After finishing up our study of the book of Colossians last week, we are beginning a new study in the first letter to the church at Thessalonica.  I felt led to look at this book primarily because of it’s heavy emphasis on eschatology.  As we finished up our study of Daniel in our bonfire Bible studies on Wednesday nights, I have referred to 1 Thessalonians a number of times. And so I wanted to study this book to get a more in depth look at Paul’s perspective on the second coming of Christ as some of our people expressed a

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Last week I remarked about how Paul in his imprisonment is believed to have had a Roman guard chained to him at all times.  And I made note of the fact that the scripture says that as a result of being in close proximity to Paul for many hours every day, every day of the week, for two years, many of the Roman Praetorian guard became believers in Christ.  And I posed the question to you, that those who are in close proximity to you in work or in some endeavor that you are a part of, would they end

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Our speech reveals what we believe. Jesus said in Matt. 15:18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Your heart is revealed by your speech.  That’s why Paul said in Romans 10:9 that salvation is through our speech.  He said if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you shall be saved.  And what Paul is indicating here in this passage before us is that which is in the heart comes out of the mouth. 

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In his letter to the Colossians, Paul has said that now that we are made new, since we have new birth, since we have new spiritual life, we need to put away the old and put on the new.   There should be a new resolve to live differently now that we are Christians.  Our life is not the same and so our behavior should not be the same.  Furthermore, Paul says that in this new life we should emulate Christ in our attitudes, in our actions, and our behavior. So as Christians who have a new life in Christ, 

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Today we continue in our study of the epistle to the Colossians.  And as a matter of context, I would remind you that Paul, in chapter three, began by speaking to those who have been saved, to those who have received new life in Christ, saying “since you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” So from that we learned that since we have a new life in Christ, then our

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In chapters one and two, Paul has expressed a litany of doctrinal principles of our salvation that are true in Christ.  He then expressed warnings about false doctrines that were permeating the church.  But now in chapter three we see a change in his approach.  His concern now is not so much doctrinal as it is practical.  Not that doctrine isn’t practical. It is very much so.  But  the application of doctrine  is what we mean by practical.   Now as we look at this first verse, we notice that it begins with the word “if.”  In this case that

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Last week in the previous passage we looked at what Paul describes as the fullness of our salvation.  We said that in Christ we have all the benefits of our salvation complete.  There is no need to seek some sort of higher knowledge, or add some philosophy or secondary experience in order to have all that need.  We are  completely saved in Christ. This week, we’re looking at the remainder of this chapter in which Paul continues with that line of thought, but he now is going to counter specific false doctrines which were being circulated in the church of

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Some of you here this morning are on vacation.  And one of the interesting things to experience after your vacation is unpacking your car and your suitcases when you get home. And if you’re like most people, in addition to the musty towels and bathing suits, there are a few souvenirs from your trip at the beach.  Maybe a box of Fisher’s popcorn.  Maybe a few sea shells. And probably a lot of sand that you didn’t really want to bring home.  Well, in a similar way, there is a lot to unpack today in this passage.  But I am

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I suppose they are called influencers.  You tube self help gurus that make millions telling us how we can get fit like them, or successful like they are, or financially independent, or whatever aspect of living that they purport to know better than we do.  I’ve watched a number of them that tell us how you should get up and get going in the morning.  A common theme seems to be walk outdoors barefoot so you can get grounded. Then sit facing the sun with your eyes wide open, no sunglasses on for about 10-15 minutes.  There are a lot

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Most Bible scholars agree that there was a dangerous heresy which had begun to surface in the Colossians church which had been reported by Epaphras to Paul, and was thus the reason for Paul writing this epistle.  Though Paul had not ever visited Colossae, yet as the apostle to the Gentiles he was nevertheless concerned about them, and no doubt felt a certain responsibility for them. Last time, I used the term Gnostic Judaism to describe this heresy, which obviously tries to tie certain elements of Gnosticism with Judaism.  It would seem to include a blend of the worship of

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