First Baptist Joplin

"What A Church!: The Faith Journey Together"

1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

1. The practices of believers (16-22)

A. The positive (16-18)

B. The negative (19-22)

2. The blessing for believers (23)

3. The reminders for believers (24, 25)

"What A Church!: The Shepherds and the Sheep"

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

1. The Shepherd’s Responsibility to the Sheep – vs. 12

a. Labor among the sheep

b. Have authority over the sheep

c. Instruction of the sheep

2. The Sheep’s Responsibility to the Shepherd(s) – vs. 12-13

a. Appreciate your Shepherd(s)

b. Esteem your Shepherd(s)

c. Live in peace - vs. 13-15

3. Responsibilities to Each Other – vs. 14-15

a. Encourage

b. Admonish

c. Help

d. Patience

e. Do good

"What A Church!: Hope For Today And Tomorrow (Part Two)"

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1. The time of the event is unknown (5:1-3)

2. A clear distinction is made (5:4-9)

A. Their condition (5:4)

B. Their character (5:5)

C. Their conduct (5:6,7)

3. A charge given to believers (5:8-11)

A. Be alert/self-controlled

B. Be engaged in the battle of faith

C. Build one another up

John 3:16-21

"What A Church!: Hope For Today And Tomorrow (Part One)"

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1. The foundation of hope (13-15)

2. The glorious event (14-17)

-1 Corinthians 15:51-52

3. A serious question

"What A Church!:  A Life Pleasing To God"

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

1. Controlled sexual passions (3-8)

2. Brotherly love abounding (9,10)

3. Godly life before a watching world (11,12)

"What A Church!: Getting To The Christians"

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:11

1. God’s plan 

- comfort and strengthen (3:1-2)

- supply to their faith (3:10)

- pray (3:10)

- increase and abound in love (3:12)

- holiness (3:13)

- prepare to meet Jesus (3:13)

2. Satan’s plan

- tear away/division (2:17)

- hinder (2:18)

- afflict (3:3,4)

- tempt (3:5)

- labor in vain/worthlessness (3:5)

John 10:10-11

Luke 22:31-32

1 Peter 5:6-9

3. Timothy’s report

"What A Church!: The Word Of God"

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

1. The word of God accepted

2 Peter 1:20-21

2 Timothy 3:16

John 17:17

Hebrews 4:12

Isaiah 40:8

2. The word of God applied

3. The word of God affirmed

"What A Church!: The Work And Workers”

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1. The mission (1-4) 

- fruitful (1)

- enduring (2)

- faithful (3-4)

2. The men (5,6)

- a team

- focused

3. The ministry (7-12)

- a gentle mother (7-8)

- a blameless life (9-10)

- an instructive father (11-12)

Colossians 1:10

Ephesians 4:1

Guest Speaker: Jim Misloski (MBC Developing Leaders Director)

"Less Is More"

John 3:25-30

1. Gratitude leads to Generosity vs. 25-27

2. Joy is found in Jesus’ Voice vs. 28-29

3. Our Little One Chapter Story vs. God’s Big Story vs. 30

How to Pursue God’s Greatness Through Our Lessness:

Some shifts you can practice:

From: Being alive to sin and dead to God. To: Being alive to God and dead to sin.

From: Praying “God be with us.” To: “God, open our eyes so we can see how amazing you are and how good you’ve already been to us.”

From: Asking, “What would Jesus do?” To: “What is Jesus doing?”

From: Believing we live in only a natural world. To: Believing we also live in a supernatural world full of God’s presence and power.

From: Believing this is what I have to do. To: Believing this is what I get to do.

From: Living out of self-confidence. To: Living out of God-confidence.

From: Living out a form of godliness without power. To: Living a life full of the demonstration of God’s power.