Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NIV)
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
It’s Thanksgiving Eve. I didn’t know this was a special day until I moved to the Midwest. Growing up in California, we just didn’t eat enough pie on the night before Thanksgiving. Well, there will be no shortage of pie tonight at Shepherd of the Hills, but it’s not really the pie that I’m excited about. Did you know that “I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus”. (1 Cor 1:4) I am thankful for you because you are such an amazing fellowship of believers. I am thankful that you love one another, that you take time to check in with each other, that you enjoy worship and that you are earnest in study. I praise God for you!! And I am especially thankful that I have this amazing opportunity to do ministry with you in these days. What are you thankful for at Shepherd of the Hills?