Podcasts about thessalonica

What encouragement does Paul give to the church in Thessalonica facing persecution? In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28, we see him reminding the saints of the perfect character of their God who completes His work. We are reminded of God's purpose to sanctify us completely in the Lord Jesus. May we see His perfect character and live with absolute trust in His power!

Send us Fan MailA real letter used to feel like an event. You waited for it, you opened it carefully, and you could almost feel the person behind the words. We start there with a story about the last generation before phones and what it was like to get a handwritten note that felt unforgettable, then we ask a bigger question: what if the Bible is that kind of letter, only eternal?We trace the idea through the New Testament letters and land in Thessalonica, using Acts 17 to set the scene. Paul and his team bring the gospel into a city that pushes back hard, and a believer named Jason takes heat simply for offering a home. That moment reframes the church as a people who can “turn the world upside down” not through hype, but through conviction, hospitality, and loyalty to King Jesus. From there we open 1 Thessalonians and sit with Paul's gratitude for a community marked by faith, love, and hope, all empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than empty words.We also talk about the kind of leadership that actually forms disciples: bold in conflict, gentle in care, and committed to pleasing God over people. Paul describes nurturing tenderness like a mother and guiding strength like a father, which challenges us to grow up in our faith without becoming harsh or performative. The message ends with a clear invitation to follow Jesus, receive forgiveness through the cross and resurrection, and step into a life shaped by God's presence and God's people.If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs courage, subscribe so you don't miss what's next, and leave a review that helps more people find this Bible teaching and discipleship conversation.Cornerstonehttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/Follow Jesushttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-...Life Groups https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-gr...Giving https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.co...Church Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZiOShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-ch...Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...----Instagram   cornerstoneaz  Facebook  cornerstoneaz.org  Twitter  cornerstoneaz.org

Jeff Rowland walks through 2 Thessalonians with one clear focus, why a young church got shaken so fast. In this episode of The Smith and Rowland Show, we look at Paul's letter to the Thessalonians and trace the fear, pressure, and false message that caused real confusion. The teaching follows the passage step by step, using Acts 17 and both Thessalonian letters to show the setting, the urgency, and the difference between the rapture and the day of the Lord. Jeff makes a strong case for reading prophecy with context, not panic. He contrasts street-level reading with a wider view of Scripture, then shows how Paul taught new believers about Christ's return, the gathering of the saints, and the coming day of the Lord. That wider view matters, because a forged word, a false report, or a half-read verse can shake believers who are already under pressure. This message is practical for anyone who wants to understand 1 and 2 Thessalonians, end-times teaching, and how to keep a steady mind when fear rises. It also gives a clear reminder that Scripture interprets Scripture, and that the whole counsel of God gives believers the frame they need. If you want a careful, Bible-based look at Thessalonica, prophecy, persecution, and the hope of Christ's return, this conversation is for you. Watch, listen, and hold onto the context. #TheSmithAndRowlandShow #JeffRowland #Thessalonians #BibleTeaching #EndTimesTeaching

What are you known for? Our answer to that question probably highlights one of three categories: profession, relationship, or hobby. What about the ways that we live and love others? Can what we're known for be a witness to the Gospel? For the church in Thessalonica, their witness to all of Greece was found in the way that they remained faithful in the midst of severe suffering and the ways that they loved their brothers & sisters in Christ. Their witness wasn't just isolated to the individual, but was on display through the full body of believers. What is the body of believers at Forum known for? 

Paul sets 1 Thessalonians 3 in front of the church as a window into costly discipleship. The text shows Paul leaving Athens short-handed to send Timothy back to Thessalonica, not to lighten the load but to “establish and encourage” faith so that no one is “shaken” by afflictions. The mission is clear: real faith must be rooted enough to stand when the winds hit, because “we are appointed to this.” Affliction is not a glitch in the system; it is part of the calling.The question presses hard on a soft age: if a Christian were arrested for following Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict? The Thessalonians, only months old in the faith, carried that evidence in their endurance under pressure. The gospel in them did not stay private or polite; it made a visible difference, even when it cost them.Timothy appears in the text as a “brother,” a legitimate minister, and a table-servant whose quiet grit strengthens a young church. His work aims at foundations, because shallow faith will wobble and quit when trouble comes. Paul will not pretend otherwise. He points to the whole Bible's testimony that righteous people suffer: Elijah, Paul himself, and supremely Jesus. Hebrews says the Son “learned obedience by what he suffered,” and Hebrews again says the Captain of salvation was made perfect through sufferings. The cross, not a pillow, is the emblem of Christianity.Suffering here is not payback for sin. Christ has settled that once for all. Affliction becomes a school where a believer stops leaning on self and starts leaning hard on Jesus, where values get re-ordered toward what lasts. Jesus' seed picture holds: the grain that dies bears much fruit. Romans 8 sets the scale: present pains are not worth comparing to coming glory.Timothy's report lands like rain on parched ground. Their faith and love did not wither; persecution drove their roots deeper. Paul's own afflictions are lightened by the news of their steadfastness. Opposition, he says, will do one of two things: tear out a life rooted too shallow, or drive the roots down. Trees that face wind stand when hurricanes come; so a believer who answers trial with Scripture, prayer, and obedience grows strength for the next storm.The call that follows is simple and hard. Let steadfastness become someone else's comfort, because someone is watching. Open the heart to the lessons only hardship can teach. Learn to give thanks in everything. Remember that suffering is seasonal, and hope is not make-believe; another season is coming.

Message from service on June 7, 2026Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

June 6, 2026 Daily Devotional: “The Ultimate Homecoming”1 Thessalonians 4:17 "After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." Life has a way of locking our eyes onto the immediate. We get consumed by the daily grind, unexpected bills, broken relationships, and the heavy news cycle. It iseasy to live with a horizontal gaze—looking only at what is directly in front of us. But in 1 Thessalonians, Paul gives the early church a dramatic, vertical perspective shift. The believers in Thessalonica were grieving; they wereworried about their loved ones who had passed away, fearing they would miss out on Christ's return. Paul writes to reassure them with an incredible promise ofreunion and ultimate rescue. Think about the sheer beauty of the imagery Paul uses. He describes a grand reunion where gravity loses its grip, the clouds become a meeting place, and the air is filled with welcome. In ancient times, when a beloved king approached a city, the people would run out past the gates to meet him on the road and escort him home. This is the ultimate welcome home. ​While Christians have debated the exact end-times timeline and mechanics of the Rapture for centuries, focusing too much on the "air" or the "clouds" actually misses Paul's main point. Paul's primary focus in writing this wasn't to ignite a theological debate. His goal was to provide profound comfort. The climax of the verse isn't actually the clouds or the air—it is the final sentence: "And so we will be with the Lord forever." The ultimate promise of the gospel is presence. Unbroken, unhurried, everlasting presence with the One who made you, loves you, and redeemed you. Every separation we endure now, every heavy season of grief, and every moment of profound loneliness has an expiration date. Sometime today, literally step outside and look up at the sky. Let the vastness of the clouds remind you that your story doesn't end with earth's struggles. Encourage someone with verse 18 immediately follows by saying,"Therefore encourage one another with these words." Reach out to someone who is grieving or going through a dark season and remind them of the eternal hope we share. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 is a passage written to bring immense comfort and hope to people who are grieving or feeling anxious about the future. The meaning isn't meant to be a terrifying end-of-the-world riddle, but a reassuring promise that God is coming back for His people, and they will never be separated from Himagain. Whatever pain, separation, or loneliness you are experiencing today is temporary. The ultimate destination for those who trust in Christ is unbroken, eternal fellowship with Him. The cloud-filled skies we look at today are the very canvas of our future reunion.

Send us Fan MailAs we continue to look at the epistle Paul wrote to the assembly in Thessalonica, we see how there is an issue of esteem here. There is a care we are to have for each other, which is explored here.Support the show

In Acts 17, Pastor Troy explores Paul and Silas' ministry in Thessalonica and Berea, emphasizing the power of faithfully proclaiming Jesus through the Scriptures. Paul reasoned from God's Word, explained how Jesus fulfilled God's promises, and remained steadfast despite opposition and persecution. The message highlights the example of the Bereans, who eagerly received the Word while carefully examining the Scriptures daily to discern truth. Pastor Troy encourages believers to pursue both eagerness and discernment, reminding us that lasting impact comes not from chasing influence but from faithfully exalting Christ and grounding our lives in God's Word.

Title: “Let No One Deceive You” Part 2 Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 FCF: We often struggle fearing the uncertainty of the end times. Prop: Because God will cause the man of lawlessness to be revealed and to be destroyed, we must not let anyone deceive us. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. In a moment we'll begin reading in verse 3 and read through verse 12 again. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week we spoke at length about the coming of the man of lawlessness both who he is and what he is going to do. We approached this topic from each eschatological framework within Christendom by trying to understand each framework itself and how they view end times prophesy. The oldest beliefs concerning the end times conclude that things will get much worse for Christians prior to the Lord Jesus returning. It seems that the Thessalonians assumed this as well as they saw their persecution level rise steeply. But Paul corrects them by telling them that the Day of the Lord has not come. He then goes on to describing the man of lawlessness and apostasy that must precede Christ's coming. This event and the man is so blasphemous that no human has ever been so bold as to claim to be over all other gods, sit in God's temple, and claim to be Yahweh Himself. But this man of lawlessness will. That is why it cannot be the Day of the Lord yet. Today, Paul will continue his discussion of the man of lawlessness and the sequence of end times events leading up to the return of Christ. Let's get back to his discussion. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Sovereign King of Kings, we come to You today as Your humble people whom you have called out of darkness with a divinely given faith. We hold fast to Christ's work with a rope that was made by Your hands. Such a rope will endure all the lies of the evil one. But this does not mean we can be complacent or passive. We must actively cling to the rope of faith in Christ. Our anchor holds through the fiercest storms. And our faith, if it is saving, will hold to Him. So, Lord, help us to cling to what you have revealed. That we might trust fully in your sovereign hand to uphold us and to bring about these terrible things in their due time. That we might trust Your promise that a New Kingdom comes and that we might hold fast to Christ until it does. We pray this in His name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “If the Lord will not suffer it, neither men nor devils can do it.” C.H. Spurgeon “God is working out His eternal purpose, not only in spite of human and satanic opposition but by means of them.” A.W. Pink [Slide 3] “Satan can do nothing without the command of God to whose dominion he is subject.” John Calvin The devil's way of extinguishing goodness is God's way of advancing it.” George Barlow [Slide 4] “The hands of the wicked cannot stir one moment before God allows them to begin and cannot stir one moment after God commands them to stop.” “The wickedest enemies of God are only axes and saws and hammers in His hands and are ignorantly His instruments for doing His work in the world.” J.C. Ryle [Slide 5] “The whole history of the world is discovered to be but a contest between the wisdom of God and the cunning of Satan and fallen men. The outcome of the contest is not in doubt.” “God's plan will continue on God's schedule.” A.W. Tozer “To know that nothing happens in God's world apart from God's will may frighten the godless, but it stabilizes the saints.” J. I. Packer Let these words sharpen your mind to understand the text this morning. I.) God will determine when the man of lawlessness is revealed, we must not let anyone deceive us. (6-8a) a. [Slide 6] 6 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. i. After Paul calls to their attention that he has taught all this to them before, he once again uses the phrase “you know.” ii. We saw this phrase come up repeatedly in 1 Thessalonians. But this is the first time Paul banks on their previous knowledge to make his point in this letter. iii. What do they know? iv. They know what restrains the man of lawlessness now. v. Well, Paul, it is all well and good that they know what restrains this man – but WE DON'T! vi. This gives us one of the most perplexing questions regarding end times prophesy that we have. vii. Who or what is restraining the Man of Lawlessness? viii. Who or what is keeping the Man of Lawlessness from committing his blasphemies and leading this global apostasy? ix. [Slide 7] The uncertainty is centered on four concepts. 1. First, that Paul refers to this restrainer as an impersonal force here in verse 6 and then later as a personal being in verse 7. Yet it does not appear that he is referring to two things. So how can something be both impersonal (neuter gendered participle) and then personal (masculine gendered participle)? 2. Second, the restrainer could be seen either positively or negatively. Is it a good thing or bad thing that the man of lawlessness is held back? Even as a Christian that is hard to answer. Especially since the Lord's return happens after he comes. 3. Third, what does it mean that the restrainer is taken out of the way? Is this by force? Is it violent? 4. Finally, that Paul does not name the restrainer raises the question, why? Why would Paul not name it? a. That question is actually easy to answer. Because the Thessalonians already knew who or what he was talking about. b. But the follow up question is much harder. c. Since this letter is breathed out by God, why is God being unclear? Why didn't God move Paul to write the name of the restrainer, or at least spell it out more clearly? i. Is it held in mystery intentionally to prevent someone or something from stopping, avoiding, or hindering the work of the restrainer? ii. Would Paul or the Thessalonians be harmed or in danger if the restrainer was named? iii. Is God keeping Paul from inadvertent praise or worship of the restrainer? iv. Has God included enough hints within the text to deduce the restrainer's identity already? x. [Slide 8] Because of these aspects of uncertainty, there have been several options put forward which arrange themselves into 4 general categories. 1. Humans a. The Roman Empire and the Emperor – As agents preventing the rise of lawlessness. i. This answers why Paul would not have named it but it raises other issues. ii. Is Paul placing the coming of the Man of lawlessness necessarily AFTER the fall of Rome? Did Paul expect Rome to fall soon? If he did, this is the only place in all his writings that he assumes so. b. Human government – i. In that things haven't quite been aligned for such a man to step onto the scene, and humans generally standing for moral goodness by punishing the wicked and helping the innocent is what is preventing this from occurring. ii. This is a more general version of the first one, which sheds the problem of Rome falling but inherits the same problems in that it is much less likely that all human government topples? c. The Jewish State – The fall of apostate Judaism. Although one wonders how and why this is preventing the man of lawlessness from coming. This would be a postmil position in reference to seeing the events described here having nothing to do with the end times and everything to do with AD 70. 2. [Slide 9] Christians a. The preaching of the gospel and Paul the apostle– God's Kingdom is still advancing. i. It is difficult to understand how Paul might see himself or the work of the gospel as being the thing preventing the coming of the man of lawlessness. ii. This is linked to both the Amil and Postmil position although Postmil still sees this as not talking about end times at all. b. The church – Being salt and light. i. The Mid-Tribulational Premillennial camp believes this. ii. Once the rapture happens half way through the tribulation, this makes way for the Man of Lawlessness to utter his blasphemies and there is none to rebuke him. iii. But why would Paul not mention it? Why keep this mystery from the church? And even though the church is salt and light – it is hard to see or imagine how we are preventing such a powerful man from coming just by existing. c. Generally speaking, I tend to see every human answer, believer or unbeliever, as severely underestimating the power of his man and his apostasy. So what about some non-human categories. 3. [Slide 10] Angels a. The Angel from heaven with the key to the Abyss and a great chain - The binding of Satan – i. During the Millennial reign an unnamed angel who comes down and does not fall down from heaven, has the key to the abyss and binds Satan for 1000 years. ii. Later Satan is released for a time and leads an army to battle against Christ's people. iii. Amillennialism would say that the restrainer then is this angel and that Satan is currently bound which is why the man of lawlessness has not come yet. iv. This answers the secrecy with the need to hide truth from the forces of darkness. However, taking this view forces us to take Revelation 19 and 20's description of these events not as a chronological record of events but as the order in which John saw the visions. b. Demonic infighting i. Another view espouses that the forces of darkness are not united and as long as this is so, the man of lawlessness will not come. ii. Paul keeps this hidden to keep them from being united. iii. However, the New Testament in no way suggests or hints at the forces of darkness being disunited. iv. If anything, it seems that Satan has rallied them and leads them. The New Testament says it is the Devil and his angels. This seems to speak of unity not disunity. c. Angelic Warfare i. When the man of lawlessness is mentioned in Daniel, in close proximity we have this report that Michael the archangel is battling against other fallen angelic creatures and holding them at bay. ii. One interpretation then is that this is talking about angelic entities fighting demonic entities and holding things the way they are until they are removed. iii. Secrecy then is to prevent Paul or the Thessalonians from worshipping these entities or praying to them instead of to God. iv. One wonders how simply suggesting angelic warfare would tempt them to worship angels though? Certainly, other parts of scripture mention this. And Paul has touted the growth and endurance of their faith. d. Michael the Arch Angel – i. This is a more specific interpretation of the last one. ii. And bears the same evidence. iii. Again we might wonder what the real danger would be that they would worship these entities by simply stating that they restrain the man of lawlessness from coming. iv. Other passages in the New Testament name Michael and Gabriel. 4. [Slide 11] God Himself a. The providence of God – i. Which summarizes everything we've just said so far. ii. In the end, God's providence is His working in normal and creaturely agency as well as intervening in supernatural ways to bring about His will. iii. Of course we might wonder why Paul doesn't simply say it. iv. Perhaps the Lord led him to include enough clues in the text itself for us to determine that this is so. b. The Holy Spirit - i. By this it is meant that the Holy Spirit does powerfully and intentionally intercede to prevent this man from stepping onto the scene. ii. The word Spirit in Greek is neuter gendered and when the adjective “holy” is used to describe the third person of the Godhead, it too is neuter in gender. iii. But when the Scriptures substitute a pronoun for the Holy Spirit, they do not use “it” but “He.” Thus, this could explain why Paul uses a neuter and then a masculine participle to describe the restrainer. iv. But why not call out the work of the Spirit here? v. Although quite uncertain, Paul has not spoken much about the Spirit of God in either 1 or 2 Thessalonians. 1. Not speaking of this text, commentators have remarked on the absence of the third person of the Godhead suggesting that perhaps there was some connection between the Spirit's Work and the accusation of the Jews in Thessalonica that Paul was an insurrectionist. 2. So perhaps Paul keeps his references to the Spirit to a minimum and certainly never in a context suggesting that He is actively opposing some human power from rising, in order to spare the Thessalonians more grief from local Jews should this teaching fall into the wrong hands. xi. Some of you may recognize that I do not normally include so much detail when we discuss uncertain things in the scripture. xii. [Slide 12] Here is my protocol when dealing with interpretational discrepancies in a sermon. 1. If I am reasonably convinced of a specific interpretation, I won't usually even bring up other options. I will present it as the only interpretation. I usually do this when I thought the passage said something and most if not all the commentators I consulted say the same or similar things. 2. If I am somewhat convinced of a specific interpretation, I will usually give other options but present my interpretation as the best without a deep analysis of the others. 3. If I am convinced but without any assurance, I'll give all the options and state pros and cons to both before arriving on my conclusion. 4. If I remain uncertain… I am going to give you every option and their problems and probably not pick a conclusion. xiii. Can you guess which one we are on today?

This sermon from the Celebration CA camp series confronts the idol of expressive individualism in modern Western culture. It explores the tension between the modern desire to constantly innovate and the biblical call to submit, imitate, and reproduce proven models of faith.Scripture References1 Thessalonians 11 Thessalonians 2Key PointsThe Danger of the "Spin": There is a strong cultural tendency, particularly on the West Coast, to take a functional model and immediately add a personal spin to it. This relentless desire to be unique can often hinder a church's effectiveness.The Fruit of Submission: True growth often comes from radical submission to authority. A group of men experienced decades of trauma healed in just four days by submitting entirely to scripture and trusted leaders.Imitation over Innovation: A pastor from the Midwest successfully implemented a leadership track by simply copying a functioning model exactly as it was, demonstrating that straightforward imitation often yields better results than forced creativity.The Thessalonian Model: The early church in Thessalonica became an exemplary model to all of Macedonia and Achaia. They achieved this not by innovating, but by strictly imitating the apostles and the Lord despite facing severe affliction.The Idolatry of Independence: The ultimate, unquestioned value in Western civilization is often personal freedom and total independence, which can severely hinder the advancement of the Kingdom of God.ConclusionThe church is called to be a unified body of imitators. By laying down the prideful need to uniquely innovate every aspect of faith, believers can experience the profound power that comes from submitting to God's word and replicating faithful, proven models.Calls to ActionReflect on areas where expressive individualism and the need for independence have hindered spiritual growth or leadership.Identify faithful, working models of leadership in your church community and commit to imitating them without unnecessary alterations.Share this sermon with other leaders seeking to build healthy, unified church cultures. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

This session challenges listeners to examine their faith, their commitment to obedience, and their willingness to let God dictate their paths. By examining the legacy of the Thessalonians and the faith of Abraham, we learn what it means to live out faith rather than just profess it.Scripture ReferencesHebrews 6Hebrews 11Hebrews 12Genesis 12Romans 4:20Key PointsThe Calling to Imitate: The early church in Thessalonica was praised for its quick faith and commitment to following the example of the apostles. True faith often begins with imitating the right examples.Faith is Active: The speaker emphasizes that true faith is not passive or merely internal; it is defined by action, risk, and pioneering. It requires an entrepreneurial spirit willing to take a leap and follow God's direction.The Cost of Faith: While God's plan is good, following it often means giving up comfort and facing significant obstacles. The call to obedience is an invitation to lay down our lives, our plans, and our preferences.The Journey of Abraham: Abraham is held up as a prime example of faith because he "believed God's promise." He left everything behind to follow God, though he still experienced moments of doubt and delay.God's Relentless Presence: Even when we are resistant or struggling with unbelief, God is with us and actively leading us. He does not abandon us in our doubts but patiently guides us toward his purposes.ConclusionA robust Christian faith is marked by action, imitation of godly examples, and a radical submission to God's leadership. We are called to leave behind our desire to uniquely innovate and instead confidently step into the paths of obedience marked out for us. As we do this, we reflect the glory of God to the world.Calls to ActionAssess whether your faith is currently active or passive.Identify the examples of faith around you that you are imitating.Examine areas of your life where you might be holding back from fully committing to what God has called you to do. Support the show*Summaries and transcripts are generated using AI. Please notify us if you find any errors.

He was born in Thessalonica and, though baptised a Christian, he accepted Islam as a young man, eventually becoming a Sufi (one of a mystical sect among the Muslims). But in time he began to repent, and concluded that martyrdom was the only way for him to cleanse himself from the stain of his denial of Christ. Having repented, he presented himself to the Turks dressed as a Christian. He was thrown into prison and tortured, but in response to every enticement, threat or torment, he would only say 'I was born a Christian, and as a Christian I shall die.' Finally he was sentenced to death, which Alexander joyfully accepted as a sign of God's forgiveness. He was slain by the sword in Smyrna in 1794.

We picture Rome falling to barbarians — warriors crashing through marble gates, fire in the streets, civilization ending in a single dramatic moment. That's the myth. The reality is quieter and worse.In 378 AD, an emperor named Valens rode into a valley outside Adrianople with two-thirds of the Eastern Roman army. By sunset he was dead, his army was destroyed, and Rome's ability to defend its own territory was gone.The man who inherited what was left — a Spanish general named Theodosius — made a decision no Roman emperor had ever made before. He didn't rebuild the border. He dissolved it.In 382 AD, Theodosius signed a treaty that settled the Goths inside Roman territory as a semi-autonomous, armed, self-governing nation. Not outside the empire anymore. Inside it. The Danube stopped being the hard edge of Roman civilization. It became an administrative line that people crossed under negotiated terms.Then in 380, the Edict of Thessalonica made Nicene Christianity the sole legal religion of the empire. Every other form of worship became illegal. The pagan temples were closed, their assets confiscated, and that wealth moved — most of it to the Christian Church, which suddenly became one of the largest institutional landowners in Rome.The currency kept failing. The treasury kept hemorrhaging. The army kept becoming more dependent on Gothic mercenaries. Theodosius held it together for sixteen years through personal competence — and when he died in 395, the empire split in two and never reunified.This is the autopsy of how Rome's last unified emperor turned military defeat into managed surrender. Theodosius didn't destroy Rome. He was probably the last person capable of slowing its collapse at all. But the choices he made guaranteed that when he was gone, the cracks he had managed would become the fault lines along which the empire permanently split apart.Collapse doesn't begin when systems stop functioning. Collapse begins when systems stop solving problems and start managing them instead.00:00 — Rome Didn't Fall to Barbarians02:16 — Welcome to The Roman Pattern02:41 — Adrianople: The Autopsy04:06 — The Refugee Crisis Rome Broke06:51 — Why Valens Couldn't Wait08:28 — Theodosius Takes Power09:57 — The Treaty That Dissolved the Border12:21 — The Edict of Thessalonica15:55 — The Monetary Spiral18:58 — Two Civil Wars with Gothic Armies21:06 — 395: The Empire Splits23:14 — The Pattern Closes25:43 — When Management Replaces Restoration

We begin our study in the second chapter of this book, and look at how Paul and the apostles, though they suffered for the gospel's sake, did not enter into Thessalonica in vain, because the gospel was preached and that's what its all about!

We come this week to what has been described as "the most obscure and difficult in the whole of the Pauline writings" (Leon Morris 1984). However, despite the many gaps and guesses in the thinking around this passage in 2 Thessalonians 2, it is in fact meant to be a word of great encouragement and hope to the church in Thessalonica, and therefore, to us. As daunting as the prospect of the revealing of 'the man of lawlessness' may be, he is brought to nothing by the appearing of Christ. Paul writes this passage, not to shake the church up but to settle it down; not to spook them into a panic but to comfort and stir their hearts in patient faith, steadfast hope and enduring love.

2 Thessalonians is a second epistle (letter) written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In this letter we read truths that combat a doctrine that was invading the church—a lesson that we can learn from today. Grab your Bible and get ready to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through this second letter to the Thessalonians.  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

2 Thessalonians is a second epistle (letter) written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In this letter we read truths that combat a doctrine that was invading the church—a lesson that we can learn from today. Grab your Bible and get ready to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through this second letter to the Thessalonians.   You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

2 Thessalonians is a second epistle (letter) written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In this letter we read truths that combat a doctrine that was invading the church—a lesson that we can learn from today. Grab your Bible and get ready to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through this second letter to the Thessalonians.   You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Whiskey Review: Rolling Oak Distillery: Misty Mountain Moonshine's Coal Miners Reserve   Topic: How to read your Bible   Follow us on all your podcast platforms and: Instagram: @manhoodneat X: Manhood Neat (@ManhoodNeat) / X Youtube: Manhood, Neat Podcast - YouTube Reach out: manhood.neat@gmail.com   Show Notes: Scripture Must Be Approached Relationally: Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” This isn't a box to check or an intellectual exercise. It is an encounter with God. We should come to Scripture: Dependent Expectant Open Understanding is not achieved by effort, but through God's illumination.  Is it possible to study the Bible and miss God entirely? Without a relationship, yes.  Relationship transforms engagement.  Posture matter – We are not just reading a text – We are meeting with God.  Observation: What Does the Text Say? Acts 17:11 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” The first step is careful observation: What is actually written? What is repeated? What stands out? What is context? These questions prevent reading assumptions into the text This matters because misinterpretations come from skipping these steps. We cannot apply what we have not first understood Interpretation: What Does the Text Mean? 2 Tim. 2:15 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[a] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” After observing, we seek accurate meaning: We consider: Author's intent Historical context Literacy structure Scripture interpreting scripture This matters because without interpretation: We project our preferences onto Scripture We distort God's message Faithful disciples seek to understand before applying.  Application: What Does the Text Require? James 1:22 “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We ask: What is God saying to me? What needs to change? What step of obedience is required? Application bridges knowledge and transformation Hearing without doing can produce self-deception Every time we open Scripture, we should expect a response. Meditation: Internalizing the Word. Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Meditation moves the truth from mind to heart, It involves: Repeating Reflecting Personalizing Dwelling on Scripture Transformation happens as truth sinks deeply. Quick reading rarely produces lasting change.  Depth comes through sustained reflection What we dwell on shapes who we become.  Consistency: Building a Lifelong Habit. Joshua 1:8 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Spiritual growth requires regular engagement with Scripture Builds familiarity Deepens understanding Shapes long-term transformation Occasional reading cannot produce lasting maturity. Disciples are formed over time, not in moments. Consistency compounds

1 Thessalonians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In it we see an important connection between those who have pioneered a work—and continue to pray for and encourage them—and those who stay and continue in this new ministry. In it we also learn practical truths of the Christian life, prayer, faith, purity, work, and of the hope we have in Jesus Christ!  Grab your Bible and prepare to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. And remember: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11 NLT) The apostle Paul worked with and mentored some incredible people of faith, including Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, the Gospel writers Mark and Luke, Priscilla and Aquila, Titus, and Lydia. Talk about an all-star discipleship team! But as we saw in an earlier devotion, there was an outlier among Paul’s in-crowd. His name was Demas. In Philemon 1:23–24, Paul name-checks Demas, identifying him as a trusted coworker. In 2 Timothy 4:10, however, Paul breaks this bad news: “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica” (NLT). It seems almost unimaginable, doesn’t it? How could someone appear to be radically converted and passionate about the Christian faith and then, without warning, suddenly give it up and walk away? I’ve seen similar things happen. I’ve met people who were emotional about Jesus and fired up about their faith, only to later fall into gross sin. What happened? I believe they never were rooted in Christ. Some people are just impulsive by nature. They’re always into the latest fad. Whatever grabs their attention is what they want to be into—until something else grabs their attention. Think of it in terms of exercise equipment. If you walk through a neighborhood on a Saturday afternoon when people have their garage doors open, you’re likely to see more than a few exercise machines. What you’re unlikely to see is people working out on them. Instead, you’ll find that many of the machines serve as nothing more than expensive clothes hangers. Their presence tells the story of people who decided that they were going to get into shape, but whose enthusiasm didn’t stand the test of time. A similar thing happens to some people who make a commitment to Christ. They get very excited about their faith in the beginning, but their excitement and commitment don’t stand the test of time. One possible explanation is that they built their faith on the wrong foundation. Maybe they decided to follow Christ because their friends did. Or maybe they put their faith in a certain church, and then found out that it wasn’t perfect, that it was filled with flawed people like them. Perhaps some pastor didn’t measure up to their expectations. Whatever the problem was, they didn’t build their foundation on Christ. The Bible tells us, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11 NLT). Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” (Matthew 7:24–25 NLT). He is the only foundation that will sustain us as Christians—not another person, not an experience, not a program, not a church, but Jesus Christ. He is our bedrock. Reflection question: How can you make sure that your commitment to Christ remains firm? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you living sacrificially toward others? Join Kelly as he looks at what was required of Paul and his companions as they ministered to the church in Thessalonica. In doing so, we find that the life of Christ in the believer leads us to live sacrificially toward those whom God would have us minister.www.instagram.com/thehishillpodcast/www.hishill.orgkelly@hishill.org

1 Thessalonians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In it we see an important connection between those who have pioneered a work—and continue to pray for and encourage them—and those who stay and continue in this new ministry. In it we also learn practical truths of the Christian life, prayer, faith, purity, work, and of the hope we have in Jesus Christ!  Grab your Bible and prepare to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. And remember: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

1 Thessalonians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In it we see an important connection between those who have pioneered a work—and continue to pray for and encourage them—and those who stay and continue in this new ministry. In it we also learn practical truths of the Christian life, prayer, faith, purity, work, and of the hope we have in Jesus Christ!   Grab your Bible and prepare to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. And remember: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

This video continues the Book of Acts series in chapter 17 starting from verse 11. The Bereans are described as more noble than those in Thessalonica because they received the word with readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to verify what they heard. Many in Berea believed including honorable Greek women and men while Jews from Thessalonica stirred up the people against Paul. Paul is sent to Athens where his spirit is stirred by the city's idolatry and he disputes daily in the synagogue and marketplace with Jews, devout persons, Epicureans, and Stoics before addressing the Athenians at the Areopagus about their superstition and the altar to the Unknown God.

1 Thessalonians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In it we see an important connection between those who have pioneered a work—and continue to pray for and encourage them—and those who stay and continue in this new ministry. In it we also learn practical truths of the Christian life, prayer, faith, purity, work, and of the hope we have in Jesus Christ!  Grab your Bible and prepare to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. And remember: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

1 Thessalonians is a letter written by the apostle Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to a young church in Thessalonica. In it we see an important connection between those who have pioneered a work—and continue to pray for and encourage them—and those who stay and continue in this new ministry. In it we also learn practical truths of the Christian life, prayer, faith, purity, work, and of the hope we have in Jesus Christ!  Grab your Bible and prepare to be encouraged and strengthened as Jerry leads us through the book of 1 Thessalonians. And remember: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)  You can also join Jerry every day, and take your daily Bible reading to another level with The New Testament Daily with Jerry Dirmann. LINKS:  « FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » To listen to or download more teachings from Jerry and others from Solid Lives ministries, visit our new media library at: https://app.jesusdisciple.com/jesus-way/media-library « THE NEW TESTAMENT DAILY PODCAST » https://thenewtestamentdailywithjerrydirmann.buzzsprout.com « SOLID LIVES » Find out more about the ministries of Jerry Dirmann and Solid Lives at https://www.solidlives.com/  « SUPPORT » You can help us get free resources like this out to more people. Visit https://pushpay.com/g/jdglobal Thank you for joining us today! For more resources like this, or to support the ministry of Solid Lives, visit one of the links below:FREE MEDIA LIBRARY » Download or listen at https://SolidLivesMedia.com/ ABOUT SOLID LIVES » Find out more at https://www.solidlives.com/SUPPORT » Help us get the word out at https://solidlives.com/give/

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 78, 2 Thessalonians 2 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible for May 18th, day 139 of our journey through the scriptures. Join your Bible reading coach, Hunter, as we explore wisdom and faithfulness through today's readings: 1 Kings 3, 2 Chronicles 1, Psalm 78, and 2 Thessalonians 2. We'll witness Solomon's prayer for wisdom, reflect on the lessons of Israel's past, and hear encouragement to stand firm amid confusion and chaos. Together, we'll pray for God's comfort and strength, remembering that we are loved, held, and called to walk forward in hope. Let's focus our hearts and minds on God's word and discover peace for the journey ahead. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Don't be shaken. Don't be fooled. These are the words that rise to the surface as we meditate on the letter to the Thessalonians. Life throws so much at us—circumstances that seem impossible, relationships that break us, financial and physical troubles that pile on. These things can shake us to our core and make us wonder if God is even near. We can be shaken to the point of despair. But it's not just the hard realities of life that can leave us unsettled. There are anxious voices and zealous teachers, sometimes even within the church, who try to persuade us that we're not measuring up, that we need to do more, achieve more, believe just the right things, or chase after some secret knowledge to truly be embraced by God. Fear creeps in that, if we miss a certain event or neglect a certain teaching, we'll be left behind, unloved, or even condemned. This is exactly what was happening in Thessalonica. They were being told that they might miss out on God, that there was a secret or spiritual insight they lacked, and unless they did something extra, they would forfeit God's favor. If life isn't hard enough, these spiritual anxieties can threaten to unravel our whole faith. But Paul's message cuts through all that noise: steady on. Remember, it is God who chose you. Your salvation is not the result of desperate striving or frantic chasing after spiritual highs. It is not a fragile hope that depends on your perfection or persistence. You are secure because of what God has already done. You don't need to leave your wilderness in search of him—Christ has come into your wilderness searching for you. The good news is not about what you have to do for God, but what God has done for you. You now share in the glory of our Lord Jesus, not because you have completed a spiritual checklist but because of his finished work. So don't be shaken. Don't be fooled. Stand firm and keep a strong grip—not just on doctrine, but on the astounding reality that you have been wrapped into the very life and love of God through Christ. You are reconciled. You are loved. Keep your grip on that. That's a prayer for my own soul. That's a prayer for my family—my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Send us Fan MailThe Apostle Paul speaks about how the assembly in Thessalonica needs to know those who are admonishing them. This episode looks at what the meaning of admonishment actually is.Support the show

An emperor stands barefoot in the snow for three days. Not a prisoner. Not a peasant. The ruler of Christendom, waiting for a bishop to open a door. That is not a medieval curiosity. That is a system. And that system had a logic. A bishop with no army teaches an emperor with every army how to repent. But watch what happens next. In 500 years, that prophetic voice becomes the hand that places the crown. The same weapon that stopped a massacre at Thessalonica is now the weapon that puts a king in the snow at Canossa. Same tool. Completely different purpose. By the High Middle Ages, Rome was not a voice outside the throne. Rome was the operating system of Western Civilization, and grace would either flow through her pipes or not flow at all. Then one monk reads his Bible. And here in 2026, some of the loudest voices on the right are telling you that the machine he dismantled is exactly what America needs now. That the Protestant experiment produced the chaos we are drowning in. That the only way home is across the Tiber. Is that true? And if it isn't, what actually built the freest nation in the history of man? This episode is part 6 of 10 Shots of Sanity: A Crosspolitic CineDoc SeriesFull Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRS7GEcgSeHJyVklZgFlzqdlYeZniNeaC&si=YiPsTQu89OYF0ud5 Become a CrossPolitic Club MemberSupport the mission and unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes shows, and theology series. https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/menu/checkout Subscribe & Share!Every like, comment, and share helps push Christian media back into the algorithm where it belongs. Join Us at Our Next National ConferenceSign up for Fight Laugh Feast 2026: Holy Wars and lock in Early Bird pricing.https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conference Follow CrossPolitic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSPOLITIC X: https://x.com/CrossPolitic Facebook: https://facebook.com/crosspolitic Instagram: https://instagram.com/crosspolitic Join our Email List: https://crosspolitic.com/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NRBTV, DirecTV, Dish, and everywhere podcasts are found.

An emperor stands barefoot in the snow for three days. Not a prisoner. Not a peasant. The ruler of Christendom, waiting for a bishop to open a door. That is not a medieval curiosity. That is a system. And that system had a logic. A bishop with no army teaches an emperor with every army how to repent. But watch what happens next. In 500 years, that prophetic voice becomes the hand that places the crown. The same weapon that stopped a massacre at Thessalonica is now the weapon that puts a king in the snow at Canossa. Same tool. Completely different purpose. By the High Middle Ages, Rome was not a voice outside the throne. Rome was the operating system of Western Civilization, and grace would either flow through her pipes or not flow at all. Then one monk reads his Bible. And here in 2026, some of the loudest voices on the right are telling you that the machine he dismantled is exactly what America needs now. That the Protestant experiment produced the chaos we are drowning in. That the only way home is across the Tiber. Is that true? And if it isn't, what actually built the freest nation in the history of man? This episode is part 6 of 10 Shots of Sanity: A Crosspolitic CineDoc SeriesFull Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRS7GEcgSeHJyVklZgFlzqdlYeZniNeaC&si=YiPsTQu89OYF0ud5 Become a CrossPolitic Club MemberSupport the mission and unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes shows, and theology series. https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/menu/checkout Subscribe & Share!Every like, comment, and share helps push Christian media back into the algorithm where it belongs. Join Us at Our Next National ConferenceSign up for Fight Laugh Feast 2026: Holy Wars and lock in Early Bird pricing.https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conference Follow CrossPolitic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSPOLITIC X: https://x.com/CrossPolitic Facebook: https://facebook.com/crosspolitic Instagram: https://instagram.com/crosspolitic Join our Email List: https://crosspolitic.com/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NRBTV, DirecTV, Dish, and everywhere podcasts are found.

An emperor stands barefoot in the snow for three days. Not a prisoner. Not a peasant. The ruler of Christendom, waiting for a bishop to open a door. That is not a medieval curiosity. That is a system. And that system had a logic. A bishop with no army teaches an emperor with every army how to repent. But watch what happens next. In 500 years, that prophetic voice becomes the hand that places the crown. The same weapon that stopped a massacre at Thessalonica is now the weapon that puts a king in the snow at Canossa. Same tool. Completely different purpose. By the High Middle Ages, Rome was not a voice outside the throne. Rome was the operating system of Western Civilization, and grace would either flow through her pipes or not flow at all. Then one monk reads his Bible. And here in 2026, some of the loudest voices on the right are telling you that the machine he dismantled is exactly what America needs now. That the Protestant experiment produced the chaos we are drowning in. That the only way home is across the Tiber. Is that true? And if it isn't, what actually built the freest nation in the history of man? This episode is part 6 of 10 Shots of Sanity: A Crosspolitic CineDoc SeriesFull Series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRS7GEcgSeHJyVklZgFlzqdlYeZniNeaC&si=YiPsTQu89OYF0ud5 Become a CrossPolitic Club MemberSupport the mission and unlock exclusive content, behind-the-scenes shows, and theology series. https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/menu/checkout Subscribe & Share!Every like, comment, and share helps push Christian media back into the algorithm where it belongs. Join Us at Our Next National ConferenceSign up for Fight Laugh Feast 2026: Holy Wars and lock in Early Bird pricing.https://tickets.flfnetwork.com/holy-wars-conference Follow CrossPolitic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CROSSPOLITIC X: https://x.com/CrossPolitic Facebook: https://facebook.com/crosspolitic Instagram: https://instagram.com/crosspolitic Join our Email List: https://crosspolitic.com/ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NRBTV, DirecTV, Dish, and everywhere podcasts are found.

Turning the World Upside Down (Acts 17:1-15) // Paul's ministry in Thessalonica and Berea shows that the gospel of the risen King advances through faithful proclamation, provoking both opposition and belief as people respond differently to the truth of Scripture.A study of the New Testament // Michael Crosswhite

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.” (Philemon 1:23–24 NLT) It’s been said that everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes. For a select few people, however, those fifteen minutes of fame stretched into centuries and millennia. Such is the case with the people mentioned in one of the apostle Paul’s epistles. Imagine what an honor that would be! For example, in his letter to Philemon, the apostle wrote, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers” (Philemon 1:23–24 NLT). I imagine it must have been tempting to bring up those name-checks in casual conversation: “Hi, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Aristarchus. You may have heard of me from one of Paul’s epistles.” One of the people Paul mentioned was Demas, whose name appeared not only in one epistle, but two. In Philemon, Demas is identified as a coworker of Paul. The bad news is that his second mention involved his apostasy. Something had happened to Demas in the time between Paul’s letter to Philemon and his second letter to Timothy, because we read, “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10 NLT). In other words, “Hey, remember Demas? Yeah, well, he’s not with me anymore.” The reason? Demas loved “the things of this life.” Demas serves as a prime example of why the apostle John warned, “Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever” (1 John 2:15–17 NLT). There is nothing wrong with being blessed by God with things like a nice home or a good career. In fact, the Bible tells us that God “richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17 NLT). But if those things have become the most important to you, more important than God Himself, then that is a problem, my friend. We must recognize the things of this life for the temporary blessings they are. We must be prepared to step away from them if the Lord instructs us to. Traveling light in this world means being prepared to sacrifice anything that gets in the way of our relationship with the Lord. The Christian walk is challenging enough on its own. The last thing we need is to stumble over misplaced priorities. Reflection question: How can you keep a godly perspective on the things of this life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! The Harvest Crusade is coming to Angel Stadium on July 11! Stay updated on all important event details. — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 2 Samuel 21–23, 1 Thessalonians 1 Click HERE to give! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on the Daily Radio Bible, a daily Bible‑in‑a‑year podcast with 20‑minute Scripture readings, Christ‑centered devotion, and guided prayer.This daily Bible reading and devotional invites you to live as a citizen of Jesus' kingdom, reconciled, renewed, and deeply loved. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible. On this 12th day of May, Hunter invites us to join in day 133 of our journey through the scriptures. Today's episode features readings from 2 Samuel 21–23 and 1 Thessalonians 1, exploring stories of trial, deliverance, and the faithfulness of God. Hunter reflects on how encountering Jesus transforms the way we see others, expanding our view of God's love and chosen people. The episode also includes guided prayer, encouragement for the day ahead, and personal updates from Hunter, including his ongoing journey into pastoral counseling. Gather with us as we open our hearts to the Word and to the transforming presence of God in our lives. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He changes our hearts and expands our vision. Paul was convinced of something profound—that God loved and chose this small community in Thessalonica as his own. And that was no small admission for Paul to make. In his upbringing, Gentiles—those who didn't keep kosher or follow Jewish laws and customs—would never have been seen as loved, let alone chosen. For Paul to declare otherwise, to see and say, "We know…that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people," was a revolution in his heart and mind. It was evidence that he had truly encountered Jesus. That's what happens when we meet Jesus: he transforms the way we see the world, the way we see others—especially those outside our usual circle. We discover that the boundaries of God's love are far wider than we thought. Love isn't limited to our own race, our political party, our theological persuasion, or those who are "like us." No, as we encounter the living Christ, our vision expands. We begin to see people—even those we once considered outsiders—as loved and chosen by God. The message rings out: this love, this choosing, it's not exclusive. It's for the world. The believers in Thessalonica received this good news with joy—even in the midst of suffering. Their encounter with Jesus made them an example, so that the "word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere." Their lives proclaimed, in word and deed, the broad embrace of God, echoing across borders and backgrounds. Any theology that's empty of a living encounter with Jesus dries up and closes in. It forgets that the gospel isn't just for an "in-group." Jesus opens our eyes, again and again, to see as he sees, to welcome as he welcomes. That's a prayer I have for my own soul today: that the parameters of God's love would keep opening up in my own heart. That I would meet Jesus afresh and let him rearrange my perspective—so that his embrace for the world would be my embrace. That's a prayer for myself, for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son, and it's a prayer I have for you. May we encounter the One who changes everything. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

The two saints were brothers, born in Thessalonica. St Methodius, the elder brother, served as a soldier for ten years before becoming a monk. Cyril was librarian at the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople; then he too became a monk.   Their first missionary work was not among the Slavs: When the king of the Khazars (a Mongol people who then inhabited much of what is now Russia) petitioned the Emperor Michael to sent teachers to instruct his people, the Emperor chose Cyril and Methodius as his emissaries. They converted the Khazar king to the Christian faith, along with many of his nobles and commoners.   When King Rostislav of Moravia likewise sought teachers of the Christian faith, Cyril and Methodius were again sent forth. This time they devised an alphabet for the Slavic language and used it to translate many of the Greek service books into the language of the people. (In theory, the Orthodox people have always been privileged to hear the Church's services in their own tongue, though often attachment to dead languages has prevented this ideal from becoming reality.) Both brothers were repeatedly attacked by Germanic priests of the region, who opposed the use of the common tongue in the liturgy. At different times, both brothers were forced to appeal for exoneration and protection to the Pope of Rome, who supported them warmly each time.   After the two Saints reposed, attacks on their work continued, and their disciples were eventually driven from Moravia. The disciples, fleeing southward, found a warmer welcome among the southern Slavic peoples, and their work bore much fruit in Bulgaria (including modern-day Serbia) and other countries. And, of course, the alphabet that they devised, called Cyrillic after St Cyril, remains the standard alphabet of both the Slavonic service books of the Church and the Slavic languages of today.

The Apostle Paul gives thanks to God for the believers in Thessalonica for their, "work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope." He acknowledges that they are loved and chosen by God and encourages them to remain faithful, to stay steadfast in their witness, even in the midst of persecution. Would these same qualities be said of you today?    By Dave Bartlett

Warning Against Sensationalism2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a Paul's purpose in both his letters to Thessalonica is to offer comfort to the believers. But hat if the Lord has already come? What if we have been ‘left behind?' Recorded LIVE at Ballymacashon.Read the NOTES HERE. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're beginning Paul's second letter to the Thessalonian church today, and in this letter Paul speaks a good deal about judgment and the afterlife. The church at Thessalonica was in the midst of suffering hardship and persecution, but Paul encourages them by reminding that persevering through such trials only brings further assurance that they have been counted worthy of God's kingdom. Those who don't obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus will pay the penalty of eternal destruction. Finally, if the church hears rumors that the day of the Lord has already come, they need not worry, for Paul says that day will not come until the man of lawlessness is revealed. Those who delight in unrighteousness will be fooled by this figure and will be condemned by God. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

 How do we “receive” God's word?  It is ‘food' to nourish and build up our minds.  We continue to read about the ‘adventures' of Paul – the challenges he faced as he went from place to place to spread the true message of salvation – fulfilling the words God said to Ananias in Damascus (Acts 9 v.15) that Paul “is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”There was enthusiasm for his message in some places, but not in others – and it is the same in the world today.  Paul's first approach was to go into the local Jewish synagogue, but he almost always  had a better reception among the Gentiles; he usually found some who were looking for real meaning and purpose in their lives – and it has been so ever since.  But today – with nearly all surrounded day by day and week by week by the many activities this modern world thrusts before us, few have interest in seeking and getting to know the eternal purpose of existence.We read today how Paul, when he came to a place called Berea, went into the synagogue, where he found “these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” [ch. 17 v.11]   The Scriptures of course were what we call the Old Testament and we have seen in earlier chapters in Acts passages which first Peter and then Paul quoted to prove  that the coming of Jesus and his sacrifice had been revealed by God to the prophets.  And today we can, if we are genuinely interested, study and quote them to see how they have foretold today's events with the return of the Jews to their own land – and the events which will now follow – of which our New Testament also has much to reveal to us.  So let us be like the Bereans – so that it can be said of us that we have “received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily …”     A key question for each of us is, ‘How well-nourished is my mind in eternal matters?

"Saint Irene was the daughter of a princelet called Licinius; named Penelope by her parents, through a divine revelation she was brought to faith in Christ and at Baptism was renamed Irene. In her zeal for piety she broke in pieces all the idols of her father, who commanded that she be trampled underfoot by horses. But while she remained unharmed, one of the horses rose up and cast down her father, killing him. By her prayer she raised him to life again, and he believed and was baptized. Afterwards, in many journeyings, Saint Irene suffered torments and punishments for her faith, but was preserved by the power of God, while working dread miracles and converting many thousands of souls. At last she came to Ephesus, where she fell asleep in peace, in the first half of the fourth century. Two days after her death, her gravestone was found lifted off, and her grave empty. At least two churches were dedicated to St Irene in Constantinople, and she is the patroness of the Aegean island of Thera, which is commonly called Santorini, a corruption of "Saint Irene." (Great Horologion)   Note: The most famous Agia Irene church in Constantinople is not named after her, but for the Holy Peace (Greek Irene) of God, which is Christ.   The Prologue's account differs in several details. St Nikolai places St Irene in the Balkans in the town of Magedon, in apostolic times rather than the 3rd-4th century. In his account Irene learned the Christian faith from her teacher, Appelianus, and was baptised by the Apostle Timothy himself. He attributes the anger of Irene's father to her refusal to marry rather than her smashing the family idols (though of course she might have done both).

At the end of our last reading, Paul called the Thessalonian church his joy and his crown of boasting. As we pick up today's reading, Paul is writing to the church at Thessalonica about the history and that he has with the believers in that church. His tone of brotherly affection and longing continues in today's reading, as he recounts sending Timothy to strengthen and encourage the church while he was stuck in Athens. He continues by encouraging the church to keep away from sexual immorality, to continue faithful work in the bonds of brotherhood, and to not grieve as the rest of the world does when a fellow believer dies, for there is hope beyond death for the one who trust in Christ. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Today we begin reading Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica. What do we know about this church? Well, we know that on his second missionary journey recorded in Acts, Paul stopped in the port city of Thessalonica, preached in the synagogue, and a church formed in the city thereafter. In just a few short weeks, a riot began, and Paul was forced to leave the fledgling church body. Here in today's first two chapters, Paul recounts the history that he and the church have with each other and with the gospel. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Audio Transcript Today. And I’m going to be preaching a message from the Bible in order that we would hear God speak to us. So the passage that we’re going to be studying is First Thessalonians. So if you have a Bible, go ahead and open up to the Burke, the book of first Thessalonians. It’s like right in the middle of the New Testament. So there’s Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and there’s first and second Philistines, Thessalonians. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in, around on the chairs. You can grab one of those and open up. Because I’m just going to be reading through this passage verse by verse as I preach through it. So first Thessalonians, chapter 5. I’ll be reading verses 1 through 11. Here’s what the word of the Lord has for us today. Says now, concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. And they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. And we are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet. The hope of salvation for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Please pray with me and we’ll get started. God, thank you that you speak through your word, even through the folly of man like me. God, I pray. Please keep me from error and help. Help me to speak what you have for us this morning. And I pray, Lord, that you would give each person here a heart to receive your word and ears to hear what you are saying. And so God meet with us here as we look at your word and study it together. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. Okay, so before I jump into this passage, on the day of the Lord, I’M going to read to you two different poems that are written in the 1800s concerning the return of Christ. And each of these are from two different perspectives of when Christ returns. So just listen to these poems. This first one is called the Advent by Christina Rossetti. It says, watchmen, what of the night? The stars are dim and the morning is at hand and we must watch for him. Watchman, what of the night? The night is long Wait till the day star arise with shout and song. Where are the lamps? They are trimmed and burning bright. Where is the bridegroom? He cometh in the night. Is there a cry? Yes, there is a sudden cry the bridegroom is at hand, his hour is nigh the bridegroom comes, he comes to claim his own. The winter is quite past and the flowers are blown the time of singing birds is come at last the night is wearing out and the day is past. It’s the first poem. Here’s the second poem. That’s called the Food. Foolish Virgins by Alfred Tennyson. Here’s what it Late, late, so late and dark the night and chill Late, late, so late but we can enter still Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now, no light had we for that we do repent and learning this the pride groom should Surely we’ll relent Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now no light so late and dark and chill the night O let us in, that we may find the light. Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now have we not heard? The bridegroom is so sweet O let us in. Though late to kiss his feet no, no, too late, ye cannot enter now now both of these poems speak of the sobering event that is the day of the Lord. Some will be found awake in the light with their lamps burning bright, but others will be found asleep in the dark. And these poems reflect the somber reality of the parable of the Ten virgins that Jesus. Jesus teaches concerning his coming. And it also reflects what our passage is speaking about today. And when the Son of Man comes, what will he find? Which will you be? When the Lord returns and when we have to give an account for our souls, will you be sober and awake in the light, or will you be drunk and asleep in the dark? My hope is that studying this passage this morning will give you the answer as we study this passage. So that being said, look with me at First Thessalonians, and before I do that, I’m going to give you a little bit of context concerning this passage. So First Thessalonians was written to the new believers in Thessalonica, only a few months after Paul and Timothy had to leave due to persecution. The church at Thessalonica was very young and they were without any leaders. And therefore Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Thessalonian church, to remind them that sanctification in the midst of persecution was God’s will for their lives. And he desired to clear up any confusion about the Lord’s second coming. So about a month ago, I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4, 4 verses 13 through 18, concerning the state of those who die in the Lord, and about Jesus’s second coming, when he will bring his people to himself. The Thessalonian believers at the time were confused about what was happening when a believer died and if they would experience the Lord’s second coming or not. And so in our last passage, Paul affirmed the Thessalonians that, yes, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, and those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep at the coming of Christ. Rather, the Lord himself will descend with a shout and with a sound of the trumpet. The dead in Christ will be raised first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to always be with the Lord. And so, after clearing up this confusion, Paul now has more to say in chapter five concerning the day of the Lord. And so, before I get into this, I’m just going to mention that some Christians view this passage as a separate event from the gathering of God’s people that is talked about in chapter four, which is known as the Rapture. And so those that view this as two separate events, this is called dispensational premillennialism. And other Christians view the gathering of God’s people in chapter four. And then what we’re about to read here in chapter five as the same event. And this view would be called historical premillennialism. Or there’s also other views that take these two events to be the same one. And so all of these views, both of these arguments that are made from historical premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism, they both have reliable theologians that back behind them with strong biblical arguments. I personally tend to think that this is the same event when Christ returns, based on what Paul describes in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. But I also find myself going back and forth at times. So regardless of your eschatological view, your end time view on this, the main point is that Jesus will return on the day of The Lord, which is what our passage is looking at here. So look with me at verses one through two. God’s word says now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, which side note, brothers here is referring to brothers and sisters in Christ at Thessalonica. Brothers and sisters, you have no need to have anything written to you, for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The day of the Lord mentioned here is referring to the great day of God’s judgment upon all mankind. And this will be after the tribulation, when all the earth will be judged and God will melt the elements of the earth in his wrath in order to wipe it clean of all of its evil and make all things new. Second Peter 3:10 says this. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed for the wicked and the ungodly. This will be a terrifying day, for God is holy and he is a consuming fire against all unrighteousness. But for the righteous who have faith in Christ, the day of the Lord will come with rejoicing and praise to God as justice is established on the earth once and forevermore. And so concerning the times and seasons, that our passage begins with the day of the Lord, Paul says he has nothing more to write to these Thessalonians about this. And this is likely because Paul already taught the Thessalonians that no one knows the times or the seasons when the day of the Lord will occur. Not even the Son of God knows. Only the Father knows when Christ will return and when finality will come to the earth. And so Paul had also taught the Thessalonians that when the day of the Lord comes, it would be like a thief in the night. And so these are chilling words meant to wake up everybody who hears them. And so Jesus himself said that he would come like a thief in the night in the Gospels. And so Matthew 24:40,44 says this. Then two men will be in the field, one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on the day that the Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready for The Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. So Jesus compares his second coming to that of a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night. When a person least excited, and this is how the majority of the world will experience the second coming of Christ. It will be sudden and completely unexpected and it will leave each person empty handed before the judgment seat of God. And just as the poem I read to you at the end, there will be a sober reflection that it is too late to now enter in to God’s kingdom with Christ when He comes. And so verse three gives us more insight onto this saying. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape. Here we learn that there will be a false sense of peace and security before the day of the Lord’s coming. And this sense of peace and security, it will not come from the Lord, but it will be found in the world through one’s possessions or through a trust in the government, or trust in a world leader. It will be a misplaced peace and security. And Jesus taught that just as people were eating and drinking and marrying in the days of Noah, on the day when the flood came and swept them away, so will be when the Christ returns on the night the thief arrives. The world’s false sense of peace and security will not be able to keep them from the hour that their souls must give account to the living God. Our passage says sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains. Just as labor is inevitable once labor has begun, so the sudden judgment of God will inevitably come upon the earth and there will be no escape. These words are terrifying to hear. Just as the words in the poem that I read a couple weeks ago. We had a major storm that rolled through in the area with warnings of severe hail and multiple destructive tornadoes that could roll through the area. And at one point as this storm was going over all of Dane county and all throughout the Midwest, in the middle of the dark clouds and the continuous booming thunder which I think many of you here experienced, there was sirens that began to sound in the middle of the storm and echo across the Madison area, warning that a tornado has been sighted and to seek shelter immediately. Immediately. These verses and others like it that we’re reading here, it’s like the sound of tornado sirens. They are warning all who will listen that impending destruction is coming like a thief in the night, and if one is not prepared and ready for his coming, there will be no escape which is Deeply chilling and sober words in this passage. But to take a shift from this heaviness, we get to verse four. In verse four, we get to some very much so needed Good news. Verse 4 says, but you believers in Thessalonica, you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief, for you are all children of the light, children of the day. We’re not of the night or of the darkness. So here Paul brings some much needed clarification. The day of the Lord is not going to surprise believers as it will surprise the rest of the world. And this is because the Thessalonian brothers and sisters are not in darkness, but instead they are children of the light. Now, what exactly is Paul saying here? 2Nd Corinthians 4, 6, I think gives us a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is saying. And here’s what it says. For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, he has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So what Paul is saying is the same God who said, let there be light has now brought light into man through faith in him, and Jesus himself is the light of the world. When a person places their faith in Jesus, the light of Christ is made manifest within them as God gives them a new heart and new desires to follow God’s word. Through faith, God’s people become children of the light that they may walk in good works, that the Holy Spirit enables them to do, works that reflect Christ and bring spiritual light upon the earth. And in contrast, the world is described as living in darkness, and this represents spiritual darkness. As people live in rebellion against God and unable to walk in godliness and unable to understand the truth of God’s word. In the darkness, the world rejects God and seeks pleasure without him by living for their passions of the flesh, which results in sin and death. But children of the light, they do not live this way because they have seen Christ and they have come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Lord. And they devote their lives to following Christ and from putting away darkness and putting away sin. Sin hides itself in the dark, but righteousness shines brightly in the light of day. God’s people are not of the night or of the darkness any longer. They have turned from darkness and now live in Christ’s glorious light. And because God’s people live in the light, they know Christ and they know Jesus is going to return. Therefore, God’s children will not be surprised or caught off guard when Christ arrives. They will be ready with lamps burning in the night, and they’ll be ready to meet their groom and be brought to his side. Those living in darkness, they ignore the warnings and do not expect or desire the day of the Lord to come, which is why it surprises them. But God’s people, they hear the tornado sirens and they turn to Jesus for shelter by the grace of God. So children of the light live in the day where they expect their Savior to return, and their hearts long for his coming to make all things new, where darkness and sin will rule no longer. And so, that being said, my first application from this passage for believers here is, live as children of the light. If you have faith in Christ, the light switch, the spiritual light switch in your life has been flipped on. No longer do you live in darkness where sin is your master, Jesus is your master, Jesus is your guide in this day. His Word is a lamp to your feet that you may walk in a different way from how the world walks and stumbles in darkness. Because you are children of the light, you’re gonna look different. And that is actually okay. Jesus wants us to live differently and to shine our light bright so that others may see our good works and glorify our God who is in heaven. The time for dwelling in darkness is over for the believer, and the time for living for Christ in the light has just now begun. So, so, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, just like the Thessalonians, live as children of the light, for you no longer live in darkness. You are free to walk in the light of Christ and good works that glorify him. Moving on to verse 6, it says so then 6 and 7 says so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and sober. For those who sleep, they sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. And so if anybody here is already starting to fall asleep a little bit, this is to you, go ahead and wake up, be sober. Don’t let my sermon put you to sleep. No. So Paul here, he’s like, further emphasizing the difference between believers who are children of the light and then non believers who are living in darkness. Paul says that those who are living in the dark spend their time sleeping at night and getting drunk at night. What’s important here is that Paul isn’t talking about what physical sleeping and drunkenness does. He’s actually using these as metaphors to communicate that unbelievers are spiritually asleep and drunk. And as they live in darkness, so those living in the darkness without God and without the light of Christ, spend their time spiritually asleep at the wheel. Sleep and drunkenness are both states where reality is distorted and one is not able to fully understand what is going on around them. Unbelievers are oblivious to spiritual truth that is found in God’s word through faith in Christ. They have no awareness of what God’s will is for their lives or any true understanding of that Jesus is going to return and demand an account for their soul. Instead, they live in sin and drown out God’s truth through being intoxicated with what the world has to offer. But Paul, as already pointed out, that’s not who we are referring to. Believers. We are not of the night or spiritually asleep at the wheel. Rather, God’s people are alive and are awake. Therefore, let us not hit snooze on the things of God and sleep spiritually as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Highlight underline Circle this in your Bibles because I think this is the most important application in our passage today. Keep awake and be sober Because God’s people are children of the day and understand the will of God and they understand the will of God and that Jesus is going to demand an account for the way that we live. So we must keep spiritually awake and remain spiritually sober. As I said before, the day of the Lord being related to a thief in the night is meant to sound the alarm in our minds and nudge God’s people to stay awake and to be alert. Time and history is moving towards one end and that is the day of the Lord. Today, if you find yourself distracted by things of the world or just like kind of living on autopilot going from day to day, then hear the word of the Lord to you this morning. Keep awake and be sober. God has work for you to do today to honor him and to point others to Christ so that they may turn from darkness into light. Be aware of God’s will for your life and be ready for Christ to return so that when he does, you may hear him say these good words that are well done, my good and faithful servant. And when I say understand God’s will, I mean his revealed will through His Word applied to each day. So what Christ asks us to do and the ways he calls us to love one another and to love God. If the day of the Lord changes nothing about how you live day by day, you may be spiritually asleep at the wheel and drunk on the world. While I was working at a collegiate ministry in New Mexico called the Christian Challenge, back when I was a young Buck. Shortly after I’d graduated, there was a staff meeting where I was working at this collegiate ministry, and we had to make some big decisions on where we were going to send college students on summer mission trips with our partner missionaries. And one of the partner missionaries actually got kicked out of the country only months before the trips are going to happen. And so, as this happened, there were some other providential opportunities that had presented themselves, but were certainly a large pivot from what the ministry had originally planned for. And so in the middle of our meeting, the director named David, who was sort of a mentor to me, he said something that I will not forget. He said, what is God doing through all this? He didn’t say it out of anger or out of doubt, but he said it in, like, curiosity and in wonder, like, what is it that the Lord is doing among us? In this unforeseen pivot is the Lord closing one door, one partnership, and now opening another to proclaim the Gospel to another nation? And as David asked these questions to all of us in our staff meeting, it kind of just like snapped me out of my narrow focus where I was just thinking, how do we fix this? Where do we send students? But David, he was thinking, what is the will of God in this circumstance? And what is it that God is doing today in my life? What is it the Lord is doing here that we may keep in step with him and his plans so that he would be glorified? Therefore, just as David was awake and sober of the situation, we too should keep awake and be sober and pondering, what is it that the Lord is doing in my life today? For the Lord is among us, and he is preparing to come on that great and mighty day. Do we perceive it or are we asleep? Moving on to verse eight, it says, but since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. Here Paul gives some practical applications for us on how God’s people are to remain sober before the day of the Lord. They do this by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is the hope of salvation. Here Paul attaches these virtues to pieces of armor similar to the armor of God that’s found in the book of Ephesians. And so faith and love are to be central to a believer’s life, like a breastplate and hope of salvation protects one’s mind from fears or doubts, knowing for certain that they are saved in Christ. And so Paul communicates that these pieces of armor keep a believer soberly aware of God’s will and his truth in their lives. These three virtues are mentioned together in other letters as vital virtues that work together in one’s life as they walk with Christ. For one’s faith angers oneself to Christ, bringing salvation and sanctification that results in good works. One’s love grows their affection for God and for their neighbor to fulfill the greatest commandment. And one’s hope of salvation spurs them on towards what lies ahead, knowing salvation is guaranteed through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Each of these virtues are a gift from God, and each of them keep a believer soberly fixed on Christ and on his return. So moving to verses 9 through 10, God’s word gives us an incredible truth to end on. So verse nine look with me in your Bibles it says, for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him. Now, talking about God’s wrath is generally an uncomfortable topic. Therefore, the day of the Lord is not an easy day to process, and this passage is not easy to process. For the day of the Lord is when God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness and wickedness on the earth. But throughout this passage, Paul again and again affirms God’s people that the day of the Lord will be different. For those who have found in Christ, the day of the Lord won’t surprise them like a thief in the night. You are not children of darkness or of the night. You are not asleep or drunk on the world. You are alive, awake and sober. Children of the light. Why? Verse answer gives us why. For God has not destined his children of wrath. Sorry, his children of the light for wrath, but he has destined us for salvation through Jesus Christ who died for us and now is alive. This is such a sweet assurance to hold onto. It is a verse that you could memorize and really meditate on day by day because its promise is so sweet to God’s people. And it is my last application from this passage Christian remember, you are not destined for wrath, but for salvation through your Lord Jesus Christ. Even when life is difficult or you’re enduring something that is really heavy or difficult in your life. Hear God tell you this morning I have not destined you for wrath, but for salvation in Jesus Christ. For God’s people who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, judgment and wrath are not what God has in store. Instead, a beautiful inheritance awaits God’s people, forgiveness of sin, new hearts that beat for God, new lives that are restored and made whole, a new glorified body, joy in the presence of Christ, peace that endures, love that never fails, and eternal life with God and with his people that will never end. That, Christian, is what you are destined for through faith in Christ. Verse 10 also affirms what Paul had previously said in chapter 4, that those who are asleep, which Paul is now no longer talking about, the same sleep as those in darkness, but those who have died with faith in Christ, those who have died and are now asleep as believers, they are also destined for salvation. This means that whether you are awake with faith in Christ or asleep from death with faith in Christ, you will live with Christ in His presence. Death cannot change what God has done for his people. Whether awake or asleep, you are destined to live with Christ in the end when he returns. And if you’re here and you know you are walking in darkness apart from God, then I have some really, really good news for you. All people are born into this world, living in darkness, asleep to the things of God and drunk on the distractions and pleasures of the world. All of us here in this room begin this way. We are separated from God and deserving God’s just wrath that deals with evil, evil that is within us. Yet a light has dawned on the earth in the form of a man. And this man was God himself. He performed many signs and wonders in fulfillment of the scriptures. And he lived a perfect life without sin and with his pure and righteous life. This God man willingly love. He laid down his life for you and for me on the cross. He endured the wrath of God so that all who believe in him by faith could be brought from darkness into light. He bore our sins. He paid our penalties on the cross so that man could be reunited with a holy God and become children of of the light. This God man, this is Jesus the Christ who has died for us. And if anyone, including today, anyone here, turns away from their sin and believes in Jesus as the Lord of their life for the forgiveness of their sins, they will be forgiven and new life will begin in the the light. That’s what happened to the Thessalonian believers when they turned from idols to serve the living God. And it can happen for you if you will believe. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Our passage then ends on verse 11 that says, Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing so. My final encouragement to you from this passage is the exact same thing. Red Village Church Continue to encourage one another here that the day of the Lord is coming near and keep encouraging one another to stay awake and to be sober. Keep building one another up through faith and love and hope that is found in the salvation we have in Christ. Remind one another that God has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation in Christ. Keep sharing the gospel, keep gathering as the family of God at church. Keep reading your Bible and keep praying to the Lord about all things. Live as children of the light together that God’s kindness and love may be put on display so that many who put their faith in him may be ready for the day of the Lord when he returns. That being said, please pray with me, Lord, this passage is sobering and thinking about your coming. And yet there is great hope that is found in Christ through your finished work on the cross, offering forgiveness and a place of shelter from the wrath that we poured out on the great day of the Lord. And so I pray for everyone here. God, help us to be ready to be awake, to be sober. Help us Lord, to continue in doing the things you call us to for your will and for your glory. And God, if any here do not know you, I pray that today would be the day that they would turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus as their only hope of salvation and as a means of new life to walk in your marvelous light. And God, I pray, be glorified with the rest of our time as we gather here this morning. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 appeared first on Red Village Church.

Who and what events are Paul referring to, that the congregation in Thessalonica should be privy to? Why should their understanding of these things give, both them and the Church today, peace? - Thank you for joining us. Please submit any questions or requests to: Pastor Matt's email: mgrimm@cstoneepc.com Thadd's email: thadd@truth316.com Planted intro/outro: Straight Through by Groove Bakery | https://groovebakery.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/ 

Welcome to Episode #208 of the Way of the Bible podcast. This is our eighth of eight episodes in our Twenty-Sixth mini-series entitled Return to the Sermon on the Mount. On today's episode, we're going to take a break and catch up with where we've been in this mini-series during a Walk on the Beach with DrZ. This morning's walk is like perfection. Water is crystal clear and glistening atop the swales, silently moving ashore. There's a slight north wind that will keep this morning's temperature in the mid-60's till at least 1 PM. And finally, all the Spring breaks for area schools and colleges are over, so we have a tranquil, deserted beach all morning.We did things a little differently this week: a large group of walkers arrived well before sunrise to share a quiet time of prayer and journaling as we sat at individual lap desks with lamps out on the beach. We saw a setting moon and a rising sun on opposite horizons while listening to the rush of waters along the surf line and hearing the word of God speak into our hearts. We've gone in and had a cup of coffee, mingled with the new arrivals, and are back on the beach ready for a walk. So glad you've joined us, we've got a lot to cover.All right, looks like everyone's here and alert. We'll head west with the sun at our back. You can look toward the sunrise now, and appreciate the wonder of a morning on the beach, it never gets old, and be glad not to be walking into that constant low sun angle glare. We'll turn when the Navy arrives. More on that later. We've just completed seven episodes on Jesus' closing instructions to his disciples for his Sermon on the Mount. These instructions are found in Matthew 7, following the meat of his message found in Chapters 5 and 6, which we covered in mini-series 19, 20, and 21. I've spent the last three months meditating on Matthew 7:1-23, preparing the episodes for this mini-series. There is one small section of Matthew 7 left that we'll cover in mini-series 27. This particular chapter of Matthew may be the most important Chapter for a Christian who desires to live out the life in the Spirit, Jesus promised and provided for those who would believe in him. This is not about a religion, a denomination, or da body of individuals gathered in a building or auditorium for what is called church. Jesus provided very specific instructions, encouragement, and warnings in this chapter, found in both the Old and New Testament passages. If we aren't careful, we may continue to do as I've done most of my believing life thinking, there's not much here for me. I admit and confess right now, I could not have been more wrong.Which reminds me to note to all you listening, to confirm everything I say by the scripture. Just because I say something does not supercede the authority of the scriptures. Be good stewards of your faith as were the Bereans in Acts 17:11 – Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 

Basic Bible Study | 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Acts (part 4) & 1 Corinthians (part 1) In today's podcast, join Chris and Robyn as they continue their discussion. Here is a breakdown of what was discussed: - a little chit-chat - recap of last episode - Paul continues his letters to the new churches - if God wants us to do something, He will give us the strength & courage to boldly speak out for Him, despite any obstacles that may come our way - Satan is the most powerful of the evil spirits. His power can effect both the spiritual world & the physical world. - if you have accepted Christ's sacrifice on your behalf, then you are considered holy & complete in God's eyes - the purpose of Paul's first letter to Thessalonica was to comfort the Thessalonians with the assurance of Christ's return; the purpose of his second letter is to correct false teaching about the second coming - the keys to surviving persecution & trials are endurance and faithfulness - if our faith is strong, we don't need to be afraid of what lies ahead - our task is to be prepared for Christ's return & to spread the good news so that even more people will also be prepared - Chris & Robyn chat about "speaking in tongues" - if you have faith in Christ, even if it is weak, you are & will be saved - don't seek praise from people; seek praise from God - all believers struggle with sin daily - homosexuality in the Bible - God offers physical healing & spiritual restoration - what to read for next time “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ABOUT Opening a Bible for the first time can be intimidating. Join Amy & Robyn in an easy-to-follow discussion. This Basic Bible Study is perfect for beginners & those who have never read the Bible. Look for new podcasts every Tuesday & Friday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BIBLE RESOURCES https://biblehub.com/ https://www.bible.com/ http://betterdaysarecoming.com/bible/pronunciation.html https://biblespeak.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/mybasicbiblestudy WEBSITE http://www.mybasicbiblestudy.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ You can contact us via e-mail or regular old snail-mail: Basic Bible Study 7797 N. 1st St. #34 Fresno, CA 93720 basicbiblestudy19@gmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We live in a culture filled with competing allegiances, where ultimate meaning is sought in politics, success, sexuality, comfort, family, or self-expression. While pluralism has brought many freedoms, it has also created confusion about what—or who—deserves our ultimate loyalty.

Sometimes life can make us guarded. Hurt teaches us to keep people at a distance. So instead of relational warmth, we settle for cold distance. We stay courteous, but closed. Deep down, though, that is not what we are made for. In our passage this week, Paul shows us something better. His words to the church in Thessalonica come loaded with love. They carry the weight of his heart and show us what the gospel creates as we wait for Jesus to return: friendships that love deeply, strengthen intentionally, and pray expectantly.