Hardship can test our relationship with God. How are we to relate to Him, particularly during difficult seasons? In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28, Paul gives the believers in Thessalonica a framework for how to respond to God, listen to Him and trust Him.

May 22, 2022

Everyone wants to belong to a church that is harmonious. But we are all sinners and there are many ways that unity can break down. How do we get along with others in our church? In 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, Paul gives very specific instructions about how to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3, ESV). As Angus MacLeay notes, Paul focuses on how the church is to relate to its leaders, and how the people of the church are to relate to one another.

May 15, 2022

The return of Christ is a relevant topic and the Bible isn't shy about discussing it. How are Christians supposed to think about Jesus' return and prepare for it? In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul discusses this topic and we can learn at least three things from his teaching: we're not to guess the day of his return, we're not to forget that he is returning, and we're not to fear his return, for he has already dealt with our sins.

May 1, 2022

Why do you work? It's a fact that we spend a lot of our lives working, but we work for different reasons: some do it so that they can pay the bills, others so that they can enjoy the weekends, still others so that they earn respect. In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, after writing about how Christians share family-like bonds with each other, Paul gives us a deeper reason to work: to please God, winning unbelievers and loving our fellow believers.

April 24, 2022

Whether it is the loss of loved ones or an awareness of our own mortality, death can take away all light and joy from our lives. How can we face this reality of the human experience with any type of hope or confidence? In this sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we will examine how Paul writes to a group of people who were wrestling with the reality of death and rekindles their hope by pointing to the resurrection and return of Jesus Christ.

April 17, 2022

What do you do when you see a flaw? If we always overlook flaws, sweeping them under the rug or pretending they don’t exist, we’ll never correct anyone and ultimately let the people we love continue to make mistakes to their own detriment. On the other hand, if we are always quick to correct flaws, we can crush the people around us by our constant withering criticism of them. Is there a better way? In this sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, we’ll examine how Paul deals with flaws in the Thessalonian church, noting the timing, tone, and theology of his correction.

What does biblical love look like in the rough and tumble of everyday life? In 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13, the apostle Paul gives us a picture of it in his care for the Thessalonian church: love prays, love prays tenaciously, love never gives up, and love seeks holiness.

What's the job of a pastor of a church? Or of a small group leader, or a Sunday school teacher? It certainly involves teaching people the Bible, but as Paul shows us in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:10, it involves more than that: it's about loving people like a parent loves a child and seeking their spiritual well-being. This takes the investment of time and personal sacrifice, and must be fueled by the Gospel if we are to not run out of energy.

As Christians, to quote Angus Macleay, "the Word is at work within you [and] the world is at work against you". The Word, or message of God, propels us onward and transforms us so we look more and more like Jesus. The world often opposes us, causing us to suffer. Even in the midst of suffering for their faith, however, Christians can take comfort in the fact that they are imitating Jesus, Paul, and many other believers who have gone before, and can know that God will make all things right in the end.

Is the New Testament reliable? Can we trust the people who passed along the message of Jesus? Or were they just religious hucksters? In this sermon, we will dive into the reasons Paul gives to the Thessalonians for why his ministry to them was legitimate.

Have you ever felt dissatisfied with the pursuits of your life? Have you ever wondered if there was anything more? In this sermon from 1 Thess. 1:9-10, we will explore why this is and where to find true life and hope for the future.

How is a church formed? What is the natural progression of a healthy church? In this study from 1 Thess. 1:4-8, we will explore the timeline of a church’s development.

Is church just an event on Sunday mornings? Do you need a building to be a church? In this study from 1 Thess. 1:1-3, we’ll examine some biblical principles of what a church is and what it ought to be marked by.

Acts 17 tells the story of the birth of a church in Thessalonica. The story includes a strategic location, a rational message, and immediate hardship. Might the same factors be part of our story as we start a new church in University Circle?