This year’s Feast of Tabernacles sermon video is a joint presentation by United Church of God Council of Elders chairman Melvin Rhodes and UCG President Dennis Luker.

Today our 225 attendees from 14 countries viewed this year’s sermon video from Cincinnati. Each year we show the video at a special service starting at 8:30 a.m. We are finished by 10:00 a.m., which gives people a longer day for a sightseeing trip. In his message Dennis Luker explained how trials in life prepare Christians for the Kingdom of God. Understanding how spiritual hardships prepare Christians for a glorious future can strengthen and encourage them. Christians are to rejoice in their trials. Mr. Luker looked at five important areas of our lives where spiritual growth is stimulated by trials, preparing Christians to be God’s servants in His Kingdom pictured by the annual Feast of Tabernacles. Melvin Rhodes examined the preparation of the bride of Christ. In 1995 United Church of God members were tested on the first of the two great commandments concerning loyalty and faithfulness to God and His law. Since then they have been increasingly tested on the second great commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." How Christians conduct themselves in their relationships is a part of preparing the Church for its marriage to Jesus Christ at His return. There were many positive comments on the video sermon.

Comment from Ken Murray:

Sure was a great message this year in the two simple but straight forward, sermon formats. Our 400+ brethren at Kawana Waters, Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia, appreciated the messages very much.