The church is the family of God. As a family we are to love one another. In the passage we are covering, Paul asks us to do so more and more. We can and should increase in love for one another because our brothers and sisters in the Lord are the body of Christ. If we cannot love them, John said we do love God. 1 John 4:20
Apostle Paul is relieved to have heard from Timothy that the church in Thessalonica was standing firm in the faith. He encourages them to continue on the road to living in holiness. In the passage today he urges them to live in a way that pleases God, to avoid sexual immorality, and to control our bodily desires, especially in relation to our brothers and sisters in Christ. The passage ends with a warning that those who disregard the warning will face the avenger.
In text this week we are not only are challenged by Paul's love for those he has led to Christ, but are also encouraged to have abounding love for others. It is a challenge to put God's desires above our own.
This weeks passage in 1 Thessalonians tells of Paul's pastoral heart for the congregation in Thessalonika. He knew they were facing persecution and feared it would cause them to backslide. He was so concerned that he sent Timothy, his right hand man, to check on them. He assured them that affliction was a normal part of the Christian life and that God used it for our good and His glory.
Suffering is one of the biggest stumbling blocks for mankind. As we explore Psalm 119:65-72 we see how God can use it for all believers, both now and in eternity.
When people live a godly life out of love for God, those who do not know God are often angered by their joy and peace. The unbeliever cannot comprehend why we do what we do, so they ascribe ulterior motives to our actions. That often becomes their basis for persecution. Some people just do not like Christians because they feel conviction around them. They think we are trying to change them and they do not want to change. When people persecute us, it helps to refines us and at the same time store...
Welcome to Wayside Bible Chapel. We preach Christ throughout the Word of God, and we let him do the talking. If you are tired of topical sermons and bite-sized platitudes, you have come to the right place. Join us as we dig deeper into the living Word!
What does it mean to be chosen by God? Are you sure of your salvation? Is there evidence of it in your life? The sermon on 1 Thessalonians 1:4-9 will address these important topics.
The Apostle begins his letter to the Thessalonians by telling them they in God and the Lord Jesus. That is profound and agrees with Jesus' prayer in John 17. He goes on to tell them how he thanks God for their work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. The sermon expounds on what that should look like in our churches.
This sermon summarizes the Song of Songs up to this final message on the importance of a full surrender to Jesus' love. Only then will we truly know peace and feel the security and love our hearts long for. Our desire will be for His soon return.
A few verses in the last chapter of the Song of Songs are the climax of the whole book. Our identity becomes lost in our Savior as our hearts become secure in His love. His love never ends and cannot be quenched nor purchased. It is priceless, and it is ours in Jesus.
Exodus 8 describes three plagues—frogs, gnats, and flies—that God sends upon Egypt to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Despite temporary moments of repentance, Pharaoh repeatedly hardens his heart, refusing to free the people
Exodus 7 begins with God's dramatic confrontation with Pharaoh, showcasing His power and sovereignty. In this chapter, God empowers Moses and Aaron to serve as His representatives, performing signs and wonders to demand the release of the Israelites. Despite witnessing miracles—such as Aaron's staff turning into a serpent and the waters of the Nile turning to blood—Pharaoh's heart remains hardened.
Jesus' resurrection is a historical fact. It changes everything! Not only does it verify that His sacrifice was accepted and that He has victory over death, but it also means that we can be sure of our future resurrection. That power that raised Jesus is at work in and through every believer if we allow it to.
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While the woman in the song had to pursue her husband later in the marriage and invite him to a romantic setting, we know Jesus is constantly pursuing us. There is no need to entice Him. But when we seek Him, we can know He is pleased, and we will find Him. He desires us more than we desire Him!
There is a progression of love that equates to spiritual maturity. We grow from loving God for our sake to loving God for His sake. His desires become our own. The more we realize how great His love is for us the greater our love is for Him.
Can we tell of our love for Jesus as passionately as the woman in the song? Is it possible for us to comprehend the greatness of the love Jesus has for us? The sermon challenges us to be the beautiful bride Jesus is forming us to become.
The woman passionately describes her beloved, concluding with the phrase, "He is altogether desirable." We should be as fervent and illustrative when asked to describe our Lord's beauty. Does our life prompt them to ask what we see in Him?
Sometimes, couples who are truly in love can misunderstand one another or have unrealistic expectations. This can cause doubts and hard feelings that prevent us from sharing our hearts. The same can happen in our relationship with God. The sermon includes the basic needs of husbands and wives.
In this passage, the groom praises the bride's beauty in similar words she uses to describe him. The invitation to the bride is the same as the invitation to us. "Come away with me!" It is Jesus' invitation to take time to be alone with Him. One day, it will be His call to our heavenly home. We again visit the wedding night, symbolically picturing the wedding feast of the Lamb.
What a comfort it is to know that when God looks on us, He declares us as altogether beautiful and without a flaw. That is because He sees the righteousness of Christ. He knows we are a work in progress, but He also knows what Jesus did for us and credits us with His righteousness even now.
Solomon sends his limo with an armed security detail to pick up his bride. His ride is full of symbolism for us today. His request to behold her man invites us to behold the glory and majesty of our Savior.
The bride wakes up to find her husband missing. She is so eager to have him back with her that she goes out into the night seeking him. When she finds him, she won't let him go until they are back to the honeymoon. The sermon addresses the dark night of the soul and the passion we should have for communion with Christ.
Solomon lets the woman know how special she is to him, that none can compare. They express their desire for one another, but Solomon warns against the little foxes. Those are attitudes and stances that keep their love from staying passionate and strong. There are lessons for the church, couples, and singles.
Can we fathom how loved we are by God? Not possible! Can we love God too much? Not possible! Abide in His love is the crux of this message.
Does Jesus consider us beautiful? Could He possibly want us fallen people to become His bride? I believe the Song of Solomon shows us that it is His great desire to do so. If He condescended to take on a human body and live a perfect life to lay it down to make us His bride, we must consider He sees what He is making of us even now. Embrace that love, and it will cause you to love Him more.
This passage tells us how Christ sees His bride. Knowing how He sees us can help increase our desire to meet with Him in prayer. This beautiful passage shows the wooing of the Spirit.
Jesus wants a relationship with us that is much deeper than most of us are willing to go. The sermon addresses what stops us from that deeper intimacy. How do we get to that place? Where do we begin? The core of the message is a prayer the Prince of Preachers encourages us to pray.
The Song of Songs has been interpreted in many different ways. I believe it is clearly about Solomon and his bride, but I also believe that the Bible clearly teaches that marriage is a mystery concerning Christ and the church. So what are His kisses? And why are they better than wine? The applications point to a rich, deep love relationship between us and our Savior.
