For what are you thankful? At first glance, this might seem like an easy question to answer: you may be thankful for your family, your health, or your freedom. But as we dig deeper, are we thankful for these things all the time? That is, are we aware that we have a family not because of our own skill, that we have our health not because we are so different from others, and that we have our freedom not because we deserve it? Being thankful is about much more than having a good feeling when circumstances are going in our favor. Can we be thankful when we have health challenges? How about when we have family struggles or financial problems? It is here where thankfulness is critical. Luke tells us a story about 10 men who were healed by Jesus, and yet only one realized that he did not earn that blessing. Only one returned to do something as simple as say, “Thank you!” Jesus challenges us to consider how many blessings we get from the Lord, and how a true sign of being one of His followers is to return thanks to God. If we are wise, we will understand that one of the most important questions to encourage our faith that we can ask ourselves is “Are You Thankful?” (Luke 17:11-19).

I. Disease and Desperation (17:11-14)
A. Being a Leper
B. Finding Jesus

II. Changed Deeper than the Skin (17:15-16)
A. Overcome by Thankfulness
B. Seeing Jesus

III. Beyond Our Thanks (17:17-19)
A. Searching Questions
B. Made Whole

Questions for consideration: (1) For which area(s) of your life are you most in need? Do you cry out to Jesus? (2) Think about what you have taken for granted. How can you change that pattern of thanklessness? (3) What is more important than being thankful for the blessings you have?