The central message of this sermon is that thankfulness or gratitude is an essential aspect of the Christian life, perhaps even more important than faith in certain situations. The text highlights how Jesus emphasizes gratitude over faith in the story of the ten lepers who were healed, with only one returning to give thanks and praise to God. This emphasis on gratitude advances the belief that a genuine expression of thanks and recognition of God's goodness is crucial for spiritual growth and healing, rather than simply possessing intellectual assent or faith without corresponding action. The takeaway the teacher wants the listener to understand is that true healing and wholeness come from acknowledging and expressing gratitude towards God, and this requires a willingness to surrender one's pride and preconceptions about how healing should occur.