Our thankful response to God’s gifts update
The 2016 stewardship emphasis determined by the Conference of Presidents—364 Days of Thanksgiving—focuses on how we can be thankful every day for the blessings God gives us.
The three-week emphasis builds on the popular Northwestern Publishing House book written by Andrew Schroer, pastor at Redeemer, Edna, Texas.
“Using the unique devotional—part book, part journal—will help our families ‘live a life of thankfulness to God every day,’ ” says Kurt Lueneburg, director of the Ministry of Christian Giving. “In addition to the 26 uplifting devotions, we’ll be encouraged to write down one thing we are grateful for each day of the year. In doing so, we will begin to recognize God’s blessings in our lives and can flip back to them whenever we need a reminder. Such a review will also provide encouragement as we generously respond to God’s love for us in Jesus.”
The stewardship emphasis—whether used by itself or as an introduction to the continued used of the devotional book—will include three sermons on thankfulness, worship helps, and a related three-lesson Bible study. It can be used any time of the year but may fit nicely in November leading into Thanksgiving or in January at the start of a new year. Pastors can order a kit through Northwestern Publishing House that includes the sermons, Bible study materials, and one copy of the book. Bulk discounts are available for congregations that want to order multiple copies of the book for their members.
“It has more application than just for a brief stewardship emphasis,” says Lueneburg. “I would use it as a way to encourage daily devotional time—to get people to regularly reflect on God’s gracious, abundant blessings to them and how they may live confident, joyful, generous lives in grateful reaction to those blessings.”
Learn more about the program at wels.net/christian-giving.
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Volume 103, Number 06
Issue: June 2016
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