What evidence does your life show to the people around you about your beliefs? If you are a follower of Jesus, do your life actions reveal that? What evidence should a follower of Jesus be showing? This week we’ve been studying 1st Thessalonians 1:4–10, and Paul concludes by describing the evidence that he saw andContinue reading “Five important pieces of evidence that reveal followers of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10”
Tag Archives: 1 thessalonians 1
How to choose God – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 4
How do we choose God? Do we just reach out hands to the sky? In contemporary Christianity, raising our hands to God is a common worship practice. Is that what God wants us to do to show him that we choose him? Or is their something else? Paul saw evidence of God choosing the Thessalonians,Continue reading “How to choose God – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 4”
Do we choose God or does he choose us? Both/And! – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 3
After assuring the Christians in Thessalonica that they are loved by God (see previous post), Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 1:4, “I know God has chosen you.” With that word “chosen,” Paul brings up one of the most confounding theological problems that has caused Christians confusion and consternation for centuries. Do we choose God orContinue reading “Do we choose God or does he choose us? Both/And! – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 3”
How God feels and thinks about you – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10, Part 2
What do you think God thinks about you? How does God feel about you? Some of us might think that there is a distance between ourselves and God, like a friend who used to be close, moved away, and though you said you would remain close, now years have gone by and you haven’t talkedContinue reading “How God feels and thinks about you – 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10, Part 2”
When you forget your guitar, a pillow will work just fine – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 1
We got my grandson a child’s guitar for Christmas this year. He will stand in front of the television watching music videos of worship songs, belting out the vocals in a three-year voice, and strumming his guitar, trying to copy the people in the video. My wife watches our grandkids two days per week, oneContinue reading “When you forget your guitar, a pillow will work just fine – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Part 1”
What do people say about you behind your back? – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Preview
What do people say about you behind your back? You might answer, “I don’t know, because whatever they are saying, they are keeping it hidden from me. That is the definition of ‘behind your back’.” Okay, I’ll grant you that. But I won’t let you off the hook that easy. I suspect that most ofContinue reading “What do people say about you behind your back? – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10, Preview”
Why a group of people worked so hard for the mission of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 5
Take a look at the photo, and what do you see? Pockmarked gloves evidence of hard work? Yet a bright smile. This could very well be a posed photo. After all, the worker’s t-shirt is bright white. Whether posed or candid, the photo communicates a message of joy in the midst of work. Joy andContinue reading “Why a group of people worked so hard for the mission of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 5”
Christian, what are the top two principles that define your life? – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 4
If you are a Christian reading this, what are you known for? Imagine that people evaluate your life to answer the question, “What are two of the most important Christian principles for living?” What principles would they land on? What principles should define Christians? There are many good possibilities. In this post I share twoContinue reading “Christian, what are the top two principles that define your life? – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 4”
Engaging Scripture 