A Famine Not of Bread

"The Healing of the Ten Lepers" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth ( 1 Timothy 2:1–4). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Thankfulness is to be the general spirit of the season. To cultivate this virtue, some people have joined a challenge on social media to share each day something they are thankful for. The lists often include things like good health, a fulfilling career, and loving family, and those are all good blessings. But what about the person who doesn’t have those things? Do they have nothing for which to give thanks to God or bless His ho...

Click here to listen to this sermon. “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! If Abraham Lincoln released his 1863 Thanksgiving proclamation today, it would be met with derision by all sides from the Huffington Post to the Drudge Report, from Fox News to MSNBC. In the statement that is considered to be the beginning of the annual tradition of presidential proclamations, Lincoln wrote: The year that is drawing towards it close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come… the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalle...

You can listen to an audio version of this message at http:// www.christsiouxfalls.org/media/ sermons/2012-11-22.mp3 The text for this Day of Thanksgiving is our Epistle, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, which has already been read.   Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer’s importance should not be underestimated.   The same God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved, desires our prayers on behalf of all people, particularly in the context of public worship.   The four synonymous but nuanced terms for prayer in our text indicate that the prayers we offer together run the whole gamut of conversing with God.   Supplications ask God for specific benefits or needs.   Prayers are respectful devotion.   Intercessions are earnest appeals made on behalf of others.   Thanksgivings are expressions of gratitude for mercies received.   Though especially fitting for this day, prayers of thanksgiv...