“They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31
Dear HBIC Family,
This week I’ve been thinking about what it means to praise. My dictionary tells me that praise is to express warm approval or admiration (i.e. We can’t praise Nia enough; she did a good job). It also says that praise is to express one’s respect and gratitude toward (a deity), especially in song (i.e. We praise God for all these blessings). This is where I remind those of us that can’t sing really well that Scripture only calls us to make a joyful noise; it does not require that we be in tune.
In my faith journey so far, praise has meant expressing thankfulness to God for who God is, what God has done, and for all the ways God’s love and mercy have come through. I give praise through song and dance. I give praise on mountaintops and under the stars. I give praise when I’m humbled enough to see God move in people’s lives and transform it for the better. I give praise because God is good and God’s love comes through. I love that our God is the One we can rely on.
This week, we will continue our Acts: The Church Then and Now series by learning how the Church is to praise. I’m very excited to have Pastor Brie bringing the message to us this week. To prepare for this week’s services, I would like to invite you to read and meditate on Acts 16:16-40. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:
What does this passage say about God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)?
What does this passage say about how God works before, during, and after our praise?
What are some blessings that you are currently praising God for?
How is your praise to God impacting the world around you?
As part of our worship this Sunday, we will be partaking in Communion together. I love Communion. It is both deeply personal and deeply communal. Personally, we give thanks to God that Jesus’ body and blood were given for us, so that we can be redeemed, set free, and welcomed back home to God. Communally, we gather at the table, empowered by the Spirit, to remember that what Jesus has done, what the Father has approved, and what the Spirit has informed us of…is that we are family, God’s family together. In taking the bread and the cup together, we celebrate with Christians all over the world and throughout history.
Sisters and brothers, we serve and worship our God who’s deserving of all our praises. Our God is good. Our God is love. Our God is a promise-keeper. May we always praise God with our lives. God bless you all.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Hank (Acts 16:31)