Congregation Worship | May 25, 2014

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

May 25, 2014

The worship service started with readings of the scriptures from Psalm 100 and prayer by Pastor V.Nenglian. The worship team led the praise and worship which is followed by mass prayer and offertory prayer by Upa Thiankhanmuan.

The local secretary Upa Kamsuanthang read out the names of the newly members of the church and the pastor prayed for them.

The topic of the sermon is HOPE. Scriptures for reference is taken from the book of Hebrew

Hebrew 6:9-12

⁹ but, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

¹⁰ For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

¹¹ And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

¹² That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrew 11:1

 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hope is the desire, wishes and the expectation in life which thrive us to survive. It can be expressed in two forms-biblical hope and non biblical hope.

Tolive in Gods way anddo gods will on earth is not easy which needs great determination, perseverance and divine motivation that hope brings. We live in this world full of hopes for the future but this hopes we have is not certain and does not give us assurance. Our aspiration, wishes, and ambitions in life are merely our wishful desire. The only thing that is sure is death.

Generally, when we express hope, we are expressing uncertainty, which is distinct from the biblical meaning of hope. The meaning of hope in the bible is just the opposite of our ordinary use of hope. Biblical hope is not just a desire for something good in the future, rather it is an expectation and full confidence of the future and an indication of certainty.

God gave us a hope of life through faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Full assurance of hope in verse 11 means hope which is fully assured and confident. Verse 12 presses us not to become lazy but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. Hope and faith are two different things. Hope does not look into the past, it always look forwards whereas faith is a combination of believe and trust.

Hebrew 11:1 implies that there is a connection between hope and faith. Wherever there is full assurance of hope, there is faith. Faith is the full assurance of hope. Biblical faith is a confident expectation and desire for good things in the future, it is the conviction of things not seen and experienced. It can be said that hope brings

• Zeal
• Perseverance
• Endurance
• Courage
• Righteousness
• Happiness
• Love

The sermon ended with a prayer by the pastor. The worship team then again led the praise and worship followed by closing prayer & benediction by Upa Khamgoupau.

Highlights of the next worship service dated 1^st June 2014

-pastoral prayer

-prayer for Nepal visiting team

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-LhingEnniang Shoute

Content writer, Media Team