In our 11th message in the book of First Thessalonians we reached its climax- the day when JESUS COMES FOR HIS BRIDE! (1 Thes. 4:13-18). The Gospel is truly good news! (John 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8, etc.). Jesus is the “firstfruits,” our pioneer who has gone before us- risen from the dead- and one day we will follow with glorified bodies when “death is swallowed up” in life (1 Cor.… Continue reading
In this week’s message titled, BROTHERLY LOVE (1 Thes. 4:9-12), we continued our look at the Lord’s urging and exhortation for us “to walk” in such a way as “to please” Him with our lives today- in the light of His return (1 Thes. 3:13-4:1; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). Not only does the “law of Christ” “command” us to “abstain from sexual immorality” so we can be more like Jesus, but God inside of us also gives us the supernatural ability to follow Jesus’ command for us to love one another in the way that He loves us (Gal.… Continue reading
Last Sunday in a message titled, OUR SANCTIFICATION (1 Thes. 4:2-8), we continued our look at the Lord’s urging and exhortation for us “to walk” in such a way as “to please” Him with our lives today (1 Thes. 4:1; Rom. 12:1-2, etc.). When a Christian “diligently seek[s] Him,” applying God’s Word to his or her life, it “pleases” God in a present-day sense (1 John 1:9; Heb. 11:6b, etc.).… Continue reading
Last Sunday we had Gideon’s International share about their ministry for the first part of our service and then we started a new message in 1 Thessalonians titled, THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD (1 Thes. 4:1-3).
Chapter 3 showed us it is God’s desire for our faith to be strengthened and grow, right up to the time we see Jesus face-to-face (1 Thes. 3:1-13). When properly taught and taken to heart, the return of Christ motivates us to live a holy life (Titus 2:11-13; 1 John 3:2-3, etc.).… Continue reading
In this week’s message, MAKING OUR JOY COMPLETE (1 Thes. 3:6-13), we saw Paul’s response to Timothy’s report and his prayer for the believers there in Thessalonica.
Paul had sent Timothy to strengthen the Christians there as he was deeply concerned about their “faith” (1 Thes. 3:5). Timothy returned with “good news” that the church there was keeping their eyes on Jesus even though they had lost loved ones around them in the intense persecution they faced from the enemy (1 Thes.… Continue reading
In Sunday’s message, ESTABLISHING OUR FAITH (1 Thes. 3:1-5), we continued to look at Paul’s enormous burden for the church in Thessalonica that was ‘under fire’ by “Satan” as they stood for Christ (1 Thes. 2:18; 2 Cor. 11:28, etc.).
When Paul “could no longer endure it,” he and Silas “sent Timothy” back to the believers there to “ESTABLISH… [their] FAITH” (1 Thes. 3:1-2). Paul and Silas, after heading the missionary outreach in Thessalonica (Acts 17:4), were not able to return, but their younger “brother… minister, and fellow laborer” Timothy was the perfect man for the job as he was able to sneak back ‘under the radar’ of the authorities there with the “comfort [parakaléō] of God” (1 Thes.… Continue reading
In our message, THE WORD WORKING IN US (1 Thes. 2:13-20), we picked up our series again in the book of 1 Thessalonians after the holidays.
The Thessalonian Christians brought Paul and his missionary team joy in the way they “received” and continued to receive God’s Word (1 Thes. 2:13). “Word of God” is listed twice here for emphasis. The new believers there not only heard it with their ears but they took it to heart, welcoming it into their very souls because they knew it was “not… the word of men, but as it is in truth” from God (1 Thes.… Continue reading
In our New Year’s Eve Sunday service, we took time to SHARE THE GOODNESS OF GOD on how He is working in our lives (James 1:17). People shared a variety of themes to include trusting God when difficult things happen and listening to Him when He is speaking to us through circumstances He brings our way. Many from our church body shared, and it was a blessed time of fellowship as we looked forward to how God may lead and use us in the New Year.… Continue reading
In our Christmas Candlelight service, we looked at THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF CHRIST’S BIRTH to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. The “angel Gabriel was sent by God” to this young “virgin” lady before she had been married to her fiancé, “Joseph” (Luke 1:26-27), and he announced, in fulfillment of prophecy, Mary had been chosen by God to bear the One who would reverse the effects of sin and death brought into the universe through the sin of Adam (Luke 1:28, 31; Isa.… Continue reading
In our message, THE LABOR OF LOVE (1 Thes. 2:7-12), Paul continued to recount his visit to them, which was “not in vain.”
Paul and his team were “gentle among [them]” as they shared the gospel with the new church at Thessalonica. This “gentleness” came from God inside of them, “Christ the hope of glory,” as they abided in Jesus (Gal. 5:22-23; Col. 1:27; John 15:4-5, etc.), and it was the same kind of gentleness that “a nursing mother [would cherish] her own” baby with (1 Thes.… Continue reading
