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”
Tag Archives: Jesus
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”
How to be ready for Jesus – 1 Thessalonians 2:1–3:5, Part 4
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”
Can we insist that people live a godly life? – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 3
I’ll never forget the time a member of my church, while standing in the lobby before worship, noticed some visitors had brought sodas into the building with them. This person cut the visitors off at the pass, just in time before they crossed the threshold into the sanctuary, and politely but confidently said, “Here, IContinue reading “Can we insist that people live a godly life? – 1 Thessalonians 2:1—3:5, Part 3”
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”
Engaging Scripture 