Sorry I’ve been remiss in explaining its disappearance.

Memorial Day there was no Sunday school and last Sunday we had an amazing Sunday with testimony and prayer and the lesson for the day was put aside. (If you subscribe to the podcast, you can still listen to what happened last week, but I’m only going to post the lessons.) Mark's regular lesson (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10) should return this Sunday and I will try to post the podcast by Tuesday.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-5. Listen here.

As I listened to this again I couldn't believe that this was my hubby...so let me encourage you to listen. God has something to say. May you be blessed and encouraged.

A few things to think about as you listen…

1.  What is the response of the Thessalonians to the gospel? 

2.  What is our response to it?

3.  Paul models faith, hope and love for us.

4.  What is working and active faith?

5.  What is our faith like? Paul praises the Thessalonians for having faith. What is our faith like? 

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. –Romans 10:17

6.  What is our prayer life like?

7.  Is our faith rooted in God’s word?  If Paul were here would he give a good report of us as he did of the Thessalonians?  Is our faith growing exceedingly?  Is there a difference in the way we act and react to life?

The love story between God and His people is a story about life and death.

Their (the Thessalonians) labor of love is active. Abounding in love.

8. What does our love look like? Is it abounding and active? Is it directed towards our brothers in Christ. (As Voddie would say…Ouch!)

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth. -1 John 3:18

9.  Hope?                             

The confidence that he who began a good work would carry it to completion. –Philippians 1:6 

10. Is our hope heavenward?  Are we content to wait for the Lord? Their (the Thessalonians) hope produced patience.  Hope in the Lord.

Hope encourages us to lead Godly lives.

11.  How do we prepare to meet the holy creator of the universe?

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  –James 2:26

The essentials…faith, hope and love.

Finally, are we a community characterized by faith, hope and love? And how we can further develop these characteristics in our lives?

Next week: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

To God be the glory. May the Word have a noticeable impact upon us.

Amen.

P.S.  If you have trouble starting the podcast, let me know. We’ve had a few technical difficulties. If you "play/click several times", all the clickable things it will work.

On the books of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians

By my sweet hubby.

Listen to them here.

Be blessed. Grace and peace to you. To God be the glory.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.   -1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Many Thanks to J. Sterne for making this possible.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  -1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

(And, yes, that is Ben crying in the background. Babies in worship.  )