October 9, 2013
When we share the gospel we pray that our presentation will not just be words. But that we will have what the apostle Paul had, namely the power of God, the presence of the Holy Spirit and overwhelming passion and conviction in our voices.
October 12, 2012
Paul says that we should “honor” our spiritual leaders. In a culture that celebrates individualism and rebellion against authority, we must swim upstream to honor our leaders. It goes against our worldview. Yet, those who follow Christ have transformed minds that recognize this need for submission to authority. Do you honor your pastors, teachers, small group leaders… do you honor those who lead in the Lord’s work?
October 11, 2012
Paul instructed believers to live and work in such a way that their lives gave credibility to the message of the gospel. Another benefit of such a lifestyle was that they weren’t dependent on the church, their neighbors or the government for their needs. In fact, such a lifestyle led to a surplus that allowed them to help others. Our lifestyle and work should be a platform for proclaiming Christ and our dependence on Him alone. Living for Christ makes us producers/givers, not consumers/takers.
October 9, 2012
Paul applauded the Thessalonian believers for how they “looked forward” to Christ’s return. When we are “looking forward” to a vacation, a wedding day, a birth or a graduation, what kinds of things do we do? Do we mark the calendar and count the days? Do we talk about the upcoming day with others? Do we pack our bags and organize our lives accordingly? Do we work and prepare? If we do all these things and more to prepare for worldly occasions, what might it look like for us to live “looking forward” to Christ’s return?
October 12, 2011
Stop wondering about God’s will for your life. Instead, choose joy, pray and give thanks. This will make you receptive to God’s will. It turns your eyes outward, away from self, where you can see what God is already doing and join Him there.
October 10, 2011
For the Bible to do its work in us we must accept and receive that it is the Word of God. Otherwise, we have no basis for our faith. Hearing it preached and reading it, our believing grows.
October 9, 2011
Your words carry only your influence and authority. Can you back up your own words? But the gospel word is backed up by the Lord. They contain His power to save, HIs Spirit to convict and redeem. Therefore we speak it with deep conviction.
May 31, 2009 | 1 Thessalonians 2:6-13 |
At the end of the TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, they park a big bus in front of the new house and have the family standing there in anticipation to see what their new home looks like. They are encouraged to shout, “Move that bus!” The family is always overwhelmed when they see the beauty and blessing of their new home.
How can we experience the beauty and blessing of a godly family? Is there a way to pass on a godly legacy?
In the book of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul told them that he had treated them like a mother and a father as he shared the gospel and his life with them. He was thankful that they had believed and he challenged them to be witnesses and to be his “glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:20). In other words, Paul said you are my spiritual legacy. We can learn from Paul’s example to leave a Godly legacy to our family.