Trust & Obey, Week 2: Matthew 16 & 18, Part 2 As a pastor of twenty-three years, I’ve had some surprising experiences during worship services. For example, one time a wasp landed right on my Bible as I was preaching! People seated close to the front saw it all. I swatted at it, and itContinue reading “Jesus’ two surprising teachings about church”
Tag Archives: worship
Three tests we can and should use to evaluate preachers and teachers – 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22, Part 4
I observed a recent social media interaction that I think you’ll find interesting. On social media, Pastor #1 posted a video clip of Pastor #2’s sermon. On the video Pastor #2 said this, “If you call yourself a Christian and then behave in an unchristlike manner, you are misusing God’s name.” Agreed. In response toContinue reading “Three tests we can and should use to evaluate preachers and teachers – 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22, Part 4”
When you get into a family argument on the way to church – 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Part 4
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”
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”
Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4
Is it possible that when Jesus shows up, it might be a very sad moment for Christians? Can’t be, right? When Jesus returns, it will be glorious celebration. Except that’s not what the Bible says. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1–4, Paul writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do notContinue reading “Jesus’ return might be a very bad thing for Christians – 1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:4, Part 4”
Do you view your work as worship? – 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 5:14, Part 4
This week on the blog, we’re studying a few verses in 1 Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5 that refer to work. In this post, I want to mention 1 Corinthians 10:31, which is in another letter of Paul. There Paul writes, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to theContinue reading “Do you view your work as worship? – 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12; 5:14, Part 4”
Participate in the flowing movement of encouragement – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 2
Editor’s Note: I once again welcome Molly Stouffer as guest blogger. Molly is from Hagerstown, MD, studying Pastoral Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. Did you know that there is flowing movement of encouragement? At the end of 1 Thessalonians verse 10, Paul describes a flowing movement of encouragement. The movements starts with the Christians heContinue reading “Participate in the flowing movement of encouragement – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; 5:11, 14, 27, Part 2”
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”
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”
Engaging Scripture 