Podcasts about thessalonian

If you ever feel besieged, the Thessalonian believers would have sympathised with you. Paul, himself assaulted, nevertheless expressed his concern for and confidence about the saints in Thessalonica. He is realistic about the real danger that Christians face, the evil one who seeks in all things to hinder and harm us. He is confident because of the faithful Lord whom Christians trust. He relies on the gracious care that Christians have as the Lord establishes and guards his beloved people.

1 Thessalonians 3:1–8 Suffering is inevitable in the life of a maturing Christian. When troubles come, we can either resist them or let them press us closer to Christ. Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8). When your comfort zone gets squeezed, learn to see it as expected and essential. Resolve to see adversity as an opportunity to stay firmly committed to Jesus in your trials.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 / March 11-12, 2026 Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8). From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

Suffering is inevitable in the life of a maturing Christian. When troubles come, we can either resist them or let them press us closer to Christ. Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8).When your comfort zone gets squeezed, learn to see it as expected and essential. Resolve to see adversity as an opportunity to stay firmly committed to Jesus in your trials.

1 Thessalonians 3:1–8 Suffering is inevitable in the life of a maturing Christian. When troubles come, we can either resist them or let them press us closer to Christ. Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8). When your comfort zone gets squeezed, learn to see it as expected and essential. Resolve to see adversity as an opportunity to stay firmly committed to Jesus in your trials.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 / March 11-12, 2026 Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8). From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

1 Thessalonians 3:1-8 / March 11-12, 2026 Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8). From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

Suffering is inevitable in the life of a maturing Christian. When troubles come, we can either resist them or let them press us closer to Christ. Follow along as Pastor Chuck Swindoll looks at suffering in the life of Paul as well as in the lives of the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 3:1–8).When your comfort zone gets squeezed, learn to see it as expected and essential. Resolve to see adversity as an opportunity to stay firmly committed to Jesus in your trials.

Paul's confidence in the sovereign, electing love of God does not make him complacent or diminish his love or his prayers for the Thessalonian believers. Nor does it stop him acknowledging the very real and powerful opposition of the evil one. Instead, it spurs him on making him all the more eager to learn of their faith, even if this would come at great cost to himself. Such is the manner of the love of God at work in Paul. There is plenty enough both externally and within ourselves to tempt and hinder us from loving in this way. By the grace of God may we resist those opposing forces and, as the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

Send a textPaul tells more about the imminent rapture of the church and the Great Tribulation to prepare the Thessalonian church to remain strong in their faith. The pressure from false teaching could cause them to waiver and become doubtful. He encourages them to pray without ceasing reminding them of the power of prayer. Listen to hear. Support the show

In this message, we explore how Brainerd is called not only to grow inward through community and discipleship, but outward — reaching our region with the gospel of Jesus Christ, as seen in the example of the Thessalonian church.

Paul, in his first letter to the Thessalonian church, is thanking God as he recalls their endurance in faith  and love, all inspired by His hope. We can all receive this encouragement because we follow the same God that was at work in their lives.Visit: abideatascadero.orgEmail: info@abideatascadero.orgInstagram: @abide.calvary_atascFacebook: @AbideCalvaryAtascadero

He seeks their willing desire, as Christians, to walk and please God as he had already taught them, and in fact to do so more and more. After the catechism, the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, there is really not more concepts to learn, but we come into the deeper knowledge of these things and of our own weaknesses. When Paul tells them “you know the commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus” he means the basic teaching that he and Silas taught the Thessalonian church while he was with them. They have been instructed how to live, how to believe, and how to pray, as have we.

Title: Grieve In Hope Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 FCF: We often struggle despairing over death. Prop: Because God will raise His children to life and bring all His elect to Him when He returns, we must not grieve without hope. Scripture Intro: CSB [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. In a moment we will read from the Christian Standard Bible starting in verse 13. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Paul has turned to teaching. He is seeking to build what is lacking in the faith of the Thessalonians. He spent the first three chapters defending their visit and the experience that these Thessalonian believers had in receiving the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. But now, he turns to application for them. The rest of the book is designed to fulfill his benediction prayer. That they would become blameless in holiness. He revealed at the beginning of chapter 4 that God's will for His people is that they become more and more holy, different, set apart. He has already addressed two areas in their life that they can be holy. First, their sexual ethic and second their love for other believers. Today, Paul will broach the topic… of death. How can we be different than the world when it comes to the concept of death? Please stand with me to focus on and give honor to the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Most gracious and loving Lord. We thank You that You are sovereign over life and death. That not even a bird falls without your knowledge and will. Although death is not an original part of your creation, and although it has always been a punishment for sin, it does not have power over You and Your will. Though Satan is said to wield its power, he does this by Your will and by Your permission, so that all things are according to Your immutable and sovereign decree. We thank You for these truths because they help us to establish a proper understanding of death so that we can be a people who are holy because we are filled with hope. Transform us Lord by Your promises and power, we pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Our friends bring us to the grave and leave us there, but God will not.” Anonymous “At the close of every obituary of His believing children God adds the word… henceforth!” A.W. Tozer “We are more sure to arise out of our graves than out of our beds.” Thomas Watson “The resurrection and the judgment will demonstrate before all worlds who won and who lost. We can wait.” A.W. Tozer Ponder these wonderful words as we consult the text of scripture today. I.) The dead in Christ will be raised first, so we must not grieve without hope. (13-16) a. [Slide 3] 13 - We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. i. The CSB is unlike many modern translations of this verse in that it does not include some sort of conjunction to begin this verse. ii. Either “but” or “now” are appropriate. But deciding on which is difficult. The CSB leaves it untranslated to accommodate both options. iii. Either way, Paul is clearly moving to a new topic, but we should not think for one moment that Paul's words here have nothing to do with what he's been saying since the didactic shift in the letter which began in chapter 4. iv. Paul is certainly still teaching about God's desire for His children to become more and more holy. To be more and more different. v. Up to this point in the letter, in almost everything he has written Paul has continued to say, “as you know”, or “as you remember”, or “as you witnessed”, or “as we commanded you…” 1. Most of what Paul has said in this letter has been things that the evangelists clearly taught the Thessalonians while they were in Thessalonica. 2. But Paul opens this section expressing his desire that they not be uninformed. 3. This is the first time in the letter where Paul is about to instruct them on something that either he and his companions did not give to them, or something that the Thessalonians had somewhat misunderstood as proven by the report from Timothy. 4. Paul doesn't want them to be ignorant of this teaching or misinformed. vi. The expression, “those who are asleep” is a euphemism for people being dead. 1. This is a fairly common expression at this time to refer to someone who has died. It is similar to our expression “passing away.” It is a euphemism to soften the blow of the reality. 2. Whatever they got wrong or do not know concerns those who have died. vii. Paul hopes that by sharing this teaching with them that they will not grieve death the same way that those outside the church grieve death. viii. And then he specifically calls out how unbelievers grieve death. They grieve without hope. 1. The common view in the first century was that once you were dead, you stayed that way. There really was no returning from death. 2. Theocritus, a Greek writer and poet once said, “Hopes are for the living; the dead are without hope.” 3. And although there were few who believed that the soul did endure beyond death – there was certainly no returning or resurrection. 4. And even those who did believe in the soul's enduring past death, would not have hope in any way according to Paul's perspective. ix. So, Paul wants them to be different. To be set apart. To be holy in the way they grieve those who have died. x. That is his application. xi. But so far, it lacks a reason. It lacks the doctrinal foundation to expect this conclusion. xii. Why should the Thessalonians grieve differently than unbelievers who grieve without hope. b. [Slide 4] 14 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. i. Paul states this with a conditional “if” clause, not to question whether or not the Thessalonians believed this, but as a rhetorical device. 1. If I said, “if we aren't fools, we will trust the Lord.” I'm not actually suggesting that we are fools. It is a rhetorical expression designed to move the audience to adopt a belief. 2. In a similar way, Paul says “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again” which should generate a hearty amen from his audience. Why? a. The core of Christian doctrine must include two key concepts of Jesus' life on earth. b. That He died and that He rose again. c. Obviously, there is much more to it than that – but these two truths form the crux for every redemptive discussion and argument that has ever been had in the church and against those outside it. d. Jesus died. Jesus, The Second person of the Godhead, died. He was truly human because gods don't die. But Jesus did. e. Jesus rose again, the man Jesus of Nazareth came back to life at the will of God, by His own authority, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. He was truly God because no human comes back from the dead. f. The promises made to Jesus in the covenant of redemption, are then applied to His bride in the covenant of grace. g. What does this mean? h. That what Jesus has been rewarded with by fulfilling His covenant obligations to the Father – has been applied to us by grace. 3. So, since this is such a rudimentary teaching of the gospel which they should heartily accept, then they must see the next thing Paul teaches as an obvious and true teaching. 4. So, what is that teaching? ii. Paul says that in the exact same way that Jesus died and rose again, so also, through Jesus' redemption, the dead will be raised to life and will be brought with Jesus when He returns. iii. Paul already mentioned in chapter three that Christ will bring all His saints with Him when He returns. iv. So how do the dead eventually join the living and how do we come WITH Jesus when He returns if the dead are dead and we are alive. Death and life form a chasm that cannot be easily crossed, right? c. [Slide 5] 15 - For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord's coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. i. Paul is clearly teaching something new here as he begins this with the assurances that what he is about to say is directly from Jesus' mouth. 1. Scholars debate ad-nauseum as to what exact reference Paul is making. 2. There doesn't seem to be an exact one to one teaching in the gospels from Christ's lips. 3. Some say that this is a collected tradition of Christ's teachings. a. But that is unlikely because that is true of everything Paul taught. b. Why would he call it out here specifically as a word from the Lord? 4. Some say that this may have been something that Christ taught Paul directly when he was “caught up into the third heaven” during his time in the Arabian desert after he was converted in the city of Damascus. a. The obvious difficulty here is that if this is true, there is no way to verify it. b. Paul alone was caught up, no one was with him. 5. So, although there is no one to one, perhaps we should look for something that looks close to what Paul says here. 6. [Slide 6] The closest thing we have is in Matthew 24:30-31. Let's look at that together. a. We see a correlation here to what Jesus said and now what Paul says in this verse and the next. b. Still in this text Christ Himself does not overtly teach that the dead in Christ be raised up. c. So how would Paul arrive at this interpretation assuming he is referencing this teaching of Christ? i. Paul, as we might recall, was a Pharisee. ii. A Pharisee believes in miracles, the resurrection, and a strict interpretational philosophy concerning the Word of God. iii. And as we learned in our study of Acts, most of the practices and teachings associated with the Pharisees Party are actually compatible with the Christian church. iv. A Pharisee's interpretation of Christ's words about gathering His elect from the four winds, would include both the living and the dead. Because it must. All the dead have a future resurrection. To life or to second death. 7. And perhaps this is what is going on in Thessalonica. a. Perhaps Paul taught these words of Jesus to the Thessalonians and either he was not able to fully explain it, or they misunderstood and thought either that the dead in Christ would miss Christ's return to rule on earth and be raised up later for the final judgment, or perhaps even more dire, they assumed that the dead in Christ would miss everything. Meaning they would not be in the New Kingdom at all. b. This would be a blend of the pagan view of the finality and hopelessness of death with the concepts of Christianity. c. The second option in particular would be a good explanation for why the Thessalonians were grieving without hope. d. If you die before Christ returns – you miss out on the Eternal Kingdom entirely? e. Oof. It makes Paul's later words “to live is Christ and to die is gain” a sad joke. 8. So, Paul wishes to correct this by further explaining the words of Jesus. ii. [Slide 7] He explains that not only will God bring the dead believers with Him in the same way Christ was resurrected, but also that the living will not go before them. The dead don't have to catch up to the living. iii. This is already cause for rejoicing. iv. But there is, no doubt, the lingering question of how. v. How will it be possible for Christ to come with all His saints and yet the living not precede the dead in joining Him in the air? What is the sequence of events? vi. Now Paul quotes Jesus' words and adds a bit of teaching. d. [Slide 8] 16 - For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. i. Paul explains that Jesus Himself will descend from heaven, keeping the prediction the angels made when Christ ascended, that he would return in the same way he left. ii. But this time a shout of command, the archangel's voice and the trumpet of God will accompany His return. iii. This seems to be a very public return. Not a quiet and secret one. iv. This seems to be a return in victory. v. In that moment as the Lord descends, the dead in Christ will rise from the dead. vi. Now Paul doesn't elaborate on the resurrected bodies being new bodies. He doesn't give us the mechanics of resurrection. This isn't the problem he is addressing. vii. It is merely the fact of the resurrection of dead Christians that Paul is pointing out. And the timing of that event is concurrent with the Lord's return. viii. The shout, the archangel's voice, and God's trumpet will literally raise dead Christians to life. e. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: So, Paul desires to convey two concepts of truth regarding those who have died in Christ and their fate in reference to the second coming of Christ. The first point he makes is that the dead in Christ will not be left out. In fact, they will be resurrected. The shout of victory, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God will announce the coming of Christ the Victor, and as He taught, He will gather His elect from the four corners of the world. And the dead in Christ… will rise. Because sleeping believers will not be left out, and will be resurrected at Jesus' return, we should not grieve their passing without hope. Transition: [Slide 10 (blank)] So, the dead in Christ will be raised at Jesus' return. But what is the second point that Paul makes to encourage believers to not grieve their deaths without hope? II.) The whole Bride of Christ will be snatched up to meet and always be with Him, so we must not grieve without hope. (17-18) a. [Slide 11] 17 - Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. i. Paul now turns his attention off of those who have died in Christ and focuses on those who are still among the living. ii. Those who are alive when the Lord returns, who are left will then be caught up together with those who were formerly dead. iii. The word caught up means to be snatched. The idea is not one of action by the one being snatched. It simply happens to them. The Lord comes and snatches up His own from the four winds. iv. All of us are going to meet the Lord in the air… together. v. And it is at this very moment that all of the bride of Christ will assemble together with their Groom and no matter what eschatological system you adhere to, all of them teach the same thing that Paul says here. vi. From that moment on, the bride will never be separated from the groom. vii. We will be with Christ locally and in glorified bodies, forever. viii. So not only will the dead rise at Christ's return, the living will be snatched up with them to meet Christ in the air and be with Him from that moment onward. b. [Slide 12] 18 - Therefore, encourage one another with these words. i. The word “therefore” encompasses the entire teaching that Paul has just relayed. ii. What is that in quick summary? 1. The dead in Christ will not be left out. 2. In fact, they will rise first and then with the living, we will all be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and come with Him when He returns to judge and set up His eternal Kingdom. 3. And from the moment we all meet Him in the clouds – we will never be apart from Him again. iii. Therefore, we do not have to grieve with no hope for those who die. iv. Because we will meet them again, and they will not miss out on the blessings of the eternal kingdom, nor do we have to fear death as though we will miss the kingdom ourselves. v. This is truly a comfort and a peace to us. vi. Death then, has truly lost its sting. vii. Death has died in the death of Christ. viii. Let us rejoice that He has freed us from the tyranny of sin and the finality of death. ix. We are the ones who live. Because Christ lives in us. c. [Slide 13] Summary of the Point: And so, Paul brings a second point. Not only will the dead in Christ rise first, but then we all, as one bride, will be snatched up together with Christ in the air and never be separated from Him again. Therefore, we must be holy and not grieve like unbelievers do without hope. There is always hope in Christ. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today that informs and corrects our beliefs and guides and shapes our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 14] Paul seeks to correct a misunderstanding in this passage. He does so with new teaching designed to bring comfort and encouragement to the Thessalonian church. Paul teaches that when Jesus returns, at that event the dead in Christ will be resurrected. Not only will they rise, but together with the living, all the elect from the four corners of the world will be snatched up into the air to meet Jesus as He descends. And from that moment, in the air, all the saints of God will never be separated from Christ. With this new information, there is no reason to grieve the death of a believer without hope. Indeed, death is gain for the believer. So, what does all this mean for us as 21st century Christians? 1.) [Slide 15] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the dead in Christ will be raised at Christ's return. a. Paul is the champion of this teaching, as he writes about it in several of his letters. b. But this teaching is not merely Pauline. c. John, Peter, the writer of Hebrews, and Jesus Himself talk about a resurrection for all people including believers. d. John specifically talks about, what he calls, the first resurrection in Revelation 19. This is when those who have suffered for the name of Christ will be raised to life at Jesus' return. e. All of this tells us that those who are genuine believers, who have received Christ and been united to Him by faith, when they die, it is not the end. When they die, they won't miss anything the Lord has planned. f. Instead, they will be resurrected when the Lord returns and join all the living believers who will be snatched up to be with Christ. g. John says, blessed is the one who participates in the first resurrection, because the second death has no power over them. h. Blessed indeed! i. Hallelujah! What a Savior! 2.) [Slide 16] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that all of Christ's Bride will be snatched away together to be with Christ forever. a. Not only will dead believers be raised for the glorious coming of Christ – but living believers will no longer be parted from their company or the company of Christ, from that moment on. b. Humanity has known one constant since we were forced from the garden of Eden. c. The constant of death. d. Everything, everyone… dies. e. And no one… NO ONE comes back from death. f. In the scriptures we are told of a few people who were resurrected from death and a couple people who did not die at all. g. But these are the exceptions that prove the rule. h. Everyone dies. And no one comes back from death. i. But Christ's death and resurrection changes all of that. j. Christ is called the firstborn of the resurrection. He kept the covenant of redemption and was rewarded with the blessings of keeping that covenant, which included His resurrection and ascension to be Lord of all. k. And those who are united to Him by the covenant of grace, are also inheritors of His rewards. l. We too, will be resurrected. m. And because of that, all those who have died in Christ will join us in the air when Christ returns. n. They won't miss a thing. o. When Christ comes as a groom for His bride, the dead and the living will go to Him. Even death will not prevent His bride from going to Him. For He will snatch us up. p. In what is probably the biggest mic drop moment in human history… A shout of command will sound. The voice of one of the seven archangels will cry out. And God's royal trumpet of victory will resound. And everyone who belongs to Christ… will go to Him. q. And here is the kicker. r. From that moment on… We will never know separation from each other or from Christ… EVER AGAIN! s. Hallelujah! What a Savior! 3.) [Slide 17] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must be holy in how we view death. a. This is the overarching principle that we must observe in this text. b. Paul is not establishing an Eschatological system. He is trying to comfort believers who, ultimately, have an inaccurate understanding of death. c. Indeed, they see death as final. They see no hope in death. d. And so, this one application of being holy in how we view death has two specific applications that comprise it. e. One practice we must stop and one practice we must start. f. [Slide 18] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must stop fearing death if we are genuine Christians. i. We don't desire death. Survival is a natural instinct that God has programmed into all creatures. ii. We don't wish to die, and the threat of death is powerful. iii. Death hanging over us changes the way we live. iv. We don't take unnecessary risks. There is a reason that peace protesters do their protesting on safe soil and not at the front lines of war. v. A healthy survival instinct is good and natural. vi. But, our culture has come to worship death. vii. What I mean by that is that death is a vengeful god that we all try to placate. viii. We offer up our unborn children to it in exchange for comfort and financial peace. ix. We give our money to it to preserve our looks and our bodies. x. We give our time and energy to it to exercise and hold it at bay. xi. The general view of death by westerners is that we should do everything we can to make sure it doesn't come looking for us. xii. This should NOT be how Christians view death. xiii. We should form our view of death based on what the scriptures teach us about it. xiv. And what do they teach? 1. Death has lost its sting because of what Christ has purchased for us. 2. When we are absent from the body in death, we are present with the Lord in life. 3. For us to live is Christ but to die is gain. 4. Death is not the end for any man, all will be resurrected. 5. And ultimately it is not the first death that any man should fear. It is the second death that must be avoided at all costs. Any who join the first resurrection, will not be harmed by the second death. 6. All of Christ's bride will be alive and meet Him in the air when He returns. Meaning the dead in Christ… will be raised. xv. Christians do not seek death. We still take steps to preserve our life. xvi. But not at all costs. And not if it forces us to abandon or disobey our King. xvii. Therefore, Christians view death as the last great trial that God has for all of us. The last great suffering that we must endure, before we will suffer… no… more. xviii. Death then… is merely a hurdle in the race that our King has set out before us. And when He jumped over it… He knocked it down. He has made it a guarantee for all His elect, that they will not stay dead. xix. We don't fear death. But we look with faith and hope at what awaits us behind death's door. xx. And the second part of having a holy view of death is… g. [Slide 19] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must grieve the death of believers, with hope. i. This passage in no way teaches us that we must not grieve the death of believers. ii. There is a big movement in evangelical circles to replace funerals of believers with memorials celebrating the life and promotion of someone to glory. iii. I believe that this is, unfortunately, a slight overcorrection on our part. iv. It is entirely appropriate to grieve the death of a believer. v. How do I know that? vi. Jesus wept over Lazarus… even though He knew that in a short time He Himself would raise Lazarus from the dead, and would eventually raise Lazarus again when He returned. vii. Even though we know that death is merely a door we must go through in eternal life, it is entirely appropriate for Christians to mourn their loss of another Christian. viii. We can, and should grieve the death of Christians. ix. Why? x. Because death is not natural. Death is a symptom of sin. Both in the world and even in the one who died. Physical death is a constant reminder that mankind… is fallen. xi. We grieve death as a billboard showing us that this is NOT the eternal state. THIS ISN'T HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO END. xii. But we do so with hope. xiii. Hope of what? xiv. The resurrection and future eternal Kingdom of God. xv. In this way we can celebrate that one day we will see these dead believers again and then, when we see them again, we'll also be with Jesus and we will never be absent from either ever again. xvi. So we grieve the loss of believers… but with hope that this is merely goodbye for now. 4.) [Slide 20] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny the doctrine of soul sleep. a. Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's witnesses take this passage and neglect to do any historical analysis at the idea of sleep. Instead, they read into this a doctrine that is nowhere taught in the scriptures. b. The doctrine of soul sleep. c. Well what is soul sleep? I'm glad you asked. d. Soul sleep is exactly what it says. The idea is that the soul of dead believers enters into a spiritual sleep where their souls unconsciously wait until the Lord returns. e. Then they will be awoken and rejoined with their bodies. f. Unfortunately, this is not taught in scripture and actually there are some teachings in the scripture which refute this teaching. g. The scriptures teach that although the body dies, the soul endures consciously in a specific location. h. No matter what the Disney movies say - You can't keep the dead alive in your heart. They aren't looking down on you and watching over you. And they aren't a spirit visiting you either. i. The scriptures teach us that the only spirits that are active in this world are angels, devils, and God. All spirits of men are ushered to a place called, Sheol, hades, hell, or the realm of the dead. j. And as the New Testament Scriptures teach – those held there have no way out. k. And as the Old Testament Scriptures reveal, when a witch, who normally contacts an evil spirit who is a medium between the living and the dead, was successful in conjuring a real spirit from such a place– SHE WAS SHOCKED! She wasn't expecting the spirit of a once living human. She was expecting something else entirely. l. In one sense, the old pagan notion is true. No one escapes from death. m. But Jesus did. And he took all His people with Him. n. The Apostles' Creed tells us that Jesus descended into hell. o. 2 Peter tells us that He did this to preach to the captives. Meaning that Christ went to the realm of the dead to proclaim His victory over death. He then led all the Old Testament saints out of the place called paradise and took them to heaven with Him. p. This is why Paul says that we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. q. Those who are in Christ inherit the blessing of skipping the realm of the dead to be with God until they are resurrected and reunited with their bodies. r. Which means… that the idea of soul sleep is inconsistent with the scriptures. s. The scriptures clearly teach us that when we die, what sleeps is our bodies. Not our souls. Our souls, consciously join God in heaven, or consciously endure torment in Sheol. t. And all the dead consciously await the day when body and soul will be reunited. The first resurrection to be perfected and to reign with Christ and the second resurrection to be judged and cast into the lake of fire which is the second death. 5.) [Slide 21] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Jesus will not lose a single sheep that the Father has given to Him. a. If God is absolutely sovereign over life, death, and the redemption of souls… do we expect Him to allow us to slip into death and through the grasp of Christ? b. Can God be surprised by the death of one of His children? c. If Death did not keep His Son from Him – what makes us think that death is some unfortunate accident He did not expect or even plan for us. d. Every person is appointed to death once. Then to face judgment. e. And Jesus said, that of all the sheep that God gave to Him, He will not lose even 1. f. Death cannot separate us from the love of God. Indeed, death is gain for those who believe. g. Hallelujah! What a Savior! 6.) [Slide 22] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Without Christ, you have no hope in death. There is only despair since death is a door to eternal death. a. Let me make this abundantly clear. b. For believers, death is a necessary door on the path of eternal life. c. We are resurrected with Christ's return and the power of the second death will not touch us. d. But for you who are not a follower of Jesus – friend, this life is the best you have. There is nothing else for you. e. When you exit this life, your existence becomes one of temporary conscious torment for your soul. f. And this temporary torment will only be interrupted by the sudden reuniting of your body and soul. But your eyes will open and behold the Lion of Judah upon His throne in all His glory. g. The same King that you rejected in this life, that you mocked, that you ignored, that you said you believed in but never served – that same Jesus will preside over your hearing. h. He will call for the books which record all the works of your life whether they are good or evil. i. They will all be laid out before you. j. And though you were a kind, generous, loving person… none of these good deeds will be enough to make up for what seems like an endless list of counts of treason against a holy God. k. The scriptures tell us that everyone who is judged by their works will be found guilty. l. Your brief reprieve from torment, to face judgment, will then be over. And you will be cast into what the scriptures describe as the second death. The lake which burns with fire. And so you shall remain in conscious and eternal torment for all eternity. m. Why? n. Because the body that you were reunited to, was made to endure such agony without ever being consumed. o. My friends… without Christ – you have NO HOPE in death. There is only more death. p. I beg you. I plead with you. I appeal to you friend. Turn from your sin. Forsake it. And cry out to God for mercy. That He might apply the benefits of Christ's obedience to you. That you might be His child. q. If this is your desire today – I'd advise you to stop someone, anyone here today and seek their counsel on how to be God's child. [Slide 23 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the Puritan Richard Baxter. Send forth your convoy of angels for my departing soul, and let them bring it among the perfect spirits of the just. Let me follow my dear friends that have died in Christ before. And when my friends are crying over my grave, let my spirit be with you in rest. You who numbers the hairs of my head, number all the days that my body lies in the dust. Hasten, O my Savior, the time of your return. Send forth your angels, and let that dreadful, joyful trumpet sound. Do not delay, or the living could give up their hope. Do not delay, or this earth could grow to be like hell, and your church by divisions be crumbled to dust. Do not delay, or your enemies could take advantage of your flock. Or pride, hypocrisy, sensuality, and unbelief could prevail against your remnant, and when you came you might not find faith on the earth. Do not delay, lest the grave should boast of victory. O hasten that great resurrection day, when your command will go forth, and none will disobey. That day when the sea and earth yield up their hostages, and all that sleep in the grave awake, and the dead in Christ arise. That day when the corruptible seed that you sowed comes forth incorruptible. I entrust myself not to a grave, but to you. My flesh will rest in hope, until you raise it to the everlasting rest. Return, O Lord! How long? Let your kingdom come! Your desolate bride says come, for your Spirit within her says come-the one who teaches her to pray with groanings which cannot be expressed. The whole creation says come, waiting to be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. And you yourself have said, surely I come. Amen, even, so come, Lord Jesus. We pray this in His name… Amen. Benediction: May your eyes see the king in his beauty That you might view a land that stretches afar; Like Abraham, who looked to a city, Whose architect and builder is God. Until we meet again, possibly in the clouds, go in peace.

On this episode, Paul White talks about the significance of the Apostle Paul's usage of "brothers and sisters" to address the Thessalonian church .Accompanying scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5.

In verses 6-10 of chapter 3, Paul expresses his relief that the Thessalonian believers were doing well spiritually. But Paul does not intend to cease praying for them; rather, he is praying “earnestly night and day.” 

February 19, 2026 Daily Devotional: “The Incessant Rhythm”1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." At the time, the Thessalonian church was facing heavy persecution and grief. Paul wasn't giving them a "toxic positivity" pep talk; he was giving them a survival strategy. It is easy to be joyful when life is hitting all the right notes, but Paul's instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 aren't just "good vibes" for the easy days. They are a spiritual rhythm for the real world. Paul lays out three rapid-fire commands that seem, frankly, impossible on our own strength. How can we be joyful always? How can we pray without stopping? ​The secret lies in the phrase "in Christ Jesus." This isn't about a forced smile or a 24-hour prayer marathon. It's about a change in posture. In rejoicing always; This isn't a command to feel happy every second. It's a call to find your joy in the unchanging character of God rather than the fluctuating circumstances of your life. In Praying continually; Think of this like "background noise" in reverse. It's an open-ended conversation with God where you bring Him into your commute, your meetings, and your chores. It's staying "on the line" with Him throughout the day. In giving thanks in all circumstances; Notice Paul says in all circumstances, not for all circumstances. We don't have to be thankful for the car wreck or the illness, but we can be thankful that God is with us in the midst of it.​ We often spend years asking, "What is God's will for my life?" Paul gives us a direct answer here. God's will isn't just about where you live or what job you take; it's about how you walk through the day you're currentlyin.​ What is one "circumstance" in your life today where you haven't yet looked for a reason to give thanks?​ Before God cares about where you are, He cares about how you are relating to Him. If you are rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks, you are already "in" the will of God, no matter where you are standing.

What Is the Thessalonian Error in 2 Thessalonians? In this episode, we explain the “Thessalonian error”—the fear that believers are already in the Day of the Lord when, in fact, they are not. Walking through 2 Thessalonians 1–2, you'll see how Paul comforts the Thessalonian church during persecution and corrects false teaching that the Day of the Lord's judgment/wrath had already begun. Key Theme: Day of the Lord Has Not Come Yet Paul affirms the Day of the Lord will come, but he insists it has not arrived because specific prophetic events must occur first. This matters because confusion about end-times timelines can produce unnecessary panic and spiritual despair—exactly what Paul confronts in his letter. Antichrist's Great Tribulation vs. God's Wrath A major focus is the biblical distinction between the Antichrist's Great Tribulation (targeting Israel and the church) and the Day of the Lord's wrath (targeting the ungodly world). You'll learn why these are two separate events, and how Jesus returns to cut short the Antichrist's persecution, rapture the church, and only then does God pour out His eschatological wrath. Learn More If you want a deeper study, check out Antichrist Before the Day of the Lord (linked in the show notes). GET THE BOOK Antichrist Before the Day of the Lord https://amzn.to/46Rff6w BECOME A MONTHLY PARTNER https://www.alankurschner.com/partner/ Prewrath Rapture: An Overview, Part 1 of 2 (Roger Best)    • Prewrath Rapture: An Overview, Part 1 of 2...   GET OUR BOOKS: https://amzn.to/43pbG6b GET OUR EMAIL UPDATES: http://eepurl.com/bCU7qT SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST:    / @bibleprophecyanswers   GO TO OUR WEBSITE: https://www.BibleProphecyAnswers.com/

What Is the Thessalonian Error in 2 Thessalonians? In this episode, we explain the “Thessalonian error”—the fear that believers are already in the Day of the Lord when, in fact, they are not. Walking through 2 Thessalonians 1–2, you'll see how Paul comforts the Thessalonian church during persecution and corrects false teaching that the Day of the Lord's judgment/wrath had already begun. The post Don't Fear the Antichrist appeared first on Bible Prophecy Answers with Alan Kurschner.

Who is the man of lawlessness? If the revealing of this person occurs before Christ gathers the church to himself, this question seems important. However, perhaps the characteristics of this being as a part of Paul's answer to the Thessalonian trouble were meant to provide them with something more than a specific name.  

Title: Excel in Love Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 FCF: We often struggle loving other believers by putting them above our own desires. Prop: Because God desires us to be holy in our love for other believers, we must excel in love by putting the mission of the church before ourselves. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week we finished up Paul's first set of instructions for the church of Thessalonica. The last two chapters revolve around the will of God for His church which is for them to be holy…different… pure. The first way Paul teaches them to be holy is in their sexual ethic. Today, Paul will move on to another way that the church can be holy. Although the topic of mutual Christian love is not a new topic, some of the particular applications Paul has in mind for showing love to the church may be surprising. Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Lord of heaven, You are loving and merciful. You have carved out of the death of sin a people for Your own. You have turned wretches into royalty. And You have taught us to love one another. I pray that You would be among us today and teach us anew what it means to love one another. That we would be unlike any other group or organization on earth in that we truly love one another. Teach us these things from Your word we pray this in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Love is not only full of benevolence but beneficence. Love which enlarges the heart never straitens the hand.” Thomas Watson “Love not merely does seek that which does not belong to it; it is prepared to give up for the sake of others even what it is entitled to.” C.K. Barrett “Love for the brethren is far more than an agreeable society whose views are the same.” A.W. Pink “Christian love is not the victim of our emotions but the servant of our will.” John R. W. Stott Keep these ideas in your mind as we look to the text this morning. I.) God desires His children to be holy in our love for one another, so we must excel in love for other believers. a. [Slide 3] 9 - Now concerning love of the brothers, i. Paul makes a clear subject break here. ii. In chapter 3 Paul's benediction hoped for them to abound in love toward one another and for all people. iii. As we said before, the benediction was really a foreshadowing of Paul's teaching he would express in the next two chapters. iv. We also know that this must be somehow related to being holy or set apart or different. v. So, it is good for us to conclude that all of this is interconnected. b. [Slide 4] you have no need for anyone to write to you, i. In a somewhat unexpected turn, Paul introduces the subject matter and then immediately commends them. ii. This shouldn't be too much of a shock though. Paul has already commended them for their love for one another in chapter 1 and it was part of Timothy's report about them in chapter 3. iii. But once again, Paul refuses to praise them directly for their good works. iv. According to Paul, what is the reason that they do not have to be written to concerning love for other believers? c. [Slide 5] for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, i. Paul no doubt makes reference to Old Testament prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, who prophesied about a day when the Spirit of God would write the law of God on the hearts of His people. ii. In that day, the prophets said, a person would not have to be taught the Lord's law by anyone because God would put in on their hearts. iii. Paul firmly believes that this has already been fulfilled in the coming of Christ and the granting of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. iv. In a sense then, the kingdom of God has come. It isn't here fully and completely – but many end-times-predictions from the Old Testament have come true since Christ's birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. v. Part of that is this spiritual teaching of God's law for those who have received the Holy Spirit. vi. Now Paul says that he doesn't need to write to them, in the sense that he doesn't need to inform them of what they should do, because God has already impressed this upon them at their conversion. vii. John the apostle essentially says this, but in another way – he says, “If a man says he loves God but hates his brother he is a liar.” viii. Being a believer assumes the reality of a genuine love for other believers. ix. But how does Paul know that they have been taught these things by God? d. [Slide 6] 10 - for indeed you do practice it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. i. And here is the perfect balance between faith and works. ii. God's gift of Faith unites us to Christ and all the covenant benefits of His atonement. iii. We do not need to work to earn these covenantal promises because it was a covenant made between God the Father and His Son. iv. However, one thing we know must be true… is that works must follow genuine faith. v. This is what justifies us before men and before one another. vi. In this way, Paul knows that God has gifted these Thessalonians the knowledge of His love and he knows that they are genuine believers because he sees them practice this love toward all the believers… even those who are not from their city. vii. So, since the Thessalonians don't need to be taught anything… Since God taught them to love one another already… Since they are doing it… viii. Paul is done… Right? e. [Slide 7] But we urge you, brothers, to excel still more, i. There is a brand of Christianity that teaches that we are able to live sinlessly and perfectly in this life if we achieve a certain spiritual maturity. ii. Paul's words here seem to indicate that the life of a believer never stops maturing. iii. If they are doing well. If they are an example for everyone to follow. If Paul commends them and doesn't need to teach them about loving each other… iv. But still wants them to do better. To excel. To abound at loving others… v. We can reasonably conclude that we will always be striving to live more and more like Christ. vi. From there it isn't too far of a leap for us to conclude that we will not reach perfection in this life. vii. But we do look forward to the day when Christ will present us faultless before the throne of God. f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Paul begins this next section teaching on other relationships besides those of an intimate nature. Specifically, those relationships inside the church. God's desire is for us to be holy, different, pure, and set apart in how we treat others who claim the name of Christ. Paul's application is somewhat stunted by the fact that he doesn't actually need to teach them to do this. First, because they have been taught this by God Himself, and second because they are currently practicing loving one another. Of course, Paul, having a pastor's heart, always sees room for growth in himself and in the hearts of those in his charge. And so, he commands them to excel all the more in love. To abound in love toward believers. A command we should heed too. Transition: [Slide 9 (blank)] But how exactly does Paul expect them to excel in loving other believers. Well, Paul has a few commands he will give to ensure that this will happen. II.) God desires His children to be holy in our love for one another, so we must have a good reputation with outsiders and provide for our own needs. a. [Slide 10] 11 - and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life i. Paul's benediction at the end of chapter 3 helps us to determine what he intends with this next point. ii. In the benediction he asked that the Lord would cause their love for one another and for all men to abound all the more. iii. And, of course, he has already opened the topic of love for their fellow Christian brothers and sisters, and has commended them and commanded them to excel in this area. iv. So, we can make a reasonable guess that this has to do with the cardinal Christian virtue of love. v. However, until verse 12, we don't get a lot of clarity on how exactly these three commands are about love or to whom the love is directed. vi. So, although it is a bit unconventional, let me unpack verse 12 first, before we get to verse 11. b. [Slide 11] 12 - so that you will walk properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. i. Paul presents two results or purposes for the commands he issues in verse 11. ii. The first purpose is that they would walk properly toward outsiders. 1. What exactly is an outsider? 2. Paul is talking about those outside the church. Those Thessalonians who are not believers, perhaps even those Thessalonians who are afflicting them. 3. But in spite of this affliction and opposition from outsiders, Paul sets his aim on the church walking or living properly toward them. Paul desires that they have a good reputation among unbelievers in the city of Thessalonica. 4. Although Paul's topic is certainly focusing on loving other believers, having a good reputation with unbelievers would be one way to excel in their love for all men. In that the church is not a nuisance but contributes to society in a profitable way. 5. Of course, having a good reputation with outsiders is also an act of love toward other believers. 6. Even if only a few of them are found to have difficult or volatile relationships with unbelievers in Thessalonica, this will reflect poorly on all who wear Christ's name and may incur repercussions on the entire church. 7. It will also have a negative impact on the church's gospel witness. 8. So, one result of the three commands Paul will give will be to keep a good reputation of the church to unbelievers, as a way of love for Christians and non-Christians alike. iii. The second purpose that they obey the commands from verse 11 is that they not be in any need. 1. The word need refers to anything that is necessary to live that is lacking. 2. This basically would be Paul hoping that if they obey the commands from verse 11, they would not experience any poverty or be destitute. 3. This would certainly show love toward their fellow believers in that they are not a financial burden to them. 4. The early church is frequently seen giving sacrificially and cheerfully to alleviate poverty among their own members. By providing for yourself, if you are able, you lessen the financial burden on the whole body. This is brotherly love. iv. So now that we know what the results of following these commands would be and how that would contribute to their love excelling primarily toward other believers and even some to outsiders… v. All that remains is to connect the commands to the expected results. vi. So, what is Paul's first command or exhortation to the Thessalonian church that will lead to a good reputation with outsiders and not being in any need? c. [Slide 12] 11 - and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life i. This is somewhat of a paradoxical expression on Paul's part. ii. To have ambition to be quiet seems counter to each other. Like whisper screaming or hard water. These are expressions that make sense, but on the surface seem contrary to each other. iii. So, Paul commands them to have as their cherished goal, their prize, their ambition… to lead a quiet life. iv. What could Paul mean by a quiet life? 1. Well certainly he doesn't mean that they should blend in and pretend to be like everyone else. That is the opposite of being holy. And he has already said that God's plan is for them to be holy. To be different. To be set apart. 2. He can't mean that they should stay silent in that they do not talk about Jesus or share the gospel with their friends and neighbors. Paul doesn't have the authority to usurp Christ's command to make disciples. In fact, Paul already commended them in chapter 1 for the report that the Word of the Lord was going forth from them to all of Macedonia and Achaia. 3. Paul must mean for the Thessalonians to live a life free from commotion, conflict, or disruption. In Romans Paul says, “insofar as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” They must live a life of peace and order. 4. But what is prompting this command? 5. In the second letter to the Thessalonians Paul will bring up a certain group of church members who were going about causing public commotions, stirring up conflicts, and generally disrupting the peace. 6. They were also meddling in other believer's affairs and gossiping, and of course they had time to do all this because they had stopped working and were mooching off the church for their needs. 7. He calls them idle busybodies. 8. Here, we have the precursor to those stronger words in 2 Thessalonians. 9. Paul is commanding the church to be a peaceful, quiet, and orderly people. v. So how would fulfilling this command accomplish the goals of having a good reputation with outsiders and make sure they are not in need? 1. It is almost impossible to have a good reputation with outsiders when you are constantly causing public commotions, disruptions, or conflicts. a. This command would even forbid them from retaliating or fighting back against those outsiders who seek to afflict them. b. Positively it also means for them to strive for peace with outsiders… even if they do not become believers. c. And even within the church - fighting, squabbling, or being contentious toward other believers, would inevitably cause the reputation of the church to be tarnished with outsiders. d. Paul's exhortation is for them to deny themselves retribution or revolution, both in the city of Thessalonica and within the Thessalonian church. e. That they instead lead a peaceful and orderly life. 2. And leading a quiet life inevitably leads to a stable way of providing for yourself. a. Going around causing public commotions, disruptions, or conflicts takes time and energy. b. And if you have a job that you work at to provide for yourself, the time and energy necessary for these ornery tasks – is simply not available. c. Being ambitious for a quiet life leads to simple things like earning a paycheck and taking care of your own needs. d. [Slide 13] and attend to your own business i. What does this expression mean? 1. Ironically this Greek idiom is very similar to our idiom of similar wording. 2. Mind your own business. 3. Although in English it does inherit a sharper meaning than Paul probably intends. 4. Again, reflecting on the small group of idle busybodies within the church, Paul calls on all of them to keep themselves from gossip, nosiness, dissension, stirring up strife, and generally causing problems. 5. Instead, they are to mind their own business. Stay in their lane. And be busy with things that actually concern them. ii. So how does this command produce the results of a good reputation before outsiders and that they are not in need? 1. In one sense, this seems more obviously connected to the first result. Having a good reputation with outsiders is not being a busy body and putting your nose and your opinions in matters that aren't really of your concern. a. This could include both matters in the church and outside the church. b. Outsiders would look on a busy body within the church as well as a busy body in the city, with the same level of contempt. 2. They would not only think negatively about that person not minding their own business, but also it would reflect poorly on the whole church and the gospel of Christ. iii. However, this command is easily related to making sure their needs are met as well. 1. What does someone need if they are going to be a busy body? 2. They need time. a. Time to poke into things they don't belong in. b. Time to spread rumors. c. Time to gossip. d. Time to stir up strife. e. Time to cause dissension. 3. If someone doesn't have time to do these things because they are too busy focusing on the things they have to do, then they won't have to worry about being involved in things that do not concern them. 4. What is one way to make sure that you don't have time for being a busy body? 5. If you worked to provide for yourself. iv. This is certainly where Paul goes with the next command and we should note that idleness and being a busy body go hand in hand. 1. In I Timothy 5 Paul makes this casual connection between idleness and being a busy body. And some proverbs come close to saying this too by informing a person who pursues empty things that they must be satisfied with poverty. 2. One sure fire way to be in need, is to be busy about other people's business. e. [Slide 14] and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, i. As we've already discussed, in 2 Thessalonians Paul will deal with certain individuals in the church who were not only busybodies, causing problems and sticking their nose where it didn't belong, but they were also willingly unemployed even though they were able to work. ii. We'll address the reasons for why they were doing that when we get to 2 Thessalonians. iii. But one point we do need to mention from 2 Thessalonians, is that not only were these idle busybodies not working – they were being supported by the church. iv. Paul's command here is that everyone in the church, who is able, work with their hands. v. The results of this are twofold. vi. First, if they work with their hands they will have a good reputation with outsiders. 1. Most likely, the vast majority of the Thessalonian church were artisan workers. 2. And although having one of these jobs and working with your hands would not garner much respect from outsiders, certainly being a laze-a-bout and a mooch would be viewed poorly by outsiders. 3. This could potentially damage not only the church's reputation but even the gospel. 4. If I were a wealthy outsider, why would I want to be part of a community where my money was going to support people, who although they could work, chose not to? vii. Second, if they work with their hands, they will not be in need. 1. There is a great impact on the church when some or many of its members cannot, or will not, earn a living for themselves. 2. The Roman empire had no welfare system in place for those out of work or unable to earn a living. 3. It was generally viewed as the family's responsibility to care for those who could not care for themselves. 4. And if your family was unable, there were few if any other options besides relying on the charity of others. 5. The church, however, did have a system in place to care for its own in poverty or suffering trial. 6. Through the sacrificial and benevolent giving of the church, the poor among them would not be left destitute. 7. We see this not only in local assemblies but even churches hundreds of miles away, sending relief to churches experiencing financial hardship. 8. Paul's command then, is to lessen the burden on the church so they can care for the truly destitute because those who can work, do, and provide for their own needs. viii. And, of course, Paul reveals once again that these commands are not new. They have commanded these things or things like these commands before when they were with them. ix. Following these three commands is the path to having a good reputation with outsiders and not having needs among the congregation. This will be one way that they can excel in love toward other believers and it is also a way they could show love to outsiders too. f. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: Paul's point endures from the early verses of chapter 4. God's desire is that His people be different. That they be pure. That they be holy. One way they can be holy is by having a good reputation with unbelievers and having as few members in need as possible. These effects will cause their love for one another to excel and even love toward unbelievers to be fostered. But the path to these effects is through the commands to live a peaceful and quiet life, attending to your own business and caring for your own needs. So, we too must seek to have a good reputation with outsiders and not be in need. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today that informs and corrects our beliefs and shapes and guides our lifestyles? Broad Concepts of Faith and Practice: [Slide 16] God is not merely concerned that His people be different in their sexual ethic. He is concerned that they be different in all their relationships. And specifically, in their relationship with one another. The Second Person of the Godhead said that the world will know that we are His disciples by our love for other believers. This command is connected to our role of being salt and light in the world. Paul then gives two results that will facilitate more love for believers and help to accomplish the mission of the church. First, that we have a good reputation with outsiders and second that we provide for our own needs. We can accomplish all this through leading a peaceful and orderly life, minding our own business, and working to provide for our own needs. Of course, this leads us to much more specific applications for our daily 21st century lives. 1.) [Slide 17] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that God's will is for us to be holy in our love toward other believers. a. The church is not a social club. It is not a homeschool group. It is not a hang out. b. The church is a supernaturally created and sustained body of believers who have undergone the miracle of salvation and are continuing to undergo the miracle of progressive conformity to Jesus Christ the Second person of the Godhead. c. This conformity is propelled by the third person of the Godhead, The Holy Spirit. And is superintended by the first person of the Godhead, God The Father. d. Because the church is completely different from every other human organization, group, society, or culture – we should expect the way the church loves each other would also be… different. e. What we see in this passage in particular is a commitment to love the church body enough to deny selfish and fleshly impulses which might negatively impact the mission of the church. f. If the church as a whole is financially desperate, it inhibits the church's ability to execute its mission. g. If the church as a whole is disrespected and despised by outsiders due to non-gospel related practices, the church's ability to execute its mission is… inhibited. h. Any other group in the world, we might easily part ways over preferences or passions. But the body of Christ must be put ahead of both. To love other believers is to be willing to forgo preferences and passions in order to remain united and focused on the mission. i. This is what it means to be holy in our love toward the church. j. But this passage is quite heavy on things we are commanded to do. The first of these is… 2.) [Slide 18] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must excel in love for one another by living a peaceful and orderly life. a. In our culture, in a nation born from revolution, we have a common and mostly harmless affinity toward fighting for change. b. We don't like being told what to do. We don't like being pushed around. And we certainly know that we can always revolt or retreat if things don't go the way we think it should. c. I don't think this passage is telling us that we must disengage from politics. I don't think this passage is telling us that we cannot be involved in the government of our nation. I don't think this passage is telling us to never disagree with government or even church leadership. d. But I do think Paul is insisting that Christians think long and hard about what impact their actions may have on the mission of the church. e. How could we show greater love to the church? f. Is picking a fight over every social issue really helping the church stay on mission? g. Is causing commotion, stirring up fights, or disrupting the peace really contributing to the gospel going out? h. Is constantly raising armies against leadership for their decisions really promoting a gospel of God's love and peace? i. Obviously, there are times to draw the line. The apostles knew this. That is why when the chief priests told them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, they REPECTFULLY declined. j. But did you notice what they submitted to while declining to follow the command? They submitted to being punished for it. k. This is the way we live a peaceful and quiet life. l. We don't seek out commotion, disruption, or stirring up trouble. In fact, we make it our ambition… to be peaceful and orderly. We are only roused from this by egregious decisions that go against the clear commands of God. m. This is true in the civil sphere and it is true in the church too. n. But some Christians are always ready to fight. Some Christians are always ready to go to war and die on hills that are 1 foot high. o. This is detrimental to the mission of the church. And ultimately, it is unloving to the body of Christ. We have made it more difficult for our brothers and sisters because of our willingness to always go to war. 3.) [Slide 19] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must excel in love for one another by minding our own business. a. My oh my this is a big one. b. Curiosity is a powerful thing, isn't it? c. We desire to be in the know. And not because we can do anything to help. Just because we want to know the juicy details. d. Knowledge is like a badge of honor. We wear it with pride. e. “Oh you haven't heard about that? I've known for months.” f. Busybodies. Quiet whispers in the corner passing information one revelation at a time. g. Nosiness asking questions about things that they can't do anything to help. h. My friends, in the church and in the civil square – do yourself and the church a favor – and mind your own business. i. Before you ask for details, or give details away, do some asking of yourself. j. “Do I really need to know this?” k. “If I discover what is going on, am I the right person to help?” l. “Does this actually concern me?” m. “Does this benefit the mission of the church if I know about this?” n. “Does this information need to be shared to other people?” o. “Is this person I'm about to share this information with in a position to do something about it?” p. “Am I sharing this information to be a help or just to pass it along?” q. “In sharing this information, am I violating the will of God for my life to be holy?” r. “Would it really be the end of the world if I remained ignorant on this issue?” s. “How does my knowing this or telling this show love to the body of Christ as a whole?” t. These are just a few examples of things you can ask yourself before you get involved in something that isn't your business. 4.) [Slide 20] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must excel in love for one another by working. a. Man was made to work. b. God put Adam in the garden and tasked him with cultivating and keeping it. c. In the New Kingdom we will reign with Christ, exercising dominion over the New earth. d. Paul famously says in 2 Thessalonians that if you do not work, then you do not eat. e. This is the standard God has set for His people. We should not be mooches. We should not be living off of what others provide when we could provide for ourselves. f. In our society the government does have social programs to help those who are destitute. g. But there are actually three layers of government that God has created to help keep sin in check and promote the kingdom work. h. The family, the church, and civil government. i. We are told in the scriptures that if a man doesn't provide for his family, he is worse than an unbeliever – because even wicked fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. j. The church both by example and command are to care for one another in our needs. k. I say this to encourage us to understand that just because the government has programs to help with financially destitute people – we ought to see that as a pretty bad thing. l. What it means is that families have failed to care for their own. It also means that churches have either failed to care for their own members or that many who are destitute are not believers. m. You should work to earn a living to care for your needs and the needs of your family. n. You should work to earn a living to care for your needs and the needs of other believers who are suffering hardship. o. You should work to earn a living to care for you own needs and to generously and selflessly give to the mission of the church. p. Our church has a benevolent fund that we use to help those in need. We have two homes we use to help those who are in need of shelter – which frequently require maintenance and upkeep. q. And all of these things are sustained by sacrificial and selfless giving of time, money, and energy by… well… you. r. In fact, everything we do here is sustained and supported by your sacrificial and selfless giving. s. We have 31 families in our church that are members. Our budget for 2026, not including our mission fund or our benevolent fund, is set to $151,032. A budget that is not extravagant by any means. We aren't supporting large programs and doing big mailers or anything like that. t. That means that each family would need to give $4,872 this year for us to make budget. That is around $400 a month or about $94 a week. u. Of course, some would be able to give more than this and others less. v. But… when you drop $10 in the plate every couple weeks, when you could financially afford more… that is going to put undue pressure on other members here to make up for it. And it isn't being overly loving to your brothers and sisters to do that. w. For those who are members here- you know me. You know that I never talk about money. somewhat of a conflict of interest to do so – since it is by your selfless and sacrificial giving… that I am paid. x. But occasionally we get to things like this in the scripture, and in those times, I must make the appeal for you to consider your love for other believers. y. Our church, our missionaries, our benevolence cannot continue without your sacrificial giving. Giving borne from working with your hands to make sure you are not in need, your family is not in need, and that you can generously give to the work of the church. z. So, work hard, earn a living, so that you can show love to your brothers and sisters and further the mission of the church with your sacrificial gifts. 5.) [Slide 21] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We must excel in love for one another by having a good reputation with unbelievers. a. The necessary caveat here is of course that unbelievers will generally hate us because we follow Christ and call the lifestyles they cherish… sin. b. They will despise us because we consider it loving to call them to repentance and to trust Christ and follow Him to the forsaking of all other gods. c. That being said – it is not loving to the church nor is it helpful to its mission when we tarnish the reputation of the church for non-gospel or mission related reasons. d. If they are already going to despise us for our gospel mission, the worst thing we could do is give them more to despise us for because we are infighting, stirring up trouble, fleecing each other, being lazy, or otherwise not contributing positively to society. e. Instead, we should be hard workers, living quiet lives, and seeing to our own affairs and not meddling. f. We are not of the world, but are certainly still in it. Therefore, we must love the church, its mission, and its impact on the world by having a good reputation with the unbelieving world. g. Let us only be despised because of the gospel we preach. h. Which leads to the comfort of this passage… 6.) [Slide 22] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” We are a light and testimony to the world when we love one another. a. Paul's vision is clear. b. The church should be a bastion of love, mercy, kindness, selflessness, care, protection, honor, and grace. c. Yet so often… churches fail this in every point. d. Churches are run like businesses. They are managed like social clubs. They are governed like democracies. e. If they are salt and light – they have lost their savor and hid their light under a bushel. f. Jesus threatens in Revelation to take the lampstands away from churches which fail to keep the mission of the church intact. g. And that threat is true for all local assemblies today too. h. Churches close up every year. In one respect we can mourn this. But studies have been done and books have been written to give insight to the common reasons that churches die. i. And you know what it boils down to? j. Sin. A lack of holiness. That local assembly has lost the mission. k. Paul's words of warning here are to help the Thessalonians love each other and be the church that God desires. l. CBC, we must be this kind of church too. We must be a testimony and light to the world. And one of the primary ways we do that is when we excel in our love for one another. m. To love one another then – we cannot be selfishly motivated or give in to whatever we feel like doing. We must put the mission and reputation of the church – even ahead of our own desires. 7.) [Slide 23] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” The church is made of people who are different. We were made this way. Remade… this way. a. The church is a group of people who were dead in their sins. We were slaves to our lusts. We were children of our father the devil. We belonged to the line of the serpent. We were born as inheritors of the sin of Adam. b. We didn't know God. We didn't want God. We didn't need God. c. We did not become sinners because we sinned… but began sinning because we were already sinners. d. Then God washed us with the water of regeneration. He opened our eyes and gave us new hearts. At that moment we saw, for the first time, what we had never sought. The truth of His holiness, our wretchedness, and the sacrificial substitution of Christ to die for our sin and remake us into something holy… something that progressively looks more and more like Him. e. And the love with which He loved us… has now been taught to us so we can love each other in the same sacrificial and selfless way. f. When the church… is the church… even unbelievers have to recognize that something is different about us. g. If you sense the call of God on your heart now… to join this thing called the church. To be His child. To forsake your sin and follow Him… Then I'd recommend you stop an Elder before you leave and tell them. We'd be happy to show you how to follow Jesus. [Slide 24 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the reformer John Bradford. Holy, righteous, and wise one. Mighty, terrible, and fearful Lord God. Judge of all and governor of all the world. Patient and gracious Father, whose eyes are upon our ways... Wash us from our wickedness and pour out your Holy Spirit upon us. Take from us our hard hearts, our stony hearts, our unrepentant hearts, our distrusting and doubtful hearts. Take our carnal, our secure, our idle and foolish hearts. Take away our impure, arrogant, envious, impatient, covetous hearts. Give us new hearts instead: soft hearts, faithful hearts, merciful hearts. Obedient, pure, holy hearts. True, simple, lowly, and penitent hearts. Give us hearts to fear and trust you forever. Write your law in our hearts, graft it in our minds. Grant us a spirit of prayer and make us diligent and happy in what you give us to do. Take our souls and bodies into custody forever. Take our lives and all that we have, and give us whatever you know we need. Guide us always as your children, so our lives and our deaths will praise you through Jesus Christ. We pray for ourselves, but also for others-those in exile or in prison, in misery or heaviness, in poverty or sickness. If it is your will, send your holy word and faith among us in this place and this country once again. Turn the hearts of those who speak against us. Have mercy on our families and fellow believers, our neighbors and those whose lives you have linked to ours. And for those here gathered in your holy name, grant your blessing and Holy Spirit to dwell in us and set us apart. Keep us as your children, today and forever. Keep us from all evil for your glory, our good, and for the good of the church. Strengthen those who stand, so they do not fall. Lift up those who have fallen, and keep us from falling, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, and to whom be all praise and honor, now and forever, Amen. Benediction: To you who are debtors to mercy alone And free from the terrors of the law. Walk in the light, as he is in the light, so that the blood of Jesus, God's Son, purifies you from all sin. Until we meet again, go in peace.

In this episode, Nancy Wilson looks at 2 Thessalonians and how godly families build strong churches. She examines the Thessalonian congregation as a model of growing faith and abounding love, emphasizing that these qualities start at home before they can flourish in the broader community. Find more from Nancy and others on Canon+: https://canonplus.com/tabs/none/pages/nancy-wilson

False teachers deceived some in the Thessalonian church and led some to believe they had missed Christ's return. In Paul's correction, he mentions two events that will take place before Christ gathers his church: a rebellion and the revealing of the Man of Lawlessness. What does this word rebellion mean, and how does it help us understand what we will see in the end?

Life Upside Down - Pt 4 - In this message, we explore the deep pastoral heart of the Apostle Paul as he navigates the pain of separation from the Thessalonian church. Despite being hindered by spiritual opposition and physical distance, Paul's primary concern remains the spiritual stability of the believers.

Paul's relationship with the Thessalonian church reveals what it means to stand fast in faith during life's storms. Standing fast doesn't mean avoiding challenges, but remaining steady and committed to Christ despite pressure. Gospel relationships provide deep heart connections that sustain us when we can't be physically present with those we care about. Suffering often strengthens our faith rather than indicating God's absence, as spiritual opposition frequently signals God is doing something significant. Encouragement acts as oxygen for spiritual endurance, and prayer enables ministry across any distance or barrier.https://www.ankenyfree.church

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

Be Ready Text: 1 Thess 5:1-11Paul has advised the Thessalonian church that they should not be worried about the Lord's return. In fact it should be a comfort to them, something to await with expectation, and joy, a reuniting of those who have died in Christ, as the great shout is heard and the trumpet sounds and the dead are raised and we rise to go to be with the Lord… …and thus we shall also be with the Lord, 8 Therefore comfort one another with these words!Read the NOTES HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 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

How did the Holy Spirit guide the Apostle Paul to Macedonia where people were waiting to hear the gospel? Listen to this message continuing the background of the Epistle to the Thessalonian believers. Follow Paul's travels to Thessalonica where Paul taught from the Word of God about the Messiah for several weeks. Hear how the unbelieving Jews roughed up Jason where Paul and Silas were staying.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 2 Thessalonians Ch 3 verses 6-18, The Moment of Truth! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 2 Thessalonians Ch 3 verses 1-5, Love is a Battlefield! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

2nd and 3rd John are short personal letters written fairly close to each other, around 95-96 AD. The first of these letters being to a beloved friend termed "the elect (or chosen by God) lady". The aged Apostle had a deep love for this sister because of her hospitality and faithfulness. His salutations of, "Grace, mercy and peace" come from a mature faith and are the same as those of the Apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus; the so called "Pastoral letters". Verses 4-11 express John's great joy that this wonderful sister's children had chosen to walk in the Truth. John reiterates the new command, "to walk in love"; frequently spoken of in his gospel account and first letter. He also warns of the false teachers (antichrists) mentioned at length in his first letter. The woman and her faithful family - the ecclesia - must abide in the true teaching of the Father and His Beloved Son. Anyone walking contrary to that Truth, in behaviour or doctrine, was to beforbidden the fellowship of the saints. John's final greetings, of verses 12-13, express his hope of catching up with the elect lady face to face, rather than through a letter. 3rd John was written to a friend who had often been the old Apostle's host - Gaius - who was deeply "loved in the Lord". This brother was a Thessalonian, who had been converted to the Truth by the Apostle Paul. Verses 5-12 speak of the supporters of ecclesial work and others who were the opponents - the enemies of the Faith. Gaius and those like him had shown great hospitality to visitors, who have preached the Gospel. Support for such workers was commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ when he sent forth the 72 in Luke 10. Those of us who cannot personally go into the mission fields have a responsibility to support both in prayer and financially those who undertake the Great Commission i.e. the taking the Gospel to the world (Matthew 28). John says that those who do so have become fellow helpers of the Truth. The Apostle warns his readers of being a puffed up, self-important errorist, who not only dragged down the faithful, but would take an aggressive stand against all who, like the Apostle John, would take a stand for truth and moral uprightness. Don't be imitators of the evil, but only of the true (see Ephesians 5verses1-21). In his final greetings the Apostle speaks of his desire to spend time with the faithful ecclesia with Gaius in a face-to- face context, rather than via letter. Peace will be with the faithful.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 2 Thessalonians Ch 2 verses 13-17, Hold On! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 2 Thessalonians Ch 2 verses 1-17, Every Rose has It's Thorn! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

The Thessalonian church was suffering, grieving, and confused about the Day of the Lord. They feared that believers who died would miss Christ's return and that judgment might fall on them when Jesus came. Paul writes 1 Thessalonians 4-5 to rebuild their hope by giving them a true understanding of Christ's return. He teaches that Jesus will return once, pubicly and victoriously, raising the dead in Christ, reuniting body and sol, and gathering all believers together. The Day of the Lord is not a threat to God's people because they are children of the light, destined not for wrath but for salvation. Therefore, Christians must live awake and sober, rembmering their identity, encouraging and building one another up, and caring for the weak and fainthearted. The final destination of Christian hope is life with Jesus forever, where every tear is wiped away and all suffering ends. The return of Jesus gives believers unshakable hope for today and until the day He returns.

Paul and Silas visited Thessalonica as a part of the 2nd Missionary Journey. As was their custom, they first went to the synagogue to preach from the Old Testament that Jesus is the Christ. Many believed, but many did not. Those that did not became jealous and caused such trouble for the Christians in Thessalonica that Paul and Silas left more quickly than they would have liked. In Berea, the Word was received with great joy, but the jealous Thessalonian Jews followed Paul and chased him away from there as well. Paul's brief ministry among the Thessalonians sets the stage for the two letters he writes back to them only a short time later.  Rev. Sean Kilgo, pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lawrence, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 17:1-15.  To learn more about Redeemer Lutheran, visit trinitylcmsvinton.org. “Yearning for the Day of Christ's Returning” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that studies St. Paul's two epistles to the Thessalonians. Although Paul's time in Thessalonica was brief, he had great affection for the Christians there. His two letters to the Thessalonians show us the joy that God gives us together in the Church and encourage us to live faithfully in expectation of Jesus' coming on the Last Day.  Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Many people learned this simple prayer growing up: “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food. By Thy hands, we all are fed; give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.” Saying your grace acknowledges God as the source, substance, and sustainer of our supply. It reminds us that it was God, not our credit card, that provided the meal. Grace, from the Latin gratia, means “gift.” It reminds us that all we have is a gift from God. And when we realize that, we pause to give thanks. Because there's always something to be thankful for. If you can't be thankful for what you've received, be thankful for what you've escaped. If you can't be thankful for where you are, be thankful for where you are not. That's the prevailing point of Paul's message to the Thessalonian church. Difficulties are never an excuse not to say your grace.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 2 Thessalonians Ch 1 verses 1-12, Keep Holding On! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

We're bringing back this classic episode since its insights are needed now more than ever. Many people claim to know exactly when Jesus will return. In this episode, Steve Wood addresses modern “date-setters” by turning to St. Paul's teaching in the Thessalonian letters, offering a clear and faithful approach to understanding biblical prophecy. Instead of giving us a timetable for the Second Coming, Scripture calls believers to stay awake, live faithfully, and prepare their hearts for Christ's certain—but unknown—return. This episode helps listeners cut through confusion about the end times and refocus on the biblical way to await the Lord: with hope, vigilance, and holiness. For more resources, visit us online at www.BibleforCatholics.com.  

Speaker: Pastor Ruthie Seiders, Central Ministries Pastor Message: Thanks + Giving: It's Time for Thanksgiving Again Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10; 5:16–18 • 2 Corinthians 9:6–8 • Proverbs 11:24–25 • Hebrews 12:1–3 As the holiday season launches into full speed, Pastor Ruthie Seiders invites us to pause — to breathe in the goodness of God and remember the heart behind Thanksgiving. Looking at Paul's earliest recorded letter, Ruthie explores how the Apostle begins not with updates about his own life, but with gratitude for the people he shepherds. This message calls us into that same rhythm: Thanks + Giving — Giving Thanks and Thankfully Giving. Through stories of the Thessalonian church, Grace Chapel's own history, and the joyful legacy of generosity, Pastor Ruthie reminds us that: True faith is busy (Leon Morris) Love prompts labor Hope produces endurance Gratitude fuels generosity And cheerful giving is a spiritual practice that shapes us into Christlikeness As we gather around tables and step into Advent, may our hearts echo Paul's words: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thess. 5:16–18)

This sermon explores the “good news” Paul received about the Thessalonian church, a report of enduring faith that produced love, brought comfort in hardship, and fueled further ministry. Their example reminds us that genuine faith bears fruit, strengthens the church, and inspires us to keep serving Christ with perseverance and sacrificial love. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend.

This sermon explores the “good news” Paul received about the Thessalonian church, a report of enduring faith that produced love, brought comfort in hardship, and fueled further ministry. Their example reminds us that genuine faith bears fruit, strengthens the church, and inspires us to keep serving Christ with perseverance and sacrificial love. From our Sunday service at Grace Bible Church of Bend.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 1 Thessalonians Ch 5 verses 12-28, Thew things We do for Love! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Sunday Morning Service Series - Mix Tape - a verse by verse study through the book of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians: Today we cover 1 Thessalonians Ch 5 verses 1-11, It's the Final Countdown! Paul has many pleasant memories of the days he spent with the infant Thessalonian church. Their faith, hope, love, and perseverance in the face of persecution are exemplary. Paul's labors as a spiritual parent to the fledging church have been richly rewarded, and his affection is visible in every line of his letter. Paul encourages them to excel in their newfound faith, to increase in their love for one another, and to rejoice, pray, and give thanks always. If you are interested in attending our LIVE teachings (Wednesdays @ 7:00 pm & Sundays @ 10:00 am), you are invited to visit us at 4218 Boston Ave. Lubbock, Texas. To connect with us, you can call us at (806) 799-2227, email us at calvarylubbock@hotmail.com, or checkout our website at CalvaryChapelLubbock.church. You can also watch us on Facebook and contact us through Facebook Messenger. Please feel free to let us know about your walk with Jesus, as we would love to hear it and pray with you. If you'd like to partner with us to help us take the Gospel to the world, just click on the DONATE button on our website, let us know through Facebook Messenger, or in person. We pray that the rest of your week be blessed and that you share the love of Jesus with everyone that you encounter.

Pre-Trib Rapture? The Ancient Hebrew Thessalonian Epistles (Episode 1) by Shawn Ozbun

In this episode of Fresh Text, host John Drury and guest Sarah Hinlicky Wilson delve into Second Thessalonians, Chapter Three, exploring themes of community ethics, responsibility, and the balance between grace and accountability. They discuss the challenges of freeloading within generous communities and the importance of personal growth and responsibility. The conversation also touches on the authorship of the Thessalonian letters and the role of imitation in Christian life.

This week Joey kicked off a new series in 1 Thessalonians called “Hold Fast.” In this message, we learned how the Thessalonian church was young, small, pressured, and yet deeply faithful… and how Paul calls them to hold fast by rooting their endurance in the hope of Jesus' future return. We explored how our hope determines our resilience, and how what we cling to shapes the way we live.

Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians shows how believers become resilient in faith—not through comfort or ease, but through endurance in suffering, reliance on the Spirit's power, and hope rooted in Christ's coming. The Thessalonian church was born in persecution, yet their faith thrived because it was more than intellectual assent—it was lived conviction. Paul celebrates that their faith “came in power and in the Holy Spirit,” producing visible transformation and courage to turn from idols even when it cost them everything. This opening chapter teaches that true resilience grows when faith holds fast in affliction, when obedience continues despite opposition, and when hope in the returning Son of God eclipses the world's threats and promises.