Podcasts about first thessalonians

Today, pastor Al is going to speak about the afterlife. There are just two destinations, and we encourage you to look at your own life to see where you're headed. We're in First Thessalonians four. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Today on The Dwelling Place, pastor Al Pittman takes us to First Thessalonians, chapter four, to give us some practical insight into some basic do's and don'ts of the faith. I invite you to follow along in your Bible, as we join Pastor Al for a message titled, “Brotherly Love”. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

astor Al Pittman is taking us through First Thessalonians right now, and we're studying chapter four. Here the apostle Paul describes the Believer's Walk. We'll learn through this study how to walk in a God-pleasing manner. We most certainly need encouragement in this area as we're bombarded with messages to go in the opposite direction in the world as we know it. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Pastor Al Pittman has been leading us verse by verse through First Thessalonians, a great letter full of encouragement in how to live the Christian life. Having finished chapter three yesterday, we now move into chapter four, which deals with the subject of how to please God. Hopefully that's your ambition in life... so let's see how to get there. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

If you've been tuning in lately, you know that we are in the midst of a verse by verse study through the book of First Thessalonians. We're back at it again today, and I invite you to turn to chapter three now To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

The Thessalonians knew they could count on Paul and that's what we're going to see today as we continue our ongoing study of First Thessalonians here on The Dwelling Place with Pastor Al Pittman. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Welcome to Moody Presents with Mark Jobe … senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago and president of Moody Bible Institute. Today, we’re winding down our Defiance series and we'll learn that the Bible says we're made up of a body, mind, and spirit … and they all need to be working together in order for us to be set apart for God’s purposes. Part 1 of this last message is called, Reclaiming Your Whole Person and it’s a lesson from the book of First Thessalonians. So, let’s jump in. Become part of our Advance Team: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/moodypresents/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Pastor Al will be teaching from First Thessalonians chapter two, verses one through twelve. We'll be reminded that Christian ministry is like the selfless and sacrificing roles of a mother and father. Paul and those who served with him are example for us to follow as pastors and spiritual leaders. Though not many are called to be pastors, we're all called to the ministry on some level and to some degree. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

We are currently traveling through First Thessalonians, where we begin chapter two today. We'll be looking at some of the instructions given by the apostle Paul on how to effectively live out the Christian life. Let's go ahead and open our Bibles now as pastor Al gets today's study underway. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

The apostle Paul certainly went through intense persecution, but God used this in his life in a magnificent way to spread the Good News. Today, we'll take a look at First Thessalonians, chapter one, and what it means to us twenty-first century Christians. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

How did the Gospel come to the apostle Paul? For that matter, how did it come to you? In our new study of First Thessalonians today, we'll seek to answer this question and more. Join us, in the first chapter of First Thessalonians as we plan on covering verses five through ten. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

On today's program, we are going to turn our attention to a new study in the New Testament book of First Thessalonians. The apostle Paul wrote this awesome letter and as we get into it, we'll notice the marks of a healthy and growing church, and look forward to the soon return of Christ. Al has noticed several things about the church in the first few verses and today he'll draw that out of the text for us. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) Honor your father and mother…but what if your parents aren't worthy of honor? It's pretty clear in the Bible that we are to honor our parents. It's even in the Ten Commandments. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” But here is a question I have heard many times. “How can I honor my parents when they are such dishonorable people?” Here's my answer. You don't honor them because they are honorable. You honor them because YOU are honorable. We are called to be people of honor. I like First Thessalonians 4:4 which says possess your vessel in honor. Here's a fun example, and this goes back to 1922, to a book by Emily Post about etiquette in society. She wrote, “If a lady drops her glove, a gentleman should pick it up... offer the glove to her and say: 'I think you dropped this!' The lady replies: 'Thank you.' The gentleman should then lift his hat and turn away." This is telling a man how to behave like a gentleman. One thing a gentleman doesn't do is stop to figure out if the woman has a track record of being lady-like. Her lady-likeness has nothing to do with it. He behaves like a gentleman, not because she is a lady, but because he is a gentleman. We honor people, not because they are honorable, but because WE are honorable. We possess our vessel in honor. In other words, we get ourselves under control in order to live an honorable life, a life of honoring others because we are honorable. First Peter 2:17 says, “Honor all people.” How can we possibly do that when so many people are not worthy of honor? First of all, everyone is worthy of honor or the Bible wouldn't say that. They are worthy of honor as people made in the image of God. They are worthy of honor because Jesus died for them. They are worthy of honor because God loves them. So the question isn't “are they honorable?” The question is, are WE honorable? If we are, then honor flows through us to others. Back to the Ten Commandments. We are told to honor our father and mother. Sure, they were imperfect. Or you may say, “No Doug, my parents actually were perfect…a perfect mess.” The command remains the same, to honor them. And if you can't motivate yourself to honor them, get this into your head. We don't honor them because they are so honorable. We honor them because WE are honorable. May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.

Josiah delivers a message on Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. He discusses Christian living, encouraging one another, and avoiding evil, and concludes with a promise of God's faithful sanctification.    00:47 The Importance of First Thessalonians 06:25 SparkNotes for First Thessalonians 11:18 Encouragement and Persecution 16:24 Living a Christian Life   30:57 Responding to Evil with Good 31:36 Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks 33:26 God's Constant Presence   38:28 Sanctification and Christian Living  49:57 Upcoming Church Events 

Sadly many are so caught up in a pursuit of temporal treasures of little value that they miss out on eternal treasures of great value. Radical discipleship is costly... but it pays rich dividends! Join us as we study the final section of First Thessalonians. We will discover many practical challenges in this episode of Wisdom form Above.

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) Someday soon God's people are going to get carried away! The next great event in the last days is the coming of Christ for His church. Are you ready to be caught away? (0969250319) ----more----   The Last Days Welcome to the last days. Second Timothy 3:1 says this, "Know also that in the last days perilous time shall come. For men should be lovers of their own selves. covetous, boasters, proud blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent fiercce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof." I repeat, "Welcome to the last days." We are living, my friends, in perilous times, and yet I'm afraid too often when we talk about the last days, it gives the connotation of some doom. Now, certainly those doomed for those who do not know God. It is a sad reality that people will be separated from God forever. But if you're a child of God, if you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, this is not a sad ending. Instead, it's a glorious beginning of eternity with God, of every good thing that God has planned for us. The Bible says, "Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither is entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love him." Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? If you do, I want you to know the Lord who loves you first, and loves you more than you could ever imagine. Has mighty things in store for you.  The Rapture of the Church We're talking about what the Bible says about the end of time and what it will be set in motion. Now we know that scripture teaches, we just read it in 2nd Timothy 3, that the last days describes that period between the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ, and we know that Christ came the first time and he's promised he will come again. So I believe that the next thing on God's agenda. The next thing on the divine calendar is what is commonly referred to as the rapture of the church. And we're gonna talk about that word in just a moment, but a simply put, we're referring to the moment when the Lord Jesus Christ comes again. I. For us when he comes to take his children out of this world. Now, the word rapture is not actually found in scripture, and yet the teaching of it certainly is. You see the word rapture comes from a word that means to, to catch away, to seize or carry away. The word is actually used in scripture. For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says this, "We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds." That's the exact meaning of the word rapture. That is exactly what we're talking about. We're gonna be caught away. It's used of Philip in Acts chapter eight. Remember when the Holy Spirit caught him away? It's used of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. He was caught up into the third heaven; and so we believe there's gonna be a definite moment when God catches away his children, when he removes us from this perilous world, this wicked age, and brings us into his presence forever. As a matter of fact, when you come to the last book of the Bible, the revelation of Jesus Christ. He talks to his churches in the New Testament age. In Revelation chapter two, revelation chapter three. When you come to Revelation chapter four, verse one, you read these words, "After this, I looked and behold a door was open in heaven, and the first voice, which I heard was, as it were, of a trumpet talking with me, which said, come up hither and I will show thee things which must be hereafter." It's my conviction that verse is representative of a shift from the church age into the things which shall be hereafter. Friend, there's about to be a door open in heaven. There's about to be a voice and a trumpet. There's about to be a word come up hither. That's the catching away of believers in this New Testament age to be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever. Scriptural Basis for the Rapture Now, the most definitive portion of scripture that deals with the rapture of the church is 1 Thessalonians chapter four. So let me read the portion of scripture and then we'll draw a few observations. First Thessalonians chapter four, beginning in verse thirteen says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep." That means those who've died. "That you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again." May I pause and ask, Do you believe that's the only way? That you can truly know Christ as your Savior? Do you believe Jesus died and rose again? If you believe that the Bible says, "even them also, which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." In other words, as surely as Jesus didn't end at the cross and didn't stay in the tomb, he's not finished with us. There's more to come. The best is yet to come for the child of God. He goes on in verse fifteen to say, "For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain under the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them, which are asleep. For the Lord himself," - not an angel, not a prophet - "the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord." So what's the chain of events? What is set in motion? It begins with Christ returning. Christ himself is coming with a shout of victory. This is wonderful. God's gonna break his silence. Somebody said, I've never heard a booming voice from heaven. No, I haven't either, but God's going to break his silence. He descends from heaven, but He doesn't come all the way to the earth. Instead, the Bible says He comes in the air. Remember when He left in his ascension, the angel said, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go." He went up in the clouds. He's coming back in the clouds. The Bible says that those who are asleep in Jesus, who have died in Christ, they are coming back with Him. Their bodies are going to be resurrected from the grave. Isn't that gonna be glorious? They're coming out first, and so the Lord is coming back accompanied with all the pomp and circumstance of a king because he is a king. He's the King of kings and the Lord of Lord. So you have his return. Then you have the resurrection. That's the dead in Christ. Those who've died during this church age, they're gonna rise. Then the rapture, the living believers, I hope we're in that group. Frankly, the living believers are called up with them into the clouds, and the Bible says then there's a great reunion. A reunion both with them and with the Lord. First Corinthians 15:52 says, it's going to happen in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. Though we may talk about the process of it, it's gonna be a momentous occasion. It's instantaneous and complete in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.  The Imminent Return of Christ Now we know that this is happening because the Lord promised it was gonna happen and God doesn't lie. We also know that it could happen any moment the coming of Jesus Christ. Is imminent. Jesus said in John 14, "If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also." Let me just end today where the Lord ends. Let's let God have the final word here. Revelation 22:20 says, "He which testifieth these things saith. Surely I come. Quickly." Somebody said, What do you know about the coming of Christ? All I know is he's coming surely, and he's coming quickly. What should our response be? The rest of verse 20 says, "Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus." Your Faith and the Rapture If you don't know Christ as your Savior, would you put your faith in Him right now? Would you call on Him and ask Him to be your Savior so you can look forward to going to be with Him forever? He'll come to live in your heart today, and if you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, I hope you can live today with victory and joy saying, "Even so come, Lord Jesus." My closing prayer for you today is the closing prayer of the Bible. In light of the soon return of Christ in the rapture of the church, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening, and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey.

(Isaiah 46:11) Scripture is full of prophecy and sincere Bible students must not neglect it. Today, we uncover five definite blessings connected to the study of prophecy. Our goal is to learn more than end time events; it is to know more deeply the eternal God. (0968250318)  ----more----  The World's Fascination with End Times Hollywood has made a small fortune imagining what the end of the world is going to look like. In fact, it seems every week. Something new in printed form or media comes out about the end of time, and yet I think it may be smarter if we ask the one who started time, how time is going to end. That is the eternal God, the creator of all things. What does God say? What does the Bible say? About the end of time, about last things.  Biblical Prophecy: An Overview As you read and study the word of God, you're gonna be shocked, I think, to see how much of the Bible is prophetic - I mean by that telling us about things to come. Sixteen Old Testament books are considered to be prophetic books. You have what is commonly referred to as the major prophets and the minor prophets. But prophecy's not restricted just to those books. In fact, prophetic elements are found all through the word of God. In the Psalms there are prophetic psalms. Moses was referred to as a prophet, so that's hearkening all the way back to the beginning of the Old Testament. When you come to the New Testament, about 1/20th of the New Testament is prophetic. Now, obviously the revelation of Jesus Christ the apocalypse the final revelation. That's prophetic, but there are prophetic elements in the teachings of Christ and the writings of Paul. You can't neglect scripture. When it comes to prophecy. I heard someone recently say, what gives us the right I. To pick and choose which verses we wanna believe. What gives us the right to pick and cho choose which verses we want to study and apply and live. No, all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. So what is the profit of us studying what the Bible says about the end of time? Lemme give you several profitable things that it'll do in your life.  The Sovereignty of God in Prophecy First of all, if you study what the Bible says about prophecy. It's going to reveal something to you about the sovereignty of our God, that He truly is on the throne. He has a plan. He's all wise and all powerful. He knows exactly what he's doing. Listen to the words of Isaiah 46, verse 11. The Bible says, "Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executed with my counsel from a far country. Yay, I have spoken it. I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it. I will also do it." Now, the context of this text is in a prophecy to the nation of Israel. But listen to the revelation of God himself, the one who's giving the prophecy, he said, I've spoken it. I'm gonna bring it to pass. I've purposed it. I'm going to do it. When you begin to study prophecy, one of the things immediately that is revealed is that our God is not arbitrary. He has an eternal purpose in the ages. This is not some emergency plan with our God. From the very beginning, before time started, God knew exactly how it was going to end. So his purpose is being fulfilled. That ought to help you not just to know events, but to know the God of the Bible in a greater way. Closely akin to that, let me give you a second profitable thing.  Faith in Bible Prophecy In the book of Acts chapter number 20, we're told this beginning in verse number 26, the Apostle Paul says, "Wherefore, I take you to record this day that I'm pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." One of the things that happens when you start seeing what the Bible says about prophecy is it increases your faith in the word of God itself. And the Apostle Paul said, Acts 20:27, "I've not shunned to declare all the counsel of God." May I say to you, we should not shun all the counsel of God. Study all of the Bible. Seek to understand all of scripture. Teach and preach all of the Bible. Why? Because God has a message for us in every part of scripture that includes prophecy, faith cometh by hearing by the word of God. Your faith is gonna grow as you see God fulfilling what he foretold and everything. God foretells, he fulfills. When you see all the prophecies that have been fulfilled to this point, do you know what it says? It says that the same God who never lies, who always tells the truth and always keeps his word, is going to fulfill the rest of the prophecies. So it reveals the sovereignty of God. It increases our faith in the word of God. How about this? This is a very practical thing.  Hope in Bible Prophecy When you begin studying what the Bible says about prophecy, it's gonna give you some hope and comfort. I'm talking about living through difficult days. It's gonna help you. Second Corinthians 4:17 says, "For our light affliction, which is, but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." What does prophecy do? Prophecy makes you get your eyes off of time and on eternity. It makes you go to the end and work your way backward to find out what truly matters in light of eternity. It brings both a challenge and a comfort at the same time. He repeats that emphasis when he writes to the church at Thessalonika. First Thessalonians chapter four, listen to the words beginning in verse thirteen. He says, "But I would not have you to be ignorant brethren concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ, shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." Did you notice the first verse we read in 1st Thessalonians 4:13 has the word "hope" in it, and the last verse we read, verse 18 has the word "comfort" in it? Studying prophecy is going to give you hope and comfort. It's not just about knowing the sequence of events. Or what to look for next. In fact, we're not looking for an ending. We're looking for a new beginning. I'm not looking for the world to end. I'm looking for Jesus to come. I'm looking for everything God has prepared for us. That gives me hope and comfort living in difficult days.  The Purifying Affect of Prophecy And then I would say this studying prophecy, what the Bible says about the end of time will purify the believer. Yeah, one John chapter three, beginning in verse number two says this, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God. And it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him, purify himself even as he is pure." The hope is not just for us to feel better. The hope is for us to live today. In light of eternity, it's gonna help you make today count. If you realize today could be your last day on earth, today could be the greatest day you ever live, which is the day Jesus Christ face to face. Let me give you one more study.  Loving Jesus More Through Prophecy What the Bible says about last things is gonna help you love Jesus more. Listen to Revelation 19, verse 10, "And I fell at his feet to worship him and he said unto me, See thou to it. Not I'm thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." People who want to talk about prophecy in the end time, but they don't wanna talk more about loving Christ or winning souls or living holy, have missed the spirit of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy is not about having a head full of knowledge. It's about having a heart alive and on fire with passionate love for Christ and souls around you. It will make a difference in the way you live this day. So I'm excited about our studies. We begin to talk about what the Bible says about last things, but I wanna challenge you. Don't just study it, live it. Don't just consider considerate, apply the truth to your life today. Let what the Bible says affect what you give your energy and attention to this very day. Outro and Resources Repeating what other people have said about the Bible is not enough. We must know the biblical reason behind what we believe. We hope you will visit us at etj.bible to access our Library of Bible teaching resources, including book-by-book studies of Scripture. You'll also find studies to watch, listen to, or read. We are so grateful for those who pray for us, who share the biblical content, and for those who invest to help us advance this ministry worldwide. Again, thank you for listening and we hope you'll join us next time on Enjoying the Journey.

"Have you made time for God today?" This simple yet profound question opens a journey into our nation's soul and the daily choices that reveal our true priorities. What we give our attention to—be it social media, television, work, or worship—speaks volumes about what we truly value.The American Soul Podcast examines how abandoning unchanging Christian standards has led our society to judge one another based on superficial traits rather than character and merit. Drawing parallels between tribal conflicts in Africa and our own divisions, host Jesse Cope argues that our experiment in self-governance only succeeds when founded upon principles that transcend race, ethnicity, and tribal allegiance.Through a thoughtful exploration of First Thessalonians and Daniel Webster's historic Plymouth Oration of 1820, we're reminded that America was explicitly founded as part of "the Christian world"—a fact often obscured in modern discourse. Webster's powerful condemnation of the slave trade as incompatible with Christian principles offers a sobering parallel to our current moral challenges, particularly abortion.Most compelling is the episode's meditation on legacy. What proof will future generations have of our reverence for America and love for Christ? Are we keeping journals for our children? Teaching scripture? Caring for the vulnerable? As Webster welcomed future Americans to "the immortal hope of Christianity and the light of everlasting truth," we must ask ourselves what inheritance we're preserving for those who come after us.The path to national renewal isn't primarily political but spiritual, beginning with individuals and families before extending to communities and institutions. Only by returning to the foundation of Christ's teachings can we reclaim the blessings of good governance, domestic happiness, and true learning that our founders envisioned.Cast your eyes toward heaven, and join us in seeking first the Kingdom of God. Together, we can rediscover America's soul.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Pastor Fletcher starts off our new sermon series on First Thessalonians.

Do you want to make a difference in our world? Do you want to do things that will have an eternal impact? This passage in First Thessalonians reveals how we make a difference in our world that will have an eternal impact. It reveals how some people will ultimately be our crown of rejoicing! Don't miss this episode of Wisdom from Above!

As we continue our study of First Thessalonians, we come now to The Model Minister. Every believer is a minister of God. This passage reveals the motives, the methods and the manner of a model minister. You can use this study as checkup on your progress as a servant of the Lord.

Send us a textWhat if your understanding of salvation is turned on its head? Dive into a captivating exploration of predestination and divine election as we unpack Apostle Paul's teachings from the Book of Ephesians. Join us as we challenge the conventional view of salvation being a result of human initiative and examine the profound notion that it is God who initiates faith in individuals. Through an engaging discussion, we reveal how Paul's message to the Gentile Christians in Ephesus reshapes our understanding of God's sovereignty versus human agency. Listen closely as we navigate through scripture and confront the idea that all things, including salvation and condemnation, are orchestrated according to God's will.Throughout this episode, we traverse through biblical passages from First Peter to First Thessalonians, shedding light on the nature of God's justice and the concept of divine election. By contrasting these beliefs with other religious perspectives emphasizing adherence to the law, we invite you to reassess the effectiveness of such practices in achieving salvation. We delve into the implications of predestination on faith, unraveling the complexities of divine love and justice. Our conversation doesn't shy away from differing interpretations and objections, but rather invites you to reflect on the grand scheme of God's plan. Prepare to be challenged and enlightened as we discuss these profound theological ideas.Funny news, Real Talk & Spiritual Growth - Faith that's honest, Deep & Intentional Breaking down faith, culture & big questions - a mix of humor with real spiritual growth. Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) I finally fixed our shower doors. I don't know why I waited so long. At first they just started closing a little roughly. It finally got to where one of the doors wouldn't move at all without making the loudest screech and feeling like it was going to fall off and shatter. But hey, you really only need one of the doors to work, so I still didn't do anything. Finally one morning I woke up and thought, “I really need to fix those shower doors.” I bought new wheels that the doors hang on for basically pennies and within just a few minutes both doors were working like they were brand new. It was so satisfying to feel how smooth they operated. Why had I waited so long? I don't know the answer to that, but I do think this is our calling in the world, to make things run more smoothly. I love this imagery in the book of Luke, chapter 3 verse 5, “…the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.” I think this is what God does through His Holy Spirit inside of us. He begins His good work in us, straightening the crooked things and smoothing the rough things. A big word for this is sanctification. I just finished memorizing the book of First Thessalonians, and sanctification shows up repeatedly. It says, “for this is the will of God, your sanctification.” It says, “…may…God…sanctify you completely,” and then it says, “He will surely do it.” God sanctifies His people from the inside out. He takes our crooked places and makes them straight, and our rough ways and makes them smooth. And then we, in turn, have a sanctifying effect on everything around us. We go out into the world and we take crooked places and make them straight and we make rough ways smooth. Have you ever heard someone say this, “He's so heavenly minded he's no earthly good”? I think that's the opposite of the truth. The more heavenly minded someone is, the more earthly good they will be because of this sanctifying effect. A Christian who is truly connected to God is going to be improving the world all around him. Everyone should be happier when a godly person comes in and begins taking crooked places and making them straight and rough ways and making them smooth…because people like straight and smooth! My mom was a master seamstress. She could work wonders with needle and thread. Now we take it for granted today because of our store-bought, factory-made clothing, but have you ever tried to take two pieces of cloth and sew them together and make a nice, smooth seam? It's much easier to make it bunchy than smooth and nice. And it's easier in life to make things bunchy. We make our relationships bunchy. Our budget gets bunchy. Things get bunchy at work, at home, in the community, but there is good news. God wants to take bunchy things and make them straight! First, He does that inside of us as we submit to His leadership. And then, through us, He does this work in the world around us, using us to fulfill His plan to take crooked things and make them straight, and rough ways and make them smooth. And yes, I believe that includes fixing those shower doors. May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.

This 14th season of Wisdom from Above is an exposition of the book of First Thessalonians. The first chapter reveals the heart of a model church. The Thessalonians Church had a faith that worked, a love that labored and a hope that endured. What is the driving principle of the church?   A tradition-driven church does what it does because that's what they've always done. A temperature-driven church does that it does because that's what the majority wants. A trend-driven church does what it does because that's what the successful are doing. A truth-driven church does what it does because that's what God is asking in His Word. We want a truth-driven church! How does a church become truth-driven?  Join me for this podcast and discover some practical truths for you and your church.

This is the premier episode of our 14th season of Wisdom from Above. This season will be an exposition of the book of First Thessalonians. Join us as we dig into the background of First Thessalonians. We will discover seven principles to help us in times of hurt and heartache .

First Thessalonians 4 warns us to beware of the carnal nature. ******* By the way, if you haven't bought a copy of my new book yet, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X

First Thessalonians 4 says God has not called us into uncleanliness but into holiness. ******* By the way, if you haven't bought a copy of my new book yet, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X

First Thessalonians 4 includes this word "abounding." What does that mean? ******* By the way, if you haven't bought a copy of my new book yet, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X

First Thessalonians 4 includes this word "defrauding." What does that mean? ******* By the way, if you haven't bought a copy of my new book yet, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Visions-Stories-Faith-Pastor/dp/161493536X

Mass Readings for First Sunday of Advent December 1, 2024 Reading 1, Jeremiah 33:14-16 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 Reading 2, First Thessalonians 3:12-4:2 Gospel, Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

Episode Summary: As the holidays approach and we're inundated with messages about thankfulness, you may wonder: does gratitude actually change anything? Is there science behind the old advice to “count your blessings”? In this episode of Your Hope-Filled Perspective, I'm diving into the connection between Gratitude and Neuroscience, showing how adopting a heart of gratitude impacts not just our spiritual lives but also our mental and physical health. Scripture reminds us that what God commands aligns beautifully with how He created us. I'll share 25+ unique things to be grateful for and why cultivating thankfulness, even during tough times, is so important. Together, we'll look at how gratitude helps us see hidden blessings and keeps our focus on God's faithfulness. Quotables from the episode: God never wastes our pain; even in difficulty, we can find reasons to be grateful. When we will be continually in a prayerful posture, God will open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts to recognize and then be willing to thank him for all those things that we had previously dismissed or not considered. I want to have a constantly grateful heart. So I'm consistently challenging myself to notice little or unusual things in life, those things that maybe I sometimes take for granted, and offer up thanks for them.  When God tells us to be thankful in all situations, He means it, but I believe that as we pray without ceasing, like that verse in First Thessalonians said, that God is the one who creates a thankful heart in us. Start with the small things. Start with the unusual things. And I'm firmly convinced that the more we cultivate an attitude of gratitude, the more we realize we really do have to be blessed and thank God for. Gratitude shifts our perspective, revealing God's hidden blessings in our everyday lives. Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart does good like medicine.” Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”   Recommended Resources:    Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson  The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out to God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms   Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the Christian Literary Awards Reader's Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day YouVersion 7-Day Devotional, Today is Going to be Another Good Day Breaking Anxiety's Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson Breaking Anxiety's Grip Free Study Guide Free 7-Day YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety's Grip Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor's Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader's Choice Award Trusting God Through Cancer 1 Trusting God Through Cancer 2 Revive & Thrive Women's Conference Subdue Stress and Anxiety: Fifteen Experts Offer Comprehensive Tools in Ten Minutes a Day. Use my link plus discount code BENG99 to save $90 on course (course will be $99.) Free Download: How To Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win   Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Breaking Anxiety's Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails  /  Website  /  Blog  /  Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson)  /  LinkedIn  /  Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube   Dr. Michelle Bengtson is an international speaker, a national and international media resource on mental health, and the bestselling, award-winning author of Hope Prevails, the Hope Prevails Bible Study, Today Is Going to Be a Good Day, Breaking Anxiety's Grip, The Hem of His Garment, and Sacred Scars. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Your Hope-Filled Perspective. A board-certified clinical neuropsychologist in private practice for more than twenty years, Dr. Bengtson blogs regularly and offers a wide variety of resources on her website, DrMichelleB.com.   Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson

Paul wrote to the Colossians: So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7). Overflowing with thankfulness—that's our goal if we have received Christ Jesus as our Lord and are continuing to grow in our faith. In other words, thankfulness is supposed to be a trademark of a Christian. Now, ask yourself this question: Would people who know you well—who are around you often and see you in real-life environments regularly—describe you as a thankful person? Do you overflow with thankfulness? If something is overflowing, people would notice, don't you think? This is a characteristic I've been trying to cultivate more and more in my life because I want to be thankful for all my many, many blessings. But also, because being thankful is a major stress buster! I'm not kidding; one of the best things you can do to reduce your stress, lower your blood pressure, and lengthen your life is to practice thankfulness. Notice I said, "practice thankfulness.” You see, it's really easy to get caught up in complaining because that's what we hear around us quite often. Don't you hear a good bit of griping and complaining where you work or even in your home? Well, you might have caught that disease without realizing it. So, you need to practice thankfulness. Ephesians 5:19b-20 says: Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in First Thessalonians 5:18 we're told to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Seems to me we have to find ways to remind ourselves to overflow with thankfulness. If you want to play the piano, you have to practice. If you want to dunk a basketball, you have to practice. Well, if you want to overflow with thankfulness, I think you have to practice that, too. Here are some suggestions to help you do that. Put a sign on your desk or refrigerator or your screen saver that says, "Overflow with thankfulness today.” I think we just sometimes need simple reminders. It sure won't hurt. Put on thankfulness each morning before you leave home. Colossians 3:12-15 gives us a list of garments we should put on each day as God's chosen people, and at the end of this list we read: And be thankful. So, while you're buttoning your shirt or putting on your shoes, just make a little ritual each day of saying, "And I'm also putting on thankfulness to wear all day today." Do the thankful alphabet. Start with A and go through Z, naming something starting with each letter for which you are thankful. You can have some fun with this; it's a great game to play in the car with your kids and you'll be teaching them to practice thankfulness. Just start and see how far you can get: A: I'm thankful for apples. B: I'm thankful for C: I'm thankful for cousins. D: I'm thankful for my dad. E: I'm thankful for Elizabeth, my friend. F: I'm thankful for football! And on you go. It's fun, it's uplifting, and it fills your heart with thanks. In fact, a fun idea might be to make a deck of alphabet thankful cards, which you can use at home or church or even on the job. Make every Tuesday a Thankful Tuesday or each Thursday a Thankful Thursday. You can share this with your family or your coworkers and have some fun with it, and it will teach the joy of practicing thankfulness. On that day be very intentional about expressing what you have to be thankful for, perhaps as the family gathers for a meal, or in a casual conversation with coworkers. Remind others that it's Thankful Tuesday or Thursday and encourage them to recite what they have to be thankful for. You'll be surprised how others will be willing to join in with you if you'll just get it started. Sing songs of thanksgiving. You could sing "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" fo...

Pastor Lloyd Pulley will begin our study in just a moment as we continue with Lloyd's new series called “Christian Growth and Development”. We will be looking at several scriptures today, beginning with First Thessalonians chapter five. This section of Scripture contains instruction about life in the church. Paul's words are very practical, basic, and as we are about to see, very straightforward.  We're talking about how we're to live and relate and to serve each other in the church.

Dr. Alan Kurschner addressed the predictive prophecy by Jesus about the apostle Paul in Acts 23:11: “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (cf. Acts 19:21). The evening after Paul spoke in front of the Sanhedrin, the risen Lord gave him a prophecy that he “must” [dei] testify in Rome. This prophecy no doubt encouraged Paul in his ensuing hardships keeping the faith and being a bold witness to fulfill God's purposes in his ministry. It would be a few years before this prophecy was fulfilled. The implications this has on the belief in imminence are evident: Jesus would not return for his church during this period. God's will during Paul's ministry would not be to send his Son back to rapture the church. His will was for Paul to spread the good news of his Son throughout the regions of the Roman Empire. But not only in the Roman Empire, but to proclaim the gospel to Caesar himself. “For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.'” (Acts 27:23–24) This prophecy was given to Paul during a storm on the sea as they were sailing to Rome. The prophesy states that Paul “must [dei] stand before Caesar” to testify of the gospel. God ordained that the Jewish apostle Paul would testify before the Gentile Roman Caesar, proclaiming the Name above all Names. So once again, this similar prophecy indubitably contradicts imminence theology. Jesus' return was not imminent. A possible objection to this (as well as to the prophecy about Peter's death above) is the claim that God “secretly” gave Paul this prophecy; therefore, imminence can still be intact. This is a strained and illogical attempt to maintain imminence for the following reasons: (1) the biblical fact remains that Jesus could not return before this prophecy took place; (2) it impugns the character of God by making him contradict himself, telling Paul one thing and the church the opposite; (3) the prophecy given to Paul was not kept in “secret.” He openly shared it with the ship's crew in order to encourage them that God would keep them safe (Acts 27:23–26). And even if he had not shared the prophecy, that would not make a difference one way or the other. The prophecy was a promise by God, and he would not break it. I want to make one further point. Pretribulationism claims that Paul taught imminence in his first epistle to the Thessalonians. They reason that since Paul does not mention the great tribulation before the occurrence of the rapture in his epistle, therefore the rapture is imminent. Notwithstanding the glaring fallacy of this argument by silence, that was not the purpose for Paul writing his epistle. He was addressing the consternation of the Thessalonians who had loved ones that recently died. Paul was reassuring them that they would see them again. So there was no reason for Paul to address what would or would not happen before the rapture. That is a pretribulation presupposition being read into the text. Ironically, it would be his second epistle to the Thessalonians, where he teaches that the Antichrist will arrive before the rapture. But here is my point: How could Paul teach imminence in First Thessalonians since years later, after he penned the epistle, he would receive a prophecy from the Lord stating that he would testify in Rome before Caesar? In other words, the prophecies about him testifying in Rome contradicts that Paul was teaching imminence in his Thessalonian epistle. In conclusion, this prophecy about Paul testifying in Rome undermines the notion that the rapture could happen during Paul's ministry before he testified in Rome before Caesar. The Roman wheels of justice moved slowly, so it would take not days, weeks,

Dr. Alan Kurschner addressed the predictive prophecy by Jesus about the apostle Paul in Acts 23:11: “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” (cf. Acts 19:21). The evening after Paul spoke in front of the Sanhedrin, the risen Lord gave him a prophecy that he “must” [dei] testify in Rome. This prophecy no doubt encouraged Paul in his ensuing hardships keeping the faith and being a bold witness to fulfill God's purposes in his ministry. It would be a few years before this prophecy was fulfilled. The implications this has on the belief in imminence are evident: Jesus would not return for his church during this period. God's will during Paul's ministry would not be to send his Son back to rapture the church. His will was for Paul to spread the good news of his Son throughout the regions of the Roman Empire. But not only in the Roman Empire, but to proclaim the gospel to Caesar himself. “For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.'” (Acts 27:23–24) This prophecy was given to Paul during a storm on the sea as they were sailing to Rome. The prophesy states that Paul “must [dei] stand before Caesar” to testify of the gospel. God ordained that the Jewish apostle Paul would testify before the Gentile Roman Caesar, proclaiming the Name above all Names. So once again, this similar prophecy indubitably contradicts imminence theology. Jesus' return was not imminent. A possible objection to this (as well as to the prophecy about Peter's death above) is the claim that God “secretly” gave Paul this prophecy; therefore, imminence can still be intact. This is a strained and illogical attempt to maintain imminence for the following reasons: (1) the biblical fact remains that Jesus could not return before this prophecy took place; (2) it impugns the character of God by making him contradict himself, telling Paul one thing and the church the opposite; (3) the prophecy given to Paul was not kept in “secret.” He openly shared it with the ship's crew in order to encourage them that God would keep them safe (Acts 27:23–26). And even if he had not shared the prophecy, that would not make a difference one way or the other. The prophecy was a promise by God, and he would not break it. I want to make one further point. Pretribulationism claims that Paul taught imminence in his first epistle to the Thessalonians. They reason that since Paul does not mention the great tribulation before the occurrence of the rapture in his epistle, therefore the rapture is imminent. Notwithstanding the glaring fallacy of this argument by silence, that was not the purpose for Paul writing his epistle. He was addressing the consternation of the Thessalonians who had loved ones that recently died. Paul was reassuring them that they would see them again. So there was no reason for Paul to address what would or would not happen before the rapture. That is a pretribulation presupposition being read into the text. Ironically, it would be his second epistle to the Thessalonians, where he teaches that the Antichrist will arrive before the rapture. But here is my point: How could Paul teach imminence in First Thessalonians since years later, after he penned the epistle, he would receive a prophecy from the Lord stating that he would testify in Rome before Caesar? In other words, the prophecies about him testifying in Rome contradicts that Paul was teaching imminence in his Thessalonian epistle. In conclusion, this prophecy about Paul testifying in Rome undermines the notion that the rapture could happen during Paul's ministry before he testified in Rome before Caesar. The Roman wheels of justice moved slowly, so it would take not days, weeks,

Joel 1-4; Psalm 90; Proverbs 19:19-24; First Thessalonians 5

Micah 5-7; Psalm 89; Proverbs 19:13-18; First Thessalonians 4

Micah 1-4; Psalm 88:39-53; Proverbs 19:7-12; First Thessalonians 3

Amos 5:4-9:15; Psalm 88:20-38; Proverbs 19:1-6; First Thessalonians 2

Amos 1:1-5:3; Psalm 88:1-19; Proverbs 18:18-23; Colossians 4:2-18; First Thessalonians 1

We will be focusing on First Thessalonians chapter five, verses twelve through twenty eight today. This section of Scripture contains instruction about life in the church. Paul's words are very practical, basic, and as we are about to see, very straightforward. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Community is vital, welcoming everyone with love. Paul's teachings in First Thessalonians stress the importance of rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks, even during tough times. Joy can exist alongside sorrow, and prayer fosters a strong connection with God. Thankfulness serves as a powerful tool against anxiety and aligns with biblical principles. Ultimately, believers are called to embrace repentance and faith in Christ for reconciliation with God.

We have been steadily making our way through First Thessalonians, a book full of encouragement and wisdom from the Apostle Paul concerning not only how Christians should live, but how we should be prepared for the Lord's return. The day of the Lord is what we'll be discussing today as we zero in on chapter five. Now remember in chapter four, believers have already been raptured, so it's important to realize where we're at when all this goes down. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

This is a simple message from First Thessalonians addressing the coming of Christ (most specifically the rapture; phase one of the the second advent).

Are you looking forward to the day when Jesus returns to take us home? It really could happen any day now. This is The Dwelling Place with Pastor Al Pittman. Today we begin First Thessalonians chapter five, and transition from the rapture of the church to the Day of the Lord. There is a difference, and Al is here to help us understand it all. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

We have been enjoying a verse by verse exploration of First Thessalonians and we wrap up our look at chapter four today.We've all pondered the ultimate question in life: What happens when you die? Well, the Apostle Paul tells us it's much different for believers than it is for unbelievers. Of course we know about heaven and hell, but in our study today, Pastor Al shows us that Paul gets a little more specific in this passage. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Pastor Al Pittman has been leading us through a verse by verse study of First Thessalonians. I've been to quite a number of funerals, and I'm sure you have to. When we go to a Christian's funeral, we should walk away thinking about how great it's going to be to see them in heaven again. That's not just wishful thinking, but the promise of God, and the great hope that we have. Today, pastor Al is going to speak about the afterlife. There are just two destinations, and we encourage you to look at your own life to see where you're headed. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1425/29

Discover the importance of community and purpose in finding comfort and hope in times of loss. Explore the teachings of First Thessalonians chapter four, which emphasizes the need to grieve with hope, as Jesus died and rose again. Learn about the sequence of events leading up to the coming of Christ and the hope of being caught up together with Him in the air.

The talk begins with the challenge of finding stillness in a busy world, then delves into lessons from First Thessalonians, highlighting key quotes and the purpose of suffering. It underscores the need for a life free from self-righteousness. The narrative concludes with a call for self-reflection and humility in these turbulent times. It also explores God's disdain for hypocrisy, the power of forgiveness, and the difference between zealousness and zealotry.