When Gratitude Goes Missing | Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

When Gratitude Goes Missing

Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr

The House of Hope Atlanta • Jul 26, 2026 • 73 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this powerful message on Luke 17:11–19, Dr. E. Dewey Smith Jr. warns believers about the subtle danger of letting entitlement replace gratitude when God's blessings become familiar. Through the story of the ten men healed of leprosy, he highlights how ten received a physical miracle through active obedience, yet only one returned to give thanks to Jesus. By recognizing and appreciating God's active work in our daily lives, we move beyond temporal blessings into complete spiritual wholeness and salvation.

Themes

Gratitude vs. EntitlementActive Obedience in FaithIdentity Beyond CircumstancesRecognizing God's GoodnessSpiritual Salvation and Wholeness

Key Points

1.
If gratitude is not intentionally made a priority in a believer's life, entitlement will quickly move in to take its place.
2.
Jesus recognized ten men who had leprosy without reducing them to their condition, showing that struggles and diagnoses do not define a person's true identity.
3.
Breakthroughs and miracles are often tied to active steps of faith and obedience before any physical evidence appears.
4.
A lack of genuine appreciation inevitably leads to a lack of praise, as God's ongoing faithfulness becomes overlooked.
5.
Familiarity with God's blessings can cause believers to treat His extraordinary grace and daily mercies as common occurrences.
6.
Recognition of God's active hand in our lives is the doorway to gratitude, propelling us to respond with sincere worship.
7.
While physical blessings bring temporal relief, turning back to glorify God in gratitude unlocks spiritual salvation and complete wholeness.

Sermon Moments

“Story illustration of Gratitude moving out of a small town and Entitlement moving into his house.”

“"If gratitude is not a priority, entitlement will take its place."”

“"Jesus never reduced people to their conditions and neither should we."”

“"Sometimes God releases the blessing after you obey—you've got to move before you see."”

“"A lack of appreciation always produces a lack of praise."”

“"The greatest danger isn't that God stops being faithful; it is that we stop being fascinated by God's faithfulness."”

“"Recognition is the doorway to gratitude—you cannot be grateful for what you fail to recognize."”

“"The other nine left with healed bodies, but the one left with a saved soul."”

This Week

Prioritize daily thanksgiving by intentionally pausing to thank God for His faithful provision before making new requests.

Guard your heart against entitlement by refusing to view God's daily mercies and blessings as ordinary or expected.

Take active steps of obedience in faith even when you do not yet see visible evidence of your breakthrough.

Refrain from defining or labeling others by their past failures, current struggles, or health diagnoses.

Cultivate a practice of recognizing God's active work in your life so that gratitude naturally leads to praise.

Express heartfelt, unashamed worship to God regardless of how quiet or reserved others around you may be.

Reflect periodically on the question, "Who am I that God is mindful of me?" to maintain deep reverence and awe for His grace.

Remember This

When gratitude is not intentionally prioritized, entitlement takes its place, but recognizing God's faithful work in our lives unlocks sincere praise and complete spiritual wholeness.

A Challenge for You

If you're grateful, don't be like the other nine—be like the one: turn back, respond to what Jesus has done, and receive salvation and new life in Christ.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.