Podcasts about i thessalonians

In this teaching, Pastor Dobbs ministers from Acts 1:4 & I Thessalonians 5:17 on being saved, waiting on the promise of the Father, praying despite distractions. Distractions will take a person from their set place but being saved requires that a believer pray so that they can refocus to fulfill the will of God despite the distractions going on in the world. Scripture: Acts 1: 4 “4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “ I Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing

In this teaching, Pastor Dobbs ministers from Acts 1:4 & I Thessalonians 5:17 on being saved, waiting on the promise of the Father, praying despite distractions. Distractions will take a person from their set place but being saved requires that a believer pray so that they can refocus to fulfill the will of God despite the distractions going on in the world. Scripture: Acts 1: 4 “4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “ I Thessalonians 5:17 – pray without ceasing Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

It is true that there is grace for all our sexual guilt in the bleeding wounds of Jesus Christ. And O how we should praise God for this gospel mercy! Even the most sexually defiled person in the world can stand spotlessly righteous before the throne of grace through the substitutionary merits of Jesus Christ in their place, (II Pet. 2:7). But it is also true that God is the "avenger" of the sexually immoral, and that "whoever disregards" God's commandments concerning holy sexuality "disregards God" Himself. Therefore, let the timeless words from I Thessalonians 4:1-8 be a sobering echo in our hearts that give us both holy fear and healthy defense as we zealously pursue sexual purity in all of life, and especially within our own "marriage bed."

(This podcast was previously published on May 11, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   No wonder when Jesus comes all the tribes of the earth will "mourn".   Matthew 24:30  Jesus says:  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   For they claimed their right to live as they please on this present earth.  And they claim PRIDE in their various sins without restraint.   And nothing can touch them, or so they think.  

(This podcast was previously published on May 8, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   In the midst of the great darkness of this world and the apostate churches, who change doctrines written in the New Testament Bible and approve people in their various sins, we hold fast to scripture and speak scripture and live our lives by various scriptures.   We are a small light to the people of this present world.  And we show the right path of God.   I John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.  

(This podcast was previously published on April 22, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   In heaven, there will be no pain, no sorrow, because we will not have these physical bodies in the new heaven.   ***   The elect of God are given new spiritual bodies:   I Corinthians 15   48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.   49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.   50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,   52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.   55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?   56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.   57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.   58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.   ***   Jesus raises the dead in Christ.   I Thessalonians 4:13-17   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 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 (precede/go before) them which are asleep.   16 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:   17 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.   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   ***   Jesus gathers the elect in Christ who are still living on this earth and takes them into the air to be with Himself and the dead who are now resurrected and alive.   Matthew 24:29-31   Jesus says:   29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:   30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   31 And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.   ***   The new heaven and new earth:   Revelation 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.   4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  

(This podcast was previously published on April 28, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   As we see leaves begin to bud on the trees we know summer comes.  As we see open approval and rise of homosexuals, we can know Jesus stands ready to remove the elect of God from this earth before the coming destructions appointed for the end of this world by God.   It is amazing to me to see how fast this approval of homosexual and lesbians and other sexual deviations is happening at this point in time.   I Thessalonians 5:1-5  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.   3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.   4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  

We spring off of our study in I Thessalonians 2 to Psalm 139, where David tells the LORD to search and try his heart and thoughts to see if any wicked way was in him. And it goes hand in hand with what Paul was speaking of in I Thessalonians 2:4.

(This podcast was previously published on April 17, 2022)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   The world:   1 John 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.   16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.   17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.  

I Thessalonians 5:23,24

The Reconciling Grace Panel (Josh Cougle, Jason Rensner, Pete Vecchi and Don MacDonald) discusses the role of social media as it relates to gossip and "busy bodying". This discussion is built around I Thessalonians 4:11-11.. Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. (NLT translation.) So come and watch how the panel challenges us to review our relationship to our social media behavior.

In our ongoing study of I Thessalonians, we explore a passage that, while seemingly for unbelievers, offers just as much of an application for believers too.

Introduction Psalms 127:3 Mothers are a great source of tender, merciful love. I Thessalonians 2:7 The Oneida Community Tried to abolish…

I Thessalonians 3:11-13

I Thessalonians 1:2,3

We start a new series in the book of I Thessalonians! We take a look at the first 4 verses of chapter one, and look at how Paul knew for certain that the Thessalonians people were saved people! When people look at you life, do they recognize that you're different? Do they see any change in you? People should know without a doubt that you are a believer in Christ!

03-22-26, "A Church Whose Faith is Heard", David Brokke, I Thessalonians 1:2-10 by Grace Chapel PA

(This podcast was previously published on May 16, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Who is antichrist?  Is antichrist one man as churches have taught for centuries?  Does antichrist come through governments of men?   The New Testament Bible answers each of these questions.   The apostle John spoke of antichrist and explained the following to the church of his time.   I John 2:18-19  John said:  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.   19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.   The apostle John has just explained that the last days began immediately after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  The antichrists were many in the churches.   When they could not take over the churches, they departed, showing themselves to be antichrist.   Many antichrists set up their own church denominations, departing from many scriptures.   The apostle Paul told the elders of the church at Ephesus the following:   Acts 20:29-30   For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.   Though there were already antichrists in the early church, Paul told them things would get worse before Jesus returned.   2 Timothy 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. ... 13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.   2 Thessalonians 2:3-4  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.   Paul shows us that antichrist comes through the churches as they fall away from scripture and set up other doctrines which are contrary to the doctrines of Christ which are shown us in the Holy Bible.   In 1982, God said to me:  "The falling away are not people leaving the church groups.  The falling away are the church groups leaving the scriptures"   This "falling away" by church groups from scriptures has gotten worse and worse through the centuries.   The churches today sing songs, and say "Jesus is Lord", and omit portions of NT scripture, and explain away portions of scripture.   This is the apostasy, antichrist in the churches in the various denominations of today.   This apostasy in the churches had to happen before Jesus could return for the elect of God to take them off this present earth before God destroys this heaven and earth.   2 Timothy 4:2-4  Paul speaking to Timothy:  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.   3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;   4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.   The apostasy has already happened in the churches all over this world.  Portions of scripture are removed from their doctrines.   *****   Consider the following scriptures, cited on this Podcast, which are often omitted or even explained away from today's church whereby they set up doctrine contrary to NT Bible.   ***   Concerning divorce and remarriage:   Matthew 5:32  Jesus said:  But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.   * The faithful wife who has been divorced by her husband will commit adultery if she remarries after divorce. * But that husband who divorced the faithful wife will be the cause of her adultery. * The man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.   I Corinthians 7:10-11  A commandment of the Lord for the NT church ... And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.   I Corinthians 7:39   The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.   Romans 7:2-3   For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.   So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.   I Corinthians 6:15-16  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.  What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith HE, shall be one flesh.   18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.   Mark 10   Jesus said:   6-9   But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.   11  And HE (Jesus) saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.   12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.   ***    Concerning homosexuals and lesbians:   Romans 1:26-28   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:   27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.   28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;   In February 2021, a Baptist pastor of a church in Georgia, USA, announced on CNN and on USA Today that homosexuals and lesbians are welcomed at his church.  The Southern Baptist Convention put that church out of their association.   In May, 2021, a group of Catholic priests in Germany "blessed" one sex unions against the current ruling of the Vatican. (reported on CNN)   The wickedness of man on this earth increases in the last days, according to the apostle Paul.   2 Timothy 3   1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.   2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,   3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,   4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;   5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.   (They love their church buildings but they do not love the Word of God.)   7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.   13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.   14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of WHOM thou hast learned them;   15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.   ***   Concerning the qualifications for elders/bishops in the churches:   Titus 1:4-11  (Paul speaking to Titus)   4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.   5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:   6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.   7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;   8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;   9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.   10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:   11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.   (We see by above scripture that elder and bishop are the same office and these titles are used interchangeably.)   I Timothy 3   1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.   2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;   3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;   4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;   5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)   6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.   7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.   8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;   9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.   10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.   11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.   12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.   ***   Concerning what we are to do when we gather as the church:   I Corinthians 14:26   How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.   ***   The poison gas dream of 1979:   God gave me the following dream:   Destruction was everywhere.   In this dream, a man was speaking to a group of people.  I sat down and began to listen.   Another man rushed into the room and said:  "Stop ... wait ... can't you see ... it's too late ... it's already begun."   That man disappeared and the first man resumed speaking to the people.   No one in the room paid any attention at all to the man who said it had already begun nor did they seem to care what it was that had already begun.   But I wanted to know what it was that had already begun.   So I looked out of the windows to see.   There was a tall pole and on top of this pole was a yellow civil defense type warning speaker.  Out of the speaker was coming a gas and I knew this gas was poisonous and I knew it would kill the people.  It was coming directly toward that room where we were gathered.   The shocking thing was the speaker that was set there to warn the people was the instrument that was being used to gas the people to death.   I looked at the man who was sitting next to me.  He had a big smile on his face and was looking attentively at the man who was speaking.   Then I realized this man was dead.  He was already a corpse.   I looked at the other people in the congregation and saw they were already dead.   And as I sat there among them, listening to the speaker, I felt drowsy and I knew the gas was killing me too.   ***   It was ordained by God that all these things happen before Jesus returns to gather the elect of God and before God destroys this present heaven and earth by fire.   * Jesus raises the dead in Christ and then Jesus sends HIS angels to gather the elect of God who are still living on this earth and they meet Jesus "in the air" and are taken to the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.   I Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.   15 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 (precede/go before) them which are asleep.   16 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:   17 Then we which are alive (on the earth) 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.   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   ***   I Corinthians 15:50-52  (Changed into new spiritual bodies)   50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.   51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed (into new spiritual bodies),   52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   (Blink.  That is how fast we will leave these fleshly bodies and receive our new spiritual bodies and be taken off this present earth to meet Jesus and the ones who have been raised from the dead, in the air.)   ***   We will be taken to the new heavens and new earth which have been created by God for the elect of God, as described by the apostle John in the following scripture.   Revelation 21:1-5   1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.   4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.   ***    Matthew 24:29-31   Jesus said   29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:   30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   31 And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.   The powers of the heavens are shaken by God.  Jesus returns in the clouds and gathers HIS elect.   ***   At the end of this present world.   * The heavens rolled up like a scroll and passed away with a great noise.   Revelation 6:12-14  And I beheld when HE had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;   13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.   14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   Isaiah 34:4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.   * The earth was moved by God out of it's place in the solar system and then it was destroyed by God by fire.   Isaiah 13:13   God says:  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of HIS fierce anger.   2 Peter 3:10-14   10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,   12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.   ***   Revelation 16:17  And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying,   It is done.  

Introduction Hebrews 11:13-16 Philippians 3:20 Acts 1:9-11 – Heaven is a real place! I Thessalonians 4:16 Ecclesiastes 12:7 – Our spirit…

(This podcast was previously published on May 12, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   In April, 2021, a report appeared on CNN which said the earth has shifted on its axis.  The scientists went on to say this was caused by the changing climate which they said people have caused.   Most scientists show they do not know the Bible.   Genesis 1:1   In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.   At one point in time, God brought a flood and destroyed all life on this earth except for Noah and his family and the creatures which were in the ark.   After the destruction, God said to Noah.   Genesis 8:22  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.   And the apostle Peter said this concerning the last days:   II Peter 3:1-7   This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:   2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:   3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,   4 And saying, Where is the promise of HIS coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.   5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:   6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:   7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.   At the end of the world, God HIMSELF, will shake the heaven and earth.   Isaiah 13:13  (God says)  Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of HIS fierce anger.   Matthew 24:29-31   Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:   30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.   31 And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.   These things will be done by God, not by man.   *****   God keeps the heavens and the earth in place until the time HE destroys the heaven and earth by fire in the last days.   II Peter 3:10-14   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,   12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.   The powers of heaven will be shaken by God.  God ordered the solar system and God keeps everything in place for a time by HIS Word.  At the end, God destroys the heavens and earth by HIS Word.   Isaiah 34:4  And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.   Revelation 6:14   And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.   Only God the creator can cause these things to happen.   ***   Before God destroys the present heaven and earth, God removes HIS elect from this earth.   I Thessalonians 4:13-17   13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 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 (precede/ go ahead of) them which are asleep.   16 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:   17 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.   ***   We will be taken to the new heaven and new earth which has been prepared by God for HIS people, for the elect of God.   Revelation 21:1-5   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.   4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.  

(This podcast was previously published on May 6, 2021)   Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   I Corinthians 15:51-52   Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   When Jesus returns, some of the elect of God will still be alive on this present earth.   First, Jesus raises the dead in Christ.   Then those who are still alive on this earth will be changed instantly out of these current fleshly type bodies and will be given new spiritual bodies.  It will happen very fast, in the blink of an eye.   Blink. That is how fast it will happen.   Matthew 24:31   And HE shall send HIS angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together HIS elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.   In their new spiritual bodies, the elect of God will then be raised off this earth and will meet Jesus and the resurrected dead in Christ in the air and we will be taken to the new heavens and the new earth, the new Jerusalem, which is prepared for the elect of God by God.   Here are the scriptures telling us about this:   I Thessalonians 4:13-17   13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.   15 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 (precede/go before) them which are asleep (dead).   16 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:   17 Then we which are alive and remain (on this earth) 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.   18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   We will then be taken by Jesus to the new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness, that "new" Jerusalem which is prepared by God for us.   Revelation 21:1-5   1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.   2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.   3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and HE will dwell with them, and they shall be HIS people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.   4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.   5 And HE that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.   *****   Then God will destroy with fire this present heaven and earth after we have been taken into heaven to that new heaven and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.   II Peter 3:10-14   10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.   11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,   12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?   13 Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.   14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless.     ***   So if we are born again and endure to the end, following the Holy Spirit as HE shows us something to do, we should be fine.   Jesus does warn us of the following:   Matthew 24  Jesus says:   12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.   13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.   I believe we have to work daily, keeping our mind renewed and reinforced by scripture and by godly exhortations, such as the blog and Podcasts.   I have currently recorded over 400 Podcasts to exhort us in things of God.   ***   Hebrews 10:24-26   And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:   25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;   (This does not mean to attend one of the apostate churches, but rather it is the assembling "of ourselves together" ... and to me this would mean to gather with one or two persons who really have the Spirit of God and follows the Spirit of God ... and immerse yourselves in spiritual writings and Podcasts daily for things going on in this world and in the apostate church world will be very bad, worse and worse as time goes on.)   but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.   26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,   27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.   28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:   29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?   30 For we know HIM that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto ME, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge HIS people.   31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.   I believe we must work at our salvation, keeping ourselves, in ways that remind us of the ways of God upon this earth.  

I. The 2 Biblical Requirements of True Spirituality: The placement in Galatians is critical - Chapter 6 is the culmination of all that Paul has said. He said a lot!(1) Being spiritual(2) Seeking restorationBeing Saved bc God's grace - Galatians 1:6-10Being a Servant bc of God's Love - Galatians 2:20Being Impacted by God's Spirit - Galatians 3:1-3Being Led by/Walk by God's Holy Spirit - 5:13-26Being Burden Bearers - 6:1-10II. The “One Another's of Galatians 5: Setting up ch. 6Galatians 5:13 - Through love serve one anotherGalatians 5:15a - Don't bite and devour one anotherGalatians 5:15b - Or you will be consumed by one anotherGalatians 5:26 - Don't become conceited (which leads to) provoking one another, envying one anotherGalatians 6:1 - Romans 15:1; I Thessalonians 5:14-15; Hebrews 12:12-13; “Watch” - Greek word meaning continual, diligent attentivenessGalatians 6:2 - See 5:14; Matthew 22:34-40!Galatians 6:3-4 -“test” is to approve of something after testing. Is our spiritual life strong enough to assist others?Galatians 6:5 - We can carry someone's burden; We cannot carry their consequences (accountability vs responsibility)Galatians 6:6 -Galatians 6:7-8 (both reaping requires waiting)Galatians 6:9-10 (See I Corinthians 8:1-13)

I Thessalonians 4 - Pastor John Wilkerson - Sunday Morning, February 15, 2026 by First Baptist Church of Hammond

I. The 2 Biblical Requirements of True Spirituality: The placement in Galatians is critical - Chapter 6 is the culmination of all that Paul has said. He said a lot! 1. Being Saved because God's grace - Galatians 1:6-10 2. Being a Servant because of God's Love - Galatians 2:20 3. Being Impacted by God's Spirit - Galatians 3:1-3 4. Being Led by/Walk by God's Holy Spirit - 5:13-26 5. Being Burden Bearers - 6:1-10 II. The “One Another's of Galatians 5: Setting up ch. 6 1. Galatians 5:13 - Through love serve one another 2. Galatians 5:15a - Don't bite and devour one another 3. Galatians 5:15b - Or you will be consumed by one another 4. Galatians 5:26 - Don't become conceited (which leads to) provoking one another, envying one another 5. Galatians 6:1 - Romans 15:1; I Thessalonians 5:14-15; Hebrews 12:12-13; “Watch” - Greek word meaning continual, diligent attentiveness 6. Galatians 6:2 - See 5:14; Matthew 22:34-40! 7. Galatians 6:3-4 -“test” is to approve of something after testing. Is our spiritual life strong enough to assist others? 8. Galatians 6:5 - We can carry someone's burden; We cannot carry their consequences (we are impacted by the consequences of others, but we cannot take their place) 9. Galatians 6:6 - 10. Galatians 6:7-8 11. Galatians 6:9-10

I Thessalonians 4 - Pastor John Wilkerson - Sunday Evening, February 8, 2026 by First Baptist Church of Hammond

We're Still Learning Pt. 2 | February 8, 2026Pastor Wes Morris Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.√  BECAUSE WE CONFUSE PROXIMITY WITH CONNECTION.√  BECAUSE WE AVOID HARD CONVERSATIONS.Hebrews 12:15 (NLT) Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.√  BECAUSE WE LET HURT GO UNHEALED.Colossians 3:13 (NIV) Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.√  BECAUSE BEING VULNERABLE FEELS RISKY.Acts 2:42-47 (NLT) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. LEARNING TO GROW TOGETHERI. WE CHOOSE ONE PLACE TO BE CONSISTENTLY CONNECTED.Acts 2:46 (NIV) Every day they continued to meet together…Psalm 92:13 (NIV) Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God.II. WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER.Philippians 2:3-4 (MSG) If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care - then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.III. WE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.I Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

I Thessalonians 3:6–8 Steadfast - Sermon 3 - "The Sweet Report" Paul was weighed down by loneliness, persecution, and uncertainty. Then Timothy returned with a glowing report: their faith was strong, their love abounded, and they longed for Paul. The news revived him. Today, weary hearts are revived by the sight of steadfast faith. Pastors live again when they see people stand firm in Christ. Have you recently decided to follow Jesus? Take your next step with Jesus: https://cbcgb.co.uk ⛪ ABOUT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCHES: We believe that our Calvary Baptist Churches are a movement for all people to know God, Reaching Others, Building Lives, Honouring God and Make a Difference.

Daily Dose of Hope January 27, 2026   Scripture: I Corinthians 3   Prayer:  Almighty God, Search our hearts today.  Show us those places that we need to change.  Show us where we aren't fully devoted to you and your Kingdom.  Lord, we need your wisdom and guidance.  On our own, we falter and drift.  Lord, we want to know you more.  We want to be a living example of your love and holiness.  Help us, Jesus.  Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's pastoral letters, chronologically.  Thus far, we have read through Galatians, I Thessalonians, and II Thessalonians.  We are currently in I Corinthians.    Today's reading was I Corinthians 3. Paul continues to have harsh words for the Christ-followers at Corinth. They think they live by the Spirit, but Paul tells them they actually are still living by worldly standards. He had to teach them like babies in the faith; they lack maturity. They are drinking milk rather than being able to eat solid food.  One example of this is their view of Christian leadership. They see leadership as focusing on an individual, that person having a following, pitting one person again another. In a sense, they view Christian leadership as a popularity contest. Paul makes the case that there are no individual superstars in Christian leadership. Different people have different tasks at different times. Some people plant, some people water, and others harvest. One task is not better or more important than another. They are all necessary for expanding God's Kingdom. My own experience is that Christian leadership has to be rooted in humility. The way our churches are structured doesn't always lend itself to this so we have to be very, very intentional.  I know I have to very, very intentional.  Ministry isn't about me as a pastor, it's always about Jesus and what he desires for his church. Jesus is of course our ultimate example of leadership. As a servant leader, he washed dirty feet, touched lepers, and ultimately gave up his life for those he led. No superstardom there, just a lot of rolling up sleeves, getting dirty, and experiencing sacrifice.   We find a beautiful example of Christian leadership in Philippians 2:5-8: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

I Thessalonians 4:13 – II Thessalonians 1:10 We’ll begin with Paul addressing false teaching and the Thessalonians concerns regarding the resurrection and the end of days. We’ll examine the two clear references to the rapture given by Paul here and … Continue reading →

Daily Dose of Hope January 21, 2026   Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2   Prayer:  Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!  We magnify your precious and powerful name.  How often we forget how mighty you are.  You created all.  You created us.  Thank you, Lord, for who you are.  Most of all, thank you for loving us with all our flaws and brokenness.  In all we do, in who we are, help us to be more like you.  We pray for humility, mercy, and compassion.  Help us see others through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters chronologically and have now completed Galatians and I Thessalonians.  We are now in 2 Thessalonians. Today, we read 2 Thessalonians 2.  In chapter one, Paul addresses the issue of persecution.  In this chapter, he addresses false teaching.  The Thessalonian church was highly concerned by teachers stating that Jesus had already come.  It's possible other things had happened too to make them think this way.  Maybe there was a natural disaster, a meteor shower, or bad omens.  But it makes sense that human foul play was the main culprit.  To make matters worse, these false teachers were claiming to have Paul's authority in the teaching.  Paul tells them not to be "easily unsettled or alarmed," because none of it is true.  Yes, judgement day will come but it hasn't come yet.  Jesus will not return until certain things have occurred, a certain event must occur (the rebellion) and a certain man must appear (the man of lawlessness, possibly the antichrist). The point of this chapter is not to make specific claims about the end of times but rather to prove to the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord, Jesus' second coming, had not yet arrived.  It's obvious that Paul wants them to stand firm in the faith and not be so easily deceived. In verse 5, Paul asks them, Don't you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?  He is imploring them to remember the truth they were taught and live like mature believers, putting deep roots into truth.  Basically, Thank God for his generous salvation, and don't worry about things above your security clearance. We aren't meant to know all the details and even if we did, this is something totally out of our control.  This isn't a passive way to live, but one that clearly remembers who God is and that we belong to Him.  I often tell my kids to "remember who and whose they are." In some ways, I feel this is what Paul is telling the Thessalonians. Remember what I have taught you. Remember who you belong to.  Don't allow the distractions and untruths of the world to get you off track or lead you astray.  Friends, how often do we forget who and whose we are?  Think of a situation recently that shook your faith a bit or made you question something that you know deeply.  How did you deal with that?  What specific things do you do to remember who and whose you are?  What do YOU do to ensure you stay rooted in the truth of your faith? More tomorrow. Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

Daily Dose of Hope January 20, 2026   Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1   Prayer:  Holy God, We come before you today distracted and with scattered thoughts.  Help us focus, Lord, on you and your Word.  Help us, in the next few moments, to be silent, still, and remember that you are God...Thank you, Lord, for your care and concern for our lives.  Thank you for how you show up in amazing and unexpected ways!  We give you glory, Lord Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen. Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We have been journeying through Paul's letters, and have now completed Galatians and I Thessalonians.  Today, we start 2 Thessalonians. Similar to 1 Thessalonians, this letter is also written by Paul, Timothy, and Silas, but scholars consider Paul to be the primary author.  The letter opens in a similar manner as I Thessalonians, with Paul giving thanks for the Thessalonian church.  He is especially grateful for how their faith and love for one another has grown despite persecution.  He even says that he boasts about how they have persevered in the midst of such difficulty.  He doesn't give specifics about the persecution, but we can guess it was hostility directed at Christians by both gentile nonbelievers and Jews. Chapter 1 helps us begin to understand Paul's theology on the suffering of believers.  First, he alludes to the fact that faithful endurance, perseverance in the face of struggle, makes them very worthy of the Kingdom of God.  Certainly, endurance of hardship and persecution was seen as a virtue in early Christianity.  What a change a couple thousand years make!  At least in Western Christianity, we tend to balk at any kind of discomfort and certainly try to avoid suffering at all costs.  But their suffering does NOT mean that God isn't with them.  Paul states that God's judgment is right.  Temporary suffering doesn't indicate God's rejection; it may be character building or redeemed in some other way.  God won't waste their experience but use it to grow them and the Kingdom.  After all, that's what it's all about.  The second element in today's chapter is the concept of God's justice.  God is all about just outcomes.  He doesn't operate in a willy-nilly fashion but is fair and consistent.  According to Paul, God considers it just to punish those who persecute the Thessalonians.  This might be surprising to some, as we always focus on God's love.  Yes, God is loving but God is also fair.  Throughout Scripture, we read about God's righteous judgment.  Knowing that God will judge others fairly frees us to simply extend love and grace and not feel the need to distribute our own judgment upon others. I'll close with Paul's words in Romans 12:19-21, Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."  Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope January 19, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 5   Prayer:  A prayer from Martin Luther King, Jr... Thou Eternal God, out of whose absolute power and infinite intelligence the whole universe has come into being, we humbly confess that we have not loved thee with our hearts, souls and minds, and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive. We love our friends and hate our enemies. We go the first mile but dare not travel the second. We forgive but dare not forget. And so as we look within ourselves, we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an eternal revolt against you. But thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been but failed to be. Give us the intelligence to know your will. Give us the courage to do your will. Give us the devotion to love your will. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we pray. Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 5.   Paul is focusing on the end times not to scare people or bully people into accepting Jesus.  Rather, these words were intended to provide comfort to his congregations.  He is reiterating some of Jesus' teaching here – how the Lord's return will come like a thief in the night.  Paul doesn't quote the Gospels directly but we can see here in this letter, that Jesus' teaching was part of Paul's teaching.    Paul tells them to be alert and sober.  This would have been in contrast to many in the area.  Dionysus, the god of wine, was worshiped in Thessalonica, and his late night parties were known for being wild and crazy events.  The Thessalonians, then, needed to reject those false gods to serve the living God.  In doing so, they will be children of the light/day, awake, alert, watchful.   Jesus' return and their identity as people of the light/day are intended to be words of encouragement to them.  They have nothing to fear when the Lord comes but will actually excel even more.  There is much to be excited for and they are to encourage one another with this hope.   This is fascinating to me.  We don't typically encourage each other by remembering that Jesus will return.  Unfortunately, popular media and Hollywood have made people, even Christians, afraid of Jesus' return.  And we have nothing to be scared of!  For the Thessalonians, this was the ultimate hope.  It was a reminder that this world, and the persecutions and hardships they faced, were temporary.  But they would eventually be with Jesus forever.   Does this give you hope?  Why or why not?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki  

Daily Dose of Hope January 16, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 4   Prayer:  Almighty Father, Thank you for loving us despite our many faults.  Thank you for showing us a different way of doing life.  Help us seek holiness in all we do.  Help us become the people you desire us to be.  As we work through today's Scripture and devotional, I pray that you speak to our hearts.  Help us see things differently.  We want to hear from you.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 4.  Possibly because they were experiencing so much persecution, the Thessalonians were very interested in knowing when Jesus' second coming would occur.  Paul tells them two things they needed to hear: their persecutors will be judged and in the meantime, living in faith, hope, and love, is the best way to prepare for the next step of their Christian journey.  Jesus will come suddenly, like a thief in the night.  But they have nothing to fear as God's children.  Those who reject the Gospel will face God's wrath but the believers will be protected and get to live with Jesus for eternity.   He reiterates what it means to live a Godly life.  He says to reject sexual immorality, and to seek holiness.  The idea of seeking holiness is deeply rooted in Scripture, including the command to be holy as God is holy (Lev. 19:2), Jesus' teachings to be perfect as our Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48), and the Great Commandment (Matt. 22:34-40).  John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, writes that holiness is not perfection or flawlessness but more a maturity of character and increasing love for God and others.  The Thessalonians were coming from a pagan culture that valued self over others.  Living holy lives would have truly set them apart from the culture around them.  People would notice.    The last part of the chapter is kind of interesting, regarding those who have already died.  Just like his talk of the second coming, this is purely pastoral encouragement for them.  Believers who have died in the Lord will be resurrected when Jesus returns.  They can trust in that.  Now, Jesus was pretty clear-no one knows the time he will come back, only the Father.  In Matthew 24:36, Jesus says, "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows."  Despite this, people have tried making predictions for thousands of years.  I hear people today say, "Well, these must be end times because of this or that."  My personal opinion is that isn't for us to know or say.  Our responsibility is to take Paul's advice to the Thessalonians and live in faith, hope, and love, pointing others to Jesus and living like people with Good News.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

I Thessalonians 1:1-4:12 We begin our study of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians with a biblical documentation of the approximate time during the Acts period when I Thessalonians was written, (thanks to our friends at Grace Ambassadors). We then detour for … Continue reading →

Daily Dose of Hope January 15, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 3   Prayer:  King Jesus, We come to you today with praise and lifting your name high.  You are a Lord of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Thank you so much for allowing us to experience those things in you.  Also, Lord, thank you for showing us a new way of doing life.  The ways of this world are empty and temporal but your ways are eternal and fulfilling.  Help us be bold in our faith, staying strong in the midst of whatever challenges we face.  Help us live like the people you have called us to be.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 3.  Paul and Silas very much wanted to visit the Thessalonian church and encourage them in their persecution.  But over and over again, it didn't work out.  They were frustrated and concerned about the welfare of the new believers.  While they had previously warned the Thessalonian church that persecution was unavoidable, they still feared for their well-being.    Eventually, they send Timothy to visit them and instruct them in the faith as needed.  Timothy brought back good news, as the Thessalonian church was becoming more mature in their faith.  Despite their challenges, the new believers were remaining strong in faith and continuing to demonstrate love toward those inside and outside the church.  This pleased Paul and Silas very much.  They experienced joy knowing that the faith of the Thessalonians remained strong and vibrant.  They thanked God for their perseverance and endurance.   The early church had such a different perspective than we do regarding persecution.  They saw persecution as inevitable; it was simply something that believers had to endure.  It doesn't appear they feared being persecuted either.  They knew that as followers of Jesus, their message would be met with opposition.  In the Western church of today, we tend to fear persecution and rejection.  We hesitate to share the Gospel message because we might offend someone, someone might say something mean to us, or we might get rejected.  These seem incredibly minor compared to the persecutions of the Thessalonians or other believers around the world today who risk everything to share the Gospel with others.   Here's a question for us:  If I were being tortured and persecuted for my faith, would I stay faithful to Jesus or would I give in to the pressure and deny Christ?   It is so important for us to rest in the uneasiness of this question.  If push came to shove, how faithful are we, New Hope?  This is truth:  Christians around the world deal with this every single day.  We don't think about it much but over 388 million Christians around the world suffer persecution or discrimination for their faith in Jesus Christ. That means they experience some kind of hostility as a result of proclaiming the name of Jesus or living out their faith. Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2025, many were kidnapped, imprisoned, or forced from their homes.  In addition, more than 3,600 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.  For other Christians, it means being denied economic opportunities or simply living under the threat of violence.  American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like.  It's not being made fun of or worrying about offending someone, it's risking all for Jesus.   Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 states most likely to punish Christians for their faith. North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen, took the top spots this year. It is almost impossible to live openly as a Christian in all three of these places. In extremist Moslem countries, leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed.  Other nations that are particularly dangerous for Christians are Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran. I recently read this statement and it stopped me in my tracks:  "If we have not prepared ourselves and our twenty-first century churches to die for Christ's name if necessary, we have not completed our responsibility of preparing disciples."  If this makes us uncomfortable, it should.  Because Jesus has called us to a faithfulness that involves more than what we typically think of when we call ourselves Christ-followers.  We can see it in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.  We see it throughout the book of Acts.  What does it mean to be a disciple?  Jesus makes it quite clear, Mark 8:34-35, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope January 14, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 2   Prayer:  Lord, We come to you today with humble hearts.  Help us think less of ourselves and more about others.  Help us focus more on you, and less on our own wants.  It is our inclination to complain and whine.  Forgive us, Lord.  We need you.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them in chronological order.  We are currently on Paul's second pastoral letter, I Thessalonians.  Today, we read I Thessalonians 2. The authors start out the chapter by discussing their motives for preaching the Gospel message.  They have pure motives and have no desire to trick people into becoming converts, which must have been an issue in the day.  Gaining converts at any cost suggests manipulation and the desire to look successful before others.  But their main concern was pleasing God, not people.  That does not mean that the Gospel message isn't pleasing to people, because it certainly is, but that wasn't their main reason for sharing it.  God had called them to this and they were being obedient. Unfortunately, throughout the course of history, Christians haven't always had such pure motives in sharing the Gospel.  Evangelism has often occurred with a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other.  I think Paul, Timothy, and Silas, would be appalled at how far people representing the Christian faith have gone to simply gain converts, without concern for the hearts of people.  As twenty-first century believers, we get to stand on the shoulders of those who witnessed well and those who made a terrible mess of it.  And yet, we are still called to share the Gospel with others with pure motives.  Guided by the Holy Spirit rather than our own prideful motivations, we are called to share the source of our hope.  Just as Paul and friends write in this chapter, our core motivation must be to please God.  It's great if other people are pleased as well with the message, but that isn't our primary purpose.  It's simply all about Jesus. Paul isn't shy.  He tells the Thessalonians that he serves an a model for faithfulness.  In all fairness, he says the Thessalonians are also to be emulated as models of faithfulness.  I want to talk about this a bit.  Paul isn't bragging.  He is making a statement about how the Gospel of Jesus is not a set of ideas to believe but rather a way of life.  The Gospel might be seen as a set of lived commitments.  Paul is saying that believers model the Word of God in their context, they live it out, even when it is hard.  And it was very hard for the Thessalonians but they did it anyway.  Paul wants them to know he sees their sacrifice and loves them; he is willing to sacrifice alongside them as well.   Do you live out your faith in the way Paul is describing?  Is your faith a set a beliefs or is it a total and complete lifestyle with Jesus at the center?  What would it take for you to move toward a lifestyle in which your faith in Jesus is all-consuming?  Who do you know who models this kind of faith?  Paul certainly alludes to attributes that suggest someone is living this way: humility, honesty, sincerity, willingness to work hard on tasks that seem lowly, willingness to be vulnerable, courage to take risks for the Gospel, and a true trust in Jesus.   Take some time and pray about this.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki      

Daily Dose of Hope January 13, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 1   Prayer:  Heavenly Father, We come before you today with a sense of gratefulness.  You are a God who loves us despite all our faults.  You provide for us despite our selfishness.  You answer our prayers despite our impatience.  Lord, we are so thankful and rejoice in your Holy and perfect name.  Forgive us for the times in which we fall short and we know they are many.  Lord Jesus, how we want to do better.  Help us see others through your eyes.  We so need you.  More of you and less of me.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently on a journey through the letters of Paul, working through them in chronological order.  We just completed Paul's letter to the Galatians yesterday and today, we begin I Thessalonians.   Let's talk a little bit about Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica.  There are some scholars who actually think this letter may have predated Galatians, but the general consensus is that Galatians was written in 49-50 and I Thessalonians was written around 50-51.  They were certainly close together, but the letters are very different.  While Galatians is critical in nature (in response to false teachers who were trying to corrupt the Gospel), I Thessalonians is an encouraging letter in which Paul teaches about living Godly lives during difficult persecution.  I Thessalonians was also written during Paul's second missionary journey.   We get the backstory of this letter in Acts 17.  Paul and Silas have gone to Thessalonica, preach the Gospel, and pretty quickly there is a strong Christian community there.  But the Christians there are accused of defying the emperor by saying they believe in another king, Jesus (refer to Acts 17:7).  Paul and Silas end up leaving the city because of the ruckus.  In this first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul is trying to reconnect.  He's heard from Timothy that the Thessalonian church is doing well, despite the continued persecution.  The letter is actually from Paul, Silas, and Timothy, as they are together in Corinth and have this urge to keep the Thessalonians encouraged.    Let's look at the letter itself in chapter 1.  It was normal in an ancient letter to include some kind of prayer for the recipient after the greeting. The authors state that they continually thank God for all the people in the church, and that they remember them before God because of their work produced through faith and love and their endurance inspired by hope in Jesus.   I am most intrigued by the line "endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."  Endurance is the ability to keep going, to persevere, in the face of difficulty and suffering. We don't know exactly what kind of persecution the Thessalonian Christians were facing but it must have been pretty bad. And Paul was worried about them. They were new believers-how would they withstand these hardships? Would their faith crumble or strengthen? Apparently, they remained strong and steadfast, despite their limited experience in the faith.   This idea of endurance through hardship becomes a virtue in the early church. Here is the important part: their endurance was not a result of some kind of internal emotional strength or resolve but was a result of their hope in Jesus. Their hope was rooted in the second coming of Jesus, which will become a theme throughout this letter.   Think about your own life. How would you rate your endurance in the face of hardship? While we don't face the same kind of persecution as the Thessalonian church, we still deal with other challenges. How is your faith grounded in the hope of Christ?   Blessings, Pastor Vicki

We need to connect with each other! In this podcast we will talk about why? If you just don't want to be bothered, afraid you'll get hurt or have decided you are better off alone, don't buy into those lies. Jesus loves you and wants His children to connect. I Thessalonians 5:11

Pastor Dobbs ministers from I Thessalonians 5:16-18 on the importance of choosing to rejoice, pray and be thankful. It is a decision that we must make daily which I believe is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives despite our circumstances. Scripture: I Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Hit the notification bell so that you do not miss our most recent video. From your mobile device, to sow a financial seed into the ministry you may visit us at occvr.org and click the menu tab to locate the donate button. The donate button will provide two options for online giving. You may utilize “Text To Give” in which you will text “give” to the phone number 770-692-2225 to setup your monthly gift or one time financial gift. The additional method for online giving is simply click on the paypal “donate” button. Thanks to our generous partners in ministry, we are able to continue spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our local and foreign outreach ministries. For further information on Overcomers Christian Center including address, service times, and other information please visit occvr.org. Also you may visit us at the following: Facebook: @occvr Podcast: The Overcomers

Pastor Dobbs ministers from I Thessalonians 5:16-18 on the importance of choosing to rejoice, pray and be thankful. It is a decision that we must make daily which I believe is possible by the power of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives despite our circumstances. Scripture: I Thessalonians 5:16-18 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Chapter 2 of Nehemiah is about his own return to Jerusalem; it finished with his rebuke to those who opposed the rebuilding of its walls; these were an Ammonite and an Arab (v.19), they did not want the Jews to be able to defend themselves.  But the Jews set to work – and it was a most remarkable team effort!As we read ch. 3  we counted 33 individuals and groups who each did their part in rebuilding parts of the wall, noting the words, “and next to him … and after him.”  For example, “Jedaiah … repaired the wall opposite his home” [v.10]  then Shallum, “ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters” [v.12] – it was an all-out effort with the women helping too! The gates also had to be repaired and put in place (v.14,15)   The priests also were involved (v.22), no one was exempt.This Is the same in building up the “body of Christ”!  Nehemiah inspired in them such a will to work that they completed the work “in fifty two days” [6 v.15] despite the increasing opposition we will read of tomorrow.Let's consider the spiritual counterpart to all this, we do not have a human Nehemiah urging us on, instead we have our Lord Jesus. How conscious are we that “he has said ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you'” [Heb.13 v.5]In Hebrews ch.12 believers are urged to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith …” [v.1,2]     In Eph. 2 v.21,22 we saw that believers are building on the foundation the prophets and Apostles laid – and Jesus is the “cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  In him you also are being built together …”Paul told the Corinthians, “Let each one take care how he builds upon it” [1 Cor. 3 v.10] and in I Thessalonians which we started reading today, Paul says, “since we belong to the day” and not the darkness of this world, “therefore encourage one another and build one another up” [5 v.8,11]Followers of Christ are a team and teamwork is vital! We have no head but Christ (Eph. 4 v.15).  Sadly those who have strayed from the way the church was ‘built' in the first centuries resort to having leaders, teamwork among them is minimal, if it exists at all.  So the example of teamwork we are reading in Nehemiah is an example for true believers of all ages

Introduction Acts 20:17, 28 I Thessalonians 5:12-13 I Timothy 3:1 Why study this? To help our current elders be motivated in their work. To…

Lamentations 3:22-24  I. Jeremiah    II. For whom should we give thanks?       Ephesians 1:3      Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.      I Thessalonians 1: 2-3    2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,   3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.  3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,     III. When should we give thanks?   1 Thessalonians 1:2-3    2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,   3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,  IV. Why should we give thanks?     Romans 8:28  28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  V. Your power vs. God's power  Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.     1 John 5: 4-5   4  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.   5  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.      VI. Being thankfulWatch this episode on our YouTube channel:https://youtu.be/K5nUmWFiWgU

Luke 7:11-16 (The Widow of Nain) At the gates of Nain, the procession of death meets the Lord of Life—and death loses. Christ turns the widow's grief into joy, revealing that every tear will one day be transformed into the eternal song of alleluia.  A "by-the-numbers" homily - enjoy the show! --- This was an encounter between two forces: death and the very source of life. We know how this encounter always turns out. Life seems so fragile (war, disease, accidents, violence) and we seem doomed to die. What happened (Jesus brought the dead back to life) Focus briefly on three parts of this Gospel reading: the procession, the grief of the mother, and how it ended. The funeral procession.  How we do funerals.  Preparation for it.  Psalms.  Preparation of the body.  Funeral service(s).  Burial.  The movement of the person from one list in our daily prayers to the other. Nine-day prayers.  Forty-day prayers.  Annual prayers.  Often with koliva or a special bread. The grieving mother.  Do not weep.  “Blessed are those who mourn.”  Jesus Himself, always in the Spirit, wept at the death of Lazarus.  Do not weep “like those who have no hope…” (I Thessalonians). Repent of the sin that leads to unhealthy tears; and that repentance requires that we live knowing that we may never have another chance on this side of a funeral to mend a relationship.  Tears of honest grief are cathartic, as are tears of outrage at the absurdity of living in a world where death is so prevalent.  But let those tears flow in the knowledge that as outrageous, ignoble, and offensive as death is; that our tears of sorrow are being turned, as we sing in the funeral service, into the song “alleluia!”  And that is how I want to conclude... How it ended.  This was an encounter between two forces: death and the very source of life.  Who won?  And who won when death took a man captive and found that it, instead, it was forced to encounter God?  Who won?  It was no real contest!  As we hear from St. John Chrysostom on Pascha: Christ-God annihilated death!  In a world that was made and is governed by the source of Life, death place is temporary, a consequence and concession to our sin – sin which itself is, again through Christ, only temporary.  It is holiness and life that endures forever. Conclusion. That is the side we have chosen: we reject sin and we reject death.  We have intentionally chosen the side of holiness and of life.  It seems as though our relationship with life is so vulnerable – to sickness, to violence, to sudden catastrophes; but in the only reality that matters in the end, it is quite the opposite.  It and all its associated grief, anxieties, traumas, and pain are products of this world, doomed to end when it is remade in glory.  Again, we have intentionally chosen the side of life.  Let's live it as it was meant to be lived, not in fear of death but in the joy of the One who has through death defeated death and who desires us to live well both now and into eternity.      

I Thessalonians

I Thessalonians

Introduction Proverbs 11:6 Greed is the desire to have more. Romans 1:28 I Corinthians 6:9—10 I Corinthians 5:9 I Thessalonians 2:5 II Peter…

Jesus Loves His Church“Fearless to the End” / II Timothy(SHARE * FOLLOW * GUARD) Message 6John Hunn, Senior PastorI. Three Commands for a Fearless Life:1. SHARE (1:8-12) - the sufferingsA. The birth of JesusB. The death of JesusC. The life of Paul - Acts 9:13-16D. The life of Timothy - 2:2; 4:52. FOLLOW (1:13) - my exampleA. The dedication of discipleshipB. The Lord is the Leader - I Corinthians 11:1; I Thessalonians 1:6-73. GUARD (1:14) - the good depositA. Who guards the United States?B. Who guards the gospel? 4:1-5; Jude 3

Closer Pt. 2 | August 17, 2025Pastor Wes Morris Psalm 50:7-15 (TLB) O my people, listen! For I am your God. Here are my charges against you: I have no complaint about the sacrifices you bring to my altar, for you bring them regularly. But it isn't sacrificial goats that I really want from you.For all the animals of field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains! If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you - for all the world is mine and everything in it. No, I don't need your sacrifices of flesh and blood. What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory. √ GOD DOESN'T NEED OUR RELIGION - HE WANTS OUR HEART.Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT) You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. √ GOD DELIGHTS IN A HEART THAT IS GRATEFUL.Psalm 50:15 (TLB) What I want from you is your true thanks...Psalm 100:4 (NIV) Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. - John Piper√ GOD WANTS US TO TRUST HIM IN OUR TROUBLES.II Chronicles 20:12 (NIV) Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.II Chronicles 20:21-22 (NIV) After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. WHAT GOD REALLY WANTS I. THANK GOD DAILY.I Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.II. TURN WORRY INTO WORSHIP.Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.III. PRAISE HIM IN EVERY SITUATION.Psalm 34:1 (NIV) I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.To learn more about Bay Chapel visit our website at baychapel.com

Send us a textThe Big Three. Start here. Victory in Jesus in these three areas set the stage for victory in every part of your life. And so long as they go unaddressed, no other effort in Jesus' name can please the Lord. Take down the big three, and the adversary's team falls apart.    Idolatry:Addressed by Jesus and Paul (Seen in I Thessalonians 1:6-10)Bitterness:Addressed by Jesus and Paul (seen in I Thess. 3:11-13; 4:9-12)Immorality:Addressed by Jesus and Paul (seen in I Thess. 4:1-8)Dailly Bible Devotional (Volumes 1 and 2):Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Sponsors:  Jon Cunningham, Owner, Cunningham Financial GroupWebsite:  www.cunninghamfinancialgroup.com   Phone:  205-326-7364Tyler Cain, Senior Loan Officer, Statewide MortgageWebsites: https://statewidemortgage.com/https://tylercain.floify.com/Phone: 813-380-8487