When you travel, you pack, you get ready to leave. You’re thinking about where you are going. You might need transportation like plane tickets. You might need a passport. You might need clothing for a different climate. You have an intinerary including lodging and meals. Everything is focused on where you will be going, andContinue reading “How to be ready for Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 2:1–3:5, Part 4”
Tag Archives: 1 thessalonians
The important lesson Christians can learn from nursing mothers – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 2
A ministry friend of mine once asked me how long I had been pastor at Faith Church. At the time, I had been pastor about ten years. He shook his head and said that he couldn’t do it. His ministry focused on speaking from place to place to place, sometimes returning to the same place,Continue reading “The important lesson Christians can learn from nursing mothers – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 2”
The importance of submission to God…and people? – 1st Thessalonians 2—3:5, Part 1
Submission is not a welcome concept. I think of an MMA fighter who is dominated by their opponent, and they tap out, they submit. We humans generally do not like to submit. It makes us feel weak, inadequate, unworthy, flawed. We would much rather others submit to us. In this week’s study through 1st ThessaloniansContinue reading “The importance of submission to God…and people? – 1st Thessalonians 2—3:5, Part 1”
Only 1% of churches are very effective in outreach? – 1 Thessalonians 2 & 3, Preview
A recent article notes “Evangelism is on life support in most churches.” The article reports a poll in which only 1% of pastors surveyed say their church is very effective in sharing the Good News about Jesus. Here’s the data: Does this relate to your church? Maybe a little? I’ll let you answer that for yourself. AsContinue reading “Only 1% of churches are very effective in outreach? – 1 Thessalonians 2 & 3, Preview”
Five important pieces of evidence that reveal followers of Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 1:4–10
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”
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”
Engaging Scripture 