When people don’t like someone, they tend to only hear and see what confirms their dislike. It is an uphill battle to change that mind. Good will be ignored. Motives will be questioned. The culture is saying we are a place of hate, we are a people against. I hope we never show them hate, and while there are things God calls us to be against, He really sends us out there with what we are for. We are for people and the gospel. We are for people meeting God-sized life and love. But to have that opportunity we really need to strive, more than the average, to be the best neighbor, the best co-worker, the best teammate. What’s at stake is not people liking us, but people knowing the gospel and an opportunity to connect with God-sized life and love. And that is what Paul is going to show us today as continue our series in Thessalonians.

What do we do when love is defined as smiling at evil? What do we do when hate is saying anything is wrong? What do we do when an America many of us love seems to be passing into the night? What do we do? I would say we have to answer these questions biblically and strategically, as if the church would even agree on what biblically and strategically looks like. Here is where we need to hear the theme of Thessalonians is staying the course, for the end is great. Our staying the course is the best chance for America to turn from idols to the living God. What does staying the course look like.

What do we do when love is defined as smiling at evil? What do we do when hate is saying anything is wrong? What do we do when an America many of us love seems to be passing into the night? What do we do? I would say we have to answer these questions biblically and strategically, as if the church would even agree on what biblically and strategically looks like. Here is where we need to hear the theme of Thessalonians is staying the course, for the end is great. Our staying the course is the best chance for America to turn from idols to the living God. What does staying the course look like.

I am excited today to begin a 13-message series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. In a world gone crazy we get clear direction from Thessalonians of what to do in real time. This isn’t advice to consider if this ever happens, but directives in the heat of battle. Thessalonians is going to take the complexity of our time and say, 'Keep it simple, stupid.' Okay, not the stupid part. But we really can overthink and that leads to paralysis. Being canceled, being labeled, being rejected keeps us paralyzed. Thessalonians is going to address that. But not everyone is paralyzed in a chaotic world. Some have directions the church needs to take. In

I am excited today to begin a 13-message series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. In a world gone crazy we get clear direction from Thessalonians of what to do in real time. This isn’t advice to consider if this ever happens, but directives in the heat of battle. Thessalonians is going to take the complexity of our time and say, 'Keep it simple, stupid.' Okay, not the stupid part. But we really can overthink and that leads to paralysis. Being canceled, being labeled, being rejected keeps us paralyzed. Thessalonians is going to address that. But not everyone is paralyzed in a chaotic world. Some have directions the church needs to take. In

During this series we have said over and over to follow Jesus means you are making followers of Jesus. If you are not making followers, you’re not following. Why does He need me making His followers? The last time I preached on July 7 we saw God has a process from a person coming to Christ to growing in Christ to being rewarded in Christ that involves the Father, Son, and Spirit. The process is entirely accomplished by God. No part of it is dependent upon us, but God lets us participate. Our focus that day was the blessing of being able to touch eternity, to do things that will last forever. Go tell. Go share. Go encourage. Today I add to that: making disciples is our discipleship. We are most learning, most growing, most experiencing when we are helping someone else do the same.

During this series we have said over and over to follow Jesus means you are making followers of Jesus. If you are not making followers, you’re not following. Why does He need me making His followers? The last time I preached on July 7 we saw God has a process from a person coming to Christ to growing in Christ to being rewarded in Christ that involves the Father, Son, and Spirit. The process is entirely accomplished by God. No part of it is dependent upon us, but God lets us participate. Our focus that day was the blessing of being able to touch eternity, to do things that will last forever. Go tell. Go share. Go encourage. Today I add to that: making disciples is our discipleship. We are most learning, most growing, most experiencing when we are helping someone else do the same.

Order your life so that you are walking with Christ. Have the accountability and community that will encourage you to abide with him. Have rhythms of life that allow for you to be with God so much that it fuels your doing for God. When we understand the love of God we will love others. View hospitality as a primary work for evangelism and discipling in your community. Regularly make time to meet with others and have spiritual conversations.

Order your life so that you are walking with Christ. Have the accountability and community that will encourage you to abide with him. Have rhythms of life that allow for you to be with God so much that it fuels your doing for God. When we understand the love of God we will love others. View hospitality as a primary work for evangelism and discipling in your community. Regularly make time to meet with others and have spiritual conversations.

We want to be a church of people growing in relationship with Jesus and helping others to do the same. What roles do church leaders and church members play in the process?