Berea Update for November 21, 2025
Church family,
My heart is full this week. Yesterday, during my ordination council, you surrounded me and my family with your love, your prayers, and your encouragement. I want to sincerely thank each of you, especially those who took time out during a busy time of year to come and observe. Your support meant more to us than you know, and my whole family is deeply grateful. I was voted to be officially ordained yesterday afternoon by the men on the council, and I am so thankful for their participation yesterday, and am humbled that they recognized my call to minister for the Lord.
And now… we head straight into Thanksgiving week—the annual grand combination of parades, football, family gatherings, board games, and enough food to feed a small nation. Many of us will watch giant balloons float down New York City streets, cheer on our favorite teams, eat way more than we intended, and end the night in a friendly argument over who actually won at Monopoly.
But as we enjoy all of those fun traditions, may we not lose sight of the reason we can enjoy them: God’s amazing, daily, undeserved provision. Everything—from the laughter around the table to the food on the plate to the breath in our lungs—is a gift from Him. So this week’s devotional is designed to help us savor those blessings with a thankful, worshipful heart, remembering that our God is good, and His steadfast love endures forever. Enjoy time with your family and friends!
Upcoming Events
1. This Sunday, Pastor Miller will be continuing his series on revival called "Ingredients for Revival." This week's message entitled, "Obedience: The Syrup" will be from John 14:15.
2. In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, the church office will be closed this week on Thursday and Friday (November 27-28).
3. The winter quarter for Sunday School begins on Sunday, December 7. There are two options for adults:
A Study on the Sermon on the Mount
Teacher: Pastor Mark Gainer
This class, which is a continuation from the Summer and Fall quarters, on the Sermon on the Mount, will explore Jesus’ transformative teachings in Matthew 5–7 diving into themes of kingdom living, righteousness, and discipleship. Discover how these timeless principles challenge and inspire us to live faithfully in today’s world. This sermon is as relevant today as it was back then! Participants will be encouraged to apply Jesus’ teachings to their own lives in very practical ways throughout the course.
Biblical Forgiveness
Teacher: Dana Love
This course explores how Scripture presents forgiveness as the foundation for restoring humanity’s relationship with God. Together we will examine the theological basis for God’s forgiveness and learn how those principles shape our journey to forgive others in practical, meaningful ways.
Registration will be available on the church website soon! Adults, we do ask that you register so we can determine which room will hold each class (kids do not need to be registered). For information about all of our winter Sunday School classes (including children/youth topics), please check out this brochure:
Berea Winter 2025-2026 Christian Education Guide
4. SAVE THE DATE! We will be doing our annual Christmas Eve Service on Wednesday, December 24 at 4:30 PM here at the church. Our desire is that might all be able to come together, and still leave time for family dinners and gatherings that evening.
5. Interested in participating in drama? Plans are underway to have both a Good Friday and Easter drama this upcoming year! If you are interested in acting, helping with set design, costumes, or in any other way, please see Phil Berrien, or sign-up at the Welcome Center this Sunday!
6. Lastly, we are trying to update our ROCK database with pictures! If you need to have your picture taken, or if you'd like to change your picture, please plan to stay after church during the next two Sundays!
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Many in our church family will be traveling over the week of Thanksgiving. Pray for safety for those who will be headed somewhere. Pray also that there are opportunities to share the Gospel with family and friends!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1 — The Foundation of Thankfulness
Psalm 107:1 (ESV) “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!”
True thankfulness doesn’t begin with circumstances—it begins with God. Psalm 107 calls us to give thanks not because life is perfect, but because God is perfectly good. His "hesed"—His covenant-keeping, never-letting-go, steadfast love—endures forever. When life is up, when life is down, when life is confusing, God’s goodness remains the anchor of our gratitude.
Reflection Question: What attribute of God makes you most thankful today?
Day 2 — Remembering God’s Faithfulness
Psalm 103:2 (ESV) “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…”
David talks to his own soul—reminding himself to remember what God has done. Gratitude grows when we rehearse God’s faithfulness. Think of how God saved you, provided for you, restored you, protected you, corrected you, and comforted you again and again. Gratitude is often a matter of remembering rather than discovering.
Reflection Question: What is one specific way God has been faithful to you this past year?
Day 3 — Thankfulness in Every Circumstance
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV) “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
“In all circumstances” doesn’t mean pretending everything feels good—it means recognizing that God is good in everything. Even trials become tools in God’s hands to grow our character, deepen our trust, and shape our hearts. Gratitude in difficulty is not denial; it is worship.
Reflection Question: Where is God inviting you to give thanks in a circumstance that is stretching you?
Day 4 — Thanksgiving and Peace
Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…”
Paul teaches that thankfulness is a pathway to supernatural peace. When we pray with gratitude—remembering who God is and how He works—our hearts settle under His care. Thanksgiving turns our focus from what we fear to the God who holds us.
Reflection Question: What worry do you need to hand over to the Lord with thanksgiving?
Day 5 — Overflowing Thankfulness
Colossians 2:6–7 (ESV) “…rooted and built up in him… abounding in thanksgiving.”
A heart rooted in Christ becomes a heart overflowing with gratitude. As we grow in Him, thankfulness isn’t forced—it overflows. The more we know Christ, the more we see His grace in every corner of life. Mature believers aren’t thankful because everything is easy, but because they see God’s hand in everything.
Reflection Question: Where have you seen Christ shaping your heart toward deeper gratitude recently?
Day 6 — Gratitude That Leads to Worship
Hebrews 12:28 (ESV) “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken…”
We live in a world full of things that tremble—finances, health, relationships, plans. But the kingdom we belong to cannot be shaken. That reality fuels worship. No matter what comes, our future is secure because our King is unshakable.
Reflection Question: How does the promise of an unshakable kingdom stir your gratitude?
Day 7 — Thankfulness That Overflows to Others
2 Corinthians 9:11 (ESV) “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.”
Biblical thankfulness never stops with us; it spills out. When we serve, give, encourage, and bless others, we become instruments of thanksgiving—helping others lift their eyes to God’s goodness. Grateful hearts become generous hands.
Reflection Question: Who can you intentionally bless or encourage this week as an expression of thankfulness to God?
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
Q: Why did the turkey join the band?
A: Because it already had drumsticks!
Q: Why did the turkey cross the road twice?
A: To show he wasn't chicken.
Hope to see you all on Sunday!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Mark