Introduction – October is known as the month of harvest and in where Canadian Farmers
celebrates Thanksgiving Day acknowledging that God as their provider for another year, but
should this practice only be observed on the allotted holiday or should it be everyday?
The bible states that Christians should always give thanks to God in every circumstance. The
bible also states that as children of God, when we enter His Church (gates) we should enter
with praise and thanksgiving in our hearts, so the last questions is as Christians and not
farmers: what should we be thankful for towards our God?

Body - What Should Christians Be Thankful For?

1. God’s Salvation in Christ. (2 Corinthians 9:15 – Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!)
Application: Salvation through Jesus is the greatest gift to be thankful for.
2. The Word of God. (Psalm 119: 105 - Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.)
Application: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom leading to holiness.
3. God’s Character is holy and Faithful in keeping His Promises. (Proverbs 30: 5 - “Every word of
God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.)
Application: Thankfulness isn’t just for blessings, but in every season, trusting His plan.
4. Daily Provision. (Matthew 6:11 – “Give us today our daily bread.”)
Application: Christians must be thankful for God’s ongoing care for needs.
5. God Listens to our Prayers. (John 9: 31 - We know that God does not listen to sinners. He
listens to the godly person who does his will.)
Application: be thankful knowing God hears and answers your prayers.
6. God’s Presence within us; His Holy Spirit. (John 14:16–17 – Jesus promised the Holy Spirit.)
Application: Gratitude for God living inside you and never leaving you alone.
7. God’s Family of Believers; The Church. (1 Corinthians 12: 27 - Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it.)
Application: be thankful for the church fellowship, encouragement, and unity in Christ’s body.
8. God’s Present & Future Hope. (Jeremiah 29: 11 - For I know the plans I have for you," declares
the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.)
(1 Peter 1: 3–4 – We thank God for “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ… an
inheritance that can never perish.”)
Application: Be thankful for a quality of life now and the hope for eternal life and future glory.
9. You are a Child of God. (Romans 8: 15 - The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so
that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”)
Application: Express your attitude of gratitude as the son/daughter to your Father in Heaven daily.
Conclusion: So, Christians should be thankful everyday for salvation, his given Word, God’s
faithfulness, provision, presence, fellowship, answered prayer, and eternal hope.

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love
Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Focus is on believers. (…to those who love God)

2. Believers, however, cannot always expect good outcome.

It is God who orchestrates believer’s life events, even the bad ones.

3. All things work together for good can be the big picture coming

from a narrow view. (Romans 8:18)

According to His good purpose – God has a purposeful work

(Genesis 50:20 ; Philippians 1:12)

5. All things work together for good because God is working

and God is good….He is Sovereign, He is in control. (Prov. 3:5-6)

We need to have deep roots in mission from God In Paul’s introductory passage (1:1-3)
in 1 Thessalonians, we observe the value of deep roots in fulfilling God’s mission for us
together. These roots are grounded in our relationship with the triune God, constantly
blooming in relationships with God’s people, & flourishing in life-giving remembrances. How do
we develop such an environment where roots continue to deepen?

I. Roots Go Deep in Relationships (1:1-2)

The team of Paul, Silas, & Timothy shows how shared leadership is modelled in ministry
by these missionaries (1:1a). Their relationships with each other & with the Thessalonian
church are embedded in their own relationship with the triune God (1:1b) that leads them to
experience grace & peace (1:1c). The way these deep relationships are experienced is through
ongoing thanksgiving & prayer (1:2). Let’s keep growing in relationships through shared lives,
ministry, & thankful prayer!

II. Roots Go Deeper through Responsibilities (3:3)

Right relationships lead us to remember inspiring responsibilities that are marked with
faith, hope, & love. Each of these elements in mission comes in pairs: (1) “work produced by
faith” (1:3a)—belief in Jesus is evident in works (i.e., deeds, tasks, activities, & jobs done as a
result of faith in action; (2) “labor prompted by love”—labor refers to toil that is strenuous &
sweat-producing, including wearisome trouble, difficulty, & uneasiness (1:3b); & (3) “endurance
inspired by hope”—endurance refers to bearing up patiently under a heavy load, not just to
survive hard times but to also thrive in triumph (1:3b). Let’s consistently exercise faith, hope, &
love!

Intro: Since we are having worship service today in Coronation Park, it was only proper to speak about
God’s creation and that The Lord Jesus Christ holds many titles; one of them is “Creator.”
Christians are always quick to convey the truth about Genesis 1: 26-31 and the Trinity creating Man in their
Image not realizing that the Lord Jesus Christ was present since Day-1 of creation, lets take a look.

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1: 15 -20

a) Each Member of the Trinity are co-existing, co-equal and One, meaning Jesus is 100% God.
-God is Holy. (1 Peter 1: 15 – 16)
-God is Spirit (Genesis 1: 2) (John 4: 24)
-The Holy Spirit is the Power from God in Heaven (Acts 1: 8)
-The Holy Spirit will speak of only Jesus and the Wisdom of Truth (John 16: 13-15)
-The Holy Spirit allows one to be the Salt and Light for Jesus in the World (Matthew 5: 13-16)
-Jesus Christ is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1: 24)
-Jesus Christ is Equal to God (Philippians 2: 5-7)
-Jesus is One with God (John 10: 30) (John 14: 9-11)
-Jesus was Sinless and Holy (1 John 3: 5, 1 Peter 2: 21-22 Hebrews 4: 15)
-Jesus has authority to forgive sin on earth like God (Matthew 9: 5-6)
-Jesus has full authority in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28: 18)
Jesus is the Exact Representation of the invisible God. (Hebrews 1: 3)
b) Jesus’ Titles mentioned John chapter-1, particularly verses 1-5 which answers Genesis-1.
-Jesus is called “The Word” (v1)
-Jesus was with God in the beginning = “The Alpha” (v2)
-Jesus is “Life” (v4)
-Jesus is the “Light” of mankind, shines in darkness (v5)
Other Titles and Offices of the Lord Jesus Christ
-Jesus known as the “One and Only Son” (vs. 14)
-Jesus known as “100% Grace and Truth” (vs. 14)
-Jesus is himself “God” (vs. 18)
-Jesus the “Lamb of God.” (vs. 29)
-Jesus is “God’s Chosen One” (vs. 34)
-Jesus called “Rabbi = Teacher” (vs. 38)
-Jesus called “The Messiah = Anointed One or “Christ” (vs. 41)
-“Jesus of Nazareth” (vs. 45)
-Jesus “The Son of God” (vs. 49)
-Jesus “The Son of Man” (vs. 51)
c) Cross referencing the verses in A and B we will now discover where Jesus in Genesis 1.
-vs. 1 God (the Trinity) created the heavens and earth and everything in them. (Colossians 1: 16)
-vs. 2 The Holy Spirit of God is Power and Wisdom hovering over the waters. (1 Corinthians 1: 24)
-vs. 3-5 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” (John 1: 1) in Day-1 to permit creation.
-vs. 3 Jesus is “The Light” (John 1: 5) separated from Darkness who is “Satan” and Evilness.
-vs. 6-8 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” (John 1: 1) in Day-2 to permit creation.
-vs. 9-13 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” (John 1: 1) in Day-3 to permit creation.
-vs. 14-19 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” (John 1: 1) in Day-4 to permit creation.
-vs. 20-23 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” (John 1: 1) and created water creatures in Day-5.
-vs. 24-25 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” and created livestock and creatures in Day-6.
-vs. 26-31 God and (the Holy Spirit) spoke the “Word” and created man in His plural image Day-6.
Conclusion: When you pray, remember Jesus is more than Lord and Saviour; He is God your Creator!

Scripture:

Exodus 35: 4-9
Exodus 40: 34-38
Exodus 36:8
Exodus 35:1
Kings 6:21

Part 11/12 of Protecting Our Faith- Moses Faith Journey

Verses to Focus: Exodus 32:1; Exodus 32:25; Exodus 32:31-32; Exodus 33:4-6; Exodus 33:19.

Exodus 25:1-2: Bro. Greg Buella. Our Giving is first of all Giving to God; Our Giving Comes from the Heart

Exodus 25:3-9 - Bro. Frank Hate We give our very best; Our giving is giving to God’s work.

Exodus 31:1-6 - Bro. Lou Salazar Offering of Service- God’s Direct Involvement and Enablement. 

Part 9 of 12 on our series on Protecting our Faith -Moses Faith Journey

Scripture Reading

Exodus 19:3-6, Exodus 19:20-21; Exodus 20:18-21 

PART 6 OF 12, SERIES ON MOSES FAITH JOURNEY

1) WATER - GREG EXODUS 15:22-27 Make your needs and fears known to God first (God is our problem solver and our healer)

2) MANNA AND QUAIL - FRANK EXODUS 16:1-28 God provides to satisfy your needs not your wants (include the observance of Sabbath)

3) WATER FROM A ROCK - LOU EXODUS 17:1-7 Lack of Faith leads to grumbling, complaining and quarrel

4) WAR WITH THE AMALEK- LOU EXODUS 17:8-12 ; EXODUS 17:15-16 The battle belongs to the Lord

Sermon’s Points:

Bible's Reliability and Originality:

Pastor Chris discussed the reliability of the Bible, emphasizing its importance as a foundational document for Christians. He highlighted the influence of a recent interview with influential figure Joe Rogan, where the Gospel was clearly laid out, reaching millions of viewers. He also addressed the issue of the Bible's originality, noting that none of the original pieces of paper exist, and the Bible is a copy of a copy. He warned against the potential for idolatry and the need for assurance in the Bible's reliability. Bible Translation Errors and Their Impact He discussed the challenges of Bible translation and the presence of errors in the New Testament. He emphasized that despite the 400 to 500,000 errors, the Bible's doctrines remain unaffected. He explained that the majority of these errors are simple instances of misspelling or missing words, which are common when copying text by hand. He also highlighted a significant variant in the Gospel of Mark, which was likely added later. He reassured the audience that these errors do not undermine the Bible's truth and that they can be understood with the right perspective. New Testament Reliability and Autographs He discussed the reliability of the New Testament, emphasizing its close proximity to the original autographs. He compared the number of copies and the time gap between the original and the earliest copies of the New Testament to other ancient works like Plato's and Homer's Iliad. He highlighted the significance of the oldest complete copy of the New Testament, Codex Sinaiticus, and the oldest fragment, Papyrus 52, both of which are remarkably close to the original texts. He concluded by affirming the reliability of the New Testament, even among atheists, and referenced Psalm 19 verses 7 to emphasize the perfection and sureness of the Lord's commandments. Bible's Widespread Use in Early Christianity Pastor Chris discussed the widespread use of the Bible in early Christian communities, leading to numerous copies being made and distributed. He highlighted the importance of the Bible in changing lives, enlightening minds, and reviving souls. He also mentioned the practice of copying and distributing letters among churches, as seen in Colossians 4:16 and 2nd Timothy 4:13. He emphasized the extensive travel of these documents, which were passed between cities and across the Middle East and Europe. GCFH also shared a personal experience of passing a children's Bible around during a summer camp, illustrating the desire for people to read and share the Bible. Bible's Transformative Power and Authority He discussed the transformative power of the Bible, emphasizing its ability to equip individuals for every good work. He referenced various scriptures, including Romans 1:16-17 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17, to highlight the Bible's authority and relevance. He also addressed the question of why evil exists, suggesting that the Bible doesn't provide a direct answer but offers the objective evidence of God's love through the Gospel. He concluded by challenging the audience to delight in the Word, emphasizing the Bible's accessibility and encouraging them to make use of it. Daily Bible Reading and Growth In his message, he discussed the importance of spending 15 to 20 minutes daily reading the Bible, emphasizing its role in personal growth and faith development. He also introduced a free subscription to a Bible study platform, encouraging attendees to share it with friends.. The service ended with a prayer for God's presence and protection in the lives of His people.

PROTECTING OUR FAITH (Sermon Series)

Sermon Points

1. Upon the spies return from the promise land, all ten of them gave an evil report concerning the land except for Caleb and Joshua. Both saw the same land but had two completely different reports: the majority side were dejected and hopeless, but Joshua and Caleb were filled with hope and ready to inherit their promised land to their fathers and them, flowing with milk and honey.

2. Though the land were filled with enemies, though the walls were high, and though the children of Anak were there, what were all these to the Lord God of Israel. The majority have not the faith of David who said in 1 Sam. 17:45-47, when it comes to facing insurmountable odds, for with God all things are possible.

3. After they had raised an evil report of the land, straightway they then prayed they had died in Egypt and wished to have a new leader to lead them back into Egypt (Numb.14:1-10). We see from here why they never entered in and were not willing to storm the promise land and take it by violence, because all along their hearts were still in Egypt. Many Christians are the same: though they’ve left the world, are joined to a church, and are making way with the rest of Israel or the church of God towards the promise land, every obstacle they meet with on the way they take it as chance to return back to their old ways and sins.

4. Every obstacle, difficulty, or temptation in our way, and every evil, discouraging report, is all just a test of our faith. Will we like Joshua and Caleb live by faith in the power and promise of God, and not by sight or appearances, or will we trust what we see, think, and feel, more than what God says?

5. Conclusion: Christ went before us and conquered every foe and will carry us in by His Spirit into His promised land: the kingdom of God.

Sermon points:

1)Moses’ Observation: God is Eternal, Our lives are brief, Confronted by our sins

2) Moses’ Prayer: Teach us to number our days, Satisfy us in the morning, Bless the work of our hands