November 1, 2026
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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It all started with Adam's lack of gratitude.
In Genesis 2:15–17 the LORD God declared to Adam the terms of his covenant. This covenant is sometimes called "the covenant of life" because nothing less than life was at stake. It is also called "the covenant of works" because the central component of the covenant had to do with Adam's duties, the "works" he must perform. Today many Christians think "works" is a dirty word. But nothing that comes from the LORD is dirty. In fact, Adam's duties were holy priestly duties.
What, then, were Adam's duties ("works") to perform? "The LORD GOD took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it." Adam was to keep (lit. "guard") it. But "guard" it against what? Against whom? Eden was a holy place of meeting between the LORD and Adam, in a sense, a holy temple. Adam's task was to keep Eden holy and free from the intrusion of anything defiled. Will Adam keep sin and the Father of Lies from creeping in to defile it?
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."" It is startling that many people only remember, or care about, the "don't" part, and act as if the "do" part never existed. God gifted to Adam the paradise he created, and said "do enjoy" everything here! "Everything I have created is yours. All the abundance, all the fullness thereof, do enjoy." This is what helps us to realize the real significance of the "don't" part. Adam would not have suffered by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But will Adam learn from God what is good and evil? Or will he decide for himself, in defiance and rebellion against the LORD, and do what seems right in his eyes? Will Adam call good what God has said is evil, and call evil what God said is good?
Truly, Adam's failure started long before he actually ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam's heart lacked gratitude. Adam did not thank his LORD and maker for the kindness bestowed upon him. Instead of thanking God for the innumerable blessings he had received, he only thought about how unreasonable and how unfair that he could not have the one thing that the LORD withheld from him. But the LORD withheld it, not to make Adam suffer, but to ultimately bring glory from it. Adam's obedience was meant as a path to his great reward of life that cannot perish. Adam was meant to learn to love the Giver more than the gifts. In other words, thanksgiving would have changed Adam's life.
Will you give thanks as you come to worship this Lord's Day? Gratitude will change your life.
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Growth Resources
In November we are reading "The Certainty of Faith" by Herman Bavinck. See also 12 for 26.
Announcements
November 1: Daylight saving time ends. We fall back one hour.
November 1: Sunday School continues. Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, ch. 81, "Infant Baptism."
November 4 (Wednesday 6 PM): Daniel Zoom study continues with Daniel 6. Meeting ID: 820 0070 3059. Passcode: 999522
November 8: Fellowship meal.
December 13: Christmas fellowship.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
This Week's Prayers
Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church