Podcasts about thessalonica acts

While ancient and modern philosophies offer partial truths about life and happiness, Christianity offers something greater - not just a set of ideas to live by, but a relationship with Jesus Christ who transforms us from the inside out and invites us into God's kingdom.--The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you're looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --Today we're covering 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Week 1 Big Idea: In a world of competing tribal identities, Paul reminds the Thessalonians - and us - that our primary identity as believers is our belonging to God's family, which changes everything about us.Week 2 Big Idea: Just as the early Christians boldly proclaimed Jesus as Lord in a world that worshipped Caesar, we're called to put our hope in Christ's kingdom rather than in political powers or cultural influences that promise to "save" us.Today's text: It's the section of the letter where Paul describes his entrance and strategy when he first arrived in Thessalonica (Acts 17). To better understand this passage in its context, we need to explain the situation in this city.Thessalonica was a thriving Roman city—a hub for trade, politics, and ideas. Like other major cities in the empire, it attracted traveling philosophers, orators, and moral teachers. These figures shaped public thought, civic identity, and moral behavior. We see this in Acts 17First, Paul was in Thessalonica (v1-9)Then went to Berea (v10-15)Then to Athens (v16-33)Acts 17:18 (NLT) 18 He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said, “What's this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he's picked up?” Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”To the average person in Thess, Paul would have looked like one of these philosophersToday we'll see: What Paul brought was greater than philosophy.Let me explain:Four Types of Philosophers in Paul's day:Epicureans – The Seekers of PleasureTaught that pleasure (understood as peace of mind and freedom from pain) was the greatest good.Focus: Avoid pain, enjoy simple pleasures, carpe diem (sieze the day).In today's world: Think of voices that say, “Just protect your peace,” or “Do whatever makes you happy,” often divorced from accountability or eternal truth.Ex: Oprah Winfrey“Life is not an obligation, but an opportunity to be whoever and whatever you want. ”“God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience.”Ex: Deepak Chopra“The universe has no fixed agenda. It responds to your intentions.”Stoics – The Disciplinarians of VirtueTaught that virtue is the highest good and that people should live according to reason.Focus: Self-control, inner peace, moral duty, acceptance of...

In these verses, Paul's final remarks teach us that God is full of mercy and that his saints are chosen from all walks of life and from all levels of society (1 Cor. 1:26–31). We find among Paul's companions a runaway slave (engaged in ministry), a restored backslider (now forgiven and full of zeal), a pastor (concerned for his flock), a doctor-turned-historian, and others who work with Paul in evangelism. The apostle Paul is able to accomplish his ministry only because of the faithfulness of many dear friends who have stuck by him and who've been helpful to him in his ministry. And in order to use them as an encouragement to the Colossians and to all the churches that would read this letter, he tells us a little bit about them. And it adds a very warm, personal touch to what is a very doctrinal letter. It also indicates to me something of the magnetism of his personality, and the deep, rich love of which he was capable, because of the fact that he had so many of these people with him for so many years, and they had such a deep loyalty and love for the man. Those who brought greetings (vv. 7–9) Two envoys Tychicus and Onesimus are two loyal and highly valued friends of the apostle Paul. They are envoys sent with the epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon to inform and encourage the believers in those churches (Eph. 6:21–22). tychicus WAS THE MAN WITH A SERVANTS HEART.  hE came from the province of Asia and was one of Paul's companions. The name “Tychicus” means fortuitous or fortunate; and indeed he was fortunate. We don't know much about him; there isn't much said in the Bible. He's mentioned five times, and every time it's very, very brief. But we know one thing: he lived up to his name, because he was a fortunate man to be able to spend as much time, in fact, as many years as he did in the ministry with the apostle Paul. He was a close friend who later would wait for him at Troas when Paul travelled to Jerusalem at the end of his third missionary journey (Acts 20:4) fourteen years later. Paul regards Tychicus as wholly reliable and a witness to his state in prison.  He is a man with a servant's heart. He realizes this is a long journey. He's leaving his home, his job, his friends, the fellowship of his church;    when we see him, as Paul writes Colossians, he's still with Paul; he's still around. He's stuck by him for a long time now. He went to Jerusalem with him. It may be that he returned with him. He for sure is with him now in the imprisonment in Rome. And at the end of Titus chapter 3, verse 12, he says, “When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis; for I have determined to spend the winter there.” Here's a loyal man. And you know what? He says, “I'm going to send him, Titus, to take your place,” either he or Artemas. We don't know which one he sent, but it may well have been Tychicus.   Now what Paul wanted was – Paul loved Titus. Titus was the pastor of the congregations in the island of Crete, and Paul wanted Titus to come and spend the winter with him. Paul knew it wasn't only the winter of the year, but it was the winter of his life; and Paul wanted the fellowship and the love of Titus. And so he said to Titus, “Look, if you'll come and meet me in Nicopolis and spend the winter with me, I will send this man Artemas, or this man Tychicus, to take care of your church.”   Now it's kind of an interesting thing. Here is a man who started out as a messenger, and wound up substituting for a very great man, the man by the name of Titus. The man with a servant's heart made himself available, and God used him in ways, I'm sure, he never dreamed possible.   Now later on, I want you to notice something: Paul wrote the last letter that we believe he wrote, 2 Timothy chapter 4, verse 12, and he says this, writing to Timothy: “And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloak that I left at Troas” – I'm glad he has that same problem that all of us have; he left his coat somewhere. “The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, would you please bring it, and my books, and especially the parchments?” Good to know he's human, isn't it? He left almost everything there. So he says, “When you come, will you bring all that stuff I left over there?”   Now you see, what he's saying here is, “Timothy, I want you to come and be with me; I need you. And in order that you can come and be with me, I know you'll have to leave your congregation in Ephesus so I'm going to send somebody to take your place.” And who is it? Tychicus again. He's making a career out of being an interim pastor, and he's filling in for some pretty, pretty high-class men: Titus and Timothy. He would reflect to both of those congregations the character of Paul, the life of Paul, the ministry of Paul; and they would love him because he would bring Paul to them. Now that's the kind of man he was. He was a messenger, and he was a pastor. In fact, he was anything Paul wanted him to be. We never find any bit of argument, we never find any bit of anxiety; we only find Tychicus doing what Paul told him to do.   But this is a faithful servant. He loves Paul. He's loyal. He'll be a messenger; he'll be a pastor; he'll be anything. And Paul here has in mind sending him with the letter to the Colossians. He isn't going to pastor, he's just going to be a delivery boy.   You say, “Well, that's not too tough.” Listen, if you knew what the trip was like from Rome to Laodicea and Colossae you might not say that. It's a long trip, a perilous trip. You had to cross Italy on foot, and then he had to sail the Adriatic, and then he had to cross Greece, and then he had to sail the Aegean. Then he had to walk, after he had landed at Miletus, up the steep Lycus River Valley to Laodicea and Colossae, and it wasn't easy; it was a very difficult journey. But Paul says, “He's going to come and he's going to bring the letter.”   And you know something? He didn't just have the letter of Colossians, he had another letter too. You say, “Well, what other letter did he have?” Well, I believe, if you look at Ephesians 6:21, it says; “But that you also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that you might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your heart.” You see, that's almost an exact quote out of Colossians. So, now we know he doesn't have one letter, he's got two letters. Tucked somewhere in his robe is Colossians and Ephesians.   And, incidentally, the book of Ephesians, it was not just written to the Ephesians. In fact, we find many manuscripts; and in the beginning of Ephesians there is a blank where it says, “Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, to the saints who are at blank.” You know why? This was a general letter to all the churches; it's just that one of the manuscripts we found happened to have Ephesus written in it. In the whole book of Ephesians there's not one allusion to a person in Ephesus.  And also had; he had another letter: Philemon. He had the letter to Philemon. And look at verse 9 of Colossians 4: “And along with Tychicus I'm sending Onesimus.” See? And Onesimus was the slave that was returning about whom the book of Philemon is written  The second thing he says – and this gets us into the thought that he is a servant's heart, “He is a faithful minister,” verse 7, and the word is diakonos, or servant. He is a faithful servant. He never attained prominence, he just served. He was an invaluable liaison between Paul and the churches; and he was faithful, he stuck with it. He was one of those 1 Corinthian 4 kind of stewards that was found faithful; he just did it, whatever it was. And you know something? There's no other way to get the work done, and Paul knew it. You've got to have people who have a servant's heart. He not only was a faithful servant of Paul but he was a fellow slave in the Lord. The first phrase has to do with Paul: “He is a faithful servant of mine, and a fellow slave in the Lord.” And Paul uses two different words. The first one is diakonos which just means servant. The second is sundoulos, which means bond slave. He is not a bond slave to Paul, don't confuse it. He's a bond slave to Jesus; he's just a willing servant to Paul. The New Testament words are important.     onesimus a man with a sinful past is a runaway slave who is the subject of the Epistle to Philemon.  Philemon was a convert of the apostle Paul. Verse 19 of Philemon he says that, “You owe to me your own self.” So he was a convert of Paul. And he's a very wealthy man; he owns some slaves. One of the slaves Philemon owned was a man named Onesimus, this man. But Onesimus didn't like living in Philemon's house, and he didn't like being a slave, so he ran away. And you know what a slave was to do when he ran away if he was caught? He was to give his life; he was executed. Runaway slaves were executed. But this one was willing to make the gamble, and he ran away, and he ran all the way to Rome. And you know what happened? Amazing thing: he ran right into the apostle Paul. And you know something? Just as the apostle Paul had led Philemon to Christ, the apostle Paul led Philemon's runaway slave to Christ. Isn't that amazing when you think there were two million people in Rome? Not so amazing when you see what God had in mind. Now Paul writes a letter, the letter of Philemon, and sends Onesimus back, and the letter says, “Say, Philemon, I know he ran away; but don't kill him. He may have gone away a slave; he's coming back a brother, and he's willing to serve you as a slave and a brother in Christ. So open your arms of love and take him, will you?” And so here's Tychicus with Philemon, the letter in his pocket, and Onesimus the slave walking beside him. Paul writes the letter to establish in Philemon's heart acceptance for a returning slave who's now a brotherHe has been recently converted and now serves Christ as Paul's ‘beloved brother' (v. 9). Paul is not interested in status or wealth, but in spirituality and faithfulness. Tychicus and Onesimus are both brothers to Paul through grace, men who were happy to help out and use their gifts under Paul's direction, accepting and recognizing that he was the Lord's servant. They are sent to ‘comfort hearts', that is, to encourage the Colossians to keep the faith and to obey the Word of God. And in the letter to Philemon he says, “Onesimus is” my very heart. Onesimus is my very heart. Those who sent greetings (vv. 10–14) Three messianic Jews (vv. 10–11) Aristarchus, Mark and Justus are fellow workers and long-term Jewish friends of Paul. These men worked with Paul for the glory of Christ in the local churches. They were team players who shared the same agenda as Paul for the church's growth and well-being and were not too busy ‘doing their own thing' to help out. Their ministry blessed Paul personally because he was encouraged by their friendship. The word ‘comfort' (v. 11) speaks of consolation and relief. We get the English word ‘paregoric' (‘a medicine that soothes pain') from the Greek used here. aristarchus is the man with a sympathetic heart. Now Aristarchus' name appears elsewhere in the New Testament in association with the town of Thessalonica. It's very likely that he came from that town. And at Ephesus, you remember Paul ministered at Ephesus for three years; and during those three years, Aristarchus was with him. And you remember when finally in Ephesus the riot broke out? When the riot broke out, Aristarchus and Gaius were seized by the mob, and Aristarchus found out what it was to be a prisoner. They recognized him as one of Paul's companions, and so they seized him. Now that's in chapter 19. Now Paul decides to go to Jerusalem. You know what happens? He takes Aristarchus along. So he goes on that trip. Paul gets on the boat. You remember he was captured as a prisoner in Jerusalem, then he was moved to Caesarea on the coast where he stayed as a prisoner. And then finally, in Acts 27, he gets on a boat to go to Rome to be tried in Rome, and he's a prisoner on the ship; and Acts 27:2 says when he got on the boat, Aristarchus was with him. Had Aristarchus been with him through all the imprisonment? Very possible. Very possible since the time he identified with Paul in the city of Ephesus, and escaped from the riot, and went to Jerusalem. From that time until now he has stayed with Paul; as a prisoner in Jerusalem, he hung around. Caesarea, he may have hung around. On the ship – and you remember what a ride that was. Read Acts 27 again. I mean that was something exciting, and he was there. Now here he is back in Rome. And guess who's there? Aristarchus. And Paul calls him “my fellow prisoner.” And the guy hasn't committed a crime, he just hangs around with criminals, so he spends his time in jail. came from Thessalonica (Acts 27:2) and he was with Paul during the riots at Ephesus (Acts 19:29). From Acts 20:4 we see that he also waited for Paul with Tychicus at Troas as Paul made his way back to Jerusalem. It is thought by some that he travelled with Paul as his slave or, alternatively, that he was taking a lift back home; whatever the truth is, he is also a prisoner in Rome at this time (Paul calls him ‘my fellow prisoner'). He was a volunteer willing to suffer for the kingdom of Christ. mark is the man with a second chance the cousin of Barnabas and the writer of the second Gospel. Twelve years prior to this, Mark and Barnabas had left Paul after a disagreement about whether Mark should accompany them on their second missionary journey. In Paul's opinion, Mark had been disloyal and cowardly when he deserted them at the end of their first missionary tour (Acts 15:36–41). Mark's relationship with Paul is now restored and he is fully engaged in the Lord's work and in full fellowship with the Lord's people. In 2 Timothy 4:13 Paul said that Mark was very useful to him for the ministry, thus assuring us that Mark's restoration to faithfulness was a permanent thing (see also 1 Peter 5:13). This is so encouraging as it tells us never to doubt the grace of God and his promise to keep us from falling. Mark is no longer a liability to Paul and is to be welcomed as a fully committed co-worker of Christ. Mark is forgiven both by God and by Paul. We should not withhold our love from those whom Christ has redeemed and restored. Restoration is a wonderful certainty because God promises it in Christ (Eph. 3:20–21; Jude 24). justus, the man with a strong commitment also called Jesus. His was a common name among the Jews. A man called by that name was nominated as a replacement apostle for Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:23), while another of the same name lived in Corinth and was a supporter of Paul (Acts 18:7). If the Justus of Colossians 4:11 is neither of these two (and that is what most commentators think) then he is mentioned only here in the New Testament and represents the ‘unknowns' in the Lord's service: those myriads of believers—ordinary people—with nothing particularly special to note about them, who yet have been chosen and given grace to be ‘fellow workers for the kingdom of God'. No matter how ‘unknown' believers may feel in their own little place, they contribute to the growth of the kingdom when they use their gifts and walk in obedience to Christ.        Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?              John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.               “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32             Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.              hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en His Love Ministries on Itunes Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F             The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

In this episode, I explain what Paul is doing when he exhorts the Thessalonians to “mind your own business and work with your hands” in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. I discuss the problems with historical anachronism and the difference between ancient and modern economic thought. I then discuss the wider context of Paul's though, explaining how his fundamental moral principle is cruciformity (living a life of sacrifice for others) and his views on the nature and responsibility of the church. Paul works to fund his own ministry (1 Cor. 9) as an example of cruciform sacrifice towards his congregations. I explain how Thessalonica was a diverse, cosmopolitan trading city with an independent government, and how Paul's trip to Thessalonica (Acts 17) resulted in synagogue leaders leveraging the local government to harass those that believe in the Gospel. I then turn to 1 Thessalonians as a letter, showing how persecution and eschatology are the two major themes that run through the letter. Paul wants the Thessalonians to imitate him (1:6-7) and explains how he is willing to work to provide for his own needs (2:9-12). Before the final section of 1 Thessalonians, Paul explains how cruciform love and the identity of the church shapes the rest of his exhortation (3:11-13). We then finally come to 1 Thess. 4:9-12. The historical and sociological background of the passage is the Roman patron-client system, where wealthy patrons give gifts of money, clothing, and food to clients in exchange for social clout and political support. Paul wants all Christians to become charitable and benefactors, and his language in 4:9-12 is a rejection of the patron-client system. Paul encourages Christians to leave and reject the patron-client system and instead work with their hands, so that they will not be in need and can help those that genuinely are. This is also an example of the cruciform character of the church to outsiders. I then explain some principles that Christians should derive from this passage and how they should shape our perception of Christian responsibility in the modern world.  Media Referenced:1 Timothy 5-6: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/1-timothy-5-6-widows-wealth-and-the-specter-of-socialism/Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-105-jesus-and-the-rich-young-ruler/1 Peter 2:13-17: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-121-submit-to-the-authorities-1-peter-213-17/Bibleworthy Podcast Appearance: https://bibleworthy.com/8Seek the Welfare of the City, Bruce Winter: https://a.co/d/aYzhQt2Empire, Economics, and the New Testament, Peter Oakes: https://a.co/d/3gsTap5The Moral Teaching of Paul, Victor Furnish: https://a.co/d/dnMNlpB The Protestant Libertarian Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute and a part of the Christians For Liberty Network. The Libertarian Christian Institute can be found at www.libertarianchristians.com.Questions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod, and Youtube, @ProLibertyPod, where you will get shorts and other exclusive video content. For more about the show, you can go to theprotestantlibertarianpodcast.com. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! G

Acts 17: 1-2

This sermon was preached at Hope Fellowship on September 29, 2024 by Kyle Truman. In this sermon, based on Acts 17:1-9, Paul and his team continue their mission, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. The passage highlights Paul's strategic approach of preaching in Jewish synagogues, reasoning with people from the Scriptures, and proving the necessity of Christ's suffering and resurrection. Despite facing opposition, Paul's message results in conversions among Jews, Greeks, and leading women. However, jealousy from the Jewish leaders stirs up a mob, leading to persecution. This message challenges believers today to boldly proclaim the gospel, face opposition, and resist societal pressures, including the modern-day idolatry of statism, which elevates government authority above God's sovereignty. Ultimately, Jesus is the true King. We gather every Sunday at 10 a.m. in the gymnasium at Gatesville Elementary School in Gatesville N.C.  Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Connect with us at: hopegatesville.com hopegatesville@gmail.com Online Giving YouTube Facebook  Also, please read and sign the petition to abolish abortion in NC: www.abolishabortionnc.com

Today BibleWorm reads from two different books in the New Testament. We hear about Paul's visit to the community  in Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-9 and then read from his letter to that community in 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. As we read about the struggle of those early days for that budding church community, we wonder, what does it take for someone to throw in their lot with a revolutionary movement and really stick with it through all the real risk and seemingly constant uncertainty? And how can we support one another in living that sort of courageous life today?

Acts 16:35_17:1035 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.”36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.”38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.Acts 171 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

His word continues to be preached where the Lord leads Paul and Silas to go. Please click here for the YouTube video.

6/2/23. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: Acts 17:12-13. Jews from Thessalonica agitated the new converts causing Paul to flee Berea. Resources: enduringword.com; biblehub.com; logos.com; Matthew Henry Commentary; and Life Application Study Bible. Check out my new blog! https://minutesword.blogspot.com/?m=1 #Podchaser list of "60 Best Podcasts to Discover for November 2021" Listen, like, follow, share! #MinutesWord; @MinutesWord; #dailydevotional #christianpodcast #MinutesWord #christianpodcaster Available on Spotify and most podcast apps! #prayforukraine #voiceofthemartyrs #prayforTurkey #prayforSyria

5/31/23. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: Acts 17:10. Paul and Silas flee Thessalonica by night. Resources: enduringword.com; biblehub.com; logos.com; Matthew Henry Commentary; and Life Application Study Bible. Check out my new blog! https://minutesword.blogspot.com/?m=1 #Podchaser list of "60 Best Podcasts to Discover for November 2021" Listen, like, follow, share! #MinutesWord; @MinutesWord; #dailydevotional #christianpodcast #MinutesWord #christianpodcaster Available on Spotify and most podcast apps! #prayforukraine #voiceofthemartyrs #prayforTurkey #prayforSyria

5/26/23. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: Acts 17:1-4. Paul and his companions travel to Thessalonica as they continue their missionary trip through Europe. Resources: enduringword.com; biblehub.com; logos.com; Matthew Henry Commentary; and Life Application Study Bible. Check out my new blog! https://minutesword.blogspot.com/?m=1 #Podchaser list of "60 Best Podcasts to Discover for November 2021" Listen, like, follow, share! #MinutesWord; @MinutesWord; #dailydevotional #christianpodcast #MinutesWord #christianpodcaster Available on Spotify and most podcast apps! #prayforukraine #voiceofthemartyrs #prayforTurkey #prayforSyria

Northwest Bible Church – Mar. 12, 2023 – 1 Thessalonians – Alan Conner 1 Thessalonians Introduction Intro A. THE CITY OF THESSALONICA 1. Founded in 315 BC 2. In 42 BC, it becomes a FREE CITY. 3. Religions. B. THE FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH. 1. Paul's second missionary journey. Acts 16:36-18:22. 2. The missionary team in Philippi. Acts 16:11-40. 3. The missionary team in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10). a- They begin in the synagogue (Acts 17:1-4). b- Converts (Acts 17:4; 1 Thess. 1:9). c- Paul worked with his hands for his daily bread (1 Thess. 2:9). d- Violent mob (Acts 17:5-8). e- Jason's pledge (Acts 17:9). f- Paul and Silas sent away by night to Berea (Acts 17:10). C. THE FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS 1. Paul was deeply concerned about their faith. 2. Timothy arrives in Corinth with a positive report. 3. Date of 1 Thess. 51-52 AD. 4. Themes in 1 Thess. a- to express his joy and thankfulness to God for their thriving faith b- to address misunderstanding about the second coming. c- to give directions on practical sanctification. d- address head on some of the criticism of his ministry. Conclusion Discussion Questions: 1. Why is the study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians important for us today? 2. How did the Jews respond to the gospel? What caused them to persecute Paul and the believers? Does this happen today? 3. What can we learn from Paul's missionary zeal? 4. What can we learn from the way God guided Paul?

02-05-23- Sunday PM- The Birth Of The Church At Thessalonica Acts 17 - Pastor Stancil by John W. Stancil

Paul spent just 3 weeks planting a church in Thessalonica (Acts 17) before being forced out of town! His first letter back to the church a few weeks later reflects his deep affection to the believers there. It starts and ends with descriptions of their faith, hope and love. In this message we hear the epistle read aloud and highlight features that are most relevant to us here and now.

How does Paul's letter to the Thessalonians deepen our understanding of the account of the founding of the Thessalonian church found in Acts 17? How does Paul's approach help refine our own approach in our day? 

Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim. In our study of Acts chapter 18 we have been taking a look at Paul's ministry in Corinth. And it has been a tough season for Paul. Paul has been facing a lot of rejection, particularly from his own people. And so he no doubt was going through a time of deep discouragement. But God  came to Paul in that season and gave a promise. It says in… Acts 18:9-10 (NKJV)— 9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” Promised Fruit— And so we see that Paul is encouraged by God's promise to be with him. But he is also encouraged by the fact that he will be safe because he is not alone there in Corinth. God has many people in this city. SATAN WANTS YOU TO FEEL ALONE— Now I have found that one of Satan's chief strategies that he works upon Christians is the feeling that we are alone. Because out of that feeling he can get us feeling depressed and can suppress our desire to push forward. What Satan doesn't want us to figure out is that there are other people just like us going through similar things; people who can be an encouragement and a strength to us. One of Satan's greatest strategies is to divide and conquer. And he does that first by driving apart people who are already in a relationship with one another, but he also does that by keeping people apart who might be able to pour grace and love and encouragement into one another's lives. And that is what he no doubt wants to do here with Paul. He wants Paul to feel alone, afraid, and therefore to go into protection mode. But God, defending Paul against that temptation, quickly stomps that snake and says “Don't be afraid. First of all, I'm with you, which is enough in itself. But also you are surrounded by unknown friends you haven't met yet who fear my name (or will soon, through your ministry) and who are going to be a source of protection for you.” And so instead of clamming up or leaving, Paul continues his ministry. It says in… Acts 18:11 (NKJV)—11 And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Converts in Corinth— And Paul's ministry bore tremendous fruit. He established a church there in Corinth. And just a few of those [who became Christians in Corinth were Phoebe (Romans 16:1—Cenchrea was the port city of Corinth), Tertius (Romans 16:22), Erastus (Romans 16:23), Quartus (Romans 16:23), Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11), Gaius (1 Corinthians 1:14), Stephanas and his household (1 Corinthians 16:15), Fortunatus (1 Corinthians 16:17), and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17).] Now the church in Corinth was not full of mighty and noble people (1 Cor. 1:26–31), but rather with sinners whose lives were transformed by the grace of God (1 Cor. 6:9–11). And not only was Paul's local ministry fruitful, but also his ministry of writing was as well, as during this time he also [wrote two letters to the believers in Thessalonica (the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians).] The Unseen Hand— Now I would love to see the many ways that God protected Paul during this time. But you know, Paul probably knew very few of them. He probably didn't realize until he got to heaven the many ways God had His hand over his life. And the same is true of us. We don't get to see all the things we have been spared from; or the “could have been” disasters. And therefore Luke (the great historian) shares only one example of God's protection over Paul that he could clearly see and communicate; and it is one that is enormously significant, for reason's we will see in a few moments. A New Proconsul: Gallio— But first, the “governor” (proconsul) of Achaia (modern Greece) was a Roman senator by the name of Gallio. He served from A.D. 51-52 and was the brother of Seneca the philosopher. And when he comes into power during this time, the unbelieving Jews see this as an opportunity to try to manipulate Rome into declaring this new “Christian sect” illegal. And so they break the law [by attacking Paul and forcing him to go to court.] It says in… Acts 18:12-13 (NKJV)—12 When Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him to the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.” The Best Speech Never Given— And what they were really charging Paul with was his [promoting a religion not approved by Roman Law.] And you have to understand that if you are going to understand the miracle of what will soon take place. They want to make Paul (and Christianity) the enemy of Rome. And this seems to be their go-to strategy, because [This was not the first time that fanatical Jews had tried to prove that Paul was breaking the Roman law.] They had tried similar tactics also in Philippi (Acts 16:19-24) and then in Thessalonica (Acts 17:6–7). But Paul knew his rights as a Roman citizen and was more than ready to defend himself. And he opens his mouth to deliver the best speech never given. That's right, Paul never had a chance to deliver it; because while God had commanded Paul to speak in verse 9, here He seems to step in and basically says, “Paul, I got this one.” And we see this in that instead of Paul making his defense, Gallio (the ROMAN PROCONSUL) makes his defense!!! It says… Acts 18:14-16 (NKJV)— 14 And when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or wicked crimes, O Jews, there would be reason why I should bear with you. 15 But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.” 16 And he drove them from the judgment seat. An Unexpected Advocate— And so Gallio was not the fool these Jews took him to be and [immediately saw that the real issue was not the application of the Roman law but the interpretation of the Jewish religion, so he refused to try the case!] And so while [The Jews tried to force the Roman proconsul to declare the Christian faith illegal, …Gallio ended up doing just the opposite. {Because} By refusing to try the case, Gallio made it clear that Rome would not get involved in cases involving Jewish religious disputes. As far as he was concerned, Paul and his disciples had as much right as the Jews to practice their religion and share it with others.] Now it may come as a surprise, but that kind of response is very typical of the relationship between the Roman and Christian Church here in the book of Acts. Yes, the apostles were forbidden to preach (Acts 4:17-21; 5:40), but that was by the Jewish council, not a Roman one. In fact there is no evidence in the book of Acts that Rome ever did this. Actually, the opposite seems to have been the case. We see [in Philippi (Acts 16:35-40), Corinth, and Ephesus (Acts 19:31), the Roman officials were not only tolerant but almost cooperative.] And this was partially because of Paul. He [knew how to use his Roman citizenship wisely so that the government worked for him and not against him, and he was careful not to accuse the government or try to escape its authority (Acts 25:10-12).] Now this was not the end of the matter. It says in… Acts 18:17 (NKJV)— 17 Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. But Gallio took no notice of these things. Sosthenes Beaten & Redeemed— Now what in the world is this all about? And who is this guy Sosthenes? What happened to Crispus, who is described as the synagogue ruler in the beginning of the passage. Well, remember Crispus had been converted to Christianity by Paul. And you can imagine how outraged many of the Jews were. What seems to have happened is that Crispus was removed from his position and replaced by a new synagogue ruler, a man by the name of Sosthenes. And it is this man who is attacked by the Greeks, who beat the tar out of him right in front of the proconsul, who simply looks the other way. Now we don't know exactly who was doing the beating. [The mob could have been Greeks venting their feelings against the Jews for causing turmoil, or the crowd may have included some Jews. In any case, they beat Sosthenes for losing the case and leaving the synagogue worse off than before.] Now the irony here is that [If this is the same Sosthenes mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:1, then {apparently he too got converted, and the Jews had to find {yet} another ruler for their synagogue!] I would love to know how that all came about. Maybe somebody was there that day to pick Sosthenes up off the ground; maybe a Christian. Maybe it was Paul himself or Crispus who helped to wash his wounds, using it as an opportunity to share the love of Christ.     But whatever the case, what this shows us is that no matter how much Satan opposes us, because God is with us, those oppositions simply become God's opportunities to do something great. And so the central thrust of this passage is that God is both with us and is protecting us sometimes in seen but most often in unseen ways. And knowing that can give us the courage to “Fear not!” and speak boldly the name of Jesus. John Paton's Unseen Army— [John Paton was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.] Never Alone— Now you and I may feel alone when we live out Christ's call to be a light in the world. But what scripture always reminds us of is the “fact” that God is with us. And though He won't always shield us from pain and death, we can rest assured that His perfect plan for our lives will come to fruition if we (like Paul) remain obedient to speak out. And many people will be forever changed by your commitment to Christ. Psalm 121:7-8 (NKJV) 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Let us therefore trust in the Lord this week. Amen.

Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim. If you have been following the show, you'll know that we have come to chapter 17 of our study of the book of Acts; a chapter in which we find Paul and Silas coming to the city of Thessalonica to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the people there. And Paul begins, as was his custom, in the synagogue. And it says in verse 2 and following… Acts 17:2b-3 (NKJV)— and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” Don't Skip Out— And so right away we see that Paul begins to witness to a large crowd of unbelievers. Now I am going to be painfully honest with you today. Even as a pastor, I still find witnessing to be difficult. I don't have a problem sharing the Gospel with believers (which I do every week) but every time I have had to preach before an unbelieving crowd (which of course I had to do when I was involved in prison ministry), I was always (and I mean ALWAYS) reluctant to do it. In fact one week I remember I decided to skip the ministry that week; and the leader of our group called me and said “Where are you?” And I told him I wasn't going to make it that week. And he told me I needed to come. And, somewhat embarrassed, I went. And from then on out I didn't dare to skip. Now what I learned from that (and am still learning) is that regardless of how hard it is, you and I need to be faithful to share the Gospel; because Jesus doesn't ask us to. No, He commands us to. If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, then His Great Commission applies to you. It is amazing to me how often we talk about sins we need to avoid committing but we often fail to talk about sins of omission; things we should have done, but didn't. And witnessing (I think) is one of those things for me. Our Greatest Fear— Now what are you and I worried about? Why is it so hard? Well, it's intimidating for one thing. Statistics say that the number one fear (even more than the fear of death) is the fear of public speaking. Jerry Seinfeld made the hilarious observation that what that actually means is that at a funeral you and I would rather be the person in the casket than the person giving the eulogy. And maybe sometimes that's the case. But you know I also think that we are (more than just being afraid of crowds) we are also afraid (and we see this even in individual evangelism) that we will somehow do a bad job and make people's spiritual conditions somehow worse. And so we say, “Better leave it to the experts.” But you know, God doesn't ask us to do it well. Now He often does want us to prepare for it as best we can. But He doesn't say, “You have to do it right or don't do it at all.” No, what does he say? Jesus says in Mark 13:11 “do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Salvation on The Prison Floor— And let me tell you, EVERY time I have been willing to step out and be that voice for God, God has shown up and has spoken through me. I remember one week we showed up at that prison and I preached (probably pathetically) and none of the prisoners seemed to be listening. All of them were involved in other things. But as I turned to leave (feeling the pangs of discouragement), one of the guards beckoned me to a prisoner I had not even seen (didn't even know was listening) who was still locked up in his cell. He was asking for me. And I came over and he stuck his fingers out through the bottom of the door and wanted me to hold them and pray with him to receive Christ. And so I prostrated myself on the floor and held his hand. And there and then he gave his life to Christ. What if I had not showed up that night? What if I had said to Jesus, “I'm sorry, I just don't feel equipped enough.” A soul may have been lost for the kingdom. Where To Start— Now sometimes you and I simply don't know where to start. Well, Paul (in his sermon here in this synagogue in Thessalonica) offers us a clue. Because the first thing we see him do is he tells his listeners (very simply) what the Word of God says. And that is the secret of all great preaching by the way; not eloquence or speaking ability, but being willing to simply get out of the way and let the Word of God be spoken by God to people through you. That is what Paul always did. Anchored in Scripture— Notice how he anchors his arguments in what God has revealed in and through His Word; the very Word these Jews revered. He began with what they knew, which is where we also need to start when we minister to others. It is always a good idea to begin with whatever truth somebody does know (finding that common ground) and then move into what they don't know. Paul knew they were expecting the Messiah/the Christ to come, though they were expecting Him to be this great military figure who would come and deliver them from all physical oppression (particularly Rome). And eventually Rome would fall, but God knew that that would not solve their primary issue, which wasn't external bondage, but internal bondage. And that is why Paul moves from what they know about the Messiah to what they don't know, explaining to them (using the scriptures) how before the Messiah could deliver them physically, he had to first deliver them spiritually. He had to first suffer, die, and be raised again in order to deal with the root of their true problem, which was the problem of sin. Now Luke doesn't tell us what scriptures he used, though he no doubt referenced the foreshadowing of Christ's death in the sacrificial system of Israel. He probably referenced passages like Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 to prove how the Messiah had to die, and to passages like Psalm 16 that showed that the Messiah would rise from the dead. But whatever scriptures he used, he pulled them all together to show them that without a doubt Jesus is the Christ so clearly prophesied about in the Old Testament. Now it says in… Acts 17:4-5 (NKJV)— 4 And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. 5 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 {(ironically, the very thing they were accusing the missionaries of doing, which is how it usually is)} and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. Jealous Motivation— By the way, it's interesting; notice how they never try to refute Paul and Silas' theology. They don't respond with logical counterarguments. And that's because they were jealous of Paul and Silas; and that jealousy was what was motivating them; not a desire to keep doctrinal purity. And that is what we also will find when we share the Gospel; sometimes people will scoff at us and might even begin maligning us, not because they disagree with us, but because they are jealous or threatened by the truth of what you are saying. And that is what we see was driving this mob. And here we see they begin searching for Paul and Silas in the house of a man by the name of Jason. Now we don't know that much about Jason. He is one of the un-sung heroes of scripture. “Jason” was common name for Jewish men living in the diaspora; and Paul and Silas were apparently staying in his home, as that is where the mob comes looking for them. And Jason takes the heat for Paul and Silas. It says… Acts 17:6-7 (NKJV)— 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. 7 Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” Accused of Treason— And the reason they say this is because they knew the Romans would not care about any theological disagreement between them and these preachers. However, they would care about treason, which was a very serious crime in the Roman Empire. And so that is what they are accused of, as their allegiance to Jesus (whom they claimed was a King, though we know He was a very different kind of King) would sound suspicious. And that is what people will do to us as well. They will skew the truth in whatever way suits their fancy in order to make us look bad. For the rest of time, Christians like you and me are going to get labeled with words like “biggot”, “intolerant”, “anti-progress”, “narrow-minded”, (or even worse) “close-minded”. And we just need to recognize that that is par for the course. If we follow Jesus (who was wrongfully accused Himself with the same accusation we see here being leveled against Paul and Silas), we ought not to expect anything less. Now these accusations serve to poison many against Paul and Silas, as it says in… Acts 17:8-9 (NKJV)— 8 And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. 9 So when they had taken security {(or bond)} from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Fleeing Thessalonica— So [Jason posted bond—putting up cash for freedom. By doing so, he promised that the trouble would cease or his own property and possibly his own life would be taken.] But [since that bond would be forfeited if there was any more trouble, Paul and his companions had no choice but to leave.] So they flee from Thessalonica because of Jewish opposition. However, don't think for a minute that the ministry in Thessalonica was dead. No, the church there was actually thriving and growing. [Two of its members, Aristarchus and Secundus, joined Paul in his evangelistic work (Acts 20:4). Paul commended all the church members in 1 Thessalonians 1:8, because “the word of the Lord [had] sounded forth from [them], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place [their] faith toward God [had] gone forth.” The Thessalonians used their strategic location on the Egnatian Way to spread the gospel far beyond their own city.] Nevertheless, because of opposition, Paul and Silas had to flee the city. And it says in… Acts 17:10a (NKJV)— 10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Let's Step Out— And next week we will see what God does through Paul and Silas while there in Berea. But this week I want to encourage you to get out there and begin sharing your faith. Start conversations, find out what truths the people you speak to already believe and then build on that and eventually connect them with Jesus Christ. Don't worry about how well equipped you are. God Himself will equip you as you step out in faith and trust in Him. Let's do so this week. Amen.

Paul's Mission at Thessalonica BeginsPaul and Silas and Timothy have left Philippi following the shameful events there, in which Paul and Silas were arrested, humiliated, beaten and imprisoned without trial, and they have travelled down through Macedonia to the town of Thessalonica. He later recalls this in 1st Thessalonians 2:1-2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. He is still BOLD in God to bring the message of the gospel.Read the NOTES HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” Acts of the Apostles‘Doctrine and Duty for Disciples Series'“God's Work in Thessalonica”Acts 16:35-17:9Christ's Bible Fellowship - Tamuning, Guam USASpeaker: Avery Ferreras, ElderSunday, October 24, 2021

September 5, 2021 Looking to connect?  Whether you are new or you've been here for a while, we would love to connect with you!  Fill out our Connection Card and someone will reach out to you. Order of Service – Download Bulletin (PDF) Welcome Community News Call to Worship Praise Songs Children’s Ministry Vision Children's Dismissal Message: “Upheaval in Thessalonica” – Acts 17:1-10 Worships Songs Closing

September 5, 2021 Looking to connect?  Whether you are new or you've been here for a while, we would love to connect with you!  Fill out our Connection Card and someone will reach out to you. Order of Service – Download Bulletin (PDF) Welcome Community News Call to Worship Praise Songs Children’s Ministry Vision Children's Dismissal Message: “Upheaval in Thessalonica” – Acts 17:1-10 Worships Songs Closing The post Upheaval in Thessalonica first appeared on Living Hope Church.

The Mob in Thessalonica : Acts 17:1-9 : Pastor Kensen Lam : 08-22-21 by Park Community Church

Discovering God's Strength in Weakness Bible Study with Jairus- 1 Corinthians 2   Paul's Fearfulness In 1 Corinthians 2:3, the Apostle Paul gives an interesting insight into his personal life: "I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling."[1] This strong, courageous leader was experiencing significant fear. He founded the Corinthian church, so why did he feel weak and fearful among them? Let's look at an example that may help answer the question. In the American church, pastors often experience fear. Political correctness has permeated the church, and pastors dare not express their Biblical views on certain social issues. They fear that if they take a stand, they will lose their congregations and donations. Some ministers in America are experiencing “weakness, fear and much trembling.”  If Paul came to the United States to serve as a pastor in an American certain church, perhaps he would feel weakness, fear and trembling; we don't know. But we know that ministry provides many opportunities for fear. When Paul came to Corinth, he had recently experienced severe persecution in Thessalonica (Acts 17-18). He likely feared that the same would happen in Corinth. The Corinthian church had been infiltrated by ungodly thought patterns. Immorality, strife, racial conflict, and fights between believers were commonplace. Paul saw the Corinthians as his spiritual children. He knew that if he disciplined them too strictly, the young fleshly infants may stumble. Paul felt weakness, fear, and trembling in response to the many hot-button issues he had to deal with in the church. But Paul also said that when he was weak, the strength of Christ was manifested in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12). When he was weak, fearful, and trembling, he was able to look to the power and help of the Holy Spirit. He did not rely on natural wisdom and power, but on the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to shepherd the Corinthian church. This is a role model for today's ministers. When Paul was serving the Corinthian church, he faced many problems similar to those in American society today. The church is weak; Christian leaders struggle to take a stand; and many sin issues have permeated the church. Ungodly thought patterns have infiltrated all church members, from the least significant to the most powerful. Rick Joyner, a Christian leader in the United States, has even heard members of Congress saying that they felt weak, unable to stand for the truth. The church has set an example of weakness in the face of sin and confusion. But these difficult times give us an opportunity to rely in a special way on the power of the Holy Spirit in our time of weakness and need.   Paul's weakness The Local Church Movement (LCM) has frequently emphasized the fact that the spiritual life of believers does not usually exceed the spiritual lives of the shepherds who lead their churches. For example, as a minister, I shepherd a local congregation. I always teach what I know and am good at. Naturally, believers have very little opportunity to hear and learn the things that I don't understand and am not good at. Unless individual believers take initiative to learn these things on their own, under normal circumstances they will not obtain this knowledge. If the spiritual state of the leader has only reached a certain height, it is difficult for the followers to exceed the leader's level of spiritual growth. This principle demonstrates that the problems of the churches we lead are a manifestation of our own problems, to a certain extent. What is true in the spiritual world can also be observed in the business world. When you analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the leaders of an organization, as well as the culture of the companies they lead, you will find that the leaders' strengths and weakness have a profound impact on the company's culture and its success or failure. We usually think very highly of Paul, and we don't often think about his problems and shortcomings. However, Paul himself knew he was not perfect. He said, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." (Philippians 3:12). Paul knew he would be striving for improvement until the day he died. The Corinthian believers knew that Paul was not perfect. 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 says: "I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh." Believers in Corinth criticized Paul for “being humble when face to face with them.” The word “humble” contains some negative connotations. According to StepBible.org, this word also means “lowly, downcast, timid.” Some versions, including the New International Version, translates this word as “timid.” Other believers in Corinth believed that Paul and others were “people who walk according to the flesh.” In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul describes significant divisions taking place within the Corinthian church. The church was arguing; Paul says, "Each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,' or ‘I follow Apollos,' or ‘I follow Cephas,' or ‘I follow Christ.'” (1 Corinthians 1:12). We usually blame the problems of the Corinthian church on society, other leaders (including Apollos and Peter), and on the church itself. But Paul himself may have played a role in their struggles. Paul said that the Corinthians were his spiritual children, so it is hard to say that Paul was not responsible in part for their errors. When our children make mistakes, we as parents may have failed to educate our children. Paul's own spiritual children lived in the flesh, division and sin. How can Paul, as a spiritual father, have no responsibility for their failures? What part did Paul play in the Corinthians' weakness and fleshliness? We can only guess. Personally, I think that his teaching may have been lacking in certain areas. Perhaps the books of 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians were written to fill the gaps. Or perhaps the Corinthians' weakness reminded Paul of his own weakness in certain areas. Their weakness may have revealed and highlighted his own weakness, causing him to feel fearful, weak, and afraid while he was with them. Paul's letters to Corinth served to strengthen and teach the believers, but they were also a way that Paul pushed himself in his areas of weakness. In 2 Corinthians 10:10, we learn that the Corinthians accused Paul in this way: “For they say, ‘His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.'” Why is someone criticizing Paul of being weak while he is with the Corinthians? What is Paul's weakness? We don't know. But we do know that Paul had a weakness. He said that there was a thorn in him that made him weak. He pleaded with the Lord three times to remove it, but the Lord said that His grace was sufficient for Paul because the power of Christ was made perfect in man's weakness. Paul then said, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). God permitted Paul to feel weak, fearful, and trembling in the Corinthian church so that he could manifest Christ's power through Paul's weakness.   Focusing on God's strength Often, we blame the sins of the church on the social environment in which we live. At the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, the Corinthian society was full of chaos, immorality, and idolatry--just like the United States today. Many people say that the weakness of the American church is a result of a sinful society, which has a negative impact on believers. This idea seems to make sense, but the Bible tells us the opposite. Jesus says that the world is full of tribulation—including sin and darkness. But he has already overcome the world (John 16:33). Since God has overcome the sin of the world through Jesus, the church can be a light in the darkness. The Bible says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5). It is preposterous to claim that the American church is weak because of the darkness of society! It's like saying that our light cannot shine in the darkness because the darkness is too dark. This is totally wrong! The Bible tells us that the darkness has never overcome the light. No matter how dark it is, when we light a match or a lamp, we can drive out the darkness. The evils of society can penetrate the church and weaken it, but they are not the root cause. The church is weak because believers do not live according to the Lord's word, allowing his life to live through them. This logic should be reversed. When the church is weak, the society gets darker—not vice versa. The darkness of American society is caused by the weakness of the church. The problems of the American society are manifestations of the problems of the American church. The weakness of the church is caused by the weakness of each individual believer. If every believer in every church lived by God's words and emitted his light, the church would become a golden lampstand to illuminate the surrounding city where the church is located. If every church in every city were shining with God's beauty, it would illuminate the entire United States. Many Christians supported Trump and hoped that Trump would be re-elected. But as of now (March 1, 2021), Trump has not been re-elected. As a result, many Christians have become discouraged and disappointed. They feel their weakness acutely. As I mentioned earlier, Rick Joyner said that members of Congress were unable to stand strong due to the weakness of the church. This is why many Christians are discouraged, as if the end of the world is coming. This is absolutely wrong. Why do I say this? Because when we are weak, then we are strong. Just as Paul and the Corinthian church experienced, the power of Christ will rest upon the American church when it becomes weak. In this way, His power will be made perfect in a weak church. God knows our weaknesses; they are tailor-made just for us. The LCM teaches that each of our weaknesses is a reminder of an opposite characteristic of God. God allows us to have weaknesses so that we will more deeply understand his character qualities that will fill those gaps. It's like a key that fits a lock. If we have an absence, or gap (like the key hole), we will become even more acutely grateful for the attribute of God that fills that weakness (like a key).   When we are weak, we should look at God's strength. Our weakness is like a mirror. Rather than looking at the mirror (our weakness), we look through it to see the glory of God reflected in our lives. When we constantly reflect on the glory of the Lord, we gradually transform into the image of His glory and become strong (2 Corinthians 3:18). Perhaps my weakness leads me to pray every day, which helps me access God's strength. Where I lack love, Christ provides the love I need. When we do not pay attention to our lack of love, but to the love of Christ, we gradually change. We are filled and changed by the love of Christ, and become loving people. If we lack patience, we should not look at our own bad temper, but at the patience of Christ, because Christ is patient. When we look at His patience every day, we will gradually gain the patience of Christ. Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church often said, “You are what you are most aware of.” This is a great illustration. In other words, you become what you give your attention to the most. If you pay attention to fake news, you will be filled with "fake news." If you pay attention to the Lord and His words, you will be filled with the Lord and His words. In the United States, too many believers pay attention to the flesh and the weakness in their flesh. When you pay attention to your weakness, you will become weak. But when you are weak, you should pay attention to the strength of Christ. Then his power will rest upon you! His power is made perfect in your weakness! The Lord Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3, “I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8). When we experience “little power,” we are weak. But we look to Christ, instead of looking at our own weakness. This is faith! A person who is running a marathon insists on moving forward, even though he is exhausted. All he needs is a little power to keep him going in the right direction. We can compare the situation of the American church to Jacob's experience in Genesis 32. God touched Jacob's hip socket, causing him to lose his natural power. In the same way, God has touched the American church, so they are unable to live in the flesh as they are accustomed. They have lost the sources of strength they are accustomed to relying on. Because of God's blessing and protection, American churches had been like flowers living in a greenhouse, gradually losing their vitality. God allowed the cold winter and difficult environment to give us an opportunity to grow. Through these trials, the American church is learning to put its roots down deeply into Christ and receive strength from the Sun of his Love. When we lose our natural strength, it does not mean that God has forsaken us. Instead, these are the times when God is closest to us. When Jacob wrestled with God at the ford of the Jabbok and lost his natural strength, it was then that he saw God face to face—and did not die! Christians in the United States should not feel discouraged, but hopeful. God is among us. He created an environment that would help us feel our weakness. He wants us to turn to Him and fix our eyes on His power and strength. His power will greatly rest upon us!   God's Strength in My Weakness The weakness of American church leaders is reflected in the church. The weakness of the church is then reflected in the society. At present, the church leaders and the church are weak. But there is hope! We need to discover that when we are weak, then we are strong, because God's strength is manifested when people are weak. I am hopeful for the future of America. I believe that God will miraculously help us, because our weakness provides the best opportunity for God to manifest Himself. Paul knew this truth deeply, and he tried his best to live out this truth. When he came to the Corinthians, he did not use lofty speech or wisdom to proclaim God's testimony to them. Instead, he decided to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). In other words, Paul's eyes were fixed on Jesus Christ himself. Paul may have had a tendency to “use the lofty speech or wisdom,” but he put his flesh on the cross this time. Perhaps Paul's “lofty speech and wisdom” at his last visit led the Corinthians to accuse him of being a “timid man of the flesh.” Many theologians say that 1 Corinthians is not the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian church. There was another letter before this one, which is missing. God is sovereign and no sparrow will fall to the ground without the permission of the Father. It may have been God's will that Paul's first letter was not included in the Bible. Verse three says that Paul was weak, fearful, and trembling when he visited the Corinthians. The reason why he was like this was because of the weakness of his flesh. He was also afraid that he would not rely on Christ, but on his own strength. He knew well that if he relied on his own strength, he would do things according to his flesh. Instead, he chose to remain weak so he could rely on the strength of Christ in weakness. He knew that his weakness would be worth it, causing “a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”(NIV, 1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The last few verses of 1 Corinthians 2 discuss the wisdom of God. We should rely on God's wisdom, not on the wisdom of this world. Only a spiritual person can truly understand the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). First Corinthians 2:14 says, "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." This is the essence of the problem. Many Christians are fleshy people. Many Christians live without the spiritual life of God. A spiritual person gives God a predominant place in his life. The life of God rules his life and is manifested through his life. Watchman Nee said that God cares more for who we are than what we do for Him. What matters is not just what we do for God, but what we allow God to do in us. The changes God makes in our lives will naturally manifest themselves to the church and to the people we serve. What an amazing insight! When Christians in the United States pay more attention to spiritual growth and change, they will stop being spiritual infants and be freed from the flesh. When every believer matures in Christ in this way, the church will change. The changes in the church will naturally be manifested in the society. Every Christian in the United States needs to become spiritually mature so that the church can be strengthened and the darkness of society can be removed. If we just focus on removing darkness and bad leaders in the political realm, while neglecting the growth of the church, the fundamental problems of American society will not be solved. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why God allowed political conflict to persist in America: so that we would focus on our own growth first. Some time ago, I heard Rick Joyner mention that the Lord appeared to him after he was infected with coronavirus. The Lord told him that the churches in the United States have not yet repented, as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." Even now, the church in the United States has not fully repented. We must repent not only for our sins, but also for our flesh. We should even repent for focusing on our flesh and weakness instead of focusing on the Lord and His promises. When our flesh is weak, we cannot just look at our own weakness. We should also focus on the strength of Christ. We must repent for believing that the weakness of our flesh exceeds the power of God. The original meaning of repentance in the Bible is to turn around and change our attitude, not just to regret our mistakes. We need to take our eyes off our weakness, because Christ is waiting for us to look up to Him. Just as the Israelites looked at the bronze serpent, we look at Christ to be saved! Our salvation is in sight, just waiting for us to raise our head and look in faith! When we are weak, he is strong! The power of God is made perfect in our weakness! Our current situation can be compared to runners completing the last mile of a marathon. They just need a little bit of strength to win. I believe that our victory and the collective victory of the American church are coming soon because God's strength is going to be manifested in their weakness. When they are strong in the flesh, God cannot do things. When God removes their flesh, they become weak; but that is when God's power is unleashed to do something wonderful. For this reason, I choose to stand with prophets like Kat Kerr, Timothy Dixon and many others. God will miraculously move on our behalf to bring the spiritual victory, hope, and healing that the American church so desperately needs. Written on Feb 22, 2021.     [1] 1All Scripture quotations are taken from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.  

There is much evidence for the truth of the resurrection and that Luke/Acts lays this out. The refusal to believe is grounded in hardness of heart, not a lack of evidence. There is every reason to believe all of the Biblical accounts.

There is much evidence for the truth of the resurrection and that Luke/Acts lays this out. The refusal to believe is grounded in hardness of heart, not a lack of evidence. There is every reason to believe all of the Biblical accounts.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim “repentance for forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47). We show how this happens in Acts. Both Jesus and the apostles preached Jesus is the Messiah - the anointed One.

Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim “repentance for forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47). We show how this happens in Acts. Both Jesus and the apostles preached Jesus is the Messiah - the anointed One.

We cannot give up the battle for the truth when the evidence continually points to the inerrancy of the Bible. We have more historical and archeological evidence for the truth of the Bible now than ever.

We cannot give up the battle for the truth when the evidence continually points to the inerrancy of the Bible. We have more historical and archeological evidence for the truth of the Bible now than ever.

Uproar in Thessalonica Acts 17:1-15 Read or download a PDF transcript of Uproar in Thessalonica.

[Rebroadcast from May 6, 2012] Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester for "I Love to Tell the Story," a weekly conversation on the narrative lectionary. This week's reading is Church at Thessalonica: Acts 17:1-9 and 1 Thess 1:1-10. Recorded in April 2012 for WorkingPreacher.org. read more...

The Second Missionary Journey: Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) from The Book of Acts – God’s Revelation of Transition by Dr. Randy White. Released: 2020. Track 54. Genre: Speech. Additional Materials: ( Outline | Video | Website | YouTubeChannel | ZoHo ) The post The Second Missionary Journey: Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9) appeared first on RWM Podcasts.

Disciple Up # 141 Is the Bible Reliable? By Louie Marsh   Show Intro – Read E-mail from John Explain this was part of my Basic Bible Questions and this chapter was taken largely from Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell found here: shorturl.at/eoQ68   I have asked this question about the truth of the Bible first for good reason. Everything in Christianity hangs on how this question is answered.   If you say, “Yes, the Bible is true,” then you approach the Scriptures as the very Word of God, accept everything it says as truth revealed by God, and have a standard for truth and morality that transcends time and cultural shifts and quirks. If the Bible is true, then the Christian faith is true also, Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world, and everyone should believe and follow Him.   On the other hand, if you say, “No, the Bible isn't true, it's simply a collection of writings of men who lived a long time ago,” then you have no eternal standard and are left on your own to decide what's true and what isn't. So our faith and the identity of Jesus are left hanging.   The so-called middle ground, that the Bible contains both truth and error, doesn't really leave you in any better position. Because the end result is that you are the one who decides what's true and what isn't. So again we have no standard, and in essence are left to be our own little “gods,” deciding between right and wrong.   The historic Christian position is to accept the Bible as God's Word, inspired and true in the normal sense of that word. And yes, that is the position I hold.   As will be seen below God has provided us with an overwhelming amount of evidence to support the truth and validity of the Bible. We will only be able to cover a small part of this evidence, but even that should go a long way to answering this question is the Bible Reliable?   What Does the Bible Say About Itself?   All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.  2 Tim. 3:16-17 (NLT)   The Bible makes the astounding claim that it is God message to mankind! The real author of the Bible is God Himself – working through men that He picked! Not only that but Paul makes it clear that it's not only inspired by God, but practical as well. The Bible tells us that it is God's Word and is to be used and followed in every area of our lives!   Because of that, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. Pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a light shining in a dark place—until the day Christ appears and his brilliant light shines in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophets themselves or because they wanted to prophesy. It was the Holy Spirit who moved the prophets to speak from God. 2 Peter 1:19-21 (NLT)   The reason we are told to obey the Bible is that it is God authority for living. Peter says it came about when God moved people to speak or write things down, not when they felt like it themselves. The Bible is like a light directly from God that shows us what to do and how to do it, and what not to do as well.   People sometimes think that this status as God's Word was something given to the Bible by people who lived long after it was written. But that's just not true! Look at what Paul and Peter said about their writings:   If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 1 Cor. 14:37   Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:15-16   You can see from the emphasis I placed in the verses that Paul knew God was inspiring him, and that Peter agreed, placing Paul's writings in the same class as the writings of Moses or David!   It's clear from these few Scriptures that we've studied (and there are more we don't have time for now) that the Bible claims for itself a unique status – God's Message to Mankind!   But is there any evidence to back this up? Are we being asked to believe the Bible is true just because it says so? Or is there credible evidence to support this amazing claim?   How do we know the Bible is true?   1) Through it's Uniqueness.   The Bible is unique in its continuity. It was written over 1500 year span (that's more than 40 generations), by over 40 different authors. These men came from every walk of life, including Kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, scholars, etc. The Bible is Unique in its Languages. The Bible was written on three different continents (Asia, Africa, Europe) in three different languages. Hebrew, was the language of the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 18:26-28 its called “the language of Judah.” Aramaic, was the “common language” of the Near East until the time of Alexander the Great (6th century BC). Greek, the language of the New Testament, it was the international language of the Roman Empire during the time of Christ.   The Bible is Unique in its translations. As far is known today, the Bible was the first book to be translated into another language. The Greek translation of the Old Testament was made in c. 250 B.C. The Bible has been translated, retranslated and paraphrased more than any other book in existence. By 1977 the number of translations stood at 1603. The Bible is Unique in its survival. It has survived through time better than any other book in history. The Bible is one of the oldest books in the world, yet more copies of the Bible exist than any book its age. It's also Unique in its survival through Persecution. The Bible has withstood more attempts to destroy it than any other book every written. Here's just a few examples… In 303 A.D. Diocletian issued an edict to destroy Christians and the Bible. Twenty-five years later Constantine commissioned Eusebius to prepare 50 copies of the Bible at the expense of the Roman Empire. Voltaire, noted Frenchman, said before his death in 1778 that in 100 years Christianity would be extinct. Fifty years after he died the Geneva Bible Society was using his printing press to publish Bibles! The Bible is Unique in its survival of Criticism.  For more than 1800 years critics have been attempting to destroy the trustworthiness of the Bible. They have made about as much headway as a man armed with a tack hammer facing the Pyramids of Egypt would (John W. Lea, paraphrased). Bernard Ramm says, “A thousand times over the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstone, and the committal read, but somehow the corpse never stays put!” The Bible is Unique in its Teachings. No other book in history presents truth like the Bible does. Below are just three of the many unique ways the Bible teaches truth. Prophecy: The Bible contains by far the largest and most detailed predictions ever assembled. They include prophecies about the Messiah, Israel and her neighbors, etc. Not one prophecy in the Bible has ever been proven wrong – and that's unique too! History: Distinguished archaeologist Professor Albright wrote in his book, The Biblical Period, “The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 stands absolutely alone in ancient literature without a remote parallel even among the Greeks…The Table of Nations remains an astonishingly accurate document…(it) shows such remarkable ‘modern' understanding of the ethnic and linguistic situation in the modern world, in spite of all its complexity, that scholars never fail to be impressed…” Personalities: The Bible deals very frankly with the faults of its main characters. Many ask why the Bible reveals the flaws of its hero's. Well, the Bible has the habit of telling it like it is, it is indeed the Word of Truth.   2) Through Archaeology   The science of Archaeology has greatly assisted Christians in showing the world that the Bible is what it claims to be – the Word of God and absolutely true. This only makes sense since if the Bible does give us an accurate account of God's dealing with mankind you would expect it to be backed up by historical evidence.   Nelson Glueck, well known Jewish archaeologist wrote, “It may be well stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a biblical reference.” He also wrote about “the almost incredible accurate historical memory of the Bible, and particularly so when it is fortified by archaeological fact.”   Let's first examine the Old Testament to see how well it's stood the test of science and time.   At one time critics rejected the Old Testament because it spoke about a mighty tribe called “Hittites.” Since no other reference to Hittites was then extant, the Bible must be wrong. Only it wasn't. Since the late 1800's the fact of a huge and powerful Hittite empire in the ancient east (Turkey was its center) has been proven and is now accepted by everyone.   Here's a short course on what the Bible says about the Hittites: Descended from Canaan's son, Heth. Genesis 10:15 Called Sons of Heth. Genesis 23:3, 20 Children of Heth. Genesis 23:5 One of the seven nations of Canaan. Deut. 7:1 Dwelt in Hebron. Genesis 23:2-3, 19 Governed by kings. 1 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 7:6 Land of, promised to Israel. Genesis 15:20; Exodus 3:8 Israel commanded to destroy. Deut. 7:1-2, 24 Part of their land given to Caleb. Joshua 14:13 Not entirely destroyed by Israel. Judges 3:5 Made tributary in the reign of Solomon. 1 Kings 9:20-21 Not bad for an imaginary tribe is it?   For years Genesis 14 was considered to be historically unreliable. Yet the archives of Elba, discovered in 1964 contained thousands of clay tablets. One of those tablets lists the five cities mentioned in Genesis 14, and does so in the exact order found in the Bible!   Okay, okay – you might be saying, but what about the New Testament, how reliable is it?   Of all the New Testament writers Luke has often been singled out for a great deal of criticism. This is due to the fact that he wrote the book of Acts which is the only history book in the New Testament.   At one time most scholars agreed that he had completely missed the boat on the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Critics argued that there had been no census that Quirinius was not the Governor of Syria at that time and that everyone could not have been made to return to their ancestral home.   Once again archaeology comes to our rescue again! Discoveries were made that show the Romans had a regular enrollment of taxpayers and also held a census every 14 years. This practice was begun by Augustus and the first one took place in either 22-23 B.C. or 9-8 B.C. The latter one is the one referred to by Luke.   We also now know that Quirinius was indeed Governor of Syria around 7 B.C. We know this because he name was found on an inscription in Antioch dated to that time period.   A papyrus found in Egypt gives directions on how to conduct the census. It reads, ‘Because of the approaching census it is necessary that all those residing from any cause away from their homes should at once prepare to return to their own governments in order that they may complete the family registration of the enrollment and that the tilled lands may retain those belonging to them.”   Luke gives to Publius the chief man in Malta the title, “The First Man of the Island in Acts 28:7. Inscriptions have been unearthed which give him the title of “First Man.”   Luke used the Greek word Politarchs to denote the civil authorities in Thessalonica (Acts 17:6). Since this title wasn't found in classical literature Luke was thought to have been wrong. However, some 19 inscriptions have been found that make use of the title. Interestingly enough five of these are in reference to Thessalonica.   The Apostle Paul, writing from Corinth in Romans 16:23 makes mention of the city treasurer Erastus. A pavement was unearthed during the excavations of Corinth in 1929 which read ERASTUS PRO:AED:S:P:STRAVIT (“Erastus, curator of the public buildings, laid this pavement at his own expense”).   https://www.foxnews.com/science/biblical-town-emmaus-may-have-been-found So what conclusion can we draw from the evidence so far seen? Obviously it speaks loudly that the Bible is a true, historically accurate and trustworthy document. Surely it is worth of our respect, attention and obedience.   Evidence from the Prophets   If you think that Archeology has produced an impressive amount of evidence to support the Bible as God's Word, wait till you take a look the fulfilled prophecies of the Old Testament. Below is a list of prophecies we know from archeology and history have been fulfilled, with a estimation of the odds against it coming true.   # Scripture Reference Subject Odds Against Fulfillment 1 Ez. 26:3-21 Tyre 1 in 7.5 X 107 2 Hosea 13:16, Micah 1:6 Samaria 1 in 4 X 104 3 Amos 1:8; Jer. 47:5; Zeph. 2:4-7 Gaza & Ashkelon 1 in 1.2 X 104 4 Ez. 25:3-4; Jer. 48:47, 49:6 Moab & Ammon 1 in 103 5 Isa 34:6-15; Jer 49:17-18; Ez 25:13-14, 35:5-7 Petra & Edom 1 in 104 6 Isa 13:19-22, 14:23; Jer. 51:26,43 Babylon 1 in 5 X 109 7 Jer. 31:38-40 Jerusalem Enlarged 1 in 8 X 1010 8 Lev 26:31-33; Ez 36:33-35 Palestine 1 in 2 X 105 9 Josh 6:2-5 Jericho 1 in 2 X 105 10 Ez 44:1-3 The Golden Gate 1 in 103 11 Jer 26:18 Zion Plowed 1 in 103   The probability of these 11 prophecies coming true is 1 in 5.76 X 1059. Let's try to visualize that number. First of all we'll round it off to 5 X 1059. Then let's suppose that we had that many silver dollars. How big a pile would that make?   The volume of the sun is 1,000,000 times larger than that of the earth, yet out of 5 X 1059 silver dollars would could make 10 silver balls the size of the sun!   It has been estimated that the whole universe contains about two trillion galaxies and that each galaxy contains about 100 billion stars. From our 5 X 1059 silver dollars we could make all of the stars in these galaxies 2 X 105 times!   Now suppose that we marked one dollar and stirred it into the whole pile before making them into balls the size of the sun. Then suppose that we blind fold someone and told him to go over to each of the balls and pick up the dollar which he thinks is the right one.   What chance would he have of picking the marked silver dollar?   Assuming he could travel 60 mph day and night it would take him 5 years to go once around each star, or 500 billion years for each galaxy! So let's suppose that this guy is really fast and is able to look over all the dollars contained in the 100 billion stars of a galaxy in one second!   It would still take him 3 X 10 years (that's 3 billion years!) to cover them all!   It is absurd to think that he would pick the marked coin! It is just as absurd to think that these prophecies were fulfilled by chance! Only an all-powerful and all knowing God could have written a book that is so amazingly accurate.   This is powerful evidence that the Bible is true and is a good reason for you to put your faith in the Bible as God's Word! [This section was taken from the book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Vol. 1, page 318, Written by Josh McDowell.]   Evidence From Ancient Literature   Many people are bothered by the age of the Bible. They wonder how we can know that the Bible we have today is the same as what was originally written? After all how would we know if it had been changed several hundred years ago?   The answer to these questions are found in manuscript comparison.   The number of copies left of any ancient piece of literature is the main way to tell how accurate it is. Even more important than that is the period of time between when it was written and the date of our earliest copy is. The more copies and the shorter the gap between the original copy and the manuscripts we have means the more accurate the manuscript.   Below is a chart comparing the Old and New Testaments to some of the best known ancient literature.   Author Date Written Earliest Copy Time Span # of Copies Homer (Iliad) 900 BC 400BC 500 yrs. 643 Caesar 100-44BC 900 AD 1000 yrs   10 Plato 427-347 BC 900 AD 1200 yrs     7 Tacitus 100 AD 1100 AD 1000 yrs   20 Pliny the Younger 63-113 AD 850 AD 750 yrs     7 Thucydides 460-400 BC 900 AD 1300 yrs     8 Suetonius 75-160 AD 950 AD 800 yrs     8 Herodotus 480-425 BC 900AD 1300 yrs     8 Cataullus 54 BC 1550 AD 1600 yrs     3 Euripides 480-406 BC 1100 AD 1500 yrs     9 Demosthenes 383-322 BC 1100 AD 1300 yrs 200 (all from 1 copy) Aristotle 384-322 BC 1100 AD 1400 yrs 49 (of any 1 work) Aristophanes 450-385 BC 900 AD 1200 yrs  10   New Testament 40-11 AD 125 AD 25 yrs More than 24,000 Old Testament 1500-350 BC 200 BC ??? Over 800   As you can see we have more copies of the Bible than we do of any other piece of ancient literature. So why is it that only the Bible is attacked as untrustworthy? When was the last time you heard someone say that Caesar or Aristotle didn't really write the books that have their names? If we are going to be fair we must judge all ancient literature by the same standards. By that standard the Bible stands head and shoulders above the rest as true and trustworthy!   Evidence From the Early Church   If the Bible is indeed true and trustworthy then we would expect to find that it was widely read, used and quoted by the early Christians. Indeed it was!   If every single copy of the New Testament was completely destroyed, we could reconstruct the entire New Testament except for 11 verses!  How? Through the writings of the early church leaders, known as the Church Fathers.   The New Testament & the Early Church Fathers Writer Gospels Acts Paul's Letters General Letters Rev. Total Justin Martyr 268 10 43 6 3 330 Irenaeus 1038 194 499 23 65 1819 Clement of Alex. 1017 44 1127 207 11 2406 Origen 9231 349 7778 399 165 17922 Tertullian 3822 502 2609 120 205 7258 Hippolytus 734 42 387 27 188 1378 Eusebius 3258 211 1592 88 27 5176               Totals 19368 1352 14035 870 664 36289   This chart leaves little doubt two things: The New Testament was recognized quickly to be the Word of God. The Bible we have is the same one that the early Christians had.   Conclusion   After reading over this brief look at some of the evidence available the question we started with seems easy to answer now. Is the Bible reliable?   Yes! The evidence is amble and overwhelming – you can trust the Bible as God's Word!   Yeah But…   YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO ARGUE ANYONE INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.   https://Alpha.org  

Speaker: David Seaton

#acts #pastormatt

How God Uses Scripture in Our Lives Acts 17: 1-15 Pew Bible – Page 604   I. Thessalonica Acts 17:1-9 The emphasis is on how Paul _______________ the Word. 1. He reasoned. 2. He explained. 3. He _______________.   II. Berea Acts 17:10-15 The...

Quincey takes us in to part 3 of the "Mission Continued" Series all about Paul in Thessalonica (Acts 17).

1.  The establishment of the church of Thessalonica (Acts 17)        ●  Paul and his companions reason with the people about             Jesus as Savior        ●  Paul, hearing from his companions, sends encouragement             through a letter A...

1 Thessalonians

Join Profs. Rolf Jacobson, Kathryn Schifferdecker, and Craig Koester for "I Love to Tell the Story," a weekly conversation on the narrative lectionary. This week's reading is Church at Thessalonica: Acts 17:1-9 and 1 Thess 1:1-10. read more...