Sermon Summary: “Back to the Basics: A Thankful People Equals a Loving Church”
Anchor Scripture:”I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” (Psalms 116:1, NIV)
Opening Declaration:
Rev. Sammy Chege launched the new month and its theme, “Back to the Basics,”by directing the congregation to the raw, personal testimony of Psalms 116:1. He presented this verse as the divine blueprint for our theme: A Thankful People = A Loving Church. The Psalmist doesn’t start with a command, but with a confession: “I love the Lord, because…”Our love for God and, by extension, our love for one another in the church, is not a demand we must meet, but a response we cannot withhold. The foundation is gratitude for a God who hears and acts.
Exposition of Psalms 116:1:
Rev. Chege broke down the verse as the sermon’s cornerstone:
1. “He heard my voice”: In times of darkness, uncertainty, and confusion—especially for our youth—the fundamental truth is that we are not speaking into a void. Christ, our guiding light, is an attentive listener. Our cries, our questions, and our confusion are heard by God.
2. “I love the Lord, for…”: Here is the basic equation. Thankfulness (for being heard, for mercy received) is the catalyst for genuine love. Love is the fruit; gratitude is the root. A church that loves well is first a people who remember well what God has done.
Main Themes Expounded from This Foundation:
1. Light in Darkness (Because He Hears):
The preacher emphasized that Christ is the light who illuminates our path precisely because He first inclines His ear to us. We can trust His guidance in confusion because we know He is not a distant star, but a present, listening Savior. His light is personal, born of a relationship where He hears our cry.
2. Faith and Action (The Thankful Response):
“I love the Lord” is a verb. The love born of gratitude is active. Rev. Chege charged the youth and the congregation that if we are truly thankful for being heard and shown mercy, our faith will propel us into service, kindness, and courage. We love because He first loved (and listened) to us. A thankful church is a serving church.
3. Community and Belonging (The Loving Church):
When a congregation of individuals who have personally experienced God’s attentive mercy comes together, a loving family is formed. Fellowship is where we practice the “I love the Lord” by loving His people. We become ears that hear and hands that help for one another, creating a community where everyone belongs and has a role.
4. Hope and Renewal (An Ongoing Story):
The season of Epiphany is about God revealing Himself. Psalms 116:1 is an *epiphany*—a moment of personal revelation where the Psalmist realizes God’s nature. Rev. Chege urged a renewal of this basic memory. Our hope is renewed when we go back to the basics of our own testimony: He heard me. Therefore, I love Him.
Key Takeaways for the Week:
- Your Voice Matters: God is not silent because He is not deaf. Your prayers, even the cries from confusion, are heard. This is the first basic truth.
- Love is a Response, Not a Requirement:Let your love for God and for the church flow naturally from a heart thankful for His mercy. Don’t strive to love; remember why you already do.
- From Heard to Healer: Because God has heard you, you are now equipped and compelled to listen and show mercy to others in the church family. This is how fellowship is strengthened.
- Carry Your Psalm 116:1: Let your personal story of God’s faithfulness be your anchor and your compass, guiding you through this season of renewal.
Closing Blessing:
Rev. Chege sent the congregation out with a charge to be a people of responsive love, rooted in the foundational gratitude of the Psalmist. He blessed us to be a church that, having experienced the God who hears, becomes a community that listens, loves, and shines with the light of thankfulness.