Preparing For Worship: November 18th

This week is our Thanksgiving service, and the week after will be Christmas! (Not really, but the way time flies...)

What a great holiday for Christians. We gather together with our church body, with family, and friends and we give thanks. What makes this holiday so much better for believers though, is the fact that we give thanks TO SOMEONE! Have you ever been at the Thanksgiving table of your non-Christian friends or family? Maybe everyone goes around and says something they're thankful for, and there's a certain sentimental fulfillment in considering each thing that's said, but without God, what is the need for giving thanks? If our lives are the the product of cold, hard chance, then who IS there to thank???

That's why it's different for Christians to gather and thank our Almighty, Sovereign God for his care and provision in our lives. For his gracious provision, for his comfort and peace in times of trial, and for his unchanging truth in our ever-changing world.

I think that we as Christians need to expand the scope of what we are thankful for. We're all thankful for the good things God has blessed us with: family, friends, provision, etc. But how often are we thankful for the trials, the hardships, the uncertainties, the deaths, and the tears? If we believe what God's Word says when it tells us that

in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28)

then all the things in our lives (the good, the bad, and the ugly) are a part of God's perfect plan for each of our lives, and ultimately will result in his name being glorified more than through any other circumstances!

Pastor Todd will be preaching from 1 Thessolonians 5:16-18 which says:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

And we'll be singing songs that challenge our hearts and minds with this idea.

We'll start the service by singing the song "Marvelous Light" which is a declaration of the salvation that we have because of Christ. Then we'll have a short time of announcements, and a short Thanksgiving video.

After that we'll have a time of public thanksgiving where Pastor Todd will have the wireless mic and go around the congregation for people to share some things they are thankful for. Be thinking of something (short and sweet please!) to share with everyone, that we might all be encouraged at God's faithfulness in so many different ways in all of our lives.

We'll respond to God's goodness and faithfulness in our lives by singing of his greatest act of goodness and faithfulness: The Cross.
We'll sing "That's Why We Praise Him" "Here I Am To Worship" and "Once Again," all of which are wonderful reminders of God's most gracious gift of his Son, for which we should be most thankful!

Pastor Todd will then bring us his message from 1 Thessolonians, and as a response we'll sing "Amazing Grace" and "Blessed Be Your Name" which comes from the book of Job, and really teaches us the idea that whether God gives or takes away, his name is still to be blessed! In Job chapter 1, Job has just been informed that his children and servants have been killed, and all of his livestock (which amounts to all his wealth) has been stolen or killed. This is how Job responds:

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

Quite a lesson. So NOW what are you thankful for? Can't wait for Sunday!