1 Thessalonians
Being the Church
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 In the current season of social isolation, much of what we do as “the local church” has been undone for a time. And so, we find ourselves asking the question, “What does it mean, in practice, to be the church?” Paul has written to encourage the Thessalonian church to live as a community shaped by faith, hope and love. In his conclusion to the letter he spells out what it means, in specific and practical terms, to…
Big Questions About Death and Eternity
1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 5:11 What happens beyond death raises all sorts of unanswered questions. But while death always hurts, Christians face it differently. We “don’t grieve like those who have no hope”. But on what is our hope based? Our passage teaches us what will happen to dead believers at the second coming of Jesus, and how we who are still alive should live as we prepare to meet the Lord on that day. Who knows when we might…
How to Walk
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 The Christian life is often described as a walk. Watch as we wrestle with what it looks like for us to walk in a way that pleases God, especially in the areas of holiness and brotherly love.
Gospel-Motivated Caring for Others
1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13 How much do we as Christians care for one another? In these verses we see how much Paul cared about the the new believers at Thessalonica. Most of all he wanted to know whether they were ‘standing firm in the Lord’. While he cared about their physical well-being, he cared even more about their faith. May our care for one another have this kind of focus. If so, the question we should be asking each…
The Word of God at Work
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16The word of God should be central in the life of every believer, but it is often under-utilised. WE should be eager to hear the word and accept it, and allow it to do its work in our lives to shape us into the likeness of Christ. CNBC Message for 3 May 2020: The Word of God at Work – John Spranklin from City North Baptist Church on Vimeo.
Motives and Methods of Gospel Ministry
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 The credibility of Christians in Australia is being seriously challenged today, and this is causing churches and gospel-centred ministries to defend themselves. In our passage today Paul defends himself against attacks which were being made against him and his team. In particular he reassures the believers at Thessalonica that his motives are pure, and his methods are driven by a genuine love for them. There is absolutely no room for hypocrisy in genuine gospel ministry. I wonder…
How the Gospel Makes Christians
1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 As Paul continues to give thanks for the Thessalonians, he recalls the circumstances of their conversion. As we learn what the gospel did in them, we are forced to ask ourselves, “what difference has the gospel made in my life?” How the Gospel Makes Christians – Michael Howell 19 April 2020 from City North Baptist Church on Vimeo.
The Church
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 We begin our new series in 1 Thessalonians by thinking about the church. What is the church? These verses remind us that the church is the local, gathered people of God, alive in Christ and marked by three essential Christian traits – faith, love and hope.