1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
5 All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
How often do we go out of our way just to lift someone else up? I like how Paul, along with Timothy and Silas encourage the Thessalonians by first saying that they thank God for them every day. Tonight at church the pastor said, "Hey, I prayed for you today." That made me feel pretty good. Even if you have a chance to tell someone that you've been thinking about them lately I think you need to let them know. Maybe they just need to know that they are important to someone.
I think verses 6 and 7 are valuable because they remind us that no matter what is going on in your life, God is just. He will not let any selfish or harmful act go unnoticed. Our problem is waiting on God to take care of business. We often want to follow through with the vengeance on our own. We are also told that God will bring us relief in due time.
Make sure you are constantly praying for others!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Be Self-Controlled, 1 Thessalonians 5
1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The bible never says not to drink, but it is clear that one should not drink to excess. I point to verses 6,7,8 for this. When you drink more than your limit, or even close to your limit, I think you begin to lose that "alert"ness and "self-contol." Obviously drinking can impair one's judgment and ability to drive. The warning label is right there on the beer can or alcohol bottle just as the warning for Christians is in the bible, specifically here in Thessalonians.
There is a lot of practical advice in general wrapped up in the Final Instructions: respect, regard in love, live in peace, help, encourage, be patient, try to be kind, be joyful ALWAYS(that's tough), pray continually, give thanks.
Good rules for good living!
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28T he grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
The bible never says not to drink, but it is clear that one should not drink to excess. I point to verses 6,7,8 for this. When you drink more than your limit, or even close to your limit, I think you begin to lose that "alert"ness and "self-contol." Obviously drinking can impair one's judgment and ability to drive. The warning label is right there on the beer can or alcohol bottle just as the warning for Christians is in the bible, specifically here in Thessalonians.
There is a lot of practical advice in general wrapped up in the Final Instructions: respect, regard in love, live in peace, help, encourage, be patient, try to be kind, be joyful ALWAYS(that's tough), pray continually, give thanks.
Good rules for good living!
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Baptism in the Bible
Here is the outline from my message this morning that I delivered in our LifeGroup.
Baptism
Matthew 3:1-3, 11
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
What is baptism? The actual act of baptism is when a Christian takes another new Christian who has accepted Christ as savior and does like John the Baptist did, immersing a person in water symbolizing burying the old self and coming up from the water a new person.
The Greek word for Baptism is Bapto. The example of taking a cloth and totally immersing it in bleach and then into a dye therefore cleansing it and changing it is given.
When should someone be baptized? Nowhere in the bible are infants baptised and the following scriptures clearly tie in the act of believing being followed by the act of baptism:
Acts 2:38-41 The first converts believed and were baptised that day adding 3000 people to the Christ movement.
Acts 8:36-38 Philip was witnessing to the Eunuch who felt compelled to be baptised immediately so he was baptised in what was likely someone's drinking pond.
Acts 9:18 Saul(Paul) when he got his sight back was baptised that day.
Act 10:47-48 Peter was preaching to Gentiles who were baptised that day.
Acts 16:31-33 The Jailer and his family believed and that day were baptised immediately.
What about infant baptism? Nowhere in the bible are babies or children baptised.
400 BC-Augustine came up with the idea of "original sin" which said that since Adam sinned he passed on sin to everyone else. Parents then wanted to "protect" their children and since there were worries about dunking babies they were merely sprinkled. I personally disagree with infant baptism since I feel that the act of accepting who Christ is as your savior and then being baptised as an act of obedience are inseperable. I also feel that baptism does not save you and is not necessary for salvation, but it is important to do.
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
What did John’s baptisms symbolize? the act of repentence
What does our baptism symbolize? the visual acceptance of believing in Christ and our act of repentence
Why did Jesus get baptized?
+ to be righteous and fulfill scriptures
+ to identify with humanity's sinfulness
+ to be an example to followers
+ it announced his ministry
What was the result of Jesus’ baptism? Heaven opened up, the Spirit of God came down, God was pleased.
John was hesitant to baptise Jesus because he knew Jesus was SINLESS and didn't need to be baptised AND that Jesus was very superior to John since he was God's son.
Baptism
Matthew 3:1-3, 11
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "
11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
What is baptism? The actual act of baptism is when a Christian takes another new Christian who has accepted Christ as savior and does like John the Baptist did, immersing a person in water symbolizing burying the old self and coming up from the water a new person.
The Greek word for Baptism is Bapto. The example of taking a cloth and totally immersing it in bleach and then into a dye therefore cleansing it and changing it is given.
When should someone be baptized? Nowhere in the bible are infants baptised and the following scriptures clearly tie in the act of believing being followed by the act of baptism:
Acts 2:38-41 The first converts believed and were baptised that day adding 3000 people to the Christ movement.
Acts 8:36-38 Philip was witnessing to the Eunuch who felt compelled to be baptised immediately so he was baptised in what was likely someone's drinking pond.
Acts 9:18 Saul(Paul) when he got his sight back was baptised that day.
Act 10:47-48 Peter was preaching to Gentiles who were baptised that day.
Acts 16:31-33 The Jailer and his family believed and that day were baptised immediately.
What about infant baptism? Nowhere in the bible are babies or children baptised.
400 BC-Augustine came up with the idea of "original sin" which said that since Adam sinned he passed on sin to everyone else. Parents then wanted to "protect" their children and since there were worries about dunking babies they were merely sprinkled. I personally disagree with infant baptism since I feel that the act of accepting who Christ is as your savior and then being baptised as an act of obedience are inseperable. I also feel that baptism does not save you and is not necessary for salvation, but it is important to do.
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"
15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
What did John’s baptisms symbolize? the act of repentence
What does our baptism symbolize? the visual acceptance of believing in Christ and our act of repentence
Why did Jesus get baptized?
+ to be righteous and fulfill scriptures
+ to identify with humanity's sinfulness
+ to be an example to followers
+ it announced his ministry
What was the result of Jesus’ baptism? Heaven opened up, the Spirit of God came down, God was pleased.
John was hesitant to baptise Jesus because he knew Jesus was SINLESS and didn't need to be baptised AND that Jesus was very superior to John since he was God's son.
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