the TV or electronics go off or when parents say "no" during shopping
- Shift blame to others
- Unable to handle failure or disappointment
- Rules do not apply to them
- Obey only when there's a reward
- Expects someone to bail them out
- Only thinks about how it affects them
We've noticed this with kids as they are coming from an "over-parenting [culture that includes]-over-protecting, over-pampering, over-praising, and over-paying-to meet our child's endless demands." The result of wanting our kids ...
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