Messages

A message from the series “Thessalonians.” Be Sanctified
I Thessalonians 4:1-8

Main Point:
We please God when we live sanctified lives: self-controlled, pure and holy, that honors Him.

1. As Jesus’ followers, our first calling is to love and please God by being sanctified. (verses 1-2)

Sanctified = Set apart; made holy

Leviticus 11:44-45 > I Peter 1:14-15

I Thessalonians 5:23-24

2. We must avoid sexual immorality, be self controlled, so that we are pure and do not wrong anyone in this. (verses 3-7)

Sexual immorality = Sex without God’s permission

Genesis 2:24 > I Corinthians 6:18-20

3. When we violate these instructions we are rejecting God’s command and He will punish us for such sins. (verse 8)

To love and please God is our primary motivation, but His punishment is the secondary motivation!

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”

A message from the series “Thessalonians.” Increasing Love
I Thessalonians 3:6-13

Main Point:
We must stand firm in the Lord Jesus and He will increase our love, so that it will overflow, and be strengthened that we may live blameless and holy lives.

1. We must stand firm in the Lord in our trials. (verse 8)

Stand firm = to persevere, persist (‘Stake’)

II Corinthians 4:16-18

2. Through the trials, the Lord will increase our love so that it overflows for one another and those around us. (verse 12)

Philippians 1:9-12

3. From these trials, the Lord will strengthen us so that we live blameless and holy lives. (verse 13)

Strengthen = set fast, make firm

Ephesians 3:14-19

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”

A message from the series “Thessalonians.” Destined for Trials!
I Thessalonians 3:1-5

Main Point:
We must guard against the temptation of allowing trials, trouble, and persecution to turn us away from following Jesus the Christ

Trials/Trouble = pressure – from oppression, affliction, tribulation, including temptation.
Getting Squeezed!

Persecution = Pressure more
specifically from people oppressing

Acts 5:41 The apostles rejoiced that they suffered disgrace for the Name (of Jesus).

1.Paul reminds us that we are destined for trials/trouble and that we will face persecution.
(verses 3-4)

Destined = Appointed/set/included Literally ‘made to lie down’

Destined = Appointed/set/included Literally ‘made to lie down’

Acts 17:1-10 Paul, Silas, and Timothy experienced tribulation and persecution.

John 16:33 Jesus tells us that we will have trouble/trials in this world, but in Him we have peace and can overcome the world.

2.Trials/Trouble and persecution test our faith, and advance God’s purposes and plans.

James 1:2-4

Acts 8:1-5

3.We all need to be encouraged and strengthened in our faith so that we will not give in to the temptation of turning away from Jesus the Christ.

Hebrews 10:23-25

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”

A message from the series “Thessalonians.” Receiving the Word of God
I Thessalonians 2:13-20

Main Point:
We must receive the scriptures as the authoritative, inerrant Word of God that they are, which will transform us into imitators of Christ.

You know that you are receiving the Word of God this way if you are becoming imitators of Christ more and more.

1. Paul’s proclaiming of the Gospel of Christ, and subsequent letters are declared as Scripture by Peter, not the word of men. (verse 13)

Acts 17:2-3
II Peter 3:14-16
II Timothy 3:16-17

2. The Word of God works in us who believe, and transforms us into imitators of Christ. (verse 14)

Philippians 2:12-13

3. Receiving the Word of God means that we embrace it and then do what it says, and are transformed!

James 1:22-24

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”

A message from the series “Not Part of a Series.”

A message from the series “Acts of the Apostles.”