Think about how your mouth has gotten you in trouble in the past. Might have been this week. Might have been this morning. The worst is when you get into a verbal argument with a family member as you are getting ready to come to a worship service. You drive to church in silence. ThenContinue reading “When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4”
Tag Archives: christ
Dashboards, emotions, and making God sad – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 3
Car dashboards have all sorts of indicators. Speed, engine temperature, lights on/off, and turn signals have been standard for decades. In the past few years, cars are coming equipped with radar. My two vehicles have radar and alarms that sound if we are drifting toward the sides of our lane, or if we need toContinue reading “Dashboards, emotions, and making God sad – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 3”
Christians can experience the firepower of the Holy Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 2
In the previous post, I talked about Christians have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. But in the passage we are studying this week, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Paul writes that we can quench the Spirit. Quench? Is that like Gatorade, “the thirst quencher”? Yes, to quench is to stop something. But the word that theContinue reading “Christians can experience the firepower of the Holy Spirit – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 2”
What Christians mean when they say God lives in their hearts – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 1
When I was a child, I learned from my parents and Sunday School teachers that Jesus wants to live in my heart. At the time, I thought nothing was odd about that. I was told to “ask Jesus into my heart.” I eagerly did so. I don’t remember when I stopped believing that or talkingContinue reading “What Christians mean when they say God lives in their hearts – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 1”
There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview
A few weeks ago, a serious forest fire devastated 2700 acres in the Michaux State Forest here in Pennsylvania. Close friends of ours have a property located very near to where the fires burned, and thankfully their property was spared. Others were not so fortunate. The news reported that the fire was started not by lightning, butContinue reading “There’s a fire God does not want us to put out – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Preview”
The transforming power of gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 5
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. We all hit life’s unexpected potholes. The issue, then, is how we will respond to these inevitableContinue reading “The transforming power of gratitude – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 5”
Believe it or not, continual prayer is possible! – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 26, Part 4
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. The second habit that Paul addresses in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18Continue reading “Believe it or not, continual prayer is possible! – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 26, Part 4”
Why and how we can choose joy in the midst of pain – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 3
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. From 2009-2013, our son, Alexander, began having many struggles—some physicalContinue reading “Why and how we can choose joy in the midst of pain – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 3”
Three reasons for joy – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. When I was a kid, growing up in church, thereContinue reading “Three reasons for joy – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 2”
The Apostle Paul’s “Eat Pray Love”-like formula – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 1
Editor’s Note: This week I welcome guest blogger, Debbie Marks. Debbie has a degree in social work, served for 30+ in pastoral ministry alongside her husband, is an educator, leads Bible studies, and has been a retreat speaker. I’m excited for her teaching this week. In 2006 Elizabeth Gilbert wrote a biographical memoir called EatContinue reading “The Apostle Paul’s “Eat Pray Love”-like formula – 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, 25, Part 1″
Engaging Scripture 