Podcasts about thessalonica

Would you like to see what an authentic work of God looks like in a local church? Pastor Colin talks about the church in Thessalonica and their unusual and wonderful experience of God's grace.

00:00:00 Acts 1 – Promise of the Holy Ghost and Matthias Chosen00:03:37 Acts 2 – Cloven Tongues of Fire and Peter Preacheth00:09:04 Acts 3 – Lame Man Healed and Repentance Declared00:12:37 Acts 4 – Boldness of the Apostles and All Things Common00:16:54 Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira Smitten and Prison Opened00:22:09 Acts 6 – Seven Deacons Ordained and Stephen Accused00:24:07 Acts 7 – Stephen's Defense of the Faith and Martyrdom00:31:32 Acts 8 – Philip Preacheth Samaria and the Ethiopian Baptized00:36:27 Acts 9 – Saul's Conversion and Aeneas and Dorcas Healed00:42:11 Acts 10 – Cornelius's Vision and Gentiles Receive the Holy Ghost00:48:14 Acts 11 – Peter Justifieth His Ministry to the Gentiles00:51:53 Acts 12 – James Killed, Peter Delivered, and Herod Smitten00:55:20 Acts 13 – Paul Sent Forth and Elymas the Sorcerer Blinded01:02:16 Acts 14 – Paul Stoned at Lystra and Elders Ordained01:05:53 Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council and Decree Touching the Gentiles01:11:14 Acts 16 – Macedonian Call and Philippian Jailer Saved01:16:30 Acts 17 – Paul at Thessalonica, Berea, and Mars' Hill01:21:19 Acts 18 – Paul at Corinth and Apollos Instructed01:25:07 Acts 19 – Exorcists Confounded and Uproar at Ephesus01:30:33 Acts 20 – Eutychus Raised and Paul's Charge to Elders01:35:19 Acts 21 – Paul Warninged, Arrested, and Bound at Jerusalem01:40:58 Acts 22 – Paul's Defense Before the Jews and Roman Citizenship01:45:02 Acts 23 – Paul Before the Sanhedrin and Plot Defeated01:50:07 Acts 24 – Paul Accused Before Felix and Reasoneth of Judgment01:53:56 Acts 25 – Paul Before Festus and Appeals Unto Caesar01:57:59 Acts 26 – Paul's Defense Before Agrippa and Almost Persuaded02:02:16 Acts 27 – Voyage, Tempestuous Wind, and Shipwreck at Melita02:07:52 Acts 28 – Viper at Melita and Paul Preacheth at Rome

Use Your Life And Giving To Be An Encouragement To The Church Acts 20:1-6 1When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. 2He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6But we sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Pas een jaar geleden hoorden de mensen in Thessalonica voor het eerst over Jezus. Toch werden ze een voorbeeld voor iedereen. Hoe deed dat jonge geloof zoveel?

Pastor Dodge opens today's teaching with a quote from St. Augustine, "The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed."  Meaning what the New Testament teaches is already in the Old Testament scriptures and the Old Testament scriptures find their fulfillment in the New Testament. The Old Testament isn't to be sloughed off, it is at the heart of the New Testament teaching.  In order to understand the New Testament we need to be well versed in the Old Testament. This is what we will see in today's study of Acts 17.   Acts 17:1-3 - Paul and his companions come to a synagogue in Thessalonica and Paul explains that Jesus is the Messiah. Paul is showing them the Hebrew Scriptures and demonstrating how Jesus is the fulfillment of what the Jewish people have been longing for.   Some ways the Messiah was mentioned in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures and revealed in the New Testament through the life and death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ: The New Adam The Seed of the woman Virgin born Immanuel Passover Lamb Heavenly Manna Son of David  Suffering Servant New Covenant Divine Son of Man The King who enters Jerusalem The First and the Last King of Kings   Acts 17:4-10 many believed but some did not and so the believers send Paul and Silas away to Berea where they went again to the Jewish synagogue.    Acts 17:11-12 - The Berean Jews received their message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. And as a result many of the Berean Jews believed along with prominent Greek women and men.   The Christian faith is a rational faith. It is not something uncovered by human reason but is entirely rational because God is entirely rational.   God has done mighty things. He is the God of the universe and the God of human history and in His Word He reveals to us His Son - our Redeemer and Hope.   Paul reasoned with them and we too need to confront the reasoning and the wisdom of God as revealed through ancient Hebrew prophets, through apostles and through His Son.     Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE.   View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class   For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper   For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now   Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service   Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/videos    Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Send us Fan MailPaul has given an exhortation to the assembly in Thessalonica. This episode continues to look at what Paul has been encouraging believers to focus on.Support the show

Inverse 5 he asks: “Do you not remember that when I was still with you Itold you these things?” I find that verse interesting. Remember, Paulhad not spent years with these believers. His time in Thessalonica had beenrelatively brief. Yet while he was there, he taught them about the return ofChrist and the prophetic events surrounding it. That tells me that Bibleprophecy isn't something we should ignore. Some people say, “Prophecy is toocomplicated. Let's just talk about practical Christian living.” But Paulapparently didn't separate the two. He taught new believers about the return ofJesus. And when properly understood, prophecy is very practical. If I believeJesus could come again, it should affect the way I live today. It should affectmy priorities. It should affect how I use my time. It should affect how I treatpeople. It should affect my desire to share the Gospel. And it should cause meto live with my eyes toward heaven. ThenPaul says in verse 6: “And now you know what is restraining, that he maybe revealed in his own time.” That word “restraining” isvery important. Something—or Someone—is presently holding back the fullmanifestation of evil and preventing this “man of sin” from being revealedbefore God's appointed time. Notice those final words: “In his own time.”The Antichrist cannot simply appear whenever Satan chooses. Satan isnot controlling the prophetic calendar. God is.  ThenPaul says in verse 7: “For the mystery of lawlessness is already atwork.” Paul wrote those words nearly two thousand years ago. Lawlessnesswas already working in Paul's day. And it is still working today. The spirit ofrebellion against God has been present throughout human history. John expressedsomething similar when he wrote in 1 John 2:18 that many antichrists hadalready come. The final Antichrist had not yet appeared, but the spirit ofopposition to Christ was already operating in the world. We certainly don'thave to look very far to see that spirit today. ButPaul says something is restraining it. And then he makes this remarkablestatement: “Only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out ofthe way.” Now we come to a question Bible students have discussed forcenturies: Who is the Restrainer? Paul doesn't specifically identify Himhere. There have been several interpretations. But I personally believe Paul isspeaking of the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit working through theChurch. Think about what Jesus said to His followers. He said: “Youare the salt of the earth.” Salt in the ancient world was used as apreservative. It slowed corruption. Jesus also said: “You are the lightof the world.” Light pushes back darkness. Everywhere genuine believerslive for Jesus Christ, preach the Gospel, pray, stand for truth, anddemonstrate the love and righteousness of Christ, there is a restraininginfluence against evil. Not because we possess that power ourselves. It isbecause the Holy Spirit lives within us. AndI believe there is coming a day when the Church will be caught up to meet theLord in the air. When that happens, the Holy Spirit's present restrainingministry through the Church will be removed, allowing the man of sin tobe revealed in God's appointed time. Now, that does not mean that theHoly Spirit will cease to exist or cease working on the earth. God the HolySpirit is omnipresent. He was working in the world before the Church began atPentecost, and He will continue working according to God's purposes. Whatchanges is His particular restraining ministry through the Church.  Sometimeswe look around at our world and become discouraged. We see evil. We seeviolence. We see immorality. We see people rejecting biblical truth. And wemight wonder: “What difference can one Christian possibly make?” Morethan you think. Jesus didn't ask us to remove all the darkness. He told us to shinein it. He didn't ask us to stop all the corruption. He told us to be salt.

What does it mean to stand strong in your faith when life gets hard? In this message from 1 Thessalonians 3, Pastor Mark explores how the Apostle Paul encouraged a young church facing real pressure to stay faithful. Discover three powerful keys to standing strong together: the encouragement of others, having a realistic faith that expects trials and temptation, and praying earnestly for one another. Whether you're facing doubt, temptation, or discouragement, this teaching reminds us we were never meant to walk this journey alone. Part of our "Ready and Waiting" series on the second coming of Jesus. Be encouraged, be strengthened, and stand firm!#StandingStrong #ReadyAndWaiting #1Thessalonians #ChristianFaith #BibleTeaching #Encouragement #FaithJourney #JesusIsComing #ChurchSermon #FaithOverFear

Costly LoveThere are different ways to view anything. For instance, you can read the Bible like a story, and it looks something like this: Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration. Another way we read the Bible is thematically, considering major themes that show our need for the gospel, and it looks like this: Who is God? What is sin? Who is Jesus? How do we receive the gospel? Both are ways of looking at the Bible, and both get at essential truth. We need both to get a fuller picture of the glory of the Gospel.In a similar manner, our text this Sunday reflects a different perspective on what God was doing in Thessalonica and how Paul made disciples who then made disciples. If last week we saw a flyover of the explosion of the church Paul planted, this week we go inside the living room of Jason and see what happened up close and personal in seeing Christ being formed in the souls of people. It can only be described as costly love. You can feel the tension, see and hear the pain Paul feels in his body from the beating he received in Philippi, and see the strong images Paul uses to describe pouring out his life for the people. Costly love indeed!Join us this Sunday as we consider gospel ministry up close and personal, which is the only way the gospel goes forth. If you are new and interested in knowing more about St. Patrick, consider joining us in the Sunday School hour for St. Patrick Essentials. Or we also have a class studying Leviticus, and, of course classes for all ages for our children.

Today we begin the second chapter of 2 Thessalonians, and weare entering one of the most interesting and, at times, difficult propheticpassages in the New Testament. So as we go through this chapter, we're going totake our time. There are some things in these verses that Bible-believingChristians have interpreted differently through the years. We don't need to beafraid of that. Where the Scripture is clear, we want to be clear. Where goodBible teachers have understood some of the details differently, we want to becareful not to say more than the Bible itself says. Butwe don't want to miss Paul's main purpose. Paul wasn't writing this chaptermerely to give the Thessalonians a prophetic timetable. He was writing tocomfort troubled believers. Listen to the opening words of 2 Thessalonians2:1–2. Paul writes concerning “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ andour gathering together to Him.” Then he tells them not to be “soonshaken in mind or troubled.” Those two thoughts belong together. Christis coming—and therefore God's people don't need to live shaken and troubledlives. Rememberwhat had happened in Thessalonica. These were relatively new Christians. Theywere already experiencing persecution and suffering. Paul had taught them aboutthe return of Jesus when he was with them, and he had written extensively aboutit in his first letter. In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul had given them thatwonderful promise that the Lord Himself would descend from heaven, the dead inChrist would rise, living believers would be caught up together with them, and:“Thus we shall always be with the Lord.” And then Paul said: “Thereforecomfort one another with these words.” The return of Jesus was supposed tobring comfort. Butsomething had happened. Instead of being comforted, these believers had become confused.Instead of looking for Christ with hope, they were becoming frightened. Someoneapparently had convinced them that the Day of the Lord had already arrived—or,as the NKJV expresses it, that it “had come.” Perhaps they looked at thepersecution around them and thought: “Are we already experiencing God'send-time judgment?” “Have we missed something?” “Were we wrong about what Paultaught us?” And Paul says, in effect: Don't panic. Don't be shaken. Don't betroubled. Noticethe beautiful expression he uses in verse 1:“Our gathering together toHim.” Ultimately, that is the Christian's hope. Our hope isn't merelyan event on a prophetic calendar. Our hope is a Person. Jesus is coming.And we are going to be gathered to Him. That's what makes the return ofChrist so precious. I enjoy studying Bible prophecy. I believe we shouldunderstand what Scripture teaches about the things to come. But sometimes wecan become so interested in when things will happen and howeverything fits together that we lose sight of Who is coming. Jesus saidin John 14: “I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am,there you may be also.” That's the heart of our hope. Jesus wants uswith Him. Paulthen tells the Thessalonians not to be “soon shaken in mind or troubled.” Thepicture behind that word “shaken” is something being moved from its place. Thesebelievers had been grounded in the truth Paul had taught them. But then someonecame along with another message, and suddenly their confidence was shaken. Andisn't that still possible today? We hear predictions. We see frighteningheadlines. Someone posts something on social media. Someone claims they'vediscovered exactly when the Lord is returning. Someone takes a propheticpassage and confidently announces that a particular current event absolutelyfulfills it. And before long, Christians can become anxious and afraid. ButBible prophecy was never given to God's people to make us live in panic. Jesustold us to watch. Paul told us to comfort one another. And herePaul tells us: “Don't be shaken.”

Episode 2 of Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful Watch this message along with helpful notes and resources here Learn how to dwell well in these remarkable letters by paying attention to the world behind the text, the world of the text, and the world in front of the text. We'll follow Paul through Acts from Philippi to Thessalonica and Corinth, see how Scripture helps us understand Scripture, and trace the biblical story behind Paul's teaching through Genesis, Isaiah, Joel, Habakkuk, Psalms 27 and 46, and the words of Jesus. Along the way, we'll consider what it means to read Thessalonians as letters written to real people living faithfully while they waited for Christ. Their questions about suffering, grief, holiness, hope, and the return of Jesus weren't abstract theology. Paul was teaching them how to live. This episode accompanies Lesson One of the 50-day Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful Bible study from Dwelling Richly Ministries. Get the complete study book here: DwellingRichly.org Let Scripture be your guide and the Holy Spirit your teacher. Welcome to Dwelling Richly, a Bible-based, faith-strengthening, community-building ministry devoted to helping believers know and love God's Word, grow in their faith, and help others do the same. At Dwelling Richly, we don't just “do” Bible study. We dwell. We learn to read Scripture carefully, think biblically, ask good questions, make connections across God's Word, and grow increasingly confident opening the Bible for ourselves. Whether you're studying with a Dwelling Richly Grace Group, alongside a friend, or on your own, I'm glad you're here. → STUDY WITH DWELLING RICHLY http://dwellingrichly.org/ → JOIN THE DWELLING RICHLY COMMUNITY https://dwelling-richly.churchcenter.com/ → LISTEN TO THE DWELLING RICHLY PODCAST https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/podcast/ Dwelling Richly exists to disciple believers to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them, and to help others do the same. Subscribe and join us as we dwell in the Word together. #DwellingRichly #BibleStudy #ChristianBibleStudy || SOCIAL MEDIA || Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dwellingrichlypodcast || PODCAST || Any platform - "The Dwelling Richly Podcast" https://dwellingrichly.podbean.com/ Teaching Session with every lesson - When/Where to Watch/Listen - Main Message Page click here Dwelling Richly on YouTube: click here Dwelling Richly on any Podcast: click here Released every-other Tuesday, 6am (PST). 2026 release dates:

Bible teaching by Jonny Hall on the 20th September 2026. TEACHING NOTES: Point 1: New Believers Are Counting The Cost (v1) Thessalonica was a wealthy and prosperous place The Thessalonian church were suddenly living by a ‘new system' They faced tension and opposition Point 2: New Believers Need Our Prayers (v2) Paul was so encouraged by their early faith Every new believer is a miracle from God Just like new born babies, new born believers can be vulnerable Point 3: Our Call Is to Faith, Love and Hope Faith in Jesus is both the door and the way to salvation As faith grows up towards Jesus our love should grow out towards others Hope in God's promises fuels our faith and love.

As in other cities where the gospel was first preached by Paul and his mission team, many people in the city of Thessalonica believed in Jesus as Messiah and confessed him as Lord. What stands out about these new believers is that they received the gospel in much tribulation and with great joy. Today, from the account of the mission in this city, and from Paul's letter to the church in there, we are encouraged to open our hearts to God's word by faith and to be changed by it. Grace Community Church exists to build spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world. One of the ways that we pursue this mission is by gathering each Sunday for corporate worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. The corporate nature of this gathering is both edifying to the believer and a witness of God's grace to the world. Sermon speaker is Scott Patty unless otherwise noted.

Yesterday we began our journey through the little book of 2Thessalonians. Today, let's begin looking at the first chapter, starting withverses 1 and 2: “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of theThessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, andpeace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” These words mightsound like a simple greeting, but there is a great deal of truth packed intothese two verses. Paul begins by mentioning Silvanus, whom we usually know asSilas, and Timotheus, or Timothy. These three men had been together when thechurch in Thessalonica was established. Ifyou remember from our study of 1 Thessalonians, Paul had only been inThessalonica for a short time before persecution forced him to leave. Yet inthat brief period, people believed the Gospel, their lives were changed, and achurch was born. Now Paul writes to them again. And notice how he describesthem: “Unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and theLord Jesus Christ.” They lived physically in Thessalonica, butspiritually they were in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Whata wonderful description of every believer! We live in a particular town. Wehave an address. We belong to a family and a community. But if we have trustedJesus Christ as our Savior, our true spiritual position is in Christ. Andthat was especially important for these Thessalonian believers because theywere experiencing persecution. Their circumstances were difficult. Theirenemies were real. Their suffering was painful. Butnone of those things could change their position in Christ. And neither can thecircumstances you and I face today. You may be going through disappointment. Youmay be dealing with sickness. You may be carrying a burden that nobody elseknows about. You may be facing uncertainty about tomorrow. But if you knowChrist, you can remind yourself: I am in Christ. My circumstances maychange, but my relationship with Him does not. ThenPaul gives them two wonderful words: “Grace unto you, and peace.” Graceand peace. Notice the order. Grace comes first, and then peace. We cannotexperience the peace of God until we have first experienced the grace of God. Graceis God's undeserved favor toward us. We could never earn salvation. We couldnever deserve forgiveness. But God loved us and sent His Son to die for us. Paulwrote in Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace are you saved through faith; and thatnot of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” And once we have received God'sgrace, we can experience God's peace. Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore beingjustified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” First,we have peace with God through salvation. Then, as we walk with Him, wecan enjoy the peace of God in the circumstances of life. Thatis exactly what these Thessalonian believers needed. They couldn't control thepersecution around them. They couldn't control what others said about them. Theycouldn't know what tomorrow would bring. But they could know the grace andpeace that came “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” And so can we.Maybe today you are facing something you cannot change. Instead of allowingfear to control your heart, remember who you are and where you are. If you knowJesus Christ, you are in Him. You are surrounded by His grace. And youcan rest in His peace. The world may be troubled around us, but Jesus said inJohn 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.”  Let'spray. Father, thank You for Your amazing grace that saved us and for the peacethat we have through the Lord Jesus Christ. Help us today to remember thatregardless of what happens around us, we belong to You and we are secure inChrist. May Your grace strengthen us and Your peace guard our hearts as we walkwith You today. In Jesus' name, Amen. 

This week we get to join Paul and company on their 100-mile trek from Philippi to Thessalonica. As Paul arrives, he goes to the synagogue to prove Jesus is the Christ by showing how the scriptures said Jesus must both die for the sins of his people and then rise from the dead. In Luke 24, we're privy to a conversation between the resurrected Jesus and two disciples where he plainly says that the whole bible is about him. I imagine that some of the scriptures Paul used to point people to Jesus' death and resurrection in the Old Testament were Isaiah 52:14-53:12, Psalm 22, Zechariah 12:10, Daniel 9:26, Psalm 16, Psalm 110 and many more. Perhaps an overlooked apologetic (a defense of the Christian faith) are the myriads of ways Jesus fulfills prophecies from the Old Testament that were written down centuries before he came to earth. I encourage you to look at these passages and allow them to embolden you in what you already believe. I've included a link to an article that encapsulates the many ways Jesus fulfills Old Testament prophecy. May it encourage you! CLICK HERE Acts 17:1-15 Pastor Dave Pack, Senior Pastor Visit our website at www.fremontpres.org Email us at podcast@fremontpres.org  

How you live matters! In week two of our "Ready and Waiting" series through 1 & 2 Thessalonians, we dig into 2 Thessalonians 2 and discover six marks of a faithful life: living with pure motives, pleasing God over people, sharing and caring like family, working hard, staying faithful through suffering, and standing strong against spiritual resistance. Using Paul and Silas's story from Philippi and Thessalonica, this message encourages us that even when trust feels broken and the world is watching, our character and integrity as Christ-followers still matter deeply. Jesus already has the victory—let's live like it as we wait for His return!#ReadyAndWaiting, #Thessalonians, #BibleTeaching, #ChristianLiving, #SecondComingOfJesus, #PaulAndSilas, #FaithfulLiving, #SpiritualWarfare, #SundaySermon, #HowYouLiveMatters

The believers in Thessalonica knew what it meant to suffer. They faced persecution, loss, rejection, and even imprisonment—yet their faith continued to grow. In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains why Paul could thank God for these believers even in the midst of their hardship.Their circumstances were painful, but their eyes were lifted toward Christ. Jesus made the difference. He brought light into darkness, comfort into suffering, and hope into seasons that could otherwise have produced despair.Dr. Youssef reminds us that Biblical hope does not deny the reality of evil or minimize suffering. Instead, it looks beyond present circumstances to the promises of God. The world will not remain broken forever. Jesus Christ will return, His glory will be fully revealed, and He will ultimately make all things new.When your own strength is gone, God can give you supernatural perseverance. As the world grows darker and hardship increases, this devotional challenges you to lift your eyes to heaven, trust Jesus completely, and anchor your hope in His promised return.Pray with me.Lord, help me to lift my eyes to You when my days are dark. I know You will give me all the strength I need to persevere in hope. Grant me Your nearness when my heart faints, that I might have peace that transcends understanding because of Your great love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today's devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don't have to walk through it alone.

Join us as Mike Bongo begins our sermon series, Living In Light of Christ's Return, with a sermon entitled "Timeless Truth: From Thessalonica to Today" from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

Turning the World Right Side UpActs 17:1-15Teacher: Jim ThomasDate: September 13, 2026They accused Paul and his friends of turning the world upside down. It wasn't a compliment — a mob dragged his friends into the street in Thessalonica, furious that a message this small was causing trouble this big. But what if they were more right than they knew? What if the world we've gotten used to is the one that's upside down — and the gospel isn't the disruption, but the correction?Join Pastor Jim for this study of Acts 17:1–15. It's the story about a riot, a night escape, and a city called Berea where ordinary people did something remarkably simple: they checked Paul's story against Scripture for themselves. Along the way we'll ask three questions worth asking about anything you're asked to believe: Is it rational and reasonable? Does it have any real life irony? And ultimately, is it true or, right? Join us as we look at what it takes to turn our world right side up.Support the showTo find more resources like these, follow us:Website: https://thevillagechapel.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQVTzDbaiXVUAm_mUBDCTJAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/tvcnashville/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvcnashvilleX: https://twitter.com/tvcnashvilleTo support the ongoing mission of The Village Chapel go to https://thevillagechapel.com/give/. If you are a regular giver, thank you for your continued faithfulness and generosity!

Most of us don't think of ourselves as idol worshipers, but according to the Apostle Paul, every one of us has something in our life that has taken the place only God was meant to fill. An idol is not just a carved statue. It is anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you look to for what only He can provide. The early church in Thessalonica became famous throughout the region not because they added Jesus to their existing beliefs, but because they walked away from an entire system of false worship and turned toward the living and true God. That same turn is available to anyone willing to make it today.

Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica with a message that begins to turn the city upside down: Jesus is King. Some receive the good news, but others resist it. We see how God can use ordinary conversations, open homes, and everyday faithfulness to slowly change a city. The same invitation to live differently because of Jesus is available for us today. We get the opportunity to share His hope with courage, and to trust that one conversation, one table, and one neighborhood at a time can make a difference.

Sermons, September 2026, Acts, Church on the Move, Bible, Persecution, Pastor Ray Fowler

Measure Twice, Measure Always What You Hear To What Scripture Says 10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now 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. 12As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. 13But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15Those who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Kicking off a brand new series called "Ready and Waiting" through 1 & 2 Thessalonians! Pastor Mark explores what it really means to live expectantly for Jesus' return — without falling into fear or fixating on doomsday predictions (but we still recommend having your analog Bible just in case!). We look at the church in Thessalonica as a model of faith, hope, and love in action, learn about Paul's incredible missionary journey, and discover how the Holy Spirit confirms our salvation and encourages us through community. This message will challenge those new to faith and those who have followed Jesus for years, to grow in faithful service, love in the midst of struggle, and unshakable hope. The best is yet to come!#ReadyAndWaiting, #Thessalonians, #SecondComing, #HolySpirit, #Christian, #FaithHopeLove, #NeighborhoodChurch, #EndTimes, #FaithJourney

Share Jesus On Common Ground, By Loving People Where They Are Acts 17:1-4 1When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

Send us Fan MailAs we start studying a new verse, as we see the Apostle Paul start to speak of the issues of exhortation related to the individuals in Thessalonica. This episode starts to explore what exhortation is.Support the show

Reader: John Hargrave Preacher: Jonathan Smith In Thessalonica, Paul reasons from Scripture that the Messiah had to suffer and rise, and that Jesus is that Messiah (v.3). Some are persuaded; others form a mob. The charge against Paul's community - these people who've turned the world upside down (v.6) - is meant as an accusation. Luke records it as a tribute. In Berea, the response is different: the Bereans receive the word eagerly and examine the Scriptures daily to test it (v.11). Luke calls them more noble, but even there, opposition follows. Red Door is an Anglican Church in Melbourne, Australia.
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Have you ever wondered, “What is God's will for my life?” Christiansoften ask that question when facing major decisions. “Lord, whom should Imarry?” “Where should I live?” “What job should I take?” “What ministry shouldI pursue?” Certainly, we should seek God's guidance concerning those things. Buttoday Paul tells us something that is unmistakably God's will for everybeliever. First Thessalonians 4:3 says: “For this is the will of God, yoursanctification.” You don't have to wonder about this part of God's will. God'swill is that you and I become holy. The word sanctification means being setapart unto God. When we trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we belonged to Him.Now God is working in us so that our daily lives increasingly reflect thecharacter of Jesus Christ. Sanctification is both a position and a process. Wehave been set apart as God's people, and now throughout our lives He is makingus more like His Son. ThenPaul immediately applies sanctification to a very practical area. He says: “Thatyou should abstain from sexual immorality.” Thessalonica was part of theGreco-Roman world, where sexual immorality was common and often sociallyaccepted. These new believers had come out of that culture. Paul reminds themthat following Jesus meant they could no longer allow the culture around themto determine their standards. And that certainly speaks to us today. Ourculture may redefine morality. Society may call something acceptable that God'sWord calls sin. But God's standard has not changed. God created human sexualityas something beautiful and good within the boundaries He established for it. Theproblem isn't sexuality. The problem is taking God's gift outside of God'sdesign. ThenPaul says in verses 4 and 5: “That each of you should know how to possesshis own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like theGentiles who do not know God.” Whatever interpretive nuance we give theword “vessel,” Paul's central message is clear: A believer should exerciseself-control and live in holiness and honor. The world says, “If you desiresomething, pursue it.” Hallmark say, “Follow your heart.” The Bible says thatthrough God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we don't have to becontrolled by our desires. FirstCorinthians 6:19 reminds us that our body is “the temple of the Holy Ghost.”Our bodies belong to God. Our minds belong to God. Our eyes belong to God. Ourrelationships belong to God. Everything about us should be surrendered to Him. Andnotice how Paul describes those who live only according to uncontrolledpassions: “The Gentiles who do not know God.” That is the difference. Weknow God. Because we know Him, we should live differently. Holinessisn't simply following a list of rules. Holiness grows out of a relationshipwith God. We love Him. We belong to Him. We want to honor Him. And therefore wedesire purity in our lives. Maybe someone listening today is struggling in thisarea. Remember, temptation itself is not defeat. Jesus Himself was tempted, yetwithout sin. When temptation comes, we can turn to God's Word, flee fromcompromising situations, guard what enters our minds, and depend upon the HolySpirit. And when we fail, we can confess our sin and receive God's cleansing. FirstJohn 1:9 promises: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just toforgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Sowhat is God's will for you today? Certainly, He has individual plans for yourlife. But one thing we know for sure: “This is the will of God, yoursanctification.” God wants us to become more like Jesus. Godbless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

NOTE: When you sign up for Patreon, PLEASE do it through a web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.) and NOT an app on your iPhone. The Apple app charges 30% !!! If you just click on the link above, it should be fine. In today's episode, Becket Cook interviews Dr. Paul Weaver about his book Faith Affirming Findings: 50 Archaeological Discoveries That Validate the Historicity and Reliability of Scripture. They cover finds that silenced Bible skeptics: the Tel Dan House of David stele confirming King David’s dynasty, the Nabonidus Cylinder and Chronicle proving Belshazzar and explaining Daniel 5’s third-in-power offer, the first-century Magdala synagogue showing synagogues existed before AD 70, Yehohanan’s crucified heel bone with iron nail verifying Gospel nailing and burial accounts, the Thessalonica politarch inscription confirming Luke’s accuracy in Acts 17, the ornate Caiaphas ossuary of the high priest who condemned Jesus, and the Pontius Pilate inscription from Caesarea Maritima. These biblical archaeology discoveries from Tel Dan, Babylon, Galilee, Jerusalem, and Caesarea affirm real people, places, and events in Scripture, strengthening confidence in the Bible’s historicity for pastors, teachers, and students. Paul Weaver's Book: https://a.co/d/0dNqTFAk The Becket Cook Show Ep. 252 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today we come to the final verses of 1 Thessalonians chapter3. Paul has just told these believers that he is praying “night and dayexceedingly” that he might see their faces again and help perfect what islacking in their faith. Now Paul actually tells us something of what he ispraying. Beginning in verse 11, he says: “Now may our God and FatherHimself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lordmake you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we doto you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before ourGod and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” Thereare three wonderful requests in Paul's prayer. First,Paul prays for God's direction. “May our God and Father Himself, and ourLord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.” Remember, Paul desperatelywanted to return to Thessalonica. Back in chapter 2, he said that Satan hadhindered him. But Paul didn't try to force the door open. He prayed for God todirect his way. There is an important lesson here. Sometimes we know what wewould like to do. We have plans. We have desires. We may even believe thosedesires are good and God-honoring. But ultimately, we need God to direct oursteps. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; andlean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and Heshall direct thy paths.” Maybe today you are facing a decision. Ask God todirect your way. ThenPaul prays for abounding love. Verse 12 says: “And may the Lord make youincrease and abound in love to one another and to all.” Notice those words:increase and abound. Paul wasn't suggesting that these believers didn't loveeach other. Timothy had already brought good news about their faith and love. Theyhad love. But Paul wanted them to have more love. That reminds us that there isalways room for growth in the Christian life. Our faith can grow. Our knowledgecan grow. Our prayer life can grow. And certainly, our love can grow. Noticealso the direction of their love. Paul says, “to one another and to all.”It is one thing to love our Christian brothers and sisters who believe like wedo and treat us kindly. But Christian love reaches beyond that. Jesus told usto love even our enemies. The love of Christ should overflow from our lives toeveryone around us. ThenPaul's prayer reaches its great conclusion in verse 13: “So that He mayestablish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father.” Thereis our word again—establish. We saw it at the beginning of chapter 3 whenTimothy was sent to establish them concerning their faith. Now Paul wants theirhearts established in holiness. Holiness simply means being set apart for God. Godisn't merely interested in changing what we do on the outside. He wants tochange our hearts. And notice the motivation Paul gives: “At the coming ofour Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” Paulnever gets very far from the return of Jesus. Every chapter of 1 Thessaloniansends with some reference to Christ's coming. Paul wanted these believers tolive every day with the realization: Jesus is coming again. And that truthshould affect the way we live. First John 3:3 says: “And every man that haththis hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.” If we reallybelieve Jesus could return, it should make a difference in our priorities, ourrelationships, our attitudes, and our conduct. Soas we finish chapter 3, Paul's prayer gives us three wonderful requests we canmake our own today: Lord, direct my steps. Lord, increase my love. Lord,establish my heart in holiness. And may we live today remembering that Jesus iscoming again.Godbless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!

Episode 117 What would someone see if they looked closely at the life you're living?Would they see a faith that produces action, a love that requires sacrifice, and a hope that keeps you moving forward?When Paul thought about the believers in Thessalonica, his response was to thank God for them. Not simply because of who they were, but because their faith, love, and hope were producing something visible in their lives.In this episode, we take a closer look at 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 and consider what made Paul's thanksgiving so meaningful. These few words reveal a powerful picture of a life transformed by Christ and give us a beautiful way to examine our own walk with Him.If you've been looking for a Bible study for women, Christian encouragement, spiritual growth, biblical discipleship, or practical ways to grow in your faith, this episode will invite you to look beyond what you say you believe and consider what your faith is actually producing.What would make someone thank God for your life?

Paul says in verse 6: “But now that Timothy has cometo us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love…” Thatlittle phrase “good news” is interesting. It comes from the same basicGreek word from which we get the idea of gospel or glad tidings. Timothycame back with good news! And what was the good news? It wasn't that thepersecution had stopped. It wasn't that all their problems had disappeared. Itwasn't that their circumstances had suddenly become easy. The good news wasthat their faith was still strong and their love was still evident. I thinkthere is a wonderful lesson here. Sometimes we measure God's blessing bywhether our circumstances have improved. We pray for God to remove the problem,change the situation, heal the hurt, or open the door. And certainly, it isappropriate to pray for those things. But sometimes God's greatest work is notchanging our circumstances—it is changing and strengthening us in the midst ofour circumstances. The Thessalonians were still experiencing trouble, but theywere still believing. They were still trusting. They were still loving. Theywere still standing! Noticeagain those two words: “faith and love.” We have seen them before. Backin chapter 1, verse 3, Paul remembered their “work of faith, and labor of love,and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now, after everything they haveendured, Paul hears that their faith and love are still there. That is evidenceof genuine spiritual growth. Trials had not destroyed their faith. Instead,their faith had endured the trials. Timothy also reported that they had “goodremembrance” of Paul and greatly desired to see him, just as Paul desired tosee them. Remember, Paul's enemies had probably tried to discredit him after heleft Thessalonica. They could have said, “Paul doesn't really care about you.If he cared, he would have come back.” But the Thessalonians knew better. Theyremembered Paul's love for them, and they wanted to see him again. ThenPaul says in verse 7: “Therefore, brethren, in all our affliction anddistress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.” Think about that.Paul himself was going through affliction and distress. Yet what encouragedPaul? Their faith! Here is the great apostle Paul, the missionary, preacher,church planter, and spiritual leader—and he says that the faithfulness of theseyoung believers encouraged him. That reminds us that encouragement works bothways. Pastors encourage their people, but faithful people also encourage theirpastors. Parents encourage their children, but godly children encourage theirparents. Teachers encourage their students, but students who take God's Wordseriously encourage their teachers. You may not realize how much yourfaithfulness encourages someone else. When you continue serving God throughdifficulty, somebody is watching. When you keep trusting God afterdisappointment, somebody notices. When you remain faithful when it would beeasier to quit, your life becomes an encouragement to others. ThenPaul makes an amazing statement in verse 8: “For now we live, if you standfast in the Lord.” I love that phrase: “Stand fast in the Lord.” Paulwas saying, “When I hear that you are standing firm in your faith, it puts newlife into me!” This wasn't merely Paul's profession. These people were hisheart. Their spiritual welfare mattered deeply to him. And notice that Pauldoesn't simply say, “Stand fast.” He says: “Stand fast IN THE LORD.” Thatmakes all the difference. We don't stand in our own strength. We don't standbecause we have all the answers. We don't stand because life is easy. We standin the Lord. Our strength is in Him. Our hope is in Him. Our confidence is inHim. Our security is in Him. The storms of life may blow. Circumstances maychange. Friends may disappoint us. Our health may fail. Plans may fall apart.The world around us may become increasingly uncertain. But the Lord neverchanges. That is why we can stand fast.

Reading Acts 17:1-9 where Paul and Silas come to Thessalonica to share the gospel, and they are accused of turning the world upside down and proclaiming another King. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

“For,in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffertribulation.” Notice that Paul had warned them ahead of time. When Paulpreached the gospel, he did not promise people that if they trusted Christ alltheir problems would disappear. He did not tell them that following Jesus wouldguarantee an easy life. Actually, he told them just the opposite. He said, ineffect, “If you follow Christ, you should expect opposition.” Paul hadlearned this personally. Everywhere he went preaching the gospel, there seemedto be opposition. He had been beaten and imprisoned in Philippi. He was drivenout of Thessalonica. He faced opposition in Berea, and eventually he foundhimself alone in Athens. Paul knew from experience that living for Christ doesnot exempt us from trouble. And neither does it today. Sometimes we get theidea that if we are walking with the Lord, praying, reading our Bible,attending church, and trying to live right, then nothing bad should happen tous. But the Bible never promises that. In fact, sometimes our troubles comebecause we are faithfully following Christ.  ThenPaul adds an interesting statement in verse 4: “just as it happened, and youknow.” In other words, Paul said, “I told you it was coming—and now youhave experienced it for yourselves.” But notice what concerned Paul most. Itwasn't simply that they were suffering. His greatest concern was what thesuffering might do to their faith. Verse 5 says: “For this reason, when Icould no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith.” Paul wanted to know,“Are they still trusting God? Are they still standing? Are they still believingthe gospel?” And then Paul tells us why he was so concerned: “Lest by somemeans the tempter had tempted you.” Here Paul calls Satan “the tempter.”That immediately reminds us of Matthew 4, where Satan came to Jesus in thewilderness and tempted Him. Satanis still the tempter today. And one of his favorite opportunities to tempt usis when we are going through difficulty. When we are hurting, Satan whispers,“If God really loved you, why did He allow this?” When our prayers seemunanswered, he whispers, “God isn't listening.” When something doesn't turn outthe way we hoped, he says, “You can't trust God.” When we become discouraged,he whispers, “What's the use? Just give up.” That is why we need to understandsomething very important: The trial itself is not necessarily the temptation.The temptation is how we respond to the trial. God can use a trial tostrengthen our faith, while Satan wants to use that same trial to destroy ourconfidence in God. Remember Job? Satan believed that if Job lost hispossessions, his family, and his health, Job would turn against God. But in themiddle of his suffering, Job could still say, “Though He slay me, yet will Itrust in Him.” That is faith standing in the storm. Paulfinishes verse 5 by saying that he was concerned that “our labor might be invain.” Paul wasn't suggesting that his ministry had been meaningless. Hewas expressing the heart of a spiritual father. He had invested his life inthese people. He had preached Christ to them, prayed for them, loved them, anddiscipled them. Now he wanted to know that they were still standing. Today,maybe you are facing a trial. Remember this: Your trial does not mean God hasabandoned you. Don't listen to the tempter. Instead, listen to the promises ofGod's Word. Satan says, “God has forgotten you.” God says, “I will never leavethee, nor forsake thee.” Satan says, “You cannot make it through this.” Godsays, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Satan says, “Give up.” God says,“Stand fast in the Lord.” My friend, the enemy may use the storm to try toshake your faith, but God can use that same storm to strengthen your faith. Sotoday, keep trusting Him. Keep believing His Word. Keep standing on Hispromises. The tempter may come, but our God is faithful!

This Sunday closes out our August celebration series, and I get to preach! We will return to our study in Matthew's Gospel next week. This week we will focus our attention on Paul's letter, 1 Thessalonians. This was the focus of our Leadership Retreat last weekend, and I think it will be important for the whole church to hear what your Leaders and CG Leaders are focused on as we look to the year ahead.The theme for this Sunday is Tending the Vine, from 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. There are lots of really important things that we done in church that build a good trellis, structures and systems to make sure good work happens. Ultimately, though, the work of ministry is vine work. As 1 Corinthians 3 says, we plant and water, but only God gives the growth. This Sunday we will see the passion and care Paul had for the believers in Thessalonica and how that can help shape our understanding of God's calling on us as a church.------------------------------------------- Connect with us on Social Media⁠Website⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Vimeo⁠⁠------------------------------------------- Download our App⁠⁠Apple App Store⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Google Play Store⁠⁠

Thewords “could no longer endure it” reveal Paul's heart. He had beenforced to leave Thessalonica because of the persecution there. He wanted toreturn, but as we saw yesterday, he said, “Satan hindered us.” So Pauldid the next best thing. He sent Timothy. And notice how highly Paul speaks ofthis young man. He calls Timothy “our brother and minister of God, and ourfellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.” Timothy wasn't being sent merelyto check on them and bring back a report. He had a spiritual assignment. Paultells us exactly what that assignment was: “to establish you and encourageyou concerning your faith.” Those two words give us a wonderful picture ofwhat Christian ministry should accomplish. First,believers need to be established. The idea is to strengthen, support, or makesomething firm. Paul knew these Thessalonian believers were young in the faith.They had received Christ only a short time before, and already they wereexperiencing opposition and persecution. Paul wanted them to have a faith thatwould stand. It reminds me of what Paul would later write in Colossians 2:6–7: “Asyou therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted andbuilt up in Him and established in the faith.” My friend, it is not enoughsimply to begin the Christian life. God wants us to become established in ourfaith—rooted in His Word, grounded in His truth, and growing in ourrelationship with Jesus Christ. ButPaul also sent Timothy to encourage them. Sometimes even strong Christians needencouragement. There are times when we know what we believe, but thecircumstances around us begin to wear us down. The trials continue. The prayersdon't seem to be answered as quickly as we would like. The burden becomesheavier. And we simply need another believer to come alongside us and say,“Keep trusting the Lord. Don't give up. God is still faithful.” That's one ofthe wonderful purposes of the church. We need each other! Paul then tells uswhy this establishing and encouraging was so important: “That no one shouldbe shaken by these afflictions.” The word “shaken” carries the ideaof being moved or disturbed from a settled position. Paul knew that sufferingcould shake these new believers if they were not spiritually prepared for it. Andthat is still true today. Sometimes we get the mistaken idea that if we arewalking with God, everything should go smoothly. But Jesus never promised us atrouble-free life. Jesus said in John 16:33: “In the world you will havetribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Paulsays at the end of verse 3: “For you yourselves know that we are appointedto this.” That's a remarkable statement. Paul had taught them thatsuffering was not necessarily evidence that something had gone wrong. Sometimessuffering comes precisely because we are faithfully following Christ. TheChristian life is not about avoiding every storm. It is about having a faiththat stands firm in the storm. A tree that has deep roots can withstand windsthat would uproot a shallow tree. In the same way, God wants our faith tobecome so deeply rooted in Christ and in His Word that when the winds ofadversity begin to blow, we are not shaken. And maybe that is the messagesomeone needs today. You may be going through an affliction that you didn'texpect. You may be wondering why God has allowed it. You may even feel thatyour faith is being shaken. Remember this: God has not abandoned you. He canuse the very trial you are experiencing to establish you more firmly in yourfaith. AndGod may also want to use you as a Timothy in someone else's life. Maybe thereis someone around you who is discouraged. Perhaps they don't need a sermon or along explanation. They simply need someone to call them, visit them, pray withthem, and remind them that God is faithful. Paul couldn't go to Thessalonicahimself, so he sent Timothy. And today, God may be sending you.

In verses 17 through 20, Paul gives us a beautiful glimpse into theheart of a true servant of God. He reminds us that ministry is not primarilyabout programs, buildings, crowds, or accomplishments. Ministry is aboutpeople.He says, in effect, “We may have been separated from you physically,but you have never left our hearts.” That is one of the wonderful things aboutChristian fellowship. Distance may separate us physically, but it does not haveto separate our hearts. Over the years, God brings many people into our lives.Sometimes circumstances move us apart. We may live hundreds or even thousandsof miles away from each other. We may not see one another for years. But whenour hearts have been joined together in Christ, there remains a bond thatdistance cannot destroy. ThenPaul says in verse 18: “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul,time and again—but Satan hindered us.” Paul wanted to return. He tried morethan once. But he says very plainly, “Satan hindered us.” That reminds us thatSatan is real, and spiritual opposition is real. Whenever God is doing a greatwork, we should not be surprised when the enemy attempts to hinder it. Now, weneed to be careful. We should not blame Satan for every inconvenience or everydifficulty that comes into our lives. Sometimes God Himself closes a door. InActs 16, the Holy Spirit prevented Paul from going into certain areas becauseGod was directing him somewhere else. So there are times when God redirects us,and there are other times when Satan resists us. We need spiritual discernmentto know the difference. But I love this thought: Satan may hinder the servantof God, but he cannot stop the work of God. Satan hindered Paul from returningto Thessalonica, but he could not stop Paul from writing this letter. And herewe are nearly two thousand years later, still reading the letter Satan couldnot prevent! Sometimes what appears to be a hindrance in our lives may becomean opportunity for God to accomplish something even greater.ThenPaul tells us why these people meant so much to him. Verse 19 says: “Forwhat is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in thepresence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” What a wonderfulstatement! Paul looked beyond the present difficulties to the day when JesusChrist would return. He pictured himself standing in the presence of the Lord,and he said that these believers would be his “hope,” his “joy,” and his “crownof rejoicing.” The word “crown” here refers to the victor's crown—the wreaththat was given to someone who had successfully completed the race. Paul wassaying, “When I stand before Jesus, one of my greatest joys will be seeing youthere!” That should cause every one of us to ask an important question: Whowill be in heaven because God used my life to point them to Jesus? Whenwe stand before the Lord, the things that seem so important today will notmatter very much. Our possessions will be left behind. Our houses, cars, bankaccounts, awards, and earthly accomplishments will all stay here. But peopleare eternal. Think of the joy of standing before Jesus and seeing someone whomyou led to Christ. Maybe it was a child you taught the Word of God. Maybe aneighbor with whom you shared the Gospel. Maybe someone you encouraged during adifficult time. Maybe someone whose life was changed because you faithfullyprayed for them. Paulfinishes the chapter in verse 20: “For you are our glory and joy.” Noticehe did not say, “My accomplishments are my glory.” He did not point to thechurches he planted, the sermons he preached, or the miles he traveled. Hepointed to people. One day, when the Lord Jesus Christ comesagain, what a joy it will be to discover that God used our lives—our prayers,our witness, our encouragement, our giving, and our faithfulness—to helpsomeone come to know Christ and grow in Him. The greatest investment we canever make is an investment in the eternal souls of people.

Paul says in verse 14: “For you, brethren, became followersof the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus.” The wordtranslated “followers” carries the idea of becoming imitators. The Thessalonianbelievers had never visited those churches in Judaea, but they had somethingvery important in common with them. They were suffering because of their faithin Jesus Christ. Paulcontinues: “For you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen.” Rememberwhat happened when Paul first came to Thessalonica in Acts chapter 17. Paulwent into the synagogue and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them out ofthe Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Jesus was the Christ. Somebelieved. A great multitude of devout Greeks believed. And a number of theleading women believed. But almost immediately, opposition arose. A mobgathered. Jason's house was attacked, and eventually Paul and Silas had toleave the city by night. But the persecution did not end when Paul left. Thenew believers were left behind to face it. Think about that. These were youngChristians. They had not known the Lord for many years. They didn't havedecades of Christian experience behind them. Yet when opposition came, theystood firm. That teaches us something very important. Genuine faith is notproven merely by how loudly we praise God when everything is going well.Sometimes it is proven by how faithfully we continue to trust Him whenfollowing Jesus becomes difficult. Paul says in verse 15 concerning those whoopposed the Gospel: “Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets,and have persecuted us.” Paul then tells ussomething particularly serious in verse 16. Their opponents were: “Forbiddingus to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved.” Thatwas the heart of the problem. They weren't satisfied simply to reject theGospel themselves. They wanted to prevent others from hearing it. And noticePaul's words: “That they might be saved.” There is the heart of theGospel! Why did Paul endure beatings, imprisonment, rejection, persecution,hunger, weariness, and eventually martyrdom? Because people need to be saved. Whydo we preach the Gospel? Why do we support missionaries? Why do we send theGospel around the world? Why do we share Christ with our neighbors, ourfriends, our children, and our grandchildren? Because people need to be saved. Paulunderstood that the Gospel is “the power of God unto salvation to everyonethat believeth.” Then Paul closes this section with a very solemn warning.He says that these opponents continued: “To fill up their sins alway: forthe wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” Persistent rejection ofGod's truth has consequences. God is patient. God is longsuffering. God ismerciful. But God's patience should never be mistaken for God's approval. Therecomes a point when persistent unbelief and rebellion bring judgment. Thisshould not make us proud or self-righteous. It should make us compassionate andurgent about sharing the Gospel. We should never look at someone who rejectsChrist and think, “They deserve judgment.” Instead, our hearts should say,“They need Jesus.” Because apart from God's grace, every one of us would belost. AndI believe there is a wonderful connection between yesterday's verse and today'spassage. Verse 13 tells us that the Word works in those who believe. Verses 14through 16 show us what that working Word can produce. These Thessalonians hadreceived God's Word so deeply that when persecution came, they would notabandon their faith. Their circumstances changed. Their friends may havechanged. Their neighbors may have turned against them. But the Word of God wasstill working in them. Maybe today you are facing opposition or difficultybecause you have chosen to follow Jesus. Remember the Thessalonians. Rememberthe believers in Judaea. Remember Paul. And most importantly, remember Jesus.

This week’s Prison Pulpit was recorded on location in Thessalonica, where I am spending a day or two en route to Istanbul. Join me today in studying some of 2 Thess, and talking about a few specific prayer needs, and then looking at a few folks who were tortured and/or martyred in the Tower of London I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Pakistan Raid Forces Digital Gospel Worker Into Hiding https://www.mnnonline.org/news/pakistan-raid-forces-gospel-worker-into-hiding/ Accounts of Persecution in Great Britain & Ireland, Prior to the Reign of Queen Mary I (Fox Ch. 14) https://www.berbc.org/book-of-martyrs-chapter-xiv Anne Askew: Tortured in the Tower of London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Askew Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 24-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church If you (or your church or organization) would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

This week’s Prison Pulpit was recorded on location in Thessalonica, where I am spending a day or two en route to Istanbul. Join me today in studying some of 2 Thess, and talking about a few specific prayer needs, and then looking at a few folks who were tortured and/or martyred in the Tower of London I'm your China travel guide in exile, Missionary Ben. Follow me on Twitter/X (@chinaadventures) where I share a new Chinese city to pray for every single day. Email me with any questions, comments, or complaints: bfwesten AT gmail dot com. Finally, check out my personal landing page PrayGiveGo.us for everything else, including our missions website, substack, and books. Why the Prison Pulpit? The goal is to remind people to pray for persecuted believers as Hebrews 13:3 teaches: “Remember those who are in prison, as bound with them.” We’ve looked at Wang Yi and Early Rain Church’s writings in the aftermath of their arrest and attack in 2018, but I’ve also regularly turned to other persecuted ministers who have gone before, such as Richard Wurmbrand, to give us a voice literally from prison. (Here you’ll find some free PDF books by Richard Wurmbrand: https://richardwurmbrandfoundation.org/) Pakistan Raid Forces Digital Gospel Worker Into Hiding https://www.mnnonline.org/news/pakistan-raid-forces-gospel-worker-into-hiding/ Accounts of Persecution in Great Britain & Ireland, Prior to the Reign of Queen Mary I (Fox Ch. 14) https://www.berbc.org/book-of-martyrs-chapter-xiv Anne Askew: Tortured in the Tower of London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Askew Pray for China Cities of the Week (Aug 24-31): https://chinacall.substack.com/p/pray-for-china-aug-24-31-2026 Help Us Equip and Encourage China’s Persecuted Church If you (or your church or organization) would like to “sponsor” a Chinese church leader, I can personally provide you with the name (or secure nickname) of the particular pastor/leader who you sponsor, and for whom you can continue to pray for going forward. Sponsor a Chinese Pastor/Evangelist for $1000! Contact me (bfwesten AT gmail dot com) Or donate directly at: MCI3.org Follow China Compass Thank you for listening! Subscribe & leave a review on your preferred podcast platform! And don’t forget to visit PrayGiveGo.us for books + Heb. 13:3: Remember those who are in prison, “as bound with them”!

Yesterdayin verse 10, Paul reminded the Thessalonians how he and his companions hadlived among them: “holily and justly and unblameably.” Now in verses 11and 12, Paul says: “As you know how we exhorted and comforted and chargedevery one of you, as a father does his children, That you would walk worthy ofGod, who has called you unto His kingdom and glory.” Earlier, in verse 7,Paul compared himself to a nursing mother who tenderly cherishes her children.Now he changes the picture and says, “as a father does his children.” Whata beautiful picture of spiritual ministry! A godly father doesn't simply tellhis children what to do. He walks with them. He encourages them. He teachesthem. He corrects them when necessary. And most importantly, he wants to seethem grow and become everything God intends for them to be. Paulgives us three words describing what he and his fellow co-workers did for thesenew believers. I trust that you have noticed that Paul hasn't been saying “I”,when addressing the people at Thessalonica, but he acknowledges his companionsas he says, “we”. He first says, “As you know how we exhorted.” Toexhort someone means to come alongside them and encourage them to keep going inthe right direction. Sometimes we need someone to say, “Don't quit. Keep going.Stay faithful. God is with you.” Then Paul says, “We comforted.” Thereare times when people don't need a lecture—they need comfort. Life has itsdisappointments. There are heartaches, losses, illnesses, broken dreams, andunexpected difficulties. A loving spiritual father knows when someone needsencouragement and when they simply need an arm around their shoulder. Then Paulsays they “charged every one of you.” That word is stronger. It carriesthe idea of giving a solemn testimony or urging someone with seriousness. Thereare times when we need encouragement. There are times when we need comfort. Butthere are also times when someone who loves us needs to look us in the eye andsay, “This is the way you need to go. This is what God wants you to do.” Andnotice something else that I love in this verse. Paul says they did this for “everyone of you.” Paul wasn't merely interested in crowds. He was interested inindividual people. Every person mattered. That is a wonderful lesson forministry. We can become so concerned about numbers that we forget that everynumber represents a person—a person with a name, a family, a burden, and aneternal soul. Jesus ministered that way. He preached to the multitudes, but Healso had time for Nicodemus. He had time for the woman at the well. He had timefor blind Bartimaeus. He had time for Zacchaeus. Every person matters to God.  Butwhat was Paul's goal in all this exhorting, comforting, and charging? Verse 12tells us: “That you would walk worthy of God.” That is the goal ofChristian discipleship. The word “walk” in the Bible often refers to the way welive our everyday lives. Paul is saying, in effect, “Live your life in a waythat is worthy of the God who saved you.” Andthen Paul gives us a wonderful reason: “Who has called you unto His kingdomand glory.” Think about that! God has called us out of darkness and intoHis marvelous light. He has called us out of a life of sin and given us eternallife. He has made us His children.Andone day, we will share in His kingdom and His glory. If that is our calling andthat is our destiny, then surely it should make a difference in how we livetoday. After54 years of marriage, I can look back and see many times when Edith and Ididn't know what the future held. But we knew Who held the future. And that isstill true today. Whether we are talking about marriage, raising children,ministry, friendships, or simply living the Christian life, we need the graceof God every day.

It's Tuesday, August 25th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Timothy Reed Indonesian pastor sentenced for citing Mohammed's polygamy An Indonesian pastor has been sentenced to two years in prison for pointing out Mohammad's polygamy. At the time of his death, the founder of Islam had nine wives. Dedi Saputra was falsely accused of “hostility, hatred or incitement” with a “potential of causing unrest.”  Like Dedi, the Apostle Paul ran into troubles along the way as well.  In Acts 17:4-5, Luke writes, “And some of them [in Thessalonica] were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar.”     Surrogate mother speaks up for choosing life Baby Gabriel, the child in the middle of a massive rent-a-womb controversy, has survived his first heart surgery since being born two weeks ago. The child's surrogate mother, McKenna West, refused to abort him despite being sued by his biological parents, Nausheen Gilkar and Omar Ahmed. However, Baby Gabriel is now in the custody of the very parents who sought to have him killed!  In the New York Post, Miss West wrote, “No woman should be forced to kill the baby inside her. Most importantly, every child deserves a chance to live. As a cardiac nurse, I knew this little one had a great shot at survival if given the opportunity to receive the necessary treatment. “After I communicated to the contracting couple that I could not end this baby's life, their lawyer, and my own former lawyer, sent me letters threatening six-figure penalties if I didn't comply with their demand to terminate. The contracting couple cut off my payments, and I covered the rest of the pregnancy expenses myself.” Here's what Miss West told Lila Rose in the Live Action podcast.  WEST: “A diagnosis does not automatically mean that there is no hope or that somebody cannot live. But I knew that this baby boy that I was carrying, that I was feeling move, that he deserved that chance.” Listen to this word for our day from Exodus 22:22-24. “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.  If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” America and Canada at a stalemate in trade war The United States and Canada are in another trade war. The White House has announced that the U.S. will impose 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products like vehicles and steel imports. And now, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will “hit back.”  Here's what Carney said in a press conference on Saturday: “You're at war when you're attacked, and we got attacked.” He added this. CARNEY: “We cannot accept what they've offered and we will not give what they've asked.”  (Read the transcript of Carney's remarks) Trump added this on Truth Social on Sunday: “Canada wants the benefits of being a State, without being one!!! They have also charged our great farmers, for many years, massive amounts of tariffs. No more!!!” United States to buy back its own bonds to lower inflation U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the federal government will be buying back its own bonds in an effort to rein in inflation and reduce the interest on the bonds, reports CNBC. That means that the government will use its $1 trillion checking account -- which happens to be borrowed money to begin with -- to buy its long-term bonds, in an artificial attempt to reduce interest rates. U.S. debt topped $40 trillion The United States federal debt topped $40 trillion last week, reports CBS News. (Check out the eye-opening website www.USDebtClock.org) The market responded. According to Fortune Magazine, gold is back up to $4,650 an ounce and silver is scraping $70 an ounce. Condo prices sinking Condo prices are sinking like a rock in 33 major city markets including in Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, and Washington state.  Wolf Street estimates a 29% average drop since the 2022 peak. Add inflation into that and that's a 38% drop in condominium prices. Condo prices can signal housing stress before the rest of the market collapses.  Divorce rate up for those over 55 U.S. divorce rates are way up for people older than 55 years of age. In fact, they've doubled since 1990. And,  among those over 65, the divorce rate has increase five-fold since 1990.   A recent Bowling Green University study found that the 50+ crowd now accounts for nearly 40% of all people getting divorced. That was only 8% in 1990. 2032 is Social security depletion date The Social Security depletion date has moved up another three months, now targeted for 2032. The ratio of workers paying into Social Security per retiree has plummeted from more than 5-to-1 in 1960 to 2.9-to-1 today. Mel Gibson to release Resurrection movies in 2027 Film producer and director Mel Gibson is wrapping up a 10-year project — a production of the sequel for The Passion of the Christ. The project is slated to be released as a two-part series on the Resurrection sometime in March and May next year — Good Friday and Ascension Day on the Christian calendar. The films were shot in Rome. Spiderman: Brand New Day misuses God's name 16 times And finally, the blockbuster film, Spiderman: Brand New Day, is #1 at the box office for its fourth week -- now at $2.2 billion worldwide. That's a record for the franchise. But Focus on the Family's PluggedIn.com and Ted Baehr's MovieGuide.org both warn of foul language, the single most concerning drawback for families. God's name and Jesus' name are misused a total of 16 times in the movie.  Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, August 25th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ. Extra Print Water systems, connected to internet, vulnerable to hackers. Water systems connected to the internet are vulnerable, as systems in many states across the country have been hacked, according to the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency.  CBS News reported that some water systems lost pressure, while others lost their remote-control capabilities. According to officials, no drinking water has been directly affected. Water hackers have been linked to Iran and China.

Noticethose words: “Our labor and travail.” Paul was reminding theThessalonians that his ministry among them had cost him something. The word“labor” speaks of hard work and weariness. And “travail” carries the idea ofdifficult, strenuous effort. Paul wasn't sitting back and expecting everyoneelse to take care of him. He says they were: “Laboring night and day.” Weknow from Acts 18 that Paul's trade was tentmaking. He knew how to work withhis hands. Apparently, while he was preaching the gospel and establishing thechurch at Thessalonica, Paul was also working to help provide for his ownneeds. Think about what his days must have been like. He was preaching. He wasteaching. He was discipling new believers. He was encouraging those who weresuffering. He was answering questions. He was praying for these believers. Andsomewhere in the middle of all that, Paul was also working with his own hands. Why?Paul tells us: “Because we would not be chargeable unto any of you.” NowPaul certainly believed that those who preach the gospel have the right toreceive support. In 1 Corinthians 9:14 he wrote: “Even so hath the Lordordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” SoPaul was not teaching that pastors, missionaries, or other servants of Godshould never receive financial support. Instead, Paul was voluntarily giving upa legitimate right because he didn't want anything to become an obstacle to thegospel. He didn't want anyone to be able to say: “Paul is only here because ofthe money.” Paul wanted the Thessalonians to understand that he wasn't tryingto get something from them. He wanted to give something to them.  What did he want to give them? He tells us at the end of the verse: “Wepreached unto you the gospel of God.” There it is again. The gospel of God.That was Paul's passion. That was his calling. That was his treasure. And Paulwas willing to inconvenience himself, exhaust himself, and sacrifice personallyso that nothing would hinder someone from hearing about Jesus Christ. Thatchallenges us today. We live in a culture that often asks: “What's in it forme?” How will this benefit me? What will I receive? How much will it cost me? Butgenuine Christian service asks a very different question: “What can I give?” JesusHimself gave us the greatest example. Mark 10:45 says: “For even the Son ofman came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life aransom for many.” Jesus didn't come to see what He could get from us. He came to give Himself for us. Andif we are going to follow Jesus, there will be times when serving Him costs ussomething. It may cost us our time. It may cost us our convenience. It may costus financially. It may mean changing our plans. It may mean staying when wewould rather leave. It may mean going when we would rather stay. Sometimes itsimply means being available when someone needs us. You see, ministry isn'talways convenient. Love isn't always convenient. Serving others isn't alwaysconvenient. There is another important lesson here. Paul didn't separate what wemight call “secular work” from serving God. Paul could make tents and still beserving God. He could preach a sermon and serve God. He could sit down with anew believer and serve God. He could work with his hands and serve God. WhateverPaul was doing, his life belonged to the Lord. And that should be true for us. Colossians3:23 says: “And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and notunto men.” You don't have to stand behind a pulpit to serve God. You canserve God at your workplace. You can serve God in your home. You can serve Godwhile helping a neighbor. You can serve God by caring for someone who ishurting. You can serve God by giving your time to someone who needsencouragement. The question isn't simply, “What am I doing?” The question is: “Whoam I doing it for?” Paul worked night and day because he wanted nothing in his life to hinder the gospel.

Comfort in the Kingdom Let's Summarize The Message "Comfort in the Kingdom" teaches that biblical comfort is much deeper than simply feeling comfortable or having our circumstances improved. Earthly comforts—food, warmth, home, rest, familiar surroundings—may soothe us temporarily, but kingdom comfort strengthens us to remain faithful to Jesus in the middle of hardship. God does not always remove the trouble; often He comforts us by giving us truth, people, perspective, courage, and hope so we can stand in it. Using 1 Thessalonians, the message shows how remarkable the work of grace is experienced and expressed among the church at Thessalonica. Paul had only a short time with them before persecution forced him away, yet they flourished because the gospel had genuinely transformed them. They learned quickly that following Christ would include affliction, but they also possessed the great hope woven through the entire letter: Jesus came, Jesus saved them, and Jesus is coming again. The message highlights seven expressions of kingdom comfort: 1. Tender and tough instruction — 1 Thessalonians 2:7–12. Paul ministered like both a nursing mother and a faithful father. He invited people close, instructed them in truth, and showed them by his own life how to walk with God. True discipleship is not merely giving information; it is saying, "Come walk with me. Let me show you how this truth works in life." The hunting experiences with Nate illustrate this: some things cannot merely be explained—they have to be learned by walking beside someone and putting truth into practice. 2. Trustworthy fellowship in the gospel — 1 Thessalonians 3:1–5. Because Paul was concerned about the

What Is Christian Warfare? Jonathan Parnell Download Psalm 109,Be not silent, O God of my praise!2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.3 They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.4 In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.5 So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.6 Appoint a wicked man againsthim; letan accuser stand at his right hand.7 When he is tried, let him come forth guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin!8 May his days be few; may another take his office!9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow!10 May his children wander about and beg, seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!11 May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!12 Let there be none to extend kindness to him, nor any to pity his fatherless children!13 May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation!14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!15 Let them be before the Lord continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!16 For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.17 He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day!20 May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord, of those who speak evil against my life!21 But you, O God myLord,deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.23 I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.24 My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt, with no fat.25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they wag their heads.26 Help me, O Lord my God!Save me according to your steadfast love!27 Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it!28 Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.In 1657, an English Puritan named John Arrowsmith wrote a book describing the Christian life as warfare. He says this warfare is not something that happens every now and then, but it's constant: To be a Christian is to be at war, period. Sometimes we can have moments of respite — which are gifts — but the baseline reality of the Christian life is that we actually live behind enemy lines.Arrowsmith writes: [quote] “Christians dwell in enemy territory so long as they [are in this] world.” Everyday we fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, but he explains the real enemy is Satan himself. The Book of Revelation calls Satan “that ancient serpent” (going back to Genesis Chapter 3)…This means we're in an ancient war, against an ancient enemy, and therefore Christians should understand themselves as spiritual warriors.That's Arrowsmith's main point, and it's a good one. And what I find fascinating about it is that in 17th century Europe nobody heard him explain this and thought he was being too intense. Nobody thought he was forcing the framework. And so if we hear it and we think he's being too extreme, it's probably because we're the ones living in the bubble … Understand most of human history has been marked by suffering and violence …And it's not just that life itself is hard, but it's that for most humans throughout history, they've understood what it means to have enemies— I don't mean metaphorical enemies; not merely ideological enemies. But I'm talking about real, physical enemies who are active threats.That category has been normal for most people historically, and so the concept of the Christian life as warfare makes sense to them. … And I believe it'll make more sense to us the more we are shaped by the Bible. That's what we're gonna see this morning. Looking at Psalm 109, I want to show you four facts about Christian warfare. These facts were true when David wrote this psalm; they were true in the 17th century when Arrowsmith wrote his book; and they're true right now — so we can't afford not to know these things. The first fact is this:1. There are enemies of Christ. Right away we see that Psalm 109 is about enemies. Verse 1 opens: “Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues …”This is obvious opposition. Then in verse 6, there's still plural enemies, but a singular enemy comes into view and verse 8 says:“May his days be few; may another take his office!”“May his days be few; may another take his office!”Now if you've recently read the Book of Acts in the New Testament, that might sound familiar to you. That's because in Acts Chapter 1, one of the first things Peter does after Jesus's resurrection, is he tells the other disciples that they need to replace Judas (remember Jesus had twelve disciples, but Judas betrayed Jesus and hung himself, so they were down to eleven disciples). And the reason Peter gives for replacing Judas is Psalm 109, verse 8. This is Acts 1:15 — there were 120 brand-new Christians altogether, and Peter says:Hey, everyone, we need to replace Judas because the Holy Spirit spoke by the mouth of David concerning Judas that another should take his office.Peter quotes Psalm 109:8, which means that Peter (and the other early Christians), who had been trained by Jesus how to read the Old Testament, they interpreted the enemy in Psalm 109 to be Judas. This is amazing! Now I wanna show you how they get there …Psalm 109 is a Psalm of David, and as we've seen many times before, David writes the psalms as a type of Christ. He writes from own situations, but he also looks forward in time, and the Holy Spirit, through David's original voice, speaks as the voice of the Messiah.That's what's happening in Psalm 109. So we should read this psalm as prayed ultimately by Jesus himself.The enemies described here are not just enemies of David, the Anointed One, but they're enemies of David's Son, the ultimate Anointed One. Psalm 109 is about the enemies of the true Messiah. It's about the enemies of Christ. Archetypal Enemy And focus is on Judas as the singular enemy because Judas became the ringleader of those who crucified Jesus. Peter says in Acts 1:16 that Judas was their guide. Judas became the lead human instrument of Satan's schemes — we know from the Gospel accounts! They tell us that Satan entered Judas (Luke 22:3; John 13:2, 27). And so to this day, Judas is an archetype of an enemy of Christ. He's the head representative. Every enemy of Christ ever since has been cut from that same cloth. So, like Judas, enemies of Christ become people in whom Satan has his way. They oppose the message of Christ and the people of Christ, and they distort the truth of Christ. And we see this already throughout the New Testament. The apostle John calls this the “spirit of antichrist” (1 John 4:3) — it's the ongoing satanic pattern of hatred for Jesus. There are people in this world who hate Jesus and hate his people. And of course we know this because Jesus has told us this in the Gospel of John.So it's first fact we gotta nail down: there are enemies of Christ.Second fact about our warfare is …2. The enemies of Christ speak evil. Now when you think of the enemies of Christ, you might imagine all kinds of terrible things these enemies do, but it's important to see in Psalm 109 that the main evil of these enemies has to do with what they say. Ten different times we read that the enemies of Christ have: Deceitful mouths, lying tongues, they speak words of hate, they accuse, they curse, they speak evil.We see this actively in the Gospels, in the trial of Jesus; we see this in those who reviled Jesus when he was on the cross; we see this in Judas when he conspired against Jesus — he used words. We also see this today in how the enemies of Christ oppose his people.Now none of this should surprise us because Jesus called Satan “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). That was Satan's way from the start in the Garden of Eden, and it's happening now. The enemies of Christ — those in whom Satan has his way — they most resemble Satan with their words. Their messaging. They are liars.Falsehood. Deception. Half-truths. Spinning truths. Full-out distortions. Blatant contradictions. Or as they say in Australia, bull-DUST — all of that is speaking evil. And there is something especially Satanic about it … And in this country, you're technically free to do it. Just understand that freedom of speech doesn't mean that the words you speak are harmless to your soul. Words have consequences. And every word ever spoken against Jesus Christ will be punished.I remember as a kid something Jesus said really got my attention. It's Matthew 12:36. Jesus says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak…”Jesus said that. And if people will be held accountable for their careless words, how much more the enemies of Christ for their words against Christ?That's the third fact.3. God will curse the enemies of Christ.The bulk of Psalm 109 is an imprecatory prayer. An imprecatory prayer is when you ask God to curse someone. I counted 23 curses (or imprecations) in this psalm — that's 23 petitions where David, in the voice of Messiah, is asking God to curse his enemies. Now we'd be sidetracked if all of a sudden we make the topic here about whether or not we can pray imprecatory prayers. (Of course we can. They're in the Bible! And if you want to read more about it, I encourage you to go check out a sermon I preached a few years ago on Psalm 58 titled, “How to Pray Imprecations.”)But for this morning, there's something more important for us to see. Most of the curses are in verses 6–20, but the direct center of the psalm is verse 17. Here's verse 17: He [the enemy of Christ] … He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!So the Messiah is asking God the Father to curse his enemies who tried to curse him. And if you're a reader of Scripture, this makes total sense — Jesus is just asking God to do what God already promised. Because way back in the Book of Genesis, God promised Abraham, Genesis 12:3, I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you [or curses you] I will curse …God said that! And this promise becomes a covenantal thread that runs all the way through the Old Testament and finally reaches its fulfillment in Jesus. Jesus becomes the ultimate dividing line between blessing and curse — are you with him or against him? That's the question. And if you're against him, God will curse you.And then the apostle Paul applies this same logic to the church.Applied to the ChurchPaul tells the church in Thessalonica that “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you” (2 Thessalonians 1:6). God the Father says it is right to curse those who curse the church. This is a big deal.And I can't help but imagine that when Paul wrote those words, he remembered the very first thing Jesus ever said to him. This in Acts Chapter 9, on the road to Damascus, when the old Paul was on his way to persecute Christians. Remember Jesus appeared to him and said:“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”Paul said, “Who are you?”Jesus said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting?”You get that? Jesus identifies himself so completely with his church that the persecution of them is persecution of him.So for the enemies of Christ who afflict his church, God the Father will afflict them. And Jesus prays for that. Look, the main thing we need to know about these curses in Psalm 109 is that they will happen whether we pray for them or not. Psalm 109 is about what will be.The Father has promised it. The Son has requested it. God will curse the enemies of Christ. That is a fact about Christian warfare. Here's the last one. In this warfare …4. God will magnify his glory by saving his people. In the midst of this opposition, as these enemies are set against him, the Messiah prays for God to deliver him. We read this in verse 21, and this a verse that you gotta see. So y'all help me out. Find Psalm 109, verse 21:But you, O God my Lord, deal on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me!Now skip down to verse 26: Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love! Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it!I want you to see here that the Messiah's not just asking for God to save him, he's asking for God to be glorified. He's saying: Save me because of who you are! Save me for your name's sake!Save me because of your steadfast love!And save me in such a way that my enemies know it's you!Make it clear that my salvation is from your hand!Now, how might God do that?What kind of salvation would require God to do what nobody else can do?What kind of enemy could God defeat that makes people say … “wow!”?If there's one place where we know for sure “vain is the salvation of man” it's the grave. Death is the enemy that no man can outrun, no army can defeat, no power on earth can reverse. Nobody raises themselves from the dead.But do you know what God can do?On the third day, God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. It was only by his hand. God did that! We see this confidence all throughout the Psalms in the voice of the Messiah:O Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. (30:3)You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption! (16:10) You, God, will ransom my soul from the power of the grave! (49:15)God is the one who resurrects. God alone! It's true of physical resurrection, and it's true of spiritual resurrection … I hope you know that if you're a Christian it's because God did that. The Bible tells us that spiritually speaking, left to ourselves, we're all in graves. Ephesians 2:1, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” Dead! — Therefore, God has to be the one to spiritually resurrect us, and he did! That's why God gets the glory! “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)Christian, don't pat yourself on the back for being a Christian, but thank God he made you alive! Thank God that he has worked a miracle in you! God did that!Be humbled and happy! That's how we live as Christians for the glory of God.God magnifies his glory by saving his people … he raised Jesus from the dead, he raises his church from spiritual death, and one day he will raise our bodies from the grave and make us like Jesus, with him, forever.But until then, church, it's warfare. We are, for now, the church militant.In this life we cling to Jesus by faith behind enemy lines, and we fight everyday against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Why did God do it this way? You ever think about this?What if God had made it so that at our conversion, we get instant, complete triumph? No more struggle. No more enemies. Just instant heaven. Wouldn't that be nice! Why does God leave us here to fight?John Arrowsmith asked that question. This is what he said: [In our fight,] God directs and ordains the wickedness of Satan and the unrighteous such that they result in His glory, [and his glory is manifest in] the advantage of His church, and the destruction of the wicked at the day of the Lord. (120)That's not an easy answer, but it's true. That's how we should think about the enemies of Christ: God has ordained it all for the maximum display of his glory, which is the maximum joy of his people. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. This is what brings us to the TableThe TableWe come here each week to remember the death of Jesus. By the death of Jesus, God's love was poured out for us. By his resurrection, although we're at war, our victory is secured. And we come here to thank him. We thank Jesus for his death; we thank him that he's alive; and we thank him for making us alive. And hey, if you're here this morning and you're not a Christian … if you've not put your faith in Jesus, God can make you alive right now. Turn to Jesus and be spiritually resurrected.If that is your story, if you are a Christian, we invite you to eat and drink with us…

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands. . . . . — 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Have you noticed that most of the Ten Commandments begin with a negative order, saying, “You shall not . . .”? In commandments six through ten, the negative orders set clear, concrete boundaries for how we are to treat people. Without the command “You shall not steal,” for instance, it would be impossible to live together with our neighbors. Stealing and deceit destroy trust and create enemies.In his letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul offers solid advice for respecting the property of others: “Work with your hands.” Does this mean the Bible only approves of livelihoods involving manual labor? No, we can glorify God and love others with all kinds of honorable work we can do. What Paul suggests in this passage is that work itself is good. Work is a gift and a resource, and it reflects our Maker, who works faithfully with all kinds of creativity. When we work diligently, using the gifts and talents that God gives us, we earn others' respect and avoid being overly dependent.Theft has been with us since human beings fell into sin. But today it can seem as if taking advantage of others and their possessions is more rampant than ever. In contrast, by using what God gives us in gratitude and contentment, we can show others how to live in community as God has designed us to do. And this can help us share with others what God has given us.  Lord, all that we have is a gift from you. Help us to use our gifts and talents to share your love and your blessings to us with others. Amen.

There are two very important statements in this verse. Paulsays, first, “Neither at any time used we flattering words.” And then hesays, “Nor a cloak of covetousness.”  Paulis reminding these believers that when he came to Thessalonica, he wasn'ttrying to manipulate them with his words, and he wasn't trying to get somethingfrom them for himself. Let's think first about “flattering words.” Thereis a difference between encouragement and flattery. We should encourage people.We should express appreciation. We should tell people when we are thankful forthem. There is nothing wrong with giving an honest compliment. But flattery isdifferent. Encouragement is given for the benefit of the other person. Flatteryis often given for the benefit of ourselves. Flattery says something nicebecause we want something in return. We may want someone's approval. We maywant their support. We may want them to like us. We may even want to influencethem for our own advantage. Paulsays, “That wasn't how we ministered among you.” He wasn't trying to tellpeople what they wanted to hear. He was telling them what God wanted them tohear. That's an important distinction. Paul would later write in 2 Timothy 4:3:“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but aftertheir own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” Therewill always be a temptation to change the message so that people will like themessenger. But if God has put us in trust with the gospel, as we saw yesterday,we don't have the right to change the message simply to make it moreacceptable. Sometimes God's Word comforts us. Sometimes God's Word encouragesus. But sometimes God's Word convicts us. Sometimes it tells us something wewould rather not hear. A faithful servant of God doesn't ask, “What will makepeople happy?” He asks, “What has God said?” ThenPaul mentions something else: “Nor a cloak of covetousness.” A cloak issomething that covers something else. Paul is saying, “We didn't use religionas a covering for greed.” He wasn't preaching the gospel because he wanted toget rich. He wasn't serving these people because he wanted their money. Hewasn't using ministry to advance himself. Paul's ministry wasn't about what hecould get from people. It was about what he could give to people. And what didhe want to give them? The gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, through theyears there have always been people who have used religion for personal gain.Butthe problem isn't only money. Covetousness is the desire to have more forourselves.  That'swhy Paul's final statement in this verse is so important. He says: “God iswitness.” Earlier in the verse Paul said, “as you know.” TheThessalonians knew how Paul had lived among them. But when Paul talked aboutthe motives of his heart, he said: “God is witness.” People can see ouractions. But only God can completely see our motives. People hear what we say. Godknows why we say it. People see what we do.Godknows why we do it. We might be able to hide our motives from other people, butwe can never hide them from God. Hebrews 4:13 reminds us: “Neither is thereany creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked andopened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Myfriend, there is tremendous freedom when we can live with nothing to hide. Wedon't have to manipulate people. We don't have to flatter people. We don't haveto use people. We simply need to love people, speak the truth, share thegospel, and seek to please God. And at the end of the day, we should desire tobe able to say with Paul: “God is witness.” God knows my heart. Godknows my motives. God knows why I am doing what I am doing. So today, let's askthe Lord to search our hearts and keep our motives pure. Let's speak words thatare true rather than flattering. Let's serve because we want to give ratherthan because we want to get.

https://andrewhorval.substack.com/p/book-of-acts-kjv00:00:00 Acts 1 – Promise of the Holy Ghost and Matthias Chosen00:03:37 Acts 2 – Cloven Tongues of Fire and Peter Preacheth00:09:04 Acts 3 – Lame Man Healed and Repentance Declared00:12:37 Acts 4 – Boldness of the Apostles and All Things Common00:16:54 Acts 5 – Ananias and Sapphira Smitten and Prison Opened00:22:09 Acts 6 – Seven Deacons Ordained and Stephen Accused00:24:07 Acts 7 – Stephen's Defense of the Faith and Martyrdom00:31:32 Acts 8 – Philip Preacheth Samaria and the Ethiopian Baptized00:36:27 Acts 9 – Saul's Conversion and Aeneas and Dorcas Healed00:42:11 Acts 10 – Cornelius's Vision and Gentiles Receive the Holy Ghost00:48:14 Acts 11 – Peter Justifieth His Ministry to the Gentiles00:51:53 Acts 12 – James Killed, Peter Delivered, and Herod Smitten00:55:20 Acts 13 – Paul Sent Forth and Elymas the Sorcerer Blinded01:02:16 Acts 14 – Paul Stoned at Lystra and Elders Ordained01:05:53 Acts 15 – Jerusalem Council and Decree Touching the Gentiles01:11:14 Acts 16 – Macedonian Call and Philippian Jailer Saved01:16:30 Acts 17 – Paul at Thessalonica, Berea, and Mars' Hill01:21:19 Acts 18 – Paul at Corinth and Apollos Instructed01:25:07 Acts 19 – Exorcists Confounded and Uproar at Ephesus01:30:33 Acts 20 – Eutychus Raised and Paul's Charge to Elders01:35:19 Acts 21 – Paul Warninged, Arrested, and Bound at Jerusalem01:40:58 Acts 22 – Paul's Defense Before the Jews and Roman Citizenship01:45:02 Acts 23 – Paul Before the Sanhedrin and Plot Defeated01:50:07 Acts 24 – Paul Accused Before Felix and Reasoneth of Judgment01:53:56 Acts 25 – Paul Before Festus and Appeals Unto Caesar01:57:59 Acts 26 – Paul's Defense Before Agrippa and Almost Persuaded02:02:16 Acts 27 – Voyage, Tempestuous Wind, and Shipwreck at Melita02:07:52 Acts 28 – Viper at Melita and Paul Preacheth at RomeView One-Year Reading Plan, Commentary, and Content:https://andrewhorval.substack.com/p/kingjamesbibleinoneyear

Paul preaches the same message in two cities forty five miles apart. Thessalonica riots. Berea starts a Bible study. Same message, same messenger. The only thing that changes is how the word gets received.We look at why people can miss the truth when it's sitting right in front of them, and why the obstacle is usually not the evidence but the story we've already built our lives around. In Thessalonica the offense was a king who took his throne through a cross instead of a sword, and the claim that if Jesus reigns, Caesar doesn't. Jesus isn't asking for our vote. He's asking for our allegiance. In Berea, people received the word eagerly and put the scriptures on the witness stand every day, and the examining produced faith instead of doubt.We also talk about what hunger and discipline look like now: asking God for an appetite, starving the ones that crowd it out, and making time in the word a custom rather than an intention.