Bishop Patrick Bruce commands you to be thankful, revealing why most people won't do it unless told.
Bishop Patrick Bruce opens the sermon by framing thankfulness as a divine command from scripture, not a natural inclination. He immediately challenges the congregation, stating that people are inherently selfish and will not be thankful unless instructed. Bruce explains that thankfulness must be taught, much like children are taught to say 'thank you' for a toffee. He shares a personal story about receiving a thick envelope as a gift but being disappointed it contained only 100 cedis instead of more, illustrating the default mindset of wanting more. The bishop references Luke 11:1, where disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray, to underscore that even prayer must be learned. He describes how thanking someone appreciates both the gift and the giver, and when applied to God, this gratitude can lead to receiving more blessings. A hypothetical scenario is given where giving chocolate to an ungrateful person named Amma, who complains it's not Swiss chocolate, leads to the giver refusing future gifts. Bruce extrapolates this to God, warning that ingratitude can cause God to withhold blessings or even 'snatch back' life from those who misuse it. He connects thankfulness to miracles, citing Jesus giving thanks before feeding the 5,000 and raising Lazarus. The sermon shifts to practical examples, criticizing listeners for not thanking God for basic transportation like a 'trot trot' (minibus) despite its discomforts. Bruce asserts there is no real poverty in the room, contrasting their situations with people who pay to use a shared shower or go days without food. He recounts a story of a church member who hadn't eaten for two days. The dramatic account of a kayaker who had his leg amputated after being trapped for 20 hours is used to highlight the unappreciated blessing of having two legs. Bruce reveals a statistic that only 1% of Ghanaians have a house with complete amenities like water and a toilet. He leads the congregation in a prayer of thanksgiving for life, health, jobs, and houses, encouraging them to thank God even for things they don't understand or like, sharing his own experience of retaking an exam leading to meeting his wife. The sermon concludes with an altar call for those unsure of their salvation, inviting them to accept Jesus, followed by closing announcements for church services.
