(11/29/20) Eddie Lo
No Agenda for Thanksgiving?

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 17-20

Introduction:

As we celebrate Thanksgiving Day with the rest of America this Week, we Christians should step back and ponder: “Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving Day? Is it because of tradition? It is for all the feasting and family reunion? This year could be the worst year ever for many people due to the devastating pandemic and its repercussions. Do we really have any agenda for thanksgiving this Thanksgiving Week? Today I would like to show you from the Bible why certain godly person did not have any agenda for thanksgiving. We will also learn how the same person turned around and became someone who could not thank God enough (CT).

Summary of content:

A. There is just nothing to thank God for!

1. Self-Aggrandizing leads to ingratitude. (17:7-18:1)

a. Accomplishment & fulfillment lead to complacency. (17:7-18:1a)
b. Wealth & honor lead to corruption.  (17:1-18:1a)

2. Habitual practice & traditions make one insensitive to God’s will. (18:4-28)

a. Acting out of mere tradition deters obedience to God. (18:4)
b. Presupposition supersedes God’s word. (18: 28)

B. I Can’t Thank God Enough!

1. Human limitation turns one’s pride to humility. (20:1-4)

a. Helplessness opens the door to seeking God’s help. (20:1-4)
b. God’s greatness is magnified in man’s weakness.

2. True godliness is manifested in genuine thanksgiving. (20:3-28)

a. Prayer in humility precedes thanksgiving. (20:3-13, 18)
b. Thanksgiving precedes receiving blessings. (20:20-22)
c. Thanksgiving is a way of life for God’s people in all circumstances. (20:27-28)

Conclusion:

Something is seriously wrong if Christians do not have any agenda for thanksgiving. We must learn from King Jehoshaphat, who turned around and became a man of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not a repayment of blessings received, but rather an intrinsic way of life of God’s people.

Speaker: Eddie Lo

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our church has not been able to have Breaking of Bread Meeting for a long time. But we want to follow the Lord’s command. According to the Holy Bible (Acts 2:46), saints can break bread at home if there are more than two people in a household. When conducting the Breaking of Bread, please use unleavened bread (like Matzo) and grape wine to remember the Lord. For regional home meetings, each home meeting may conduct its Break of Bread together online. Each family or individual within a regional home meeting will prepare its own bread and cup to remember the Lord. If brothers and sisters need any assistance relating to the online Breaking of Bread, like how to host or participate in an online meeting, or how to prepare unleavened bread and grape wine, or needing Hymnaries, please contact Bro. Hsiang Fong Pei and Brother Chester Liu from the Caring Group, or Brother Philip Liu (廖敬華) or Brother Philip Liu (劉尚榮), and Sister Kate Chiang from the Meeting Group, or Brother William Go, Brother Caleb Kwok and Sister Jean Ho from the English Group. If conditions permit in the future, we can have a church-wide online Breaking of Bread.
2. We have resumed our Chinese School. The enrollment is currently open. If you would like to register your children or if you would like to serve in the Chinese School, please contact Sister Ruth Lau at 626.572.5456.
3. Our weekly prayer meeting is on Tuesdays from 8:00 to 9:15 PM. We are using Webex to host the combined session of the meeting. Please download the Webex app and use it to attend the meeting. Meeting number: 627 564 274 Password: 4000. We are using Zoom for the English group session, and the login information is: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbvUyT054M Meeting ID: 414 276 8059 Passcode: 135790
4. Please check out the two new webpages on the Chinese site featuring hymns and the sharing of our brothers and sisters.
5. If brothers and sisters would like to make offerings, you can send your checks to: Home of Christians, L.A., PO Box 507, Monterey Park, CA 91754. Our accounting department will handle the offering every Sunday from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM.