This morning, I am continuing in my sermon series through 1 Thessalonians, which was a letter written by a leader in the early church named Paul to a church in Thessalonica that he had been instrumental in starting around the year 49 AD. Paul and his fellow missionaries had been driven out of Thessalonica by a mob of angry Jews who found his message about Jesus being Lord to be blasphemous. And 2-3 years later, Paul has not been able to return to Thessalonica, so he sends Timothy, one of his fellow missionaries, who brings back a report about how the Thessalonians are doing and what issues they are facing. In response to Timothy’s report, Paul sends this letter. In the first section of this letter, Paul reminds them of the gospel and of his love for them, and he defends himself against his critics’ accusations and slander. In the section we are currently in, Paul transitions to instructions about how to live as a Christian. He mainly focuses on three areas of life: sex, work, and death. We have already looked at God’s vision for our sexuality and our work, and last week we looked at death, Jesus’ return, and the Christian hope. This week we’ll look at the final judgment:
1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 - Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. NIV 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now, brothers and sisters, 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 and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children 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.
In the beginning of chapter 5, Paul references the day of the Lord, which will come like a thief in the night, bringing destruction on those who are not prepared. The day of the Lord is a common expression in the Bible for the day at the end of time when God will judge the world. On that day, we will all stand before God and be judged for how we have lived our lives.
In the second sermon in The Cross: Why the Death of Jesus Matters sermon series, preached on Sunday, March 3rd, 2024, we look at Hebrews 12:1-3 among other passages and why the cross matters for our suffering.
This Sunday, we began a new sermon series looking at the cross, and why it matters that Jesus died. In this sermon, we looked specifically at sin, its consequences, and how Jesus' death deals with our sin problem.
This Sunday, we will be summarizing the "Lord, teach us to pray" sermon series and opening it up for testimonies. - Eric Stillman
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one - Feb 11, 2024
Eric Stillman - We continued in our sermon series through the Lord's Prayer in Mathew 6:5-15, looking at the final section, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
This Sunday, we continued in our sermon series through the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:5-15. This morning, we looked at Jesus' words "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors," looking at the importance of forgiveness and grace to our relationship with God and with others.
This Sunday, we continued in our sermon series through the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. We looked at Jesus' words "Give us this day our daily bread," considering what Jesus has to say about asking God for the things we need and want.
This Sunday, we are continuing in our sermon series through the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. This morning, we will be looking at Jesus' words "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," trying to understand what Jesus meant and why it is so essential to have this kind of focus in our life and in our prayers.
This morning I am in the second week of a sermon series on prayer entitled “Lord,
teach us to pray.” This title comes from Luke 11:1:
Luke 11:1 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one
of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his
disciples."
Evidently there was something about how Jesus prayed that piqued the disciples’
curiosity and led them to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. And there really are
few things more important than knowing how to pray, for it is how we
communicate with the God of the universe and access His love, grace, and power.
Last week, we looked at the intro and the first line, “Our Father in heaven.” We
talked about how prayer is communication with God, not a show for others, how
prayer is not a magic formula or technique. And we talked about how Jesus from
the very beginning holds up the need for both reverence and intimacy in our
relationship with God. God is the King in heaven, but He is also our Father. He is
our Father, but He is also the king. He is concerned about the needs of His
children, and He is also all-powerful. That is who we come to when we pray.
I want to read the entire passage again this morning, and today we will focus on the
phrase “Hallowed be your name.” The goal again is to understand what prayer is
all about and become better at praying, that we might know God better.
Matthew 6:5-13 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I
tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go
into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do
not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their
many words.
8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 Forgive us our debts,...
This morning I am beginning a sermon series on prayer called “Lord, teach us to
pray.” This title comes from Luke 11:1:
Luke 11:1 - One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one
of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his
disciples."
Evidently there was something about how Jesus prayed that piqued their curiosity
and led them to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. I’m not sure what prayer
means to you. Bow your head and close your eyes? Trying to stay awake? Loud
and noisy shouting? Crying out for help in times of need? Repeating familiar lines?
A waste of time? A mystery? Whatever your perspective, there are not many things
in this world more important or powerful than prayer, so let’s come to the Lord
afresh, asking Him to teach us to pray.
In Matthew 6, Jesus tells his listeners what prayer is and how to pray. I want to
study this passage over the coming weeks in order to help us learn to pray well:
Matthew 6:5-13 - “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I
tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go
into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do
not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their
many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before
you ask him.
Traditionally on the Sunday after Christmas I like to do a sermon that is New
Years focused, as we look back at the year that was and look ahead to the coming
year. This year, I want to share a passage from Malachi 1:6-14.
Malachi was a prophet who lived around the year 450 BC. The historical context is
that Israel has been conquered by the Babylonians and taken off into captivity in
what is known as the exile. Under King Cyrus, they are allowed to return and
rebuild Jerusalem, which we read about in the books of Nehemiah and Ezra. As
you might imagine, hopes were very high in Israel upon their return. They rebuilt
the wall of Jerusalem, rebuilt the temple, and expected that the promises of the
prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah would come to pass, that the Messiah would come
and there would be a time of peace and justice in the land. But it didn’t happen that
way, at least not as quickly as they expected, and the community fell back into
rebellion against God, into injustice and spiritual complacency. And that’s when
God raises up Malachi to be his prophet.
Old Testament prophets were known as covenant mediators. What does that mean?
Remember that when God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, he led them to
Mt. Sinai, where he made a covenant with the people. A covenant is like a contract,
an agreement between two people or parties, but with greater intimacy. Think of a
marriage covenant – in one sense it is a contract, in that two people are coming into
agreement with each other about their relationship in a binding way before God
and the government, but there is much greater intimacy in a marriage covenant
than say an agreement between you and the Honda dealership when you buy a new
care. Anyways, God made a covenant with Moses and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai,
which was called the Mosaic covenant. I will be your God, and you will be my
people. This is what it means to be my people – don’t kill, don’t steal, worship in
these ways, care for the poor among you, and so on. And after these laws, or
stipulations, would come the blessings and curses. If you follow these laws, you
will experience blessings: prosperity, good crops, good health, peace, long life, and
so on. If you disobey, you will bring upon yourself curses: famine, pestilence,
plague, warfare, and so on.
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