Give thanks to the Lord.

PSALM 105:1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples. 2 Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.

Thanksgiving to the Lord is never meant to be purely private. It begins in the heart but naturally overflows into public praise. True gratitude is not only telling God “thank You” in prayer but also declaring His goodness to others. We thank Him personally, and we testify publicly—making His deeds known and speaking of His wonders so that others may also glorify His name.

PSALM 108:3 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations.

Those who truly understand God’s Word cannot keep silent about His goodness. Gratitude naturally leads to proclamation. It is both a joy and a privilege to speak about what the Lord has done—declaring His greatness not just within the church, but among the peoples and nations. Our thanksgiving becomes a testimony that points others to Him.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for all that You have done and for who You are. Teach my heart to be always grateful, not only in private but also before others. Lord, I confess that without Your grace, I cannot truly give thanks as I should. Fill me with Your Spirit so that gratitude will overflow from my heart and be proclaimed through my words and actions.

Help me to boldly share Your goodness—to speak of Your wonders among the people and declare Your greatness to the nations. Let my life be a living testimony that brings glory to Your name. Thank You, Lord, for the privilege of praising You. May my thanksgiving honor You and draw others closer to You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Jesus and The Church.

MATTHEW 28:18 … “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

There is a crucial difference between power and authority. Power is the ability to act, but authority is the right to act. Jesus doesn’t just possess great power—He holds all authority in heaven and on earth. That means His command carries the highest weight and demands our obedience.

When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He did not give it to a select few but to all His followers. Every believer is called to “go and make disciples.” But you cannot make a disciple unless you first become one yourself—learning to follow Jesus, obey His Word, and live under His lordship.

True discipleship begins with submission to Christ’s authority, continues with obedience to His commands, and overflows in sharing His truth with others. And as we go, He promises His abiding presence: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

MATTHEW 16:18 …I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

The only institution Jesus Himself founded is the Church. The only community He established on earth is His ekklesia—a Greek word meaning “called-out ones” or “an assembly of people set apart for God.”

The Church is not just a building or an organization; it is a living community of believers united by faith in Christ. It is through the Church that God brings hope to the world. In the Church, broken lives are restored, broken marriages are healed, and sinners are transformed into followers of Jesus.

A true Christian is not merely a church attendee but a disciple—a committed follower of Jesus. And because Jesus is the One who builds His Church, no power of hell can overcome it. The Church stands not by human strength but by the unshakable foundation of Christ Himself.

COLOSSIANS 4:15 Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.

The Church is not defined by a building but by a people—an assembly of believers who gather in the name of Jesus. In the early church, believers often met in homes, just like in the house of Nympha.

This reminds us that the Church is a community, not a location. Wherever God’s people gather to worship, pray, and grow together in faith, the Church is present. The power of the Church is not in its structure but in the presence of Christ among His people.

1 CORINTHIANS 16:19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

The Church is is a special group called out by God to belong to Him and to live for His purposes. In the early days of Christianity, believers often met in homes like that of Aquila and Prisca.

This shows that the true strength of the Church is in its people, not in its walls. The Church is a spiritual family—those who have been called out of darkness and into the light of Christ. Wherever these called-out ones gather in His name, the Church is there.

EPHESIANS 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Jesus is the Head of the Church, and the Church is His Body. This means the Church belongs to Him, is led by Him, and exists for His glory. Just as the body cannot function without the head, the Church cannot live or move without Christ.

Through the Church, Christ continues His work on earth—revealing His love, truth, and power to the world. Every believer is a part of this body, called to live in unity and obedience under the authority of Jesus. The Church is the fullness of Christ, His visible presence in the world today.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

The word “sanctified” means set apart—chosen by God to belong to Him. Through Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven, cleansed, and made holy. In the Bible, the word “saints” is not reserved for the dead or for a special few, but refers to all believers who have been made righteous by Christ’s finished work on the cross.

We are saints not because of what we’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done. In the eyes of God, we are holy, even though we are still being transformed day by day. That’s why we say, “We are saints who occasionally sin,” not sinners trying to become saints. We may not be perfect, but we are saints by calling, and God is faithfully shaping us to become more like Jesus.

ACTS 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead… 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Our message is clear and urgent: Jesus is our living Savior. He died for our sins and rose again, and only through Him can anyone be saved. If we truly love people, we must share this truth with them. There is no other way to be saved, no other path to heaven, except through Jesus Christ.

COLOSSIANS 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him... 18 He is also head of the body, the church;

We are the Church, and the Church is compared to a body, with Jesus as the Head. He is not just any leader—He is the King of kings, the Creator of the universe, and the One who holds all power and authority.

This means the Church is not governed by human wisdom or strength but by Christ Himself, who reigns over all. As members of His body, we draw our identity, purpose, and direction from Him alone. Everything was created through Him and for Him, and as His Church, our highest calling is to follow His leadership and bring glory to His name.

We are The Church

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Our relationship with Jesus is deep and spiritual—He is the Head, and we are His Body. As His Body, we are the visible expression of Jesus on earth. We are His hands that serve, His feet that go, and His heart that loves. When God wants to touch, bless, or love someone, He works through His people.

The greatest compliment anyone can give a believer is to say, “I see Jesus in you.” If Jesus is truly your Lord, then you are part of His Body. And if we are His Body, we must reflect His character, walk in His ways, and represent Him well in the world. To be part of the Body of Christ means to live like Christ.

The Purpose of The Church

EPHESIANS 3:10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

The purpose of the church goes far beyond gathering together or simply representing Jesus here on earth. God designed the church to display His glory and wisdom to the entire universe.

The church is not just a local body—it has a cosmic mission. The angels are watching. The demonic forces are watching. We are God’s showcase—a living testimony of His grace, power, and eternal plan.

Through the church, the manifold wisdom of God is being revealed to every realm, both seen and unseen. This was not a last-minute idea; it was God’s eternal purpose, planned before the foundation of the world and fulfilled in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When the church walks in unity, holiness, and love, the entire universe is pointed to the greatness of our God. Our worship echoes beyond earth—it reaches the heavens.

The Church in Action.

ACTS 3:15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

If you truly love someone, you will not hide the truth from them—you will tell them about Jesus. Real love moves us to speak about the One who died and rose again so that others may live.

You cannot live fully for God, much less be willing to die for Jesus, unless you are deeply convinced that He is the Savior of the world. His resurrection is the unshakable foundation of our faith.

Because Jesus died for our sins and rose again in victory, we boldly proclaim His name. Love for people and conviction about Christ’s resurrection go hand in hand—if you love people, you will point them to Jesus.

JUDE 1:23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear…

Without Jesus, people are lost. We are all sinners, and apart from Him, there is no salvation. That is why we must tell the world about Jesus. Sharing the gospel is not just an option—it’s an act of love and urgency. Every soul matters to God. We reach out with compassion, warn with truth, and point people to the only Savior who can rescue them from eternal separation: Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 8:9 …But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

To be a true Christian, we must have the Spirit of Christ living in us. God is always reaching out to touch the lives of people, and He chooses to work through us—His body on earth. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to those who are heading in the wrong direction.

We cannot force anyone to believe, but we can love them deeply and consistently so they will see Christ in us and listen to the message. Some will respond and believe, but others will not—and our hearts grieve for them. Still, we continue to share, to love, and to pray, trusting God to do what only He can do.

ACTS 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The early believers gathered both in large groups and in small groups. They met together in the temple for corporate worship, and then from house to house for deeper fellowship. This is a powerful model for the church today.

Be part of a small group—not just to receive help, but to be a blessing to others. A healthy church is built when everyone comes with a heart to love, serve, and encourage.

If you want to be in a joyful church, learn to love people. Love produces joy, and when there is joy, there is genuine worship. A church where God is at the center will naturally overflow with joy and praise.

And when we truly love people, we gain favor with them, just as the early church did. The result: God adds to the church those who are being saved.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the beautiful example of the early church—a people united in worship, fellowship, and love. Teach us to gather not only in large assemblies to honor You, but also in small groups where we can build one another up in faith.

Lord, help me not to come only to receive but to give—to serve, to encourage, and to love others as You have loved me. Fill our church with genuine joy that flows from hearts centered on You. May our love for one another be a living testimony to the world, drawing more people to Your saving grace.

Let our community reflect Your presence so that we may have favor with others, and so that, day by day, You will add those who are being saved.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.