Gratitude

Recap:

God is doing something powerful through ConnectKC, our network of churches in the Kansas City area. Churches are growing, people are being baptized, lives are being changed, and new churches are being planted throughout Kansas City. Every prayer, every person sent, and every dollar given is helping carry the good news of Jesus into our community. We are part of something bigger than ourselves—the advancing Kingdom of God.

In Hebrews 12, the writer gives us a picture of two mountains: Mount Sinai and Mount Zion. Sinai was the place where God descended in darkness, thunder, lightning, fire, and the deafening sound of a trumpet. The mountain shook, the people trembled, and even Moses was terrified. God wanted to speak to His people, but when they encountered His holiness, they suddenly became aware of everything inside them that did not measure up. That is what Sinai represents. It is the constant feeling that we are not good enough. It is the belief that if we could only work harder, become a better parent, fix our marriage, read the Bible more, control our temper, or clean ourselves up, then maybe God would finally accept us. But no matter how hard we try, we cannot make ourselves perfect. At the foot of Sinai, we will always fall short. The holiness outside of them awakened the guilt inside of them.

But the writer of Hebrews declares that believers are no longer standing at Mount Sinai. We have come to Mount Zion—the city of the living God. We have come to a Kingdom that cannot be destroyed, tens of thousands of angels celebrating with joy, and the family of God whose names are written in heaven. Heaven knows your name. You have an inheritance that this world cannot give you and can never take away. We have also come before God, the Judge of all the earth. Every person will one day stand before Him and give an account for their life. But because of Jesus, those who belong to Him are described as the righteous who have been made perfect. We did not make ourselves perfect. Jesus made us perfect through what He accomplished on the cross.

Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. Moses trembled as he stood between God and the people, but Jesus stands firm. He defeated death, hell, and the grave. He brings sinful humanity into the presence of a holy God. His sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Abel’s blood cried out for justice and judgment, but the blood of Jesus cries out, “Paid in full.” Abel’s blood exposed the guilty, but Jesus’ blood cleanses the guilty. We must acknowledge that without Christ, we are sinful, broken, and unable to save ourselves. But when we place our faith in Jesus, His blood is applied to our lives. He forgives us, cleanses us, and makes us new. The only good within us comes from Christ and the Holy Spirit living inside us.

Yet many Christians have been forgiven by God while continuing to live with a guilty conscience. We have arrived at Zion, but our minds keep returning to Sinai. We continue telling ourselves that we are not enough, that we do not measure up, and that our past still defines us. But Scripture declares that the blood of Christ does more than forgive our sinful actions—it purifies our consciences. The blood does not only forgive your sin. The blood cleanses your conscience. The worst thing you have ever done does not have more power than the blood of Jesus. When you confess your sin and bring it before God, guilt and shame no longer have the right to control you. The enemy wants to hold power over your life through condemnation, but Jesus wants to release His power within your life through grace. You have been forgiven. You have been cleansed. You have been set free.

That does not mean everything around us will suddenly become easy. Hebrews tells us that another shaking is coming. Nations, governments, economies, possessions, relationships, and circumstances can all be shaken. Babylon believed it would last forever, but it fell. Jerusalem believed it could not be destroyed, but it fell. Rome appeared unstoppable, but it fell. Every earthly kingdom will eventually be shaken. Our hope cannot be in a nation, a political movement, a bank account, a house, a car, or any other temporary thing. Our hope must be in Jesus Christ and His unshakable Kingdom.

Sometimes the shaking becomes personal. The refrigerator breaks, the car stops running, the money does not come through, and life begins falling apart all at once. In those moments, we may wonder whether God is angry with us. We may return to the thinking of Sinai and assume that if we had performed better, prayed harder, or done everything right, none of this would be happening. But Jesus never promised that we would avoid trouble. He said that in this world we would have tribulation. The shaking does not mean God has abandoned us. Sometimes the shaking reveals what we have been trusting. Faith does not deny the shaking. Faith asks what will remain when the shaking is over.

When everything else moves, Jesus remains. When the bank account changes, Jesus remains. When possessions are lost, Jesus remains. When governments fail, Jesus remains. When circumstances do not make sense, Jesus remains. We can open our hands and say, “God, this is Your life, Your provision, Your future, and Your Kingdom. I trust You.”

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.” This entire message leads us to gratitude. Not gratitude because everything in life is perfect, and not gratitude because we are trying to earn God’s favor. Gratitude is our natural response to what Jesus has already done. We are grateful because He saved us. He cleansed us. He redeemed us. He carried us from Sinai to Zion. We no longer have to perform for His acceptance. We no longer have to live beneath the weight of guilt and shame. We have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.

So when life shakes, we will still worship. When circumstances change, we will still be grateful. When everything around us feels uncertain, we will continue trusting the One who never changes. Our Kingdom is unshakable, our Savior is victorious, and His blood is still speaking a better word over our lives.

Group Questions:

Icebreakers

What is something unexpected that has “shaken” your plans recently?
What is one convenience or possession you would have a hard time living without?
When you were growing up, what usually happened when you broke a rule?

Small Group Discussion

Read Hebrews 12:18–24. What differences do you notice between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion?
In what areas of your life are you tempted to believe you must perform to earn God’s love or approval?
The sermon said, “The blood does not only forgive your sin. The blood cleanses your conscience.” What does that mean to you personally?
How can you tell the difference between conviction from the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the enemy?
Is there something God has forgiven that you still struggle to forgive yourself for?
Read Hebrews 12:26–28. What are some temporary things people often trust in that can be shaken?
What has been shaking in your life recently, and what might it be revealing about where you have placed your trust?
Discuss this statement: “Faith does not deny the shaking. Faith asks what will remain when the shaking is over.”
Why is gratitude the right response to receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken?
What is one truth from this sermon that you need to remember this week?