Thanksgiving on SermonAudio

Pastor Mark Hogan teaches on the necessity of substantial corporate prayer in worship, arguing that it must not be reduced to a brief transition but should be an essential, Scripture-saturated act of worship and means of grace. Drawing on examples such as 1 Samuel 7, 2 Chronicles 20, 1 Kings 8, Nehemiah 9, Ezra 9, the Psalms, Isaiah 56, Acts 2:42, and 1 Timothy 2:1–8, along with 1 Corinthians 14:15–17, Matthew 26, Ephesians 6, and 1 Peter 2, he shows that prayer belongs to early and biblical worship, should be audible and understandable for edification, and is connected to other ordinances such as the Lord's Supper. He calls for comprehensive prayer—adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, and lament—offered with the attitudes named in the Westminster Larger Catechism, including humility, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, perseverance, and submission to God's will. The application is that churches should preserve meaningful congregational prayer, leaders should pray biblically so the church can say amen, and believers should harness wandering thoughts, pray along with the leader, and actively affirm the prayers in both public and private worship.

What does it really mean to give thanks in everything, especially when life isn't going the way we hoped? In this message from 1 Thessalonians 5:12–18, we're reminded that genuine thankfulness isn't dependent on our circumstances, but grows as we enjoy fellowship with God's people, faithfully serve Him, and pursue the good things He has for us.

This world is filled with people who are angry, disobedient and ungrateful because they are empty and searching for love while at the same time there are those who are filled with thanksgiving because they have discovered the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. (John 11:43-45) ~~~~~ Afternoon Harvest Thanksgiving Service ~~~~~ **Sermon Summary:** This Thanksgiving sermon centers on the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11, using the narrative to illustrate the dual aspects of spiritual salvation: the initial call to life and the subsequent liberation from bondage. The preacher emphasizes that while Jesus' voice brings the spiritually dead to life, believers must also be loosed from the grave clothes of sin and the chains of unbelief to experience true freedom in Christ. Drawing on the example of Apostle Paul in Philippians 3, the message urges the congregation to count all things as loss for the excellence of knowing Christ, highlighting that this union with the Saviour provides the strength to resist the devil through Scripture. The tone is pastoral and exhortative, encouraging listeners to examine their own faith, ensure they are not merely alive but free, and live for the glory of God by obeying His commands. ~~~~ PDF Hymn sheet downloadable below. ~~~~

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 24:44) ~~~~ Evening Harvest Thanksgiving Service. ~~~~ **Sermon Summary:** The sermon centers on the imperative for believers to maintain spiritual readiness for the imminent and unpredictable return of Jesus Christ. Drawing primarily from Matthew 24:44 and the parable of the ten virgins, the message emphasizes that the distinction between the saved and the lost is not external appearance but internal faith and genuine relationship with God. The tone is solemn and urgent, warning against complacency and false assurance while highlighting the gravity of eternity and the finality of judgment. It contrasts the hopelessness of the unprepared with the secure assurance found in the finished work of Christ, urging listeners to seek personal confirmation of their salvation through repentance and faith. The discourse concludes with an encouragement to trust in the reliability of Scripture and the unshakeable love of God, which secures the believer's place in glory. ~~~~ PDF Hymn sheet downloadable below. ~~~~

~~~~~ God willing, we hold our Harvest Thanksgiving services on Thursday, 29th of October. If you cannot be with us in person, please join us online through SermonAudio. A PDF hymn sheet can be downloaded below. ~~~~~

Pastor Mark Hogan teaches on Paul's epistles as a model of spiritually mature prayer, showing that mature Christians are marked by constant thanksgiving for fellow believers and consistent, outwardly focused intercession for the churches. He highlights Paul's repeated expressions of gratitude and prayer for the saints in Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Thessalonians, Timothy, and Philemon, then centers on Ephesians 1:15–23 as an example of asking for spiritual growth—wisdom, revelation, knowledge of God, hope, riches of inheritance, and God's power—rather than merely material needs. He applies this by urging believers to personally thank God for one another at Grace, to pray regularly for the spiritual well-being of fellow Christians in their church and associations, and to let their prayers be corporately shaped and spiritually focused. He also emphasizes that sharing how we pray for others strengthens relational solidarity and unity in Christ.