The Disciple and Stress

Most Americans are suffering from high levels of stress, with a large number reporting that their stress levels have increased over the past five years. We struggle with marriage and family, money, and health issues, in fact the list of causes of our stress is probably endless. The church in Thessalonica not only was dealing with the stress of life but also persecution. The Apostle Paul begins to write to this church to bring comfort and to assure them that they were not forsaken by God. Under stress we are prone to accuse God of being unfaithful to His word. Join us in this study of 2 Thessalonians chapter 1, to learn that God is even at work in our times of struggle.

The Model Church

Beginning our study of First Thessalonians, we quickly see that the church in Thessalonica was a model church. The church was young and experiencing tribulation, yet they were sounding out the Gospel to the entire region. Chapter one reveals what their success was rooted in. They succeeded not because they had money or marketing skills, but because they were a receiving, turning, serving, and waiting church. Join as we take a close look at what causes a church to be successful.

Biblical Description of a Leader

Jesus made it clear that as time moves forward and the closer we get to the end that there will be an increase in the number of false leaders among His people. What makes the opening verses of 1 Thessalonians chapter two so important, is we are given a description of what a leader should be. The only reason why any of us will be deceived by a false leader is because we did not heed what the Lord has warned us about in His Word. Join us in 1 Thessalonians two as we look at Biblical leadership.

The Power of the Word of God

In the second half of 1 Thessalonians chapter two we look at how God has kept His Word from being corrupted and how His Word can work effectively in our lives. The Church of Thessalonica was greatly used of God in large part because of the relationship they had with God’s Word. Join us as we discover what they did “with” the Word and what the Word did “in” the Thessalonians.

Moving Forward in the Face of Opposition

The Church in ancient Thessalonica was both successful and persecuted. The Apostle Paul had received word that the church was enduring tribulation. In the face of disappointment and hardship it’s easy to lose perspective and begin to believe lies that are being whispered in your ears, that God doesn’t love, that God is mad at you, or that perhaps you’re not even a Christian at all. Join us as 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 gives us a proper perspective of living life during difficult times.

Three Steps Towards Understanding the Will of God.

We tend to think of the will of God as being “locative”, God wants us “somewhere”, and we’re not sure where “somewhere” is. But what seems to unfold in scripture is that the will of God first and foremost has to do with character. That we are to focus on “what” God wants us to be (which is Christ like), and let Him focus on getting us to “where” He wants us to be in His time. Join us in chapter four of Thessalonians as the Apostle Paul lays out directions to finding God’s will.

Our Great Hope

The Church in ancient Thessalonica had a twisted view of death. They were under the misguided thought that there was some advantage to living until the return of Christ and that somehow if one died before the return of Christ they would be disadvantaged in some way. Join us in 1 Thessalonians 4 as the Apostle Paul gives us great and comforting words concerning loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord.