THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

 

Chapter 27​

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​Thanksgiving for Daily Upkeep

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Text

Matt. 6:25-34 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

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So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

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Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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​​​​Memory Verse

1 Thess. 5:23-24 (NIV) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

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Introduction

When pagans worry, it opens the door for more sinful ideas. That is because the one who lives in them – Satan - uses worry to push them toward wrongdoing (Eph. 2:1-2; Rom. 1:30).

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We are different. Jesus lives in us through the Holy Spirit. He is our guarantee that God is faithful. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5)

 

Objective
To see why we should thank God for the daily grace of life, for our upkeep, and for everything that concerns us.

 

 

Presentation

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1. Our Physical Life is a Reason for Praise
It is God’s grace in Christ that gets us into each new day, often through the ministry of angels (Heb. 1:14).

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He has been doing this from the start. He began the work of securing and sustaining us in our mother’s womb, through birth, and now He has perfected it by bringing us into the kingdom of His Son (Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:12-14). Praise God for that.

 

2. He Keeps Everything That Concerns Us
No amount of praise can fully cover how God cares for all that concerns us.

 

Think of it:

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• Family: husbands, wives, children, relatives.

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• Spiritual family: pastors, other Christians, your mind, will, and attitude.

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• Work and life: your job, shop, workshop, safety in travel - for you and everyone connected to you, physically and spiritually.

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The list never ends. He is involved in all of it.

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3. Respond with Songs and Prayers of Thanksgiving
Singing! Singing!! Singing!!!
Prayers of thanksgiving.

 

This is the right response to a God who protects and sustains daily.

Conclusion
Use this time to sing spiritual songs to the glory of God, our Protector and Sustainer. To Him be all glory, power, dominion, majesty, and honour now and forever. Amen! Amen!! Amen!!!

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Evaluation Questions & Answers
 

1. Why does worry lead to sin, according to the introduction?

   • When pagans worry, it gives Satan room to plant more sinful ideas in their minds (Eph. 2:1-2; Rom 1:30). Worry disconnects them from God’s care and opens them to destructive thoughts. For believers, Christ in us is the guarantee that we do not have to live like that (Heb. 13:5).

2. Give two reasons from the lesson why our physical life itself is worth praising God for.

   • He gives us each new day through His grace and the ministry of angels (Heb. 1:14).

   • He has sustained us from the womb to now and brought us into His kingdom (Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:12-14). Our very existence and preservation are His work.

3. What are three areas of “all that concerns us” that God keeps, according to (2) above?

   • Family relationships – spouse, children, relatives.

   • Spiritual life – pastors, other believers, and our own mind and will.

   • Work and daily activities – jobs, businesses, travel, and safety for us and our partners.

4. Why is singing and prayer the right response to God’s daily upkeep?

   • Because thanksgiving acknowledges that He is the source. Singing and prayer shift our focus from worry to trust, and they give Him the glory He deserves for protecting and sustaining us daily.

5. True or False: We can thank God too much for His care.

   • False. No amount of praise and thanksgiving can match what He has done. We should keep thanking Him without limit.

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Prayer

Father, thank You for keeping me alive today and for taking care of everything that concerns me. Forgive me for the times I worry instead of trusting You. Help me to live with a heart full of thanksgiving, singing and praying to You daily. To You alone be all glory now and forever. Amen.

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