The 911 Handbook
Study Guide Answers
Lesson 19/Chapter 17
When Your Life is Missing Something: Lepers Anonymous
Answers are written in italics
Using the story of Carol making pies, how did Mrs. Smith's attitude change from grateful to ungrateful?
Mrs. Smith got used to receiving pies from Carol, then thought she deserved them. Once she thought she deserved them, she started finding fault with what she received.
Describe some differences between being grateful and ungrateful.
It’s the difference between pleasing God and grieving Him, rejoicing or complaining, being content or restless, and appreciating blessings or taking them for granted.
Fact #1: Obedience goes the first mile, but gratefulness goes the second mile.
How did the nine lepers prove they weren't grateful?
They didn’t express their thankfulness to Jesus in any tangible way.
How does this apply to us today?
When we don’t do anything to express our thankfulness, it proves we are like the ungrateful lepers. Gratefulness always expresses itself in tangible ways.
Why do we place a great emphasis upon believing and obeying, but so little upon gratefulness?
We don’t understand how God desires to be thanked. We mistakenly believe that faith and obedience are the only things God wants.
What must we recognize about God in order for us to be truly thankful? (James 1:17)
We must recognize that God is the source for every one of our blessings.
What is the missing ingredient in fulfilling God's will? (1 Thess. 5:18)
Thankfulness is the missing ingredient in fulfilling God’s will. It is like a spice, which adds flavor to a meal to make it enjoyable.
Fact #2: People who have been blessed are divided into two categories.
Discuss how the way we view life determines our level of gratitude.
When we see good even in bad circumstances, it leads to gratefulness. However if we see the bad even in good situations, it leads to complaining.
Why is it important to realize we don’t deserve what we receive?
If we realize we don’t deserve the things we receive, it creates a foundation for a thankful heart.
Fact #3: Grateful people take extra steps that ungrateful people don't take.
How did the grateful leper take extra steps the ungrateful lepers didn’t take?
He had to walk further than the other nine lepers because he had to turn around and walk back to Jesus. He took time out of his schedule to thank Him.
In what ways can we take "extra steps" to show our gratitude?
We can thank God verbally through prayer or by giving monetarily to His Kingdom. We can write notes to people or serve them in some way.
Fact #4: Grateful people never have to be reminded to give thanks.
Why doesn’t a grateful person have to be reminded to give thanks?
True thankfulness always arises from within our souls and can never be extracted by external forces.
How does an attitude of gratitude make life’s experiences different?
It changes the way we view our circumstances and makes like enjoyable.
Fact #5: Jesus also expects the ungrateful people to thank him.
Why did Jesus ask where the other nine lepers were?
He was expecting them to return to thank Him.
What does this tell us about God’s about what He desires from us?
God is looking for us to give thanks to Him whenever He blesses us. He finds pleasure in being thanked.
The Leprosy of Ingratitude
What kind of leprosy do we need to be cured from today?
We need to be healed of the leprosy of ingratitude.
What are some things for which you are grateful?
Salvation, health, family, housing, electricity, plumbing, cars, food, etc.
In what ways will you thank God for these things?
We need to continually thank Him for these things throughout the day.