Paul's last words to his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica brings him to the blessing of grace - not grace as a 'thing' like some kind of magic powder to be sprinkled on your cornflakes or spiritual caffeine to give you wings - but the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace bound up with the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That's what the Thessalonians needed to keep following the way of Christ in the face of opposition and persecution and that's what we need too as we face whatever each new day brings us

At the end of his letter, Paul prays for his brothers and sisters in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5 v 23, 24). His prayer is grounded in the character of God, its goal is nothing less than their thorough-going holiness and his horizon, as he prays, is filled with a vision of the return of the Lord Jesus in all his glory. And it's that perspective which means Paul's priorities in prayer are often very different from our own.

We are to test all things in order to hold on to that which is good, 1 Thess 5 v 21. In the context of 1 Thess 5, this means testing or weighing carefully any ministry or message that claims to be from God or to be a ministry of the Word of God. This is not an invitation to be become a heresy hunter or a self-righteous nit-picker. But Scripture itself gives us 5 ways in which we can humbly and wisely assess any ministry or message so that we may hold fast to the good and reject that which is false and evil.

What does it mean to quench the Spirit? And how can we avoid it? 1 Thess 5 v 19 - 22 part 1

Paul's instructions in 1 Thess 5 v 16 - 18 are pretty clear. Our problem is not in understanding them but in putting them into practice. But the key to our help is found 'in Christ Jesus' - for this is God's will for us in him.

In 1 Thessalonians 5 v 12 to 15 Paul writes to strengthen relationships: relationships with the church leadership and relationships within the wider church family as well. Key phrases to look out for are 'in the Lord' and 'in love'; and the fruit of 'peace' and 'patience.'

This second look at Luke 18 v 18 - 30 examines the challenge Jesus gave to rich ruler to show that he truly believed Jesus was 'good' and that he had no other gods before the Lord God. God gave the 10 commandments in the context of redeeming grace and it is when we see and grasp the redeeming grace of God in Jesus Christ that we are liberated to sing - and to live - all for Jesus.

What is the biggest problem affecting the human heart? Jesus exposes our biggest problem in this dramatic and challenging encounter in Luke 18  18 - 30. Part 1 of 2

We don't know when Christ will return, but we do know he is coming back - on that great and dreadful Day of the Lord. How are Christians to live, here and now, in the light of the Lord's return? Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5 v 4 - 11

1 Thessalonians 5 v 1 - 3