Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day• Equivalent to the Chinese New Year’s Eve as a

day for family reunion

• Most restaurants and shops are closed

• Contrary to the commercialism of Christmas, it

emphasizes more the sweet and joyous gathering

of families and friends in the homes

• A time to thank God for His care and supply

• Symbolized by a turkey meal

History of Thanksgiving（ 1）• In the 17th century, Puritans suffered

persecution in England and actively

searched for a new environment of religious

freedom oversea. • From September to November, 1620, 102

pilgrims sailed on a ship called the Mayflower for sixty six days.

• In December, they arrived at today’s Plymouth, Massachusetts, America.

History of Thanksgiving（ 2）• Upon arrival, they had to face the severe

coldness of their first winter in the New World.

• As the snow fell, their houses were not yet built,

so many sheltered in the ship for the winter.

• They suffered from the lack of

food and an outbreak of diseases

including scurvy, pneumonia,

and typhus.

• Only half of them survived.

History of Thanksgiving （ 3）• On April 15, 1621, the Mayflower voyaged back to England.

All the surviving pilgrims chose to stay in the New World.

• In October, 1621, the pilgrims had their first harvest and held a

great feast in Plymouth for three days to thank God and the

Indians who helped them survive the winter and taught them

hunting, fishing, and farming.

• In 1623, the Pilgrims held an even greater Thanksgiving feast.

• As the American civil war was ending, on

October 3, 1863, President Lincoln announced

the last Thursday of November to be

Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday.

The Thanksgiving Story

Across the Ocean

America

England

FaithFreedom

MoneyEducationPleasureSuccess

Across the Ocean in the 1800sEuropeChina

1807 – First Protestant missionary to China, Robert Morrison, began his work in Guangzhou. He died in 1834 at the age of 52 in Guangzhou.

Robert MorrisonThe first protestant missionary to China,Where after a service of twenty-seven years,cheerfully spent in extending the kingdom of the blessed Redeemer during which period he compiled and published a dictionary of the Chinese language,founded the Anglo Chinese College at Malaccaand for several years laboured alone on a Chinese version of The Holy Scriptures,which he was spared to see complete and widely circulated among those for whom it was destined, he sweetly slept in Jesus.

Across the Ocean in the 1800sEuropeChina

1887 -The Hundred missionaries deployed in one year in China under the China Inland Mission.1900, attacks took place across China in connection with the Boxer Rebellion which targeted Christians and foreigners. 58 adults and 21 children were killed.

Martyred Missionaries in 1900

American Mrs. Alice Young and her husband were killed in Shanxi.

Martyred missionary Duncan, Caroline and Jennie Kay

Across the Ocean in the 1800s and 1900s

What brought them to China?

Bible Gospel

Across the Ocean

What are you seeking？Money ？ Education ？ Pleasure ？ Success？

ChinaUSA

Pleasure cannot satisfy man,

Money cannot satisfy man,

Education cannot satisfy man,

Success cannot satisfy man.

Why ？

Because…… in the deepest part of man, there is a need.

spiritspirit

soulsoul

bodybody

Three parts of man

“May your spirit and soul and body be

preserved complete.” ---1 Thessalonians 5:23

“Life”, in the original Greek text of the New Testament, is denoted by three words.

BIOS

PSUCHE

ZOE

BIOS ：

PSUCHE ：

ZOE ：

Referring to the life of our physical body; the root of the word for “biology”

Referring to the life of our soul; the root of the word for “psychology”

Referring to the life of God, the life of the Spirit, the uncreated, eternal, indestructible, incorruptible, unique, and highest life.

spiritspiritsoulsoulbodybody

Clothing Food

Housing Transportation

Knowledge

Love

Amusement

All our problems come from the emptiness in our spirit

The Human life — the Needs of the body, soul, and spirit

God’s Economy

GODGOD

How can God come into man?

GOD

IncarnationJesus

Crucifixion

MANR

esur

rect

ion

HumanLiving

Life-giving Spirit

death

Ascension

GODGOD

What Should You Do

To receive God

as your satisfaction?

How to receive the life of God — the Lord Jesus?

Calling, Praying

O Lord Jesus! Lord Jesus! I turn to You! I

need You! I open to you! Please come into

my spirit, satisfy me! Make me a satisfied

and thankful person. Amen!

“God desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.”

---1 Timothy 2:4

“In regards to this great Book (the Bible), I have but to say it is the bestgift God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world wascommunicated through this Book.”

---Abraham Lincoln

Welcome to join our Bible Study Group!

Location：Time：

We can also meet you on campus，in your dorm ， in your lab ， etc. at atime convenient for you.

God Bless

You!

God Bless

You!