Since the beginning of the church, speculation about the events of Jesus’ return has griped followers of Jesus. In times of crisis, speculation and anxiety grows. In this letter, Paul’s writing indicates that unfamiliarity of Christ’s return was the source of anxiety and confusion. We will dive into Paul’s description of the Lord’s triumphant return.
Living in a world that seems intent on being antithetical to the ways of the kingdom, the church is repeatedly called to be different. The different life is amplified in the way we treat people and in the way we live in pursuit of God’s holy way.
What is the word of God? Is it the collection of words contained in a book we call the Bible? Or is it something bigger, deeper, and more impactful? A key indicator of growing church communities is its embrace and embody of the word of God.
In this letter, we learn of the intimate connection Paul had with this young church. Both the apostle and the church felt a comforting connection with one another. If we “care”, we will extend our lives in service to others. The enduring legacy of the Christ community is the sharing of gospel (good news) and the sharing of its life to the benefit of others.
How did the early church experience rapid and sustained growth while undergoing opposition and persecution? In the beginning verses of this letter, we will identify the source of evangelistic fervor in the church. Is that fervor recoverable in 2021?
This early church community in Thessalonica experienced opposition from the start. Paul’s hastened departure from the area left him feeling uneasy about the plight of this young community. This prompted him to write a letter to encourage them. Our care and concern for young disciples is necessary to ensure they grow and mature in the faith.
How can we, the people of God, involve God-centered ethics and actions in our relationships. We have no reason to believe that our destiny and fate are doomed. The cure to our relationship conundrum is love.
It was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr who is quoted as saying,
... it is appalling that the most segregated hour of Christian America is eleven o'clock on Sunday morning.
Black and white folks have long retreated to their respective cultural homes when it comes to worship. Worshipping with our "own folks" has been a source of safety and comfort.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
One of the calls that we, as a church, need to embrace is our identity as a family. There is a reason why we refer to one another as brothers and sisters.
Talk is not cheap! Our words and the way we say things have proven to be tremendously hurtful to others. Relationships are being torn apart because of the way we speak to one another. How can we better use our words as tools for blessing others as opposed to using our words as weapons against relational bliss?
Since God created humans with all its complexities, it is understandable that humans will have instances where they disagree and that they will have conflict with one another. It is also helpful to know that conflict doesn’t always have to end tragically. How can the people of God usher in a better way to handle conflict? Can individuals or groups disagree while still working toward the best interests of one another?
The highlight of God’s creation was the creation of Humans. God created humans out of a context of relationship and God created humans to exist in relationship. From the very beginning, God set the stage for humans to live together in perpetuity. In this initial sermon of the series, we highlight the importance of relationship and ho God created us do beautiful things through our relationships with one another.
On this day when we as a nation celebrate our independence and our freedom, let those of us in God's family remember that we are ultimately created to use that freedom to submit to God, to deny ourselves and to seek what God desires.
Then I heard the voiced of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”