Transformation Church Thunder Bay

As you look at 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16, notice what marks Christians who are the real deal.

I find it quite moving that Paul, Silas, and Timothy, for the sake of Jesus, are so deeply sacrificial in sharing the gospel with the Thessalonians.Would your love for Jesus and for others motivate you like it did them?Finally, notice how costly faith was for the Thessalonians themselves. What cost does following Jesus have in your life?

It seems as though this costly faith, this suffering, was a marker of authentic faith. What do you think?

This week, we start a series studying the book of 1 Thessalonians. This week, we will cover Chapter one.

It couldn't have been timed better with our focus this coming Sunday on the persecuted church. To be a Christian in the city of Thessalonica was to experience persecution for your faith.

Paul writes to these Christians after he has had to flee the city of Thessalonica. He's been anxious to hear how they are doing, and is thrilled to find out that their contagious faith is thriving.

These Thessalonian Christians are so deeply committed to their faith that they have become an example to other Christians near and far. Through them, says Paul, "The word of the Lord is ringing out to people everywhere."

There's only one question to ponder: Is this true of us?

This will be our first family Sunday. On family Sundays, we all gather, toddlers to elders, for our entire service.

On these Sundays, we will have a special element in the service designed for the kids. We will aim to keep the service to 60 minutes, and we'll have other activities for the kids throughout the morning.

Additionally, on October 25th, Isaac and Ashley will be dedicating Miriam to the Lord,we'll be hearing testimonies and having the opportunity to celebrate with Mobin and Nilo as they are baptized.

A pilots checklist does not guarantee that he is able to fly the airplane, but rather it assists him in being careful to avoid missing something that is crucial to a safe flight. In the same way, the five SSSSSteps that we will consider on Sunday morning are not a formula, guaranteeing that we will hear from God, rather they are foundational steps that help us to avoid missing something that will in turn hinder our ability to hear from God.

My son, if you acceptmy words andstore upmy commands within you, 2turningyour ear to wisdomandapplying your heart to understanding, and if you call outfor insight andcry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silverandsearch for itas for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Prov 2:1-6)

The Bible portrays a life with God that is much more than a message, much more than getting a word from God.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. (Gal 2:20)

And when Christ, who is your life... (Col 3:4)

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. (John 15:4)

Intrinsically, we think we must try to get near God. We must get a message from Him. While these things are true, we often lose sight of the glorious picture of life with God. Christ lives in you.

Could this truth revolutionize our prayer lives? (For that matter our whole life?) Do we settle for something small in our prayer lives that falls so short of God's glorious design?

If you are following in the book, check out Chapter seven. This is the last week that I'll be using the book, so this is your chance to finish the whole book.

God speaks to people. God speaks to us. We have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16) It ought to be expected that God will speak to us through our minds.

How are we to tell if what we're hearing is from God? This weekend, I'll attempt to answer that question.

In preparation, reflect on the times that you believe you heard God. What kinds of things did that voice tell you? What were the characteristics of that voice? What were the voice's quality and spirit? What checks and balances did you have to determine if this was God's voice?

He goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:4)

Following with the book? Check out chapters eight and nine.

Where is God? Is He near or is He far?

In Sunday's sermon, we will consider this question, and we will then briefly discuss six ways that God speaks to people.

Of those six, most of our time will be spent considering the two most common ways God communicates with us:

1. Through other people.2. Through our minds/our human spirit

In preparation, I would encourage you to think about the last time that you believe God spoke to you. How did that happen?

As a scripture to ponder, I would ask you to read 1 Corinthians 2.

Meditate and pray on the final half of verse 16, "But we have the mind of Christ."

Inside the tent of meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face-to-face as one who speaks to a friend." Exodus 33:11.

"You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:14.

Is this a description of your relationship with God? We talk often about praying. Many of us see this as prayer to God, but if prayer is the main way we communicate with God is it possible that prayer can become a lifeline to conversational relationship with God? However, when it comes to hearing God how can we be sure it's his voice?

This weekend, we begin a five-week series on hearing God. If you're interested in a deep dive into this topic, I highly recommend the book "Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God" by Dallas Willard. I'll be using his work on this topic as a guide to my sermons.

This week's sermon will present the case that we can develop a conversational relationship with God, and will provide us with some guidelines for hearing from God. If you'd like to follow along in the book, I would recommend reading chapters 1, 2, and 3.

At Transformation Church, we gather, grow, and go.You've heard that before, and I'm afraid to tell you, you'll be hearing it again.As I've already mentioned, this is going to be a special Sunday. I encourage you, in preparation for the short sermon, to turn to Luke 24. In verses 44-48, Jesus tells the gathered disciples that all of history and the Old Testament were looking forward expectantly to the day that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead. Even from long ago, it was written that this message of Jesus, would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. The message is this: there is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. Jesus then tells the gathered disciples that they are witnesses of all these things.Now it's our turn. If you have experienced conversion and trust in Jesus, with Him serving as your Master, then your task is simple and direct: Go. You are now a witness. This is a command, and rightly understood, it is the only reasonable thing for us to do. Aren't we compelled to do so?

In preparation, perhaps ask yourself the question, "What's the temperature of my heart? What's my witness like?"

God's story, as recorded in the Bible, comes to its completion.

Last week, we learned that God is makingallthingsright. Now, God turns to makeallthingsnew.

"And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!'" (Revelation 21:5)

Read through Revelation 21 and 22. Noticeallthe new - A new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem.

"In this new creation, there is no more sorrow, death, or pain; no more murder, idolatry, immorality, or lies; no more darkness, and aboveall,no more curse.

This is the 'end' of the great Bible story, but it is also a 'new beginning.' - Christopher J. Wright