October 10, 2024
“For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ESV). Making disciples is a relational endeavor. The apostle Paul illustrated this by how he related to his flock in Thessalonica as
October 12, 2023
“Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13a NLT). The apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers to honor those who are leaders in the Lord’s
October 11, 2023
“For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (1 Thessalonians 4:14 NLT). Our faith is anchored in the historical fact of Christ’s death and resurrection, giving us a future hope in God’s
October 10, 2023
“Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.” (1 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT). The apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the new believers at Thessalonica after hearing Timothy’s report concerning them. He was working in Athens when he felt compelled
October 9, 2023
“…how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b NLT). The apostle Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for turning from idolatry to the worship of the true and living God. They did this by receiving the message of the Gospel with joy, so that they gladly placed their
July 30, 2023 | 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 |
Have you noticed that every child is unique? No two are the same. And as they grow, they change. So the parenting style that seemed effective when they were small, doesn’t work when they’re older. These differences need different parenting styles. Godly parents recognize their call to be leaders who make disciples. If we want to be effective, we have to match our parenting style to every child’s situation.
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul told them that he had discipled them like a parent according to their situation, sometimes gentle and affectionate like a mother and sometimes strong like a father in order to release them to live up to God’s calling. We can parent our children following God’s Word to match our child’s situation with a goal of releasing them to the Lord.
For more details and to get a close look at some of the charts and graphs shared, please see Pastor Gary’s blog article: Adapting Your Parenting Style to the Child
October 11, 2022
LIVING TO PLEASE GOD The apostle Paul urged the Thessalonian believers to live in a way that pleased God. He followed his urging with several practical instructions on how they might live a holy life. Yet his instruction was based on the reality of their faith in Christ. For the key to living a life
October 9, 2022
GOD’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO DECLARE THE GOSPEL Paul and Silas had been severely mistreated and jailed in the nearby city of Philippi before coming to Thessalonica. Yet that did not cause them to be timid in sharing the Gospel. For God gave them courage to declare “His Good News” to them boldly. When we’ve been hurt
October 12, 2021
DO YOU APPRECIATE YOUR PASTORS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS? The apostle Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers to “give recognition” to those who are leaders in the Lord’s work. The word “recognition” means to show honor and appropriate respect, recognizing their worth and giving them what they are worth. In Greek, the word “honor” also implies financial
October 11, 2021
WE GRIEVE BUT NOT WITHOUT HOPE The apostle Paul described believers who had died as having “fallen asleep” in Jesus. For them death is like sleep, a transitional state where one closes his eyes in this world and opens them in the next. Having given the Thessalonians this description, Paul encouraged them not to “grieve