Thankful

December 4, 2025

Leadership Notes

     Our turkey’s carcass has been picked clean. It was absolutely delicious. All leftovers were gone by Monday night, when Lori and I polished off the last of the éclair dessert. I trust, whatever you did, your Thanksgiving Day and weekend was a delight. Anytime we reflect on and thank God for His blessings, it is a beautiful thing.

     As we look toward Christmas, we remember that Jesus was born to die. That’s the meaning. That’s the solid Biblical truth we’ve been exploring in the first three chapters of Luke. Words cannot fully capture my love and affection for this church, and your desire to worship God in truth and love, and to grow in your knowledge of His Word. When our local paper, in their Thanksgiving issue, asked people what they were thankful for, one reply was {and this was the best reply}, “I am thankful for Jesus’ saving grace.” That person was a member of Covenant Church. My heart grew three sizes when I read that.

     Jesus was born to die. That is the whole point of his birth. As we’ve been talking about, Bethlehem was essential to the trajectory of God’s salvation history. I love how one person puts it:

“We are so deserving of hell {death, and eternal separation from

God}. Yet, because God {the Father of Jesus Christ} loves us, He

pardons our sin by sending His Son to take our place on the

cross.”

In light of that comforting truth, two passages from Scripture come to mind.

> 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to

forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

> Micah 7:18-19 – “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and

passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He

does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast

love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our

iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of

the sea.”

As the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” puts it:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow:

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

That is what Christmas means to us.

     Finally, Mantle Aaron Nance {is that a great name, or what?}, pastor and teacher, observes:

“In a world of swift retribution, brokenness, and isolation, let us

make it our daily aim to share in word and deed the greatest gift

we have received, the greatest gift we have to offer the world: the

grace, love, and fellowship of our triune God.”

What a grand and glorious time to be alive.

     And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:

“I HAVE NEVER HEARD A DYING BELIEVER REGRET THAT HE WAS

A CHRISTIAN.”

How can we not be of Good Cheer?

             Richard