New year Worship Service | 01 January 2025 | 3:30 PM

The blessed New Year evening service started with the reading aloud of Psalms 136 led by the worship leader, followed by an invocation of the Almighty. After an uplifting praise and worship session, Upa Ngulminthang dedicated the offerings to the Lord.

TBUC Chairman, Upa Kamsuanthang pronounced a New Year greeting in keeping with the occasion and also delivered a stirring message - to know that the Lord is God. Drawing from Ezekiel 37 and John 21:17, he emphatically brought home the truth that God knows all and has a plan and purpose in everything (Jeremiah 29:11). God is true to His words, able and indeed brings all He said to pass. Man is just His instrument, a conduit through which He works. He concluded his message with the earnest plea to find out God's plan and purpose in whatever circumstances we are in, and yield to His sovereignty completely as we embark on the New Year, in keeping with the theme of examining our ways and turning back to Him.

The pastoral prayer for the congregation was conducted by Pastor Suankhanhau and thereafter, the BDC choir presented a beautiful hymn in praise of the Almighty.

Pastor T Lamkhanthang delivered a sermon on the theme for the year ‘Search out and examine your ways’ taken from the Book of Lamentations 3:40. Emphasizing the need to examine our ways, he read out Proverbs 16:25 reminding the congregation of the dangers of following the path of worldly temptations and inviting everyone to reflect on their lives and turn to the Lord as the new year begins.

Giving a background of the Book of Lamentations, Pastor explained that the prophet Jeremiah wrote Lamentations out of great distress over the wickedness and sins of the Israelites, their sufferings during the siege of Jerusalem and ultimate captivity to Babylon. He highlighted how God hates sin and brought destruction upon His people for their sins. As written in 2 Chronicles 36: 3-21, all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more and defiled the house of the LORD. When God sent messengers to them out of compassion, they mocked the messengers, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets thereby bringing His wrath upon them till their was no remedy.

Drawing a parallel between the condition of the Israelites at that time and the prevailing condition of our society, he said that everyone – church leaders as well as the people have committed the same sins of the Israelites. He concluded that repentance and turning back to God is the only remedy for our healing, also pointing out that if we please God, He can make us at peace even with our enemies. The congregation was urged individually to introspect the ways they have displeased the LORD, to walk in His ways and not harden their hearts as God is calling His people to turn to Him. Speaking on the dangers of defiling the house of God, he posed the question whether our worship and service to God is just to look good in front of others, to cover our hidden sins or just a means of carrying out our responsibility. He also gave a warning not to despise the admonitions received and incur the wrath of God. Pastor then read out David's prayer in Psalm 51:10 asking God to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him urging the congregation to make it their response. In conclusion, he made an altar call for those who wanted to do so.

The BYF then presented a beautiful choir and the service concluded with prayer and benediction by Upa Thiankhanmuan.