2,500 years ago, in the Kingdom of Persia, King Xerxes hosted an extravagant party as a lavish display of his power and wealth, but instead revealed his foolish pride and insecurity. He demanded that his wife, Queen Vashti, entertain his guests, but she refused and was deposed. This sets the stage for Esther to become the queen, but also points to the need for a better King. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Faithful to the End - Sermon Series on 1 Thessalonians" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

Of course, we must be faithful as individual Christians. But what does a faithful church look like? A faithful church will pay close attention to how we treat one another, the attitudes we share, and the kind of people we’re becoming together in Christ. Isn’t this the kind of church you’d want to be part of? Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Faithful to the End - Sermon Series on 1 Thessalonians" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

The Day of the Lord is coming, along with the resurrection of the dead, judgment day, and the beginning of the age to come. But our destination ought to shape our journey. Our future ought to shape our present. The hope of our future in Christ ought to help us remain faithful, even to the end of the age. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Faithful to the End - Sermon Series on 1 Thessalonians" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

The sad reality of this broken world is that every one of us will one day walk through the valley of the shadow of death. How will we face it? How should we mourn the death of other Christians? Will we be consumed with fear or despair? The good news is that if Jesus died and rose again, then there is hope even in death. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Faithful to the End - Sermon Series on 1 Thessalonians" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

What could it look like to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life"? Whether in the ancient client-patron relationships of first-century Thessalonica or the rush of modern life, the Apostle Paul reveals that there is a way to slow down while still being productive, respectable, and generous. This Christ-like way of life reflects Christian love out into a world of busyness. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Faithful to the End - Sermon Series on 1 Thessalonians" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/1-Thessalonians-Wide-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

What is God's will for your life? To be sanctified, or made holy, including in the area of our sexuality. Sexual immorality leads to all sorts of problems in life, marriage, parenting, and society. However, avoiding sexual immorality can be very challenging. But God not only calls us to live a holy life, but also gives us the Holy Spirit to heal us and help us remain faithful. Read more...

Despite persecution, Timothy brought the good news that the Thessalonian church stood firm in faith and love. This encouraged Paul to persevere despite his own hardships. Why stay faithful? It strengthens others! What does faithfulness look like? Faith in Christ and love for one another. Let’s be a church known for both. Read more...

It was tough being a Christian in Thessalonica. But this was nothing new. Jesus faced persecution, just like the prophets before him, the apostles after, and many Christians down through the years. Nevertheless, it can still be startling to realize that following Jesus doesn’t automatically make life easier. However, the truth of God's word and the company of God's people help us stay faithful — even in severe suffering. Read more...

When the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Thessalonica, he was very careful to model a life aligned with his message. He demonstrated the kind of loving care found in a healthy family. This helped those early believers learn what it meant to be part of the church, and it helped sustain them, especially when times were tough. In life and ministry, the "how" matters. Read more...

When the Thessalonians became Christians, Paul says everyone heard how they turned to the true and living God from idols. But idolatry wasn't only an issue back then. Human beings continue to put things (even good things!) in the place of God. We must choose for ourselves this day whom we will serve. Read more...