HOME CELL PAGE (Sunday, 3rd December 2017)
‘Worship the LORD with thanksgiving…..’ [Ps.100:1(b). All Saints Cathedral Nakaseero marked the Diocese of Kampala Thanksgiving Day on 29th November 2017 in all the four (4) services! The Rt. Revd. [rtd] Edward Muhima preached on the sub Topic ‘Thanksgiving: A Biblical Mandate’ and drew Biblical references from Col 3:12-17 and Psalms 100:1-5 concurrently. To clearly expose the Sermon he entirely based the sermon on David’s Prayer of Praise in 1Chronicles 29:10-17.
The Preacher pointed out the following key characteristics of thanksgiving as a biblical mandate:
1. God mandated the Israelites to give towards the work of the Temple since He had chosen them and they had to give Him willingly -for wealth and honour comes from God;
2. Serving the Lord is double edged i.e. Worshippers work for Him as well as worshipping the Lord with total surrender to the Him. Bishop Muhima cautioned the Congregations about syncretism [Christians worshiping God Almighty on Sunday but spending other time worshiping other gods]! Worshippers are called and chosen to serve one God [Joshua 24:14-15];
3. God has done great things for us. Worshippers therefore should know who they are and where they have come from and recognize that everything they possess comes from Him. He therefore is indeed God Almighty who deserves to be praised and honoured;
4. Bishop Muhima urged Parishioners to be certain and mindful on how much to give to God. Never give reluctantly and in response to pressure. God loves a cheerful giver and He will bless and multiply his riches to even bless others. Parishioners are mandated to release their resources to the building of God’s Temple.
5. The Preacher re-echoed the generous [substantive] giving to God because He is the sole provider of all we have and what we use in our lives. He encouraged Worshippers always to relax their minds and substantively contribute toward the Cathedral building and any other Church projects.
“Let us praise the Lord with our words, our lives and with our material things. For the Lord has called us to know him and the result of knowing and surrendering totally to him, He confers material possessions upon us and wants us to share what he has given us with his people and also build his Temple’’
Guiding Questions and Prayer Items
1. As we thank God for His care and protection over this year, remembering that we are entering the Season of Christmas; give some opportunities to some members of the Cell to share their Testimony of thanksgiving unto the Lord [1Thessalonians 5:16-18];
2. What lessons do you draw as a Cell from Deuteronomy 8:1-20 concerning; never to forget the Lord!
3. Invite the Cell members in a Moment of Prayer to thank God for all He has done for them throughout the Year. Allow each of the member to surrender to God all seemingly difficult circumstances in their Life, work place, Family Church and Nation unto to the Lord.
Revd. Canon Erisa Grace Sentongo
[Priest in Charge: Home Cells and Pastoral Care]
Tel. Nos. +256 414 342128, +256 77 2503180/702 503180
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