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”
Tag Archives: Paul
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”
What a Christmas card taught me about ancient communication technology – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 3
A few years ago during the Christmas season, I got the mail from our mailbox, and as is so typical at Christmas, the mail that day included numerous Christmas cards. I opened them one by one, glancing at the pictures. As I looked one card’s picture, I thought “I have no idea who this is.” Continue reading “What a Christmas card taught me about ancient communication technology – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 3”
Is three weeks enough time to start a church? – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 2
Paul is very troubled about the Christians in Thessalonica. Why? Two reasons: too little time and too much pressure. First, time. He was only with them for about three weeks. That is such a short amount of time. How could they possibly learn to be followers of Jesus in three weeks? I’ll grant you thatContinue reading “Is three weeks enough time to start a church? – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Part 2”
Maybe all Christians need to attend a pastoral assessment center – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Preview
My denomination, the Evangelical Congregational Church (ECC), has something I love called the Pastoral Assessment Center (PAC). The PAC is one of the early steps a pastoral couple or single attends on the road to becoming a licensed pastor in the ECC. When my wife and I started at Faith Church in October 2002, IContinue reading “Maybe all Christians need to attend a pastoral assessment center – 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, Preview”
It can be very difficult to have joy sometimes – Advent Joy, Part 1
The year is circa 55CE, approximately 20 years after Jesus resurrected and ascended to heaven. A man named Paul is driving the outward expansion of the Christian church into the Roman Empire. In Acts 16, we read that he arrives in the city of Philippi, which is an archaeological site in modern-day Greece. In Paul’sContinue reading “It can be very difficult to have joy sometimes – Advent Joy, Part 1”
Giving people another chance with gracious, truthful love – Encourage one another, Part 5
How will Paul react? Remember the situation? In the previous post, we learned that in Acts chapters 13-14, Barnabas the Encourager and Paul embark on the first missionary trip of the early church, and they take John Mark with them. But mid-trip, John leaves them to return to Jerusalem, where his mother lives. Time passes, and PaulContinue reading “Giving people another chance with gracious, truthful love – Encourage one another, Part 5”
How to have hope over fear – Encourage one another, Part 3
Saul has just made a decision to turn his life around 180 degrees. He met Jesus, and everything would now change. He used to persecute Christians, and now he was preaching about Jesus. But that all happened far away from the church’s home base in Jerusalem. No surprise, then, what we read in Acts 9, verse 26, “When [Saul]Continue reading “How to have hope over fear – Encourage one another, Part 3”
Hope for those who are groaning – Easter 2020, Romans 8, Part 3
I was groaning a lot when I did my taxes recently. I dread doing taxes because the tax forms can be so frustrating. My family has a number of unique circumstances that intensify the frustration. I am pastor, which means I get a housing allowance. My wife operated a business. I have education expenses. FinallyContinue reading “Hope for those who are groaning – Easter 2020, Romans 8, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 