The worship service commenced with the reading of Romans 13:11, Psalms 84:5 and prayer to the Almighty by worship leader Ginmung. This was followed by a blessed praise and worship session. Upa Zabiak dedicated the offerings to the Lord.
After welcoming the visitors/first timers to the church, Pastor Lamkhanthang highlighted the points for thanksgiving and prayer. In keeping with Tuailai Day celebrated on 20 October by EBC, he urged the congregation to thank God for His forgiveness for the sins committed in their youth, for enabling them to enjoy the time of their youth, for spiritual and physical well beings of the youth and for those youths defending their people and land, etc. Thereafter, the congregation engaged in mass prayer.
TBUC Chairman made some important announcements which included the Church Leaders’ Seminar scheduled for 26 October, 2024 at 3 PM on the theme ‘How to Enhance Christian Leadership in this Present Age’ under the aegis of the PPF Delhi.
The sermon leans towards the focus of salvation in accordance with the series of camps that have been held recently. Based on Luke 7:36-49, Pastor Lamkhanthang spoke on the theme ‘Sinners have more love for Jesus’ and drove home the point that the more we see our sins, the more we love Jesus and that our spiritual eyesight is opened when we see our true sinful state. Various people have their own way of showing their love for Jesus. In the scripture above, a Pharisee invited Jesus for dinner. A woman who lived a sinful life, came and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears. She then proceeded to wipe them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them with perfume. This woman was known to have lived a sinful life which is a stark contrast to the Pharisee who was known to be wise and a well to do man. It is also because of this fact that the Pharisee found fault with Jesus and got skeptical of His choice to be anointed by such a sinner. The congregation is questioned which, out of these two people, would have more love for Jesus.
The question is answered by Jesus himself in verse 41-47. He asked the Pharisee who would love a certain moneylender more between two people whom he had forgiven of their debt of 500 denarii and 50 denarii. The answer is that the person who owed the moneylender more would love him more. Jesus then highlighted what the sinful woman had done for Him and what the Pharisee had failed to do clearly showcasing the importance of one's actions that come from the heart. Past sins do not define a person but rather a willingness to repent and submit to the Lord wholeheartedly. The sinful woman could receive forgiveness through her sole faith regardless of her past actions. The congregation is then urged to ponder how our love for the Lord could be reflected through our actions and to once again, humble themselves in front of the Almighty. Jesus has overturned the known perception and understanding by declaring forgiveness of sins and salvation by faith. We can have more joy when we have more love for Jesus through a realization of our sinful state and how undeserving we are of His love. The sermon concluded with an invocation of God’s blessing for the congregation to enable them to love Jesus with all their hearts.
The praise and worship team led the congregation in singing the last hymn and the service concluded with thanksgiving prayer by Upa Roumuan.
