Participants:
Series Code: PME
Program Code: PME231118S
|
00:02 ♪
00:15 >> Bring joy. Give thanks. 00:18 We feast today on hymns of joy 00:21 and thanksgiving. 00:23 Stand with me as we read 00:26 the following together. 01:15 [ Organ playing, trumpet plays ] 01:19 ♪ 01:24 ♪ 01:30 ♪ 01:37 ♪ 01:44 ♪ 01:48 [ Congregation sings ] 04:50 >> Words of joy today 04:52 are taken from Psalm 98. 04:56 "O' sing to the Lord a new song, 04:58 for He has done marvelous 05:00 things. 05:02 His right hand and His holy arm 05:04 have gained Him the victory. 05:07 The Lord has made known 05:08 His salvation. 05:09 His righteousness 05:11 He has revealed 05:12 in the sight of the nations. 05:15 He has remembered His mercy 05:17 and His faithfulness 05:18 to the house of Israel. 05:21 All the ends of the Earth 05:22 have seen the salvation 05:23 of our God. 05:25 Shout joyfully to the Lord 05:27 all the Earth. 05:29 Break forth in song. 05:31 Rejoice and sing praises. 05:34 Sing to the Lord with a harp, 05:36 with a harp and the sound 05:38 of the psalm, 05:39 with trumpets 05:41 and the sound of a horn. 05:43 Shout joyfully to the Lord, 05:45 the King. 05:47 This is God's Word. 05:49 May we be touched 05:50 by God's abundant joy today." 06:04 [ Organ playing ] 06:06 ♪ 06:10 ♪ 06:15 >> ♪ Angels on high, 06:17 now praise the Creator ♪ 06:19 ♪ Heavenly hosts, 06:21 bring praise to God ♪ 06:24 ♪ Radiant sunshine, 06:26 beautiful starlight ♪ 06:28 ♪ All in the sky, 06:29 bring praise to God ♪ 06:34 ♪ All in the heavens, 06:37 all on the Earth, 06:38 all honor His name ♪ 06:43 ♪ All of creation, 06:46 now and forever honor His name ♪ 06:50 ♪ All praise His name 06:57 ♪ 07:02 ♪ Rivers and oceans, 07:04 mountains and valleys ♪ 07:06 ♪ All on the Earth, 07:07 bring praise to God ♪ 07:11 ♪ Women and children, 07:13 men of all nations ♪ 07:15 ♪ All He has made, 07:16 bring praise to God ♪ 07:21 ♪ All in the heavens, 07:24 all on the Earth, 07:25 all honor His name ♪ 07:30 ♪ All of creation, 07:33 now and forever honor His name ♪ 07:37 ♪ All praise His name 07:43 ♪ 07:50 ♪ Praise the Lord of all 07:56 ♪ Praise the Lord of all 08:02 ♪ 08:06 ♪ 08:11 ♪ By His command, 08:13 all things were created ♪ 08:15 ♪ Heaven and Earth, 08:16 bring praise to God ♪ 08:22 ♪ All in the heavens, 08:23 bring praise ♪ 08:26 ♪ All on the Earth, 08:27 bring praise ♪ 08:30 ♪ All He has made, 08:31 bring praise 08:36 to God ♪ 08:42 ♪ 08:46 >> ♪ Praise 08:47 >> ♪ Praise 08:48 >> ♪ Praise 08:49 >> ♪ To God 09:01 [ Organ playing ] 09:03 ♪ 09:10 ♪ 09:18 [ Congregation sings ] 10:30 ♪ 10:36 ♪ 10:43 ♪ 11:37 [ Piano playing ] 11:39 ♪ 11:44 ♪ 11:49 ♪ 11:54 ♪ 12:00 >> ♪ When I gaze 12:05 into the night sky ♪ 12:11 ♪ And see the work 12:13 of Your fingers ♪ 12:20 ♪ The moon and stars 12:25 suspended in space ♪ 12:31 >> ♪ Oh, what is man? 12:34 >> ♪ Oh, what is man? 12:38 >> ♪ That You are mindful 12:41 of him? ♪ 12:47 ♪ You have given man 12:50 a crown of glory and honor ♪ 12:58 ♪ And have made him 13:01 a little lower than the angels ♪ 13:09 ♪ You have put him in charge 13:12 of all creation ♪ 13:17 >> ♪ The beasts of the field 13:21 >> ♪ The birds of the air 13:25 >> ♪ The fish of the sea 13:30 >> ♪ But what is man? 13:34 >> ♪ But what is man? 13:38 >> ♪ Oh, what is man 13:42 that You are mindful of him? ♪ 13:51 ♪ 13:53 ♪ O Lord, our God 13:58 ♪ The majesty and glory 14:04 of Your name ♪ 14:12 ♪ Transcends the Earth 14:18 and fills the heavens ♪ 14:25 ♪ O Lord, our God 14:30 ♪ Little children praise You 14:34 perfectly ♪ 14:39 ♪ And so would we 14:44 ♪ And so would we 14:54 ♪ Hallelujah 15:01 ♪ Hallelujah 15:08 ♪ The majesty 15:12 and glory of Your name ♪ 15:20 ♪ Hallelujah 15:26 ♪ Hallelujah 15:33 ♪ The majesty 15:37 and glory of Your name ♪ 15:44 ♪ Hallelujah 15:51 ♪ Hallelujah 15:57 ♪ Hallelujah 16:02 ♪ Hallelujah 16:12 ♪ 16:18 ♪ Hallelujah 16:26 ♪ Hallelujah 16:34 >> ♪ Hallelujah 16:42 >> ♪ Hallelujah 16:52 ♪ 16:58 >> Amen. 16:59 >> Amen. 17:01 [ Applause ] 17:10 >> In the middle years 17:11 of World War II, 17:14 on a dark night over 17:17 the European theater of war, 17:20 a formation of B-17 bombers 17:22 was making its way 17:24 to its target. 17:28 Bombing at night was considered 17:29 to be safer, if anything in war 17:32 can be considered safe at all. 17:35 Then day bombing was, perhaps 17:37 for obvious reasons. 17:38 Slow, lumbering B-17 bombers, 17:40 at least slow relative 17:42 to the fighter planes 17:43 that the Nazis used at the time, 17:45 didn't seem 17:46 like a very good idea. 17:48 And, indeed, it was a fairly 17:49 short-lived experiment. 17:50 They moved to night bombing 17:52 in the hopes that they would be 17:52 able to improve 17:54 their effectiveness. 17:56 On one of the B-17s, 17:58 there was a young crew member 18:00 somewhat comforted 18:02 by being at night on this run, 18:05 but nervous nonetheless. 18:08 As they approached their target, 18:09 descending, perhaps, 18:11 through 4,000 feet or so, 18:15 the last thing a B-17 crew wants 18:18 to see was very clearly seen. 18:22 The cockpit was lit up, 18:24 and then the wings were lit up, 18:26 not from within the plane 18:27 but from without. 18:29 Apparently, the Nazis 18:31 had determined ahead of time 18:32 that this just might be 18:33 an approach path 18:35 for this particular target. 18:36 And they had spotlights, 18:37 powerful spotlights, 18:39 that were set up right next 18:41 to very substantial artillery. 18:44 And no sooner had those B-17s 18:46 been lit up, 18:48 then the artillery lit up. 18:51 And the B-17 formation 18:53 began to take on heavy damage. 18:56 Now, those of you that know 18:57 your World War II history, 18:58 you know that the B-17 18:59 was very well-respected 19:01 by pilots and crew alike, 19:02 because the B-17 had the ability 19:05 to absorb immense destruction. 19:07 I mean, you could shoot it 19:08 full of holes, sometimes even 19:09 taking off entire panels 19:10 or a tail, and it would still 19:12 get its crew safely home. 19:16 But even a B-17 has its limits. 19:19 And on one of the B-17s, 19:21 this crew was terrified now 19:24 at the prospect of what 19:25 was developing. 19:25 The plane had fires 19:26 that were beginning. 19:28 One of the fuel tanks exploded. 19:29 And it was very clear that 19:30 this plane was not going 19:32 to make it back home. 19:35 The command came from the flight 19:36 deck to abandoned ship -- 19:38 "Bail out! Get your chute. 19:38 Let's leave." 19:40 Immediately 19:41 the crew sprang into action. 19:43 One by one, they grabbed 19:45 their chutes, jumped out 19:47 the side of the stricken plane. 19:49 But when it came 19:50 to the last crew member, 19:54 he went to reach for his chute, 19:57 and there wasn't one. 20:01 Now, in the chaos of war, 20:03 who knew what had happened? 20:04 Perhaps it had been blown out 20:06 somehow by one of the shells 20:07 that had struck the planes. 20:08 Maybe somebody had forgotten 20:09 to stock the B-17 20:11 for the number of crew that were 20:12 actually going to be on it. 20:13 But at that particular moment, 20:15 whatever the case was, 20:16 there was no chute. 20:18 And this young man had to make 20:19 a decision. 20:21 Would he ride the plane 20:24 down to the ground 20:26 and hope that it would crash 20:27 in such a way 20:28 that he would survive? 20:31 And then would he survive, 20:32 doing the calculus in his brain, 20:33 the onslaught of the enemy that 20:35 would undoubtedly be tracking 20:36 his plane to the ground? 20:38 Or option B -- 20:40 Should he jump 20:42 out of the side of the plane 20:43 into the dark night 20:47 without a parachute? 20:52 And in what probably seemed 20:53 like an eternity 20:54 but really only took 20:55 a few fractions of a second, 20:57 he chose option B. 21:00 And he went to the door, 21:01 and he jumped out 21:03 into the darkness. 21:08 The story doesn't tell us 21:09 what he thought on the way down. 21:11 We can only speculate. You know, 21:13 many people that have been faced 21:14 with life-threatening situations 21:15 like that, their life 21:17 flashes before their eyes. 21:18 If you've ever had one of those, 21:19 you know this can actually 21:20 happen. 21:21 Maybe family and friends from 21:23 back home, things in the past, 21:24 the good times, et cetera, 21:25 the things that he would now 21:27 not be able to do in the future. 21:28 Perhaps all of that 21:29 was passing through his mind. 21:31 We don't know. 21:32 But we do know this. 21:35 After just a few seconds, 21:39 he ran into something. 21:42 Now, it wasn't a very hard hit. 21:46 But instinct took over, 21:47 and whatever it was, 21:49 he wrapped his arms around it. 21:52 And to his great surprise, 21:54 whatever it was 21:56 wrapped its arms around him. 22:00 And a moment later, 22:02 there came this hard tug, 22:04 not downward or sideways 22:06 but blessedly upward, 22:08 and the sound of an unfurling 22:09 parachute hit his ears. 22:12 You see, what had happened 22:14 was this -- 22:15 the crewman before him 22:17 that jumped out with a parachute 22:19 knew that he should not 22:21 pull his parachute right away, 22:22 even though, by this time, 22:23 they're only 3,000 or 4,000 feet 22:24 above the ground. 22:25 Because if the chute 22:26 had been popped immediately, 22:28 the spotlights would have 22:28 seen it. 22:30 And as had happened 22:31 to many a soldier 22:33 parachuting down to the ground, 22:34 he would probably have been hit 22:36 either by artillery 22:37 or by enemy planes that could 22:38 now see him very, very clearly. 22:40 And so, that second-to-last 22:42 crewman had waited 22:43 and free-falled just as long 22:44 as he possibly could 22:46 and then had pulled his chute, 22:47 and it was just enough time 22:49 for the last crewman 22:51 to fall through the darkness 22:53 far enough that they met. 22:56 And the parachute carried them 22:57 safely to the ground. 23:01 Eventually they made it safely 23:03 out of enemy territory, 23:05 and I cannot help but think 23:08 that whenever it was that the 23:11 first Thanksgiving that crewman 23:14 was able to celebrate 23:15 with his family and friends -- 23:16 perhaps it was after the war, 23:17 maybe he was sent home, 23:18 we don't know -- 23:20 but I can't help but think 23:21 that at that first Thanksgiving, 23:24 if there was anyone in the room 23:27 who deserved to feel grateful, 23:29 it was that young man. 23:36 And that's how it's supposed 23:37 to work, isn't it? 23:40 I mean, isn't that how gratitude 23:41 functions? 23:44 Something good happens to us. 23:47 Maybe somebody sends you a nice 23:49 gift that you weren't expecting. 23:50 "Oh, thank you. Thank you 23:51 for giving that to me." 23:53 Maybe you have been driving here 23:54 on a Friday afternoon 23:56 in the greater Berrien Springs 23:58 metropolitan area 23:59 and you have met 24:00 with the horrific traffic 24:01 that sometimes is there. 24:02 And maybe somebody held back 24:04 just a little so that you could 24:06 get into line on the road. 24:08 "Thank you. Thank you," 24:09 you'd wave. 24:11 Whatever it is, we experience 24:14 positive results, something 24:15 someone has done for us, 24:17 or perhaps we experience 24:18 less negative results 24:19 than we had expected, and 24:21 we are consequently grateful, 24:23 usually without even thinking 24:25 about it. 24:27 And so, the gratitude 24:29 computation is clear. 24:31 Good stuff first. 24:33 Gratitude second. 24:38 That's how the Thanksgiving math 24:39 is supposed to work, isn't it? 24:42 In fact, if it doesn't work 24:44 that way, we tend to get 24:46 a little perturbed, don't we? 24:48 You know, even Jesus experienced 24:49 this a little bit. 24:51 We're not going to look there 24:52 right now, but if we were to 24:52 take the time and look in 24:53 Luke 17, we would find the story 24:55 of 10 lepers. 24:57 They call from afar off, "Jesus, 24:58 you know, have mercy on us." 25:00 Jesus says, "Go show yourselves 25:01 to the priest." 25:02 And on the way, all 10 of them 25:04 are healed. 25:06 But only one comes back to say 25:07 thank you. 25:09 And even Jesus says, 25:11 "Wait a second, 25:12 we're not all 10 healed? 25:14 But there's only one." 25:16 Huh. 25:19 And certainly, being grateful 25:21 after marvelous or even merely 25:23 good things have happened to us 25:25 is a very good practice 25:28 for all people. 25:30 And we should cultivate it well. 25:35 And -- And... 25:39 I can't help but wonder if there 25:41 is not an even better formula, 25:46 a better way to be grateful, 25:48 a better way to express 25:49 our thanks, one that 25:50 can fit us that much more 25:53 for God's Kingdom. 25:56 A single text for you 25:57 this morning. 25:58 Job 1:13, please. 26:00 Job 1:13. 26:02 It's page 346 in most of the 26:04 pew Bibles that are here in the 26:05 sanctuary today. 26:06 Page 346. 26:07 Job chapter 1, 26:10 beginning with verse 13. 26:11 Now, a little background here 26:12 to the story. 26:14 Most scholars will agree 26:15 that Job is probably 26:16 the oldest book 26:18 in the Old Testament, 26:19 possibly written by Moses. 26:21 Regardless of 26:22 who the author was, 26:23 it undoubtedly deals with some 26:25 of the most profound issues 26:27 that face humanity. 26:28 I mean, you can read the 26:29 Book of Job over and over again, 26:31 and you will still be plumbing 26:32 new depths here, so powerful is 26:33 the inspiration of God 26:34 in His Word. 26:36 Now, the story to this point, 26:37 we're going to join in verse 13. 26:39 If we were to read before that, 26:40 we would find that God 26:41 and Satan have been talking, 26:43 and Satan has a complaint. 26:44 There's this guy named job 26:46 who follows God faithfully, 26:47 but Satan says, "The only reason 26:49 that he follows You faithfully 26:50 is because You give him 26:51 good stuff." 26:53 And God and he have 26:54 a conversation. 26:55 There's a series of events 26:56 take place. 26:57 The devil is not making the 26:57 headway with Job 26:58 that he wanted to. 27:00 And so, he said, "Okay, God, 27:01 You've got to give me 27:03 free rein in Job's life." 27:05 And God says, "Okay. 27:08 But you can't kill him. 27:10 Anything else, have at." 27:13 And the devil is absolutely 27:15 certain that, given the right 27:16 time and circumstances, 27:18 Job will curse God. 27:21 And that's where we join 27:22 the story. 27:23 Job 1:13. 27:26 "Now, there was a day 27:27 when his," meaning 27:28 Job's sons and daughters, 27:30 "were eating and drinking wine 27:31 in their oldest brother's house. 27:33 And a messenger came to Job 27:35 and said, 'The oxen were plowing 27:37 and the donkeys 27:38 feeding beside them 27:39 when the Sabeans raided them 27:41 and took them away. 27:42 Indeed, they have killed 27:43 the servants with the edge 27:44 of the sword, and I alone 27:45 have escaped to tell you.' 27:47 While he was still speaking, 27:49 another also came and said, 27:51 'The fire of God fell from 27:52 heaven and burned up 27:53 the sheep and the servants 27:54 and consumed them. 27:55 And I alone have escaped 27:56 to tell you.' 27:58 While he was still speaking, 28:00 another also came and said, 28:01 'The Chaldeans formed 28:03 three bands, raided the camels, 28:04 and took them away, yes, 28:05 and killed the servants 28:06 with the edge of the sword. 28:07 I alone have escaped 28:09 to tell you.' 28:11 While he was still speaking, 28:13 another also came and said, 28:16 'Your sons and daughters 28:18 were eating and drinking wine 28:19 in their oldest brother's house, 28:21 and, suddenly, a great wind 28:23 came from across the wilderness 28:24 and struck the four corners 28:25 of the house, 28:26 and it fell on the young men, 28:27 and they are dead. 28:28 And I alone have escaped 28:30 to tell you.' 28:33 Then Job arose 28:36 and tore his robe 28:38 and shaved his head. 28:41 And he fell to the ground 28:44 and worshiped. 28:47 And he said, "Naked 28:49 I came from my mother's womb, 28:52 and naked shall I return there. 28:55 The Lord gave, 28:57 and the Lord has taken away. 29:00 Blessed be the name 29:02 of the Lord.'" 29:06 Hmm. 29:10 Of all the things that we would 29:12 expect, 29:14 someone who has just lost 29:16 not just herds and servants, 29:19 but even his own family 29:21 has now been taken from him -- 29:23 All in the space of a few 29:24 seconds, he receives this news. 29:26 Of all the things we would 29:27 expect him to say, 29:28 this is not even remotely 29:30 on the list. 29:31 "The Lord giveth, 29:32 the Lord taketh away. 29:33 Praise be the name of the Lord. 29:34 Blessed be the name 29:35 of the Lord"? 29:36 That sounds suspiciously 29:39 like gratitude. 29:44 And as we struggle 29:45 to figure out, "Well, 29:46 how could this be happening? 29:48 How could these words be coming 29:48 from Job," 29:50 it's tempting to dismiss it 29:51 at first as a response, 29:53 perhaps, from shock or maybe 29:55 just the overwhelming grief 29:56 and he doesn't know 29:57 what else to say. 29:59 But there's a problem with that 30:00 guess. 30:02 You see, the rest of the 30:03 Book of Job, if we were to read 30:04 it, makes it clear that Job 30:06 has no problem speaking openly 30:08 and honestly, with integrity, 30:09 even in the face 30:11 of profound loss. 30:13 In fact, so clear is the example 30:15 in Job, in The Book of Job, 30:17 that the conclusion, to me, 30:18 is inescapable. 30:20 Job really meant it. 30:24 When he said those words, 30:26 he actually meant it. 30:30 "The Lord gave, and the Lord 30:32 has taken away. 30:34 Blessed be the name 30:36 of the Lord." 30:41 And suddenly, in the space 30:42 of a single sentence, 30:44 Job manages to sweep away 30:45 all of the pretense 30:46 that so often manages 30:48 to pass as, quote, "gratitude," 30:50 gratitude that only comes in 30:51 response to the right stimulus, 30:53 gratitude that springs only 30:54 from favorable conditions, 30:56 gratitude that seeks its own 30:57 gratification just as much 30:59 or even more than anyone else's. 31:02 Job takes the usual 31:04 Thanksgiving math, 31:06 and he morphs it into something 31:08 rarely seen today -- 31:11 a formula for giving thanks, 31:14 even when the only things to be 31:16 thankful for are that God is 31:21 and that, come hell 31:22 or high water, 31:24 we can trust Him to do 31:25 what is good and just and right. 31:31 Make no mistake. 31:33 This is thankfulness 31:34 at its most defiant. 31:36 This is thankfulness that puts 31:38 a finger in the eye of fate. 31:41 This is thankfulness 31:43 in its unsurpassed purity. 31:51 And, of course, therein lies 31:52 the challenge. 31:55 This holiday season, 31:57 please give thanks for all 31:59 the good things that others, 32:02 and particularly God, 32:03 have done for you. 32:05 By all means, let us be grateful 32:08 in the rearview mirror. 32:09 There's nothing wrong with that. 32:11 If someone has done something 32:12 nice for you this week or this 32:13 month or this year, 32:14 let them know, particularly 32:15 at this season. 32:16 Let them know how grateful 32:18 you are, and tell God, 32:19 "Thank you, thank you, 32:21 thank you," for the many things 32:22 that He has already done. 32:25 Please, do those things. 32:29 And also, take up the challenge 32:35 that Job so clearly gives to us. 32:38 Let us also give thanks 32:40 when it doesn't compute. 32:43 That is, even in the midst 32:44 of the pain, not for the pain, 32:47 but in the midst of the pain. 32:48 Let us give thanks 32:50 even in a world that is 32:51 increasingly at war, 32:53 even when we receive bad news 32:54 multiplied upon bad news 32:56 from the international 32:56 and national stages. 32:58 Let us give thanks 32:59 even in the midst of the 33:00 struggles that may be plaguing 33:01 you at home or in other 33:02 relationships, with finances, 33:04 at school, at work, even when, 33:06 from a human perspective, 33:08 there seems to be no good reason 33:10 to give thanks. 33:13 Let us give thanks even then, 33:17 simply because we know that, 33:18 as Job did, 33:20 that God is still God 33:22 and we are still His children. 33:24 Because we know that whatever 33:26 He decides to do or not do, 33:28 that will ultimately be 33:29 what is best for us. 33:32 And because of that, we know -- 33:33 we know -- 33:35 that, sooner or later, 33:36 we will be okay. 33:42 It's the new math of gratitude. 33:46 And with that new math, 33:48 whether we have just jumped out 33:50 of a burning airplane 33:52 or, like Job, seems we have lost 33:54 all that is dear to us 33:56 or even if we are sitting here 33:58 in the comfort of a sanctuary, 34:01 we can show the world that Jesus 34:05 really does make a difference, 34:08 that entitlement isn't a part 34:10 of the Christian's essential 34:11 virtues 34:13 and that God can be trusted even 34:15 when gratitude does not compute. 34:19 May God's peace be with us. 34:22 And may the Lord find us truly 34:24 grateful this holiday season. 34:27 >> Amen! 34:33 >> ♪ My Lord, 34:37 what a morning ♪ 34:43 ♪ My Lord, 34:47 what a morning ♪ 34:53 ♪ Oh, my Lord, 34:59 what a morning ♪ 35:05 ♪ When the stars 35:09 begin to fall ♪ 35:17 ♪ When the stars 35:21 begin to fall ♪ 35:32 ♪ My Lord, 35:37 what a morning ♪ 35:44 ♪ My Lord, 35:49 what a morning ♪ 35:55 ♪ Oh, my Lord, 36:01 what a morning ♪ 36:07 ♪ When the stars 36:12 begin to fall ♪ 36:21 [ Choir humming ] 36:43 [ Humming ends ] 36:44 ♪ Done quit 36:48 all my worldly ways ♪ 36:50 ♪ Done quit 36:54 all my worldly ways ♪ 36:57 ♪ Done quit 36:59 all my worldly ways ♪ 37:04 ♪ Join that heavenly band 37:11 ♪ Oh 37:17 ♪ My Lord, 37:21 what a morning ♪ 37:26 >> ♪ Oh 37:29 >> ♪ My Lord, 37:33 what a morning ♪ 37:40 ♪ Oh, my Lord, 37:46 what a morning ♪ 37:54 ♪ When the stars 37:58 begin to fall ♪ 38:08 ♪ 38:10 ♪ When the stars 38:16 ♪ Begin to 38:25 ♪ Fall 38:43 [ Organ playing ] 38:46 ♪ 42:21 ♪ 42:28 ♪ 42:35 ♪ 42:41 ♪ 42:55 >> And now some instructions 42:57 as we prepare for the noisiest 42:59 and most delightful 43:01 offering of the year. 43:03 I'm going to invite our 43:04 Pathfinders to take their places 43:06 right here in the front. 43:08 For our processional offering, 43:09 you're invited to bring 43:10 your gifts of food and song, 43:13 your tithes and offering, 43:15 and the Thanksgiving letters 43:16 that you just filled out 43:18 right here to the platform. 43:20 Our Pathfinders will be 43:21 holding a basket, 43:22 and that basket will indicate 43:24 what offering 43:25 should go in there. 43:27 And if you brought some meals 43:29 today, they'll be collected 43:32 right here on the front. 43:33 We cleared out 43:34 first service already 43:36 and are excited to receive 43:37 those offerings this morning. 43:40 So while we collect 43:42 this morning, we invite you 43:44 to come down these side aisles 43:47 and do so prayerfully. 43:49 Hearing the others singing, 43:50 bring your offering, 43:52 bring it down here, 43:53 go back up the center, 43:55 and when you return to your pew, 43:56 please join us 43:58 in singing at this time. 44:01 Now, a time of singing, 44:04 rejoicing, and giving. 44:09 [ Organ playing ] 44:11 ♪ 44:20 [ Congregation singing ] 45:15 ♪ 45:21 ♪ 45:28 ♪ 46:56 ♪ 47:02 ♪ 48:15 ♪ 48:21 ♪ 48:27 ♪ 50:11 ♪ 50:18 ♪ 50:25 ♪ 52:21 ♪ 52:27 ♪ 53:14 ♪ 53:21 ♪ 53:27 ♪ 55:49 ♪ 55:53 >> Oh, Father God, what a feast 55:54 we have had this morning. 55:56 All the reminders, Lord, 55:57 in song and in word 55:59 of Your goodness to us, 56:00 and for that, we say thank you. 56:03 Lord, may this holiday season 56:05 not be one in which we forget. 56:08 May it instead be one in which 56:10 we remember the great abundance, 56:12 overflowing blessings 56:14 that You have granted to us, 56:15 Lord, this last year. 56:17 Truly may we leave this season 56:19 with a better understanding 56:20 of just how good 56:22 You have been to us. 56:23 We pray this, Lord, 56:24 in your name. 56:26 Amen. 56:27 [ Organ playing ] 56:30 ♪ 56:33 ♪ 56:40 >> Before you go, let me take 56:42 just a moment to share with you 56:43 an opportunity to get into the 56:44 Bible in a fresh, new way. 56:46 All across the world, 56:48 more and more people are hearing 56:49 the call to examine 56:50 the scriptures for themselves. 56:52 If you felt drawn to learn more 56:54 about God's word but you don't 56:55 know where to start or you're 56:56 just looking for a more in-depth 56:58 examination of Bible truths, 57:00 then I have something right here 57:02 that I believe you're 57:03 going to enjoy. 57:04 I would like to send you 57:05 a series of Bible study guides. 57:07 Each of these study guides 57:09 asks and answers 57:10 very important questions, such 57:12 as these examples right here -- 57:13 "Why Does God Allow Suffering?" 57:15 "Can God be trusted?" 57:18 Each of the initial five guides 57:20 begins with a story 57:21 to introduce the subject. 57:23 Then, through a series of 57:24 focused questions, you'll soon 57:26 be learning portions of the 57:27 Bible you may never 57:28 have known before. 57:30 And when you're through, 57:31 you'll be able to share 57:32 with others these inspiring 57:33 truths from God's words. 57:36 Just call our toll-free number. 57:37 It's on your screen now. 57:39 877, the two words "HIS WILL," 57:42 Friendly operators 57:44 are standing by to send you 57:44 these guides. 57:46 Once again, that's 877-HIS-WILL. 57:49 Call that number. 57:50 And don't forget to join me 57:52 next week right here 57:53 at the same time. 58:00 ♪ 58:07 ♪ 58:14 ♪ 58:20 ♪ |
Revised 2023-11-22