THE WISDOM AND POWER OF GOD

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 3

In our message, THE POWER AND WISDOM OF GOD (1 Cor. 1:19-31), we continued our new series in the book of First Corinthians. After his greeting to them and thanksgiving to God for their salvation, Paul started to address the first problem at the church in Corinth dealing with party factions and schisms (1 Cor. 1:1-17; Gal. 5:20; James 4:1-5, etc.). He then points them back to their identity in Christ via the gospel (1 Cor.… Continue reading

CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED

Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 2

In our message, CHRIST IS NOT DIVIDED (1 Cor. 1:10-18), we continued our new series in the book of First Corinthians.

People from “Chloe’s household” had written Paul back to request additional information from him on problems in the Corithian church (1 Cor. 1:11; 5:9, etc.), and from this call for help the book of 1 Corinthians was given to us as part of God’s holy Word. While we do not know a lot about this godly woman Chloe, it appears she, like Lydia in Philippi, was a widow or single woman who owned her own business and ran her own household with servants (Acts 16:13-15, etc.).… Continue reading

CALLED TO BE GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE

Problems Plaguing a Local Church – Part 1

In our message, CALLED TO BE GOD’s HOLY PEOPLE (1 Cor. 1:1-9), we started a new series in the book of First Corinthians.

The church at Corinth, like the church in Thessalonica, was founded by Paul and his missionary team on Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9; 18:1-17, etc.). And both Thessalonica and Corinth were capitals of large Roman provinces, making them ideal locations for sharing the gospel.… Continue reading

OCCUPY TILL JESUS COMES

Church- You Are Not in the Day of the Lord!, Part 4

In our message, OCCUPY TILL JESUS COMES (2 Thes. 3:1-18), we completed our series in the book of 2 Thessalonians. Paul corrected a misunderstanding in God’s Word- a theological error- informing the Christians in Thessalonica again (and us also) that the Church is NOT in “the day of the Lord” (2 Thes. 2:2 NET). Unlike Jesus’ coming for His bride/the Church, which can occur at any moment and without any sign before it, God shows us here the “great tribulation” period will not begin until after several events happen “first”: #1 a worldwide “falling away” from biblical truths; #2 “He [the Holy Spirit in the Church] who know restrains” evil must be “taken out of the way” at the Rapture; and #3 “then the lawless one [the Antichrist will be] revealed” when that “man of sin” signs a peace treaty with Israel (2 Thes.… Continue reading

GOD CHOSE YOU- STAND FIRM

Church- You Are Not in the Day of the Lord, Part 3

In our message, GOD CHOSE YOU- STAND FIRM (2 Thes. 2:10-17), we continued to look at Paul’s correction to the Thessalonian church who had started to believe the error they were in “the day of the Lord” (2 Thes. 2:2 NET; 2 Tim. 3:16-17- for additional information on this topic, please see last week’s sermon summary).

Before the “day of the Lord” (Daniel’s 70th week of years/the great tribulation period) can start, God (who knows the future) declares there must be (#1) “a falling away… first” (i.e.… Continue reading

DO NOT BE SHAKEN OR TROUBLED

You Are Not in the Day of the Lord, Part 2

In our message, DO NOT BE SHAKEN OR TROUBLED (2 Thes. 1:11-2:9), we looked at Paul’s correction to the church of Thessalonica who had started to believe the lie that they were in “the day of the Lord” (2 Thes. 2:2-3 NET; 2 Tim. 3:16-17, etc.). But before focusing on the main point of this book in the Bible, Paul prays again for the church there to continue to walk “worthy of [their] calling” in the light of all God has done for them saving them by grace and all He is going to do for them in grace when He returns (2 Thes.… Continue reading

ENCOURAGEMENT IN PERSECUTION

You Are Not in the Day of the Lord,
Part 1

In our message, ENCOURAGEMENT IN PERSECUTION (2 Thes. 1:1-10), we started a new series on the book of 2 Thessalonians. While the theme of 1 Thessalonians is largely on comfort, 2 Thessalonians (written about a year later) is focused mostly on CORRECTION (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Thes. 2:3, etc.). Paul had just explained the church would be “caught up… to meet the Lord in the air” before “the day of the Lord” came upon the world (1 Thes.… Continue reading

Easter Sunday, 2024

Easter Sunday

Last Sunday, in our Easter/Resurrection message, we looked at Paul’s gospel presentation in Antioch, Pisidia (Acts 13:16-48). Easter is the Christian holiday where we celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead (observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon on or after March 21st). It is also the Jewish Passover, which is the highest holy day of all Jewish feasts remembering the day when God delivered His people out of the bondage from Egypt by His omnipotent hand (Exodus 11:1-12:30).… Continue reading

THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS III

The Christian’s Hope, Part 16

In our message on Palm Sunday, THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS III (1 Thes. 5:23-28), we completed our series in the book of First Thessalonians.

In view of our identity in Christ and all we have been promised prophetically, the Lord continues to call us to holiness so we will be alert at His return (1 Pet. 1:15-16; 1 Thes. 4:13-5:11, etc.). But here we see an emphasis on God doing the work through us (i.e.… Continue reading

THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS II

The Christian’s Hope, Part 15

In this week’s message, THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS II (1 Thes. 5:16-22), we continued to look at the Lord’s concluding remarks to us in the book of First Thessalonians.

It is in view of all we have been promised prophetically as God’s children to include:

  1. Jesus will come suddenly reuniting us with our lost loved ones “in Christ” (1 Thes. 4:13-18)
  2. He will glorify their and our bodies swallowing death up into life (1 Cor.
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