Blog Archives

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

3/26/2017

The Church in Elk Rapia
From Doctrine to Duty
Purity in an Impure World

3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5) Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Outline

We are Living in a world that believes that sexual relations is that "be all end all" in making a marriage work. Our nations began to really manifest this thought in the 60's with the sexual revolution. The church was strangely silent about sexuality except for condemnation, and the world took that which god created and perverted it. but is this anything new?

1) Initiation of Sexuality

2) Degradation of Sexuality

3) Rationalization of Immorality

4) Implications of Immorality

5) Restoration from Immorality

6) Admonitions concerning Immorality

A) Self Control vs. 4
B) Spirit Controlled vs. 5
C) Spiritual Control vs. 6a
D) God's Punishment vs 6b
E) God's Purpose vs 7
F) God's Person vs. 8

Big Idea:
Sexual Purity - Not
talked About but lived out.

service_03.26.17.mp3
File Size:	59936 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

0 Comments

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3

3/19/2017

1 Comment

The Church in Elk Rapia
From Doctrine to Duty

1) Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

Outline

Paul now enters the practical application phase of his letter after teaching the doctrinal portion. Doctrinal should always affect behavior, and so he lays the ground rules for that to happen. What does he say in three short verses that still is applicable to us today?

1) Our Authority Lies Outside of Ourselves.
                ... by the Lord Jesus
2) Our conduct is demonstrated to those beyond ourselves.
                ... walk
3) Our focus is outside of ourselves.
                 ... please God
4) Our spiritual progress should never satisfy ourselves.
                 ... abound more and more
5) God's will should be the directive to ourselves.
                 ... our sanctification

Big Idea:
It's not about us!

service_3.19.27.mp3
File Size:	50074 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

1 Comment

1 Thessalonians 3

3/12/2017

0 Comments

To the Church in Elk Rapia
Our Faith

1) Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

2) And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

3) That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

4) For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

5) For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

6) But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

7) Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

8) For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

9) For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

10) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

11) Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

12) And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13) To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Outline

The apostle Paul had to leave Thessalonica in a hurry due to persecution, but he had developed a deep love for these believers. their faith was his greatest concern. what can we learn from their faith that is the same for our faith

Faith - the practice of what we say we believe or trust in

1) Our faith needs to be... vs.1,2
                Strengthened = stablish
                        Encouraged = comfort

2) Our faith will be tested vs. 3-5
             By circumstances
                 By Satan

3) Our Faith will manifest other godly characteristics vs. 6
                   Faith and love
                          Faith and....

A) ...power

B) ...speech, knowledge, diligence

C) ...labor of love, patience of hope

D) ...good conscience

E) ...good doctrine

F) ...patience

G) ...hope

4) Our faith may be source of encouragement for others vs. 7-9
                    Comfort --
                             Joy --

5) Our faith is not yet perfect vs. 10

6) Our faith doesn't happen without God's help vs 11-13
                   To make us....
                       To stablish us...

Big Idea:
Our Faith - a work of God for our sake and others!

service_03.12.17.mp3
File Size:	54760 kb
File Type:	mp3

Download File

0 Comments

1 Thessalonians 2 17-20

3/5/2017

0 Comments

The Church in Elk Rapia
Friends and Foe

17) But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18) Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

19) For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20) For ye are our glory and joy.

Outline

The apostle Paul was forced to leave the church in Thessalonica abruptly. He reason was opposition to his message. Being away from them brought certain emotions to the surface which he conveyed in this letter. How did he view these new believers, and friends, and the opposition he experienced while trying to see them again.

1. The objects of our affections. vs. 17
         A) Those of faith
              B) With an overwhelming desire

2. The reality of our adversary. vs 18


                                                            3 Thing we Battle:

The World

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV)
15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Flesh

Galatians 5:17 (KJV)
17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.