WALK IN PURITYTake action to guard what you look at.KEY TRUTH: Pure believers guard what they look at (1 Thess. 4:1-3; 2 Samuel 11:1-2)KEY TRUTH: Pure believers follow God’s ways, not the ways of the lost culture (1 Thess. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 6:12-20)KEY TRUTH: Pure believers confess and turn from sin, and avoid, flee, and resist temptation (1 Thess. 4:6-8; Psalm 51:1-13; Gen. 39:7-12)FAMILY CONNECTION:...  Read More

QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK1.  In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13, Paul sends Timothy to encourage the Thessalonians and to help   strengthen their faith. What are ways that you help to strengthen the faith of others? How do others help to strengthen your faith?2. In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, Paul tells us to love each other. How do you show love to other people who are not part of your family? How do others show ...  Read More

Galatians 5:16-26 (HCSB)The Spirit versus the Flesh 16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the fl...  Read More

Psalm 119:9-16 (HCSB)9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word. 10 I have sought You with all my heart; don’t let me wander from Your commands. 11 I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. 12 Lord, may You be praised; teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I proclaim all the judgments from Your mouth. 14 I rejoice in the way revealed by Your dec...  Read More

1 Timothy 4:11-16 (HCSB)Instructions for Ministry11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the layin...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 (HCSB)The Call to Sanctification4 Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing—do so even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 so that each of you...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 (HCSB)Anxiety in Athens3 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. 2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 In fact,...  Read More

THE CHURCH EXPANDSOur commitment to the gospel can serve as a testimony of its truth.KEY TRUTH: Faithfulness to the gospel is characterized by unwavering commitment (1 Thess. 2:1-2)KEY TRUTH: Faithfulness to the gospel is characterized by a pure heart (1 Thess. 2:3-8)KEY TRUTH: Faithfulness to the gospel is characterized by aconsistent witness (1 Thess. 2:9-20)FAMILY CONNECTION: CONTINUE THE DISCU...  Read More

What does the phrase “meet them where they’re at” mean to you? In Acts we see Paul    meeting the Jews “where they’re at” in the synagogue by starting the conversation with the Old Testament and then showing them that Jesus is the fulfillment of OT prophecies. Were his interactions successful? How can we apply that same thought to people that we know? Is there someone that you need to “meet where ...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 (HCSB)Paul’s Desire to See Them17 But as for us, brothers, after we were forced to leave you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we greatly desired and made every effort to return and see you face to face. 18 So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord ...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (HCSB)Reception and Opposition to the Message13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, ...  Read More

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12  (HCSB)Paul’s Conduct2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an in...  Read More