Gospel Friendships
The most effective type of evangelism with people of other faiths is through established friendships. To share the good news, you need to establish a good relationship.
1 Thessalonians
Beyond Curfews
In a world where people do what they want, he calls disciples of Jesus to stay self-controlled. We do not have a free pass to do whatever we want.
Jesus Is Coming — Look Busy
If you are convinced that Jesus will return, are you busy with the matters He left you on earth to accomplish? The timing of His second coming may come as a surprise but its certainty should not.
How Will Jesus Return?
If you believe Jesus died, rose, and ascended like the Bible predicted, have you paid attention to what it says about His return? Jesus is coming back, and you will know it when He does.
Some Days Are Just Hard
No matter how positive you try to be, some days are just more difficult than others. The work of Jesus should put our challenges in a healthy and needed perspective.
How to Tell If a Church Member Needs Warning or Comfort
In this world full of hurting people, the church needs to be active in meeting their needs. We have multifaceted concerns, so we must intentionally help those struggling in unique ways.
Why It’s Important to Encourage Spiritual Leaders
There are days when your spiritual leaders could use some encouragement, yet most of them could probably use a lot. You may never know the difference that a small intentional dose may provide for someone else.
Some Need Comfort While Others Are Too Comfortable
Some people need loving encouragement, while others need bold confrontation. In addition to knowing what needs to be addressed, we must know how to address the individual people.
Intentional Encouragement
While we all need to be encouraged, we all don’t need to be encouraged in the same way. Depending upon how we are wired and what is happening, we need something different from those around us.
Protect Both Your Heart & Your Head
Don’t walk through the battlefield of this life without protecting your heart and your head. There is a war raging, and you best be prepared for attacks on both.
Organic & Organized Local Missions
Some churches pit organic and organized evangelistic efforts against each other. Both are important. You want the natural relational evangelism to take place, but churches would benefit by creating organized efforts too.
Spiritual Slumber
There are many people out there who are spiritually dead, but there are others who are simply asleep. We are called to help one another wake up to the spiritual realities around us to stay watchful.
We All Don’t Need the Same Type of Encouragement
While we all need to be encouraged, we all don’t need to be encouraged in the same way. Depending upon how we are wired and what is happening, we need something different from those around us.
Evangelistic Friendship
Should we share the gospel with unbelievers or befriend them? You can and should do both! The gospel and goodwill are not enemies of one another.
Don’t Pay for Eternity What Christ Covered at Calvary
If we are all sinners, all of our sins must be dealt with in some way. Either you will pay for your sins in eternity, or Christ has already paid for them on Calvary.
How to Be a Great Church Member
1 Thessalonians 5:25-28 – To be a part of a local church means that we give and we receive for the mutual benefit of all members. Discover what differentiates between a stagnate and supportive disciple within this church.
God Hasn’t Given Up on You
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 – While we haven’t arrived at God’s destination for our lives, we should watch for signs to determine if we are getting there. God hasn’t given up on us, and He will continue to work on us until He finishes what He started.
Practicing Spiritual Discernment
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 – We live in a time where we have plentiful access to spiritual direction, but not all of it is from God. A disciple of Jesus needs to practice spiritual discernment in confusing religious times.
Embracing Your Church as Family
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 – If we learn to embrace a church as a family, we can navigate all relationships and situations within. Jesus did not leave us on our own to follow Him, so we need to learn how to encourage one another to continue.
Jesus Died So We Can Live
1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 – Jesus absorbed the wrath of God so that we need not fear its consequences for our lives. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we can truly come to life.
When Jesus Comes Back
1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 – While we don’t know exactly when Jesus will return, we are confident that He will. The reality of Jesus’ second coming helps keep us in the light amid all the darkness of this world.
We Grieve with Hope
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – As we deal with the pain of losing others to death, our mourning should be different from that of the world. While we grieve, we must always maintain hope because we know the promises of God.
Your 9 to 5 for the Kingdom of God
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 – Even in light of Christ’s imminent return, we should not quit our jobs and cease providing value to our communities. God expects us to remain productive and ensure that our jobs are an outlet for ministry rather than an obstruction.
Disregarding the Holy Spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:8 – When we succumb to temptation, we surrender to our desires and reject the will of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence in our lives helps us fight back wandering ways.
Keep Making Progress
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 – The Christian life is more of a journey than a destination. For all the progress you have made, keep going forward as you follow after Jesus and make adjustments to your life.
We All Need Somebody
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 – Within the Body of Christ, we experience the gift of mutual encouragement. Through the challenges of this life, we need to support each other and seek to support each other.
Beware the Temptation that Accompanies Affliction
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 – With great affliction comes numerous opportunities to give in to temptation. As believers, we must be careful not to surrender to the flesh when we become overwhelmed.
Spiritual Warfare and Kingdom Advancement
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 – When we engage in ministry, we encounter opposition potentially originating from Satan and his forces. We must open our eyes to the conflict hindering us from knowing how to push forward.
Scriptural Standard
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 – In every culture, people’s opinions are rampant and varied, but we need the consistent, reliable source of truth found in the Word of God. Scripture is our sole standard as we seek to live for Jesus.
Everyone Discipling Someone
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 – If we genuinely care for others, we will prioritize their spiritual development. It is hard to fathom the impact we could see if everyone took the responsibility to disciple at least one other person.
The Church That Won’t Stay Inside
1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 – If God is doing work inside a church, those who are outside should truly feel the effects of it. As we wait for the return of Christ, we should be the type of disciples unwilling to keep Kingdom activity within the walls of a church building.
Thanking God for This Church
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 – Paul planted a church in Thessalonica, and, years later, he wrote them to express his genuine gratitude and persistent prayer for the congregation. As we look around our church family, we can also stand in awe of what Christ has done and anticipate what He will do.
1 Thessalonians [Series Overview]
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church portrayed a healthy church that he hoped could even get healthier. In light of Christ’s return and the promise of heaven, this church could stand strong.
What Would You Do if the World Had One Week Left
What would you do if the world had one week left? If it would change your priorities on the last week, it probably should at least change your perspective for this week.
Intentional Availability
We all want those people in our lives who will ensure we never walk through dark days alone, but are we that kind of friend to others? Do we provide what we actually expect? To grow deeper relationships takes time and effort. It’s time to go the second mile in intentional availability.
Holiness and Sexual Immorality
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Main Points The reason holiness is so elusive to us is because we judge it by the world’s standard instead of the Word’s standard. Most of our presumed holiness is based on a comparison to the world rather than an evaluation from the Word. In this life, holiness is a pursuit and not a destination. If …
Final Words in 1 Thessalonians
Great day of worship today as we finished up 1 Thessalonians. Our services were designed around this passage: 1 Thess. 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all …
Practical Do’s and Don’ts
Great day focusing on some of the final exhortations in 1 Thessalonians! Here’s how the services came together: Victory in Jesus – North Side Worship O Happy Day – Bebe Winans Ministry Highlight – International Bible Study Prayer Time Holy Spirit Living Breath of God – Keith and Kristyn Getty Holy Spirit – Francesca Battistelli Sermon – Practical Do’s and …
Children of Light
Great day! Labor Day weekend saw us have two great crowds of eager worshipers and many first-time guests. Our time together focused on 1 Thess. 5:4-11: 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let …
The Day of the Lord
Powerful day of worship as we anticipated the Day of the Lord! Today, we focused on this passage: 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” …
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