INTRODUCTION: A Generation Without Thanks
We live in the most blessed generation in history—and yet the most ungrateful.
- You give them food—they throw it in the trash.
- You give them your time—they demand more.
- You give them love—they forget you.
And it’s not just out there. It’s crept into the church. Within a church, we should never see unthankfulness.
Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
If you want to get closer to God, you have to be thankful.
God has something to say about thankfulness. And He’s asking today:
“Where are the nine?”
What do I mean? Where are the nine? Hey, where are the nine?
Luke 17:11–19 — “Where Are the Nine?”
Luke 17:11
And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
- Jesus is headed toward Jerusalem—toward the cross.
- He intentionally travels through Samaria, a place the Jews avoided.
- He’s entering enemy territory to reach people the religious crowd rejected.
Jesus doesn’t avoid broken people—He walks right into their towns.
Luke 17:12-13
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
- How many lepers were there to meet Jesus? What does the Bible say? TEN MEN. Don’t forget this. There were ten men there. Ten lepers.
- Leprosy was a death sentence—painful, contagious, and isolating.
- The law forced them to stand afar off (Leviticus 13:46).
- Yet they cry out in desperation: “Jesus, Master, have mercy!”
The first step toward healing is humility and honest need.
Luke 17:14
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
- Jesus didn’t heal them on the spot—He gave them a command. They were still lepers at the time.
- Under Leviticus 14, a leper was only supposed to go to the priest after being healed, to be declared clean.
- But Jesus is telling them to go before they’re healed.
So what did they do? They went anyway. That means they believed something would happen on the way.
“As they went, they were cleansed.” That’s the moment their healing came—when their feet moved in faith.
- They trusted His word before they saw His work.
- They had faith to walk, even when their bodies hadn’t changed.
- That’s not just obedience—it’s believing obedience.
Now, look, this is why we’re all here today. I want you to see this today. Do you remember how many lepers went to meet Jesus? Ten of them. As they went, they were cleansed. Ten men were cleansed of that great disease. Who did that? Jesus did that.
Luke 17:15
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
- All ten were healed—but only one turned back. Make sure you see this. All ten were healed. One turned back to thank Jesus. Only one. Where are the nine?
- This one didn’t just whisper thanks—he lifted his voice to glorify God. Hey, we need to lift our voices and give thanks to God for what we have here.
- When you eat food here, give thanks to God. Give thanks to the men and women who purchased that food and prepared that food for hours so you could eat a good meal today. I thank God for the people here who work hard on that food and serve that food.
Gratitude isn’t silent. True thankfulness praises God out loud. Praise the Lord for everything that He gives us. Don’t be like the nine. Be like that one. Watch what he does.
Luke 17:16
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
- He humbles himself before Jesus and gives thanks.
- He was a Samaritan, the one least expected to come back.
Sometimes it’s the outsiders who are more grateful than the insiders. You need to be grateful for this church here that God gave to you and to I. There’s people sitting in here that pray for you. That bring you food. That have helped you over the past months. Be thankful.
Luke 17:17
And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
- Jesus noticed the absence of the others.
- 90% walked away with the blessing and gave no thanks.
Most people want God’s help—but they won’t even thank Him when He does something for them.
For example, I thanked God for protecting Abigail this past week. He kept her safe. She was moments away from death because of the lack of care from someone around here. I don’t know who it is, but I thank God I don’t know who it is. We need to be thankful to God every day all day long. 9 out of 10 didn’t even return to thank the Lord Jesus Christ.
Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Luke 17:18
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
- Only the foreigner came back. Only the stranger cam back to give thanks.
- Jesus expected them all to return—but only one glorified God.
- For example, people from other countries want to get to this country. And when they get here, many work hard and are thankful to be here. But the ones who have been here are entitled, and many aren’t thankful. I’ll trade the thankful illegal immigrants any day for the unthankful Americans that are here in this country.
- We have too many people like those nine. We need more people like that one.
Being religious doesn’t mean you’re grateful. This man had no temple access, but he still worshipped the Lord. He gave thanks.
Luke 17:19
And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
- All ten were healed physically—but only one was made whole. Only one was saved forever.
- Physical healing touched all of their bodies. But faith saved this man’s soul.
- Why? He was thankful. He went back to Jesus because he was thankful. And look what he got. “Thy faith hath made thee whole.”
God gives many people health, food, and mercy—but only the grateful walk away with salvation. Jesus Christ died in your place. Jesus suffered for you and for all the wrong you’ve done and will do in your life.
You should be thankful. If you can’t be thankful to Jesus Christ, you’ll never be thankful to anyone in this life.
Are you part of the nine—taking and walking? Do you get what you want and then take off?
Or are you the one—turning, glorifying, and falling at His feet? Don’t run off. Stay, fall at the feet of Jesus, worship Him, thank Him for what He’s done for you, be sorry for what you’ve done to Him. Tell Jesus today.
Hey, let’s be people who return thanks. Let’s teach our families to glorify God, not just grab blessings and take off.
Where is the thankfulness?
I. Thankfulness Is A Command, Not A Suggestion
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
- It doesn’t say give thanks when the fries are hot.
- It says give thanks in everything—even when it’s not your favorite, even when it’s hard.
- Thankfulness is not about comfort. It’s about character. Are you thankful? If not, you’ll have nothing.
Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
A thankful heart is a peaceful heart. An ungrateful person will always be restless.
II. People Who Are Full Still Complain
Exodus 15:24
And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?
Exodus 16:2
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:
- God parted the Red Sea—and they murmured.
- He gave them manna—and they hated it.
- They were free, fed, and full—but never thankful.
Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
- Just like today—people get free meals and then throw them away.
- Ingratitude doesn’t come from poverty. Let me say this a different way. Being ungrateful isn’t because someone has too little—it’s because they think they deserve more. This comes from pride.
- People are ungrateful when they believe they’re owed something and don’t appreciate what they have—no matter how much or how little that is.
Pride says, “I deserve better.”
Gratitude says, “I don’t deserve this, but thank you anyway.”
They are opposites. Again, pride says: “I DESERVE BETTER.” Being thankful says: “I don’t deserve this so THANK YOU.”
III. Free To Them—But Not Free To You
2 Thessalonians 3:10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
- People who don’t work for something won’t value it.
- When something is given for nothing, they don’t value it and they throw it away as it’s nothing.
- They take and throw away because they never bled, sweated, or sacrificed.
- And this is how some people treat the free gift of everlasting life that Jesus paid for too. They take it. Are never thankful. And don’t care about doing what God has asked.
Proverbs 18:9
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Wasting food, wasting time, wasting love—it’s all rooted in laziness and unthankfulness.
Ecclesiastes 5:12
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
Why is the sleep of a working man sweet? Because when you work, you appreciate what you have. If you won’t work, you won’t appreciate what someone gives you. The Bible says so.
IV. The Servants Eat Last—And That’s Christlike
Mark 10:44-45
And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
- Jesus served the crowd first. He gave to others—and often went without.
- He didn’t complain. He glorified the Father through service.
There are people here who prepare all the food. Some people get up at 4 to 5 am to get the food ready. Then they serve you the food. They are hungry too. They watch you come and get your food. They watch you eat your food.
Then they attempt to get a plate of food after everyone else has eaten, had seconds, and more. They attempt to sit down and eat something after preparing and serving everyone. And then you interrupt them telling them you need this or need that because you’re done eating. “Take me home now.”
Hey, have some patience. Take a deep breath. Let them eat. They served everyone. Now they get to eat. Take a step back. Calm down. Be thankful for the food you received. Be thankful for the people who prepared it and served it to you. Allow them to eat.
Philippians 2:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
- When you’re eating cold food after serving everyone else, you’re in good company.
- You’re with Jesus.
If you would like to be on the other side serving food to everyone and eating last, let me know. We need more people who want to serve and be last. And then that helps you to be more thankful. Where is the thankfulness?
V. Disrespect For The Hands That Feed
2 Timothy 3:2
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
All of the things listed there in that verse go together. Lovers of their own selves. Stop making everything about you and you alone. “What am I going to get today?” Disobedient to parents. Kids, you better obey your parents or grandparents who take care of you. Unthankful and unholy. Be thankful to the person who feeds you.
Here’s another example. If you get a check from the government that takes care of you, you should be thankful and stop talking trash about the government. The taxes of the working people are providing that check to you.
Be thankful to the people who are out there working hard every day. If you get anything for free, you should be thankful for whatever it might be even if it’s not everything YOU WANTED.
- Someone here watched some teenagers get full plates of food and then throw them in the garbage. It’s not anyone in here today.
- Throwing away a full plate of food is a symptom of a deeper sin.
- Ingratitude is spiritual rot. In other words, being ungrateful ruins your heart on the inside, and I could make a prediction that those teenagers will end up in prison unless someone takes them and guides them in the right ways. Unthankfulness eats away at your spirit. You soul will be damaged over time.
Proverbs 30:11-13
There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
- Arrogance kills appreciation. That’s when you think you are better and deserve more.
- When you teach someone to say “thank you”—you’re saving them from destruction.
- And we’re going to teach that here. Say thank you to people today. Say “Hey, I appreciate what you do.” And mean it when you say it.
VI. God Expects Gratitude To Him
Psalm 116:17
I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Psalm 103:2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
You need to be thankful every second of every day. Every breath is a blessing. Every sunrise is a gift. Every meal you eat is a gift from God.
Lamentations 3:22–23
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
- If God gave us what we deserve, we’d be in hell.
- The fact that you woke up today, had food on your plate, and strength to chew it—that’s mercy.
You woke up today? That’s mercy. You ate today? That’s grace. You’re saved today? That’s love.
VII. Unthankfulness Leads To Destruction
Romans 1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
- Unthankfulness is the first step to a reprobate mind.
- When you stop giving thanks, you start going backward.
Make sure you hear me today. When you stop giving thanks to God and to others, you will go backwards.
Conclusion: Where Are The Nine?
After healing ten men, only one came back to thank Jesus. He noticed. And He’s still noticing today.
Are you the one that thanks the Lord Jesus Christ?
Or are you part of the ungrateful crowd? I want you to take a long look at yourself this morning. The Bible says to examine yourselves.
Here’s a CALL TO ACTION today:
- Repent if you’ve complained more than you’ve thanked. Change your ways.
- Return thanks to God every single day. Try it. This changes you.
- Teach your children to say thank you—not just with words, but with their attitude. If you raise an unthankful child, you’re hurting everyone around you.
- Appreciate those who serve you—because they eat last, they give most, and they rarely get recognized.
- Be the one—the one who gives glory to God, who doesn’t waste, who’s full of thanks.
Let’s pray.
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