What kinds of substances is God okay with you putting in your body? What kinds of clothing does God want you to wear on your body? Or rather, how much of your body is God okay with your leaving uncovered by clothing? What kinds of images can you look at? What words can you say? Continue reading “What matters more than what you put in or on your body – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Part 1”
Tag Archives: 1 thessalonians
So many questions about human sexuality – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Preview
This coming week I resume the blog series on 1 Thessalonians, and we will study chapter 4, verses 1–8. The topic of those verses is sexuality. Evidence suggests that the Greco-Roman culture of the first century was highly sexualized, somewhat like many cultures of the twenty-first century. What Paul writes to the Christians in ThessalonicaContinue reading “So many questions about human sexuality – 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8, Preview”
How Christians can respond to division in our society – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13, Part 6
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. Do you like Taylor Swift? Would you buy a Tesla? Did you get a COVID shot? Are you going to be kind to the lesbian couple that lives down theContinue reading “How Christians can respond to division in our society – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13, Part 6”
What should you hope for in a church? – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 5
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. I was a denominational administrator for for 20 years. In that time, I sent a lot of letters to churches on behalf of the denomination. Those letters were communicating hopesContinue reading “What should you hope for in a church? – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 5”
How to have the feeling of really living – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 4
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. Remember how Paul first met the people in Thessalonica? In Acts chapter 17, we read the story. Paul went to Thessalonica after he got out of prison in Philippi. HeContinue reading “How to have the feeling of really living – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 4”
The Word of God is so much more than the Bible – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 3
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. What is the Word of God? The Bible is the Word of God, right? That was drilled into my head as a young person growing up in the church. MyContinue reading “The Word of God is so much more than the Bible – 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 3”
Is the Bible written to you? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 2
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. I’m thankful for the upbringing and the Christian education that I received in the church I grew up in. Very good, very well-intentioned Sunday school teachers and pastors told meContinue reading “Is the Bible written to you? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 2”
Have you experienced the pain of unlearning? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 1
This week I once again welcome guest blogger, Kirk Marks. Kirk is a retired pastor of 35 years who now works in international fair trade. Have you had the experience of unlearning? We all know what learning is. It’s when you didn’t know something, you didn’t know how to do something, or maybe something youContinue reading “Have you experienced the pain of unlearning? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Part 1”
Is there a difference between discipleship and evangelism? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Preview
My church has changed the names of our committees numerous times. Currently we have a Leadership Team and Serve Teams. The reason for that is based in New Testament teaching about church leadership. The writers of the New Testament have lots to say about church leadership, and what they say pretty much boils down toContinue reading “Is there a difference between discipleship and evangelism? – 1st Thessalonians 2:13–3:13, Preview”
The professional conference that led me to quit my job – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 5
I attended a conference that changed my life. It wasn’t because the conference was so good and inspiring. That conference changed my life because it made me realize that I was in the wrong profession. It was spring 2002, and I was working in the fundraising department of a local seminary, not really sure whereContinue reading “The professional conference that led me to quit my job – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 5”
Engaging Scripture 