In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 2-01-26 (Rhythms of Renewal, Part 3)
  • Lord I Lift Your Name on High
  • Joy To The World
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • Excellent
  • Father, Jesus, Spirit
  • Closer / Wrap Me In Your Arms
  • Lord, I Love You (TGalberth)
  • Let It Rise
  • Lord You're Mighty
  • He is Exalted / Give Him Praise
  • Sing a New Song
  • My Worship
  • Just a Closer Walk with Thee
  • Awesome God - Tammi & Gerald Haddon
  • One Thing Remains
  • Trust In God
  • He Is
  • Fire
  • We Believe
  • I Am a Friend of God
  • Holy Forever
  • Sermon Title
    Rhythms of Renewal – Part 3: The Flow of Gratitude
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    Primary Text
    Colossians 2:6 NIV
    6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
    We get saved we accept Christ but Paul instructs us to continue in Him.
    And Live our LIVES in him. This lets us know that our lives must imbed in Christ. The whole thing. The whole life
    ________________________________________
    I. Growth Is Not About One Thing—It’s About Connection
    James 1:22 NIV
    22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
    The word of God steps us through life. It gives us more of a formula for how to live a life that is pleasing to God.
    Life rarely works on a “one-step” formula.
    A big part of this life isn’t learning so much at one time it’s learning how to connect different things together to get the outcome you desire or need.
    • Education doesn’t guarantee success—application and connection do.
    You can’t just get educated or gain a skill and Think I will now have a good job. You get the skill, apply the skill, and find others who need the skill.
    Talent alone doesn’t open doors—discipline, timing, and stewardship do.
    Just because you can sing doesn’t mean people will offer you a contract you need to work at promotion, marketing, and a lot of other things.
    And many believe salvation automatically produces:
    Blessings
    Knowledge
    Favor
    I’m saved so all these things will just come to me. Why? Because I’m saved and God owes me.
    But salvation is the starting point, not the finish line.
    It’s like once we get saved God owes us something.
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    II. We Must Break the “God Owes Me” Mindset
    Scripture: Romans 11:35–36 (principle)
    Romans 11:35–36 NIV
    35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
    • Some believers live as though:
    Faith earns benefits
    Sacrifice demands recognition
    If we give we should get it all back because once I give God owes me.?
    Luke 6:38 NIV
    38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
    Luke 6:37–38 NIV
    37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
    Luke 6:38 means that giving generously (of mercy, kindness, or resources) leads to receiving back in abundance
    Context is key: It follows teachings on not judging and forgiving, so it primarily speaks to giving mercy and compassion, not just money.
    While often used for finances, its core meaning is about spiritual generosity (love, forgiveness), though it can also manifest in material blessings as others become generous to the generous person.
    Yes he made promises but imagine if I came to you and I give you something and I say I know I’m going to get it back 100 fold. I’m holding you to your word. Now is it true yes. But your attitude and your tone.
    God Owes me; I’m putting God in my debt—that doesn’t sound thankful to me.
    • Even ministry can fall into entitlement.
    Many Christians think they are owed blessings or that they are owed respect just because they are Christian.
    There are pastors that think because they are a pastor the World owes them a bit of gratitude and respect because of the sacrifices they make.
    We got to get out of the somebody owes you something mindset.
    It’s a difference between a promise being made and I’m keeping my promise vs. I owe you something and I’m in your debt.
    What have you EARNED!!
    God doesn’t OWE you anything!!!
    Corrective Truth: Everything we have is received, not earned.
    Grace
    Ephesians 2:8–10 NIV
    8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
    It is hard to be thankful when you are ENTITLED: Gratitude cannot grow in an entitled heart.
    Key Truth: God doesn’t owe us anything—He invites us into a process.
    What does entitlement look like—-it’s all around us.
    I worked hard so I deserve
    praise
    A break
    Hard work does obligate others to serve you
    2. After what all I’ve been through, I shouldn’t have to...
    Forgive
    Grow
    Be accountable
    3. People should treat me better because I’m a good person
    4. I been here the longest so I should get....
    And this is why Rhythm is so important.
    Our minds (all of us) Our minds go there and we have to reel it back in.
    Because if you look at things as a stand alone and not part of the process you can miss key elements.
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    Rhythm Is What Turns Individual Practices into a Way of Life
    We can and some do live our lives (our Christian lives) DISJOINTED
    • We get saved
    • We pray
    • We go to church
    • We read our Bible
    • We try to be a better person
    But we don’t connect them.
    We just do things and we live a choppy life.
    Scripture: Romans 12:1–2
    Romans 12:1–2 NIV
    1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
    • Rhythm is not intensity—it’s integration.
    It’s not praying so hard or fasting so long, or reading so much. It’s connecting with God through consistency.
    • Like dancing:
    o One good move looks impressive
    o A choppy dance is not smooth. You got the moves but they are disjointed and not going together.
    o A lot of people can move. I can do every step of the Wobble, Cha Cha, Electric Slide. Its just stepping. Most people can step one way or the other but can you do them rhythmically
    o A full song requires flow
    Illustration: Dancing
    • Folks that can’t dance show you that one move and say uh oh you ain’t ready.
    • A skilled dancer moves effortlessly from start to finish.
    Spiritual Application
    • Many believers:
    Pray well in moments
    Worship strongly in services
    Read
    Live good in spurts
    • But struggle to live consistently between moments.
    Highlights
    Key Insight: The Christian life was never meant to be performed in highlights—it’s meant to be lived in rhythm.
    Highlights are good but they can be deceiving.
    See the sports highlights of the day. You see a guy who dunks or throws a great pass and you assume that since he did that he had a good game….nope.
    A highlight in the Olympics. He did this crazy flip… he must have won—Nope
    He didn’t do the small things that lead up to that. He had that one big play but the rest is Blah. But what about the FLIP. No
    A lot of lives are lived this way.
    But what if we are able to live a rhymical life then as you build these blocks together God creates a process in your life.
    Based on Him in prayer and meditation and you have these grand events in life and come back to prayer and meditation
    And the next move just starts to come NATRUAL
    All that to get to our NEXT STEP IN THIS>>>>
    ________________________________________
    IV. The Rhythm So Far: Prayer and Meditation
    Scripture Review
    • Prayer – Talking with God (relationship)
    • Meditation – Thinking about God (focus)
    These are not isolated disciplines—they create momentum.
    What is the next Natural State — GRATITUDE
    We had to take this long road to get here because I said earlier: It is hard to be thankful when you are ENTITLED: Gratitude cannot grow in an entitled heart.
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    V. Gratitude Is the Natural Next Movement
    When you think on God you want to THANK God
    Primary Text: Colossians 2:6–7
    Colossians 2:6–7 NIV
    6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
    Gratitude is not a personality trait or a polite response—it is the natural overflow of a life lived in rhythm with God. Wh prayer and meditation are practiced consistently, gratitude becomes the flow that sustains spiritual maturity, generosity, and trust.
    • Paul describes a life that is:
    Rooted
    Built up
    Established
    Overflowing with thankfulness
    How the Rhythm Works
    1. You pray → You encounter God
    2. You meditate → You reflect on God
    3. You become thankful → You respond to God
    4. Gratitude sends you back to prayer
    That’s rhythm.
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    VI. Gratitude Is a Discipline, Not a Mood
    Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
    1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV
    16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
    • Gratitude doesn’t wait for:
    Good outcomes
    Clear answers
    Comfortable circumstances
    It is practiced on purpose.
    Truth We Must Accept
    • In good times, we forget God
    • In hard times, we question God
    Gratitude trains us to recognize God in both.
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    VII. Gratitude in the Ordinary Prepares Us for the Difficult
    Scripture: Psalm 34:1
    Psalm 34:1 NIV
    1 I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
    • Gratitude doesn’t have to be deep or dramatic.
    • Sometimes it’s:
    Silly
    Small
    Mundane
    Why This Matters
    • If we only practice gratitude when life is good, we won’t have the muscle when life is hard.
    Key Insight: Small thankfulness builds resilience for big trials.
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    VIII. Biblical Examples of Gratitude Before Outcomes
    Scripture Anchors
    • Hannah – Thankful prayer before the promise (1 Samuel 2)
    in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, often called the "Magnificat of the Old Testament," is a profound expression of joy, gratitude, and surrender offered to God before she fulfilled her vow to dedicate her son, Samuel, to temple service. Rather than weeping, she offers a confident song of praise acknowledging God's holiness, sovereignty, and power to reverse human fortunes.
    Before the Promise Fulfilled: This prayer is not when she first found out she was pregnant, but rather when she brought the young Samuel to the temple to leave him there, marking a moment of ultimate surrender.
    • Mary – Gratitude before understanding the cost (Luke 1:46–55)
    Luke 1:46–50 NIV
    46 And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
    • Jesus – Gave thanks before the miracle (John 6:11)
    John 6:11 NIV
    11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
    Core Truth: You may not know the outcome—but you know the nature of the One who controls it.
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    IX. Gratitude Is Anchored in God’s Character, Not Circumstances
    Scripture: Romans 8:28; Romans 8:37–39
    Romans 8:37–39 NIV
    37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    Romans 8:28 NIV
    28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
    Isn’t that enough to be thankful about that someone LOVES you that much!!!
    “And we know…”
    • Gratitude is rooted in confidence, not certainty.
    • We thank God not because we know how it will work out,
    but because we know who is working.
    ________________________________________
    X. Gratitude Produces Generosity, Not Guilt
    Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6–7
    2 Corinthians 9:6–7 NIV
    6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
    • Gratitude leads to:
    o Contentment
    o Stewardship
    o Generosity
    • Giving is not about obligation.
    • Cheerful giving flows from thankful hearts.
    o Not I’m cheerful because I’m going to GET something.
    Important Clarification
    • Gratitude is not about tithes alone.
    • Giving is:
    Personal
    Prayerful
    Voluntary
    Sacrificial
    “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart…”
    ________________________________________
    XI. What Happens When the Rhythm Is in Place
    Scripture: Matthew 7:24–25 (principle)
    Matthew 7:24–25 NIV
    24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
    When prayer, meditation, and gratitude work together:
    • You appreciate what you have
    • You identify growth areas without shame
    • You seek God more intentionally
    Final Insight
    We seek what we think about—and gratitude keeps God at the center of our thoughts.
    ________________________________________
    Closing Declaration

      • Colossians 2:6KJV1900

      • James 1:22KJV1900

      • Romans 11:35–36KJV1900

      • Luke 6:38KJV1900

      • Luke 6:37–38KJV1900

      • Isaiah 43:25–26NIV2011

      • Psalm 119:49–50NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:8–10KJV1900

      • Romans 12:1–2KJV1900

      • Colossians 2:6–7KJV1900

      • 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18KJV1900

      • Psalm 34:1KJV1900

      • Luke 1:46–50KJV1900

      • John 6:11KJV1900

      • Romans 8:37–39KJV1900

      • Romans 8:28KJV1900

      • 2 Corinthians 9:6–7KJV1900

      • Matthew 7:24–25KJV1900

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