2-23-2014
"Was It All In Vain?"
1 Thessalonians 2. 17 - 3. 5

1.     TORN ________(V. 17)

·        Paul & his partners are “torn away”

·        ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION-

-         Are they still trusting in _______ ?

-         Have the trials made them ______-up?

2.     FRUSTRATED EFFORTS & UNANSWERED QUESTIONS  (V. 18-20)

·        “We made every effort to _______ you…

·        The rewards of ministry and missions are not financial…they are _______, who come to faith in Christ, and remain faithful. 

3.     PLAN B- ___________- the ENCOURAGER

·        Paul could not go…“Satan stopped us” …

·        “We sent Timothy…to strengthen and ___________ you in your faith…”

4.     THE UNSETTLING ___________

·        PERSECUTION IN PAUL’S DAY

·        IN OUR DAY

-         The world wants Church’s support and our money…but not our message

-         Time constraints & affordable ____________

-         what will our children learn?

5.     ________OF GREAT & ETERNAL LOSS

·        Paul is afraid that those who came to faith in Jesus might have turned away…because of these unsettling trials.

·        SOMETIMES THERE IS THE QUESTION- Was the effort in ______?

6.     ______ CAN YOU LIVE OUT YOUR CHRISTIANITY IN A CHANGING CULTURE such as we live in?    

A.     (#1) Realize That The Changing Culture is there:

B.     (#2)- Teach your children to become _______- Make this one of your primary goals of life.

C.    (#3)- Be a __________ to others

D.    #4-  Remember that our labors in the Lord are __________ in vain.

2-19-2014
"Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica"
Mr. Gordon Bohs
1 Thessalonians 2. 1-16

WE ARE ALL MINISTERS Introduction—Me & Paul Paul’s Ministry Pastor’s and Our Ministries How are We Witnessing? Consequences of Disbelief ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica 2  You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.  2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.  3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.  4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.  We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.  5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.  6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.                  As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.  8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.  9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.                  10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.  11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.                  13And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.  14For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus:  You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, 15who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.  They displease God and are hostile to all men 16in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved.  In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit.  The wrath of God has come upon them at last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If I cannot speak like angels, if I cannot preach like Paul I can tell the love of Jesus, I can say “He died for all” Let none hear me idly saying, “There is nothing I can do” I’ll take the task the master gives me while gladly saying “I will. I will.”                                                                                            Amen

2-2-2013
"First Things and Last Things"
Acts 17. 1-15 & 1 Thessalonians 1. 1-10

FIRST THINGS AND LAST THINGS Acts 17. 1-15 & I Thess 1. 1-10 1. The Setting: A.   Paul’s _______ missionary journey- Silas, Timothy B.  Paul Taught and shared Gospel message for 3 Sabbaths C.  The angry mob 2. Thessalonians- Not like Corinthians & Other Letters A.  Not lots of internal problems and issues like in Corinth B.  Thessalonians’ Concern was the ___________ threat. C.  So there was a big question.  _________ was happening? 3. So the Letter addresses First Things &                Things A. Last things ·        Jesus’ return mentioned in every chapter ·        believers were dying before Jesus came back B. ___________Things · ______________ - God Is at Work there · The Goal: Make _________________ · Mentoring others in the true faith was part of the mission. 4. 1 Thessalonians:  God Is  at Work Even When It            Seem Like It. A.  Despite their short ministry there- the Thessalonian church became an              “exemplary church.” B.  Paul heard the encouraging reports from Timothy and others 5. 1 Thessalonians is a reminder For ______ A.  Are there trials, persecutions, loved ones who are dying? Does this cause you              to doubt? B.  Do you ever ________ if your labor and effort makes any difference? 6. GOD IS AT WORK! A.  Prayers are being answered. B.  People are _________ in their faith. C.  New leaders are stepping up despite hardships D.  The ___________ is still being preached and God is still being glorified 7. Never Underestimate what God Is Doing! A.  Keep inviting B.  Keep _______________ C.  For Paul and Jesus’ Kingdom- 3 weeks of preaching and teaching and facing              opposition…resulted in an _____________ church.