Paul closes the letter to the Thessalonian church with the exhortation to kiss one another with a holy kiss. Why would Paul want this to be a practice? How does this exhortation fit into the concept of the day of the Lord? How does this call to greet one another this way show how the Lord preserves the church? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Kept for the Day of the Lord."

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If you were to ask someone what it means to be a good Christian I am sure that you would get a variety of responses. The apostle Paul exhorts the church to be good Christians, and his exhortations are rather surprising as to how the community is to function together. So, what does Paul say about being a good Christian? If you are curious about these question please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "What is a Good Christian?"

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There are a variety of answers that could be given to the question, "If you were to die tonight would you go to heaven?" . However, it would be interesting to ask Christians, "Would you be happy if Christ was to come today?" Or "Would you be eager to enter into God’s judgment day?" I wonder what people would say. Yet, Paul uses such a day to present hope for the church. How can this last day be a day of hope, a day of joy, and even a day in which we anchor our current days? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Encouraged About Judgment Day?"

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Many of us have lost loved ones to death. We know the pain, and we know the grief that comes upon us when we experience such a loss. Paul speaks of death for a Christian as sleep. How can Paul speak in such terms? Is Paul callous to the pain that we experience at the loss of a loved one? If death is just sleep then why does it hurt us so much? Why does Jesus weep at the loss of a close friend? If death is merely sleeping, then why does Paul celebrate the sparing of a close friend’s life from death? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Sleeping Until the Rapture"

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The city of Philadelphia is a city that is supposed to mean brotherly love. That is a nice thing to say in itself as it connotes that people look out for one another as a family. However, what does Paul mean when he exhorts the church to show this philadelphia? How is this brotherly love Christian rather than just a nice ethic? How does this brotherly love spill out from the church to the world? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Living in the Heavenly Philadelphia."

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Many times it is tempting to think about the commands in scripture as being the practical parts of scripture. Also, when cynics read the commands of the Lord they think that it is a religion of boredom and just pure discipline. How does the apostle Paul show that the commands of the Lord are not just tyranny from a mean God, and also how does Paul remind us that we do not keep these commands in our strength? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "You Have the Holy Spirit."

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Paul seems to have a real praiseworthy attitude toward the Lord. Paul also seems so sincere in his desire to come to this church in Thessalonia. Why care so much? This is only one church. Why would he want this church to manifest the fruits of the gospel in love? Why does Paul want to make God such the substance of his praise and prayer? Why does Paul desire so passionately to live unto the Lord? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Why is God So Praiseworthy?"

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I remember the Saturday Night Live skit with the church lady who would always interject, "Satan." It always struck me as an interesting satire on the church that we are quick to blame Satan for our sin. Why does Paul blame Satan for blocking his visit to the Thessalonians? Why is Timothy such an encouragement for the Thessalonian church as well as us today? Why does Paul put this delay of his visit in our scriptures today? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Encouraged by Their Endurance."

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Many times in the midst of suffering we all struggle as to whether the Lord still loves us. How does Paul encourage the Thessalonians in their suffering and persecution? Does Paul hate the jewish people when he speaks of the suffering the churches have endured? How does the gospel of Christ encourage the saints then and even today? How do we know that this gospel is working when we hear of persecution? Please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Receiving the Same Gospel."

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Paul spends 8 verses talking about his coming to the Thessalonians. This is fine, but how can Paul claim to be a self sacrificing man if he focuses so much time talking about himself? How can the exhortation in verse 12 be a proper building up from Paul mentioning his labor on behalf of this church? How does Paul’s exhortation in verse 12 lay out for us how we ought to pattern our lives even though we are not part of this congregation? If you are curious about these questions please stay tuned to our sermon titled, "Living Like the Thessalonians."

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