Hope Rising
The past few years have brought many people to the edge of life, leading some to say we are dealing with a crisis of hope. How do we live in the face of a crisis of hope? One of the Apostle Paul’s earliest writings, 1 Thessalonians, brings us face to face with hope in Christ and what that means for life now and in the future. Over the course of five weeks, we will explore what it means to have living hope as we walk through 1 Thessalonians.
Living Hope
Along with some final greetings, Paul’s last segment of this letter gives us some basic exhortations to living our hope out in everyday life as God’s new community, the church. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-28) SERMON OUTLINE “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Living as the Good Community of God (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15) Acknowledge those who serve Warn those who are idle Encourage those who are…
Future Hope
At the heart of this epistle is Paul’s unpacking of the return of Christ. More than almost any other letter of Paul, 1 Thessalonians reveals what our future hope is all about. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11) SERMON OUTLINE “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13) Grieving, but with Future Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)…
Holy Hope
Hope may seem abstract, but it lives in our daily words and actions. Paul urges the believers to let their hope shape the way they live now and we can learn how that is true for us as well. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) SERMON OUTLINE “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified” (1 Thessalonians 4:3a) Living with Holy Hope – Aiming to Please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2) Paul’s overriding concern is that the Thessalonians live to please God (4:1a)…
Hope Together
In these two chapters Paul describes the history of his ministry and relationship with the church of Thessalonica from its founding up till now. We gain insight into the importance of the gospel but also how hope is sustained by relationships. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-3:13) SERMON OUTLINE “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8) Paul’s circumstances were not good, but he was still “really alive” (1 Thessalonians 3:7) The reason he is…
Beginning with Hope
This first messages sets up the series, describing the founding of the church and looking at why Paul is so grateful for this group of believers and the way they live their faith out. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10) SERMON OUTLINE “Paul, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1) An Introduction to 1 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Timing, authorship, and provenance of the…