Join us today as we start a three-week jaunt into remote worship again. Pastor teaches us from John 10:37-42 in today’s sermon “Believe It!” in which he tells the Israelites that even if they didn’t believe Jesus’ words, they should believe what he has done in their midst and know that what he says is true. But that’s just part of the story. You have to listen to understand completely.
But before that, please take a few minutes and sing along with us as we sing hymns of thanksgiving, and read a Psalm of thanksgiving, in light of the season. We’ll open by singing together “Give Thanks”, and then read Psalm 100 together.
As we look back on this year and all that has happened, we need to remember to “Count Your Blessings”. By the time we are done reflecting on the good God has done this year, the hymn “My Heart Is Filled With Thankfulness” should be wonderfully significant. We’ll close our time of singing with a hymn written in the 1600s, but if you were to read the text, it could be speaking of today. So sing along with us as “Now Thank We All Our God” and revel in God’s goodness and His faithful, steadfast love. There’s a great history to this hymn.
It was written by Martin Rinkart (1586—1649), a pastor … in the little village of Eilenberg, Saxony… as the Thirty Years’ War was raging through Germany.
Floods of refugees streamed into the walled city of Eilenberg. It was the most desperate of times. The Swedish army encompassed the city gates, and inside the walls there was nothing but plague, famine, and fear. Eight hundred homes were destroyed, and people began dying in increasing numbers. There was a tremendous strain on the pastors, who expended all their strength in preaching the gospel, caring for the sick and dying, and burying the dead. One after another, the pastors themselves took ill and perished until at last only Martin Rinkart was left. … In 1637 Rinkart conducted funerals for five thousand residents, including his wife. So when he prays, “Guide us when perplexed,” he is not talking about minor inconveniences.
Finally the Swedes demanded a huge ransom. It was Martin Rinkart who left the safety of the city walls to negotiate with the enemy, and he did it with such courage and faith that there was soon a conclusion of hostilities, and the period of suffering ended.
Rinkart, knowing there is no healing without thanksgiving, composed this hymn for the survivors of Eilenberg. Thanksgiving erupts from this stately song. The tune… was introduced with the text in 1644 while the war still raged (and) has a majesty and a resolve that few other works can match. We can thank God even during the most trying times. We can know God is with us “in this world and the next.”
From “Hymns” by William J. and Ardythe Petersen and “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan.
Now listen to Pastor Lamberson’s sermon – “Believe It!” with your bibles open to John 10:37-42.
To listen to just the sermon audio you have two choices: use the controls below to download or listen, or subscribe to our podcast at castbox.fm.
And don’t forget Angel Tree!
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