.By Afolabi Olajuwon
A Report on a Sunday Service at Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse, Abuja.
On Sunday, December 15, 2024, the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters in Abuja, was a beacon of joy and spiritual rejuvenation as congregants gathered for a memorable youth exaltation service.
The youth choir set the tone with inspiring songs and praises, creating an atmosphere brimming with devotion and unity.
The highlight of the service was an uplifting sermon delivered by Sister Mercy Inyang. Her profound message centered on the theme “Exhorting And Praising The Lord.”drawing insight from Acts 2:42-47.
Sister Mercy passionately argued that God’s essence is love, a love that transcends individualistic expressions to unify communities in praise and worship.
Key Themes and Insights from the Sermon:
Divine Love as a Foundation:
Sister Mercy emphasized that God is fundamentally about love. To effectively extend love to others, one must first cultivate self-love rooted in God’s teachings.
The Power of Community:
Citing Acts 2:46, she highlighted the importance of coming together in praise as a unified family of believers. The shared experience of community worship strengthens bonds and enhances spiritual growth.
Interdependence Among Believers:
Sister Mercy noted that believers cannot thrive in isolation; love is meant to be shared.
Home fellowships originate from this communal love, reflecting the early Church’s essence where the Lord continuously enhanced their fellowship as they collectively praised Him.
Practicing Love Beyond the Church Walls:
Participants were urged to extend love beyond church gatherings, embodying the ultimate commandment found in John 13:35, which identifies love as the hallmark of true discipleship.
Love as a Foundation for Praise:
The Lord serves as the cornerstone of a loving church community. By fostering mutual respect, as advised in Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another,” believers cultivate a nurturing environment. They show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, and embrace the principle of loving their neighbors as themselves.
Highlighted throughout the sermon was that genuine praise starts with love for God. When believers gather in mutual respect and love, their collective worship echoes more deeply.
Conclusion and Charge to the Congregation:
Sister Mercy concluded with a strong call to action: to live out their faith through concrete acts of love.
She encouraged attendees to help one another, seek opportunities for healing and restoration through prayer, and cultivate spiritual growth by studying the Bible together.
By making love the foundation of their praise, believers can dismantle barriers of envy, jealousy, and malice, fostering a community that truly reflects Christ’s love.
This service was a testament to the power of unified worship and a poignant reminder of love’s central role in the life of a believer.
The congregation left not only encouraged but also challenged to transform their church into a thriving community of love and mutual support.
Dr. Olajuwon is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, a Researcher and resource person at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja
