Category Archives: 52 1 Thessalonians

Sermon – Stand Firm: Soldier On! (1 Thess. 4:1-18)

In Thessalonica, the church is being battered and bruised… how should they respond? Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the church to stand firm in the good news of Jesus. Today, the world remains full of uncertainties and hostile to the presence of the church. What can we learn? We can be challenged to likewise stand firm as we await Jesus’ return.

This sermon encourages us to continue on in our faith. As Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in a way that first and foremost pleases God and not the worldly and sexually immoral people around them, we too must live a holy life, filled not with idleness but humble service, with the hope that all believers will rise when Christ returns.

Sermon Outline – Stand Firm: Soldier On!Download

Read the text – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Sermon – Stand Firm: Faith & Love in the Mess (1 Thess. 3:1-13)

In Thessalonica, the church is being battered and bruised… how should they respond? Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the church to stand firm in the good news of Jesus. Today, the world remains full of uncertainties and hostile to the presence of the church. What can we learn? We can be challenged to likewise stand firm as we await Jesus’ return.

This sermon emphasises the importance of faith and love in the mess of the world – COVID or not. Christian encouragement really matters, where standing firm in your faith is one of the greatest encouragements. Prayer is also our first and last resort – this should not be forgotten in a world of suffering!

Sermon Outline – Stand Firm: Faith & Love in the MessDownload

Read the text – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

Sermon – Stand Firm: Father, Mother & Herald (1 Thess. 2:1-20)

In Thessalonica, the church is being battered and bruised… how should they respond? Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the church to stand firm in the good news of Jesus. Today, the world remains full of uncertainties and hostile to the presence of the church. What can we learn? We can be challenged to likewise stand firm as we await Jesus’ return.

This sermon investigates the motive and manner behind Paul’s – and what should be ours – work as a gospel messenger. Sharing the gospel for God’s glory – not our own – and sharing it like a mother, a father and a herald.

Sermon Outline – Stand Firm: Father, Mother & HeraldDownload

Read the text – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

Sermon – Stand Firm: The Imitation Game (1 Thess. 1:1-10)

In Thessalonica, the church is being battered and bruised… how should they respond? Paul writes 1 and 2 Thessalonians to encourage the church to stand firm in the good news of Jesus. Today, the world remains full of uncertainties and hostile to the presence of the church. What can we learn? We can be challenged to likewise stand firm as we await Jesus’ return.

This sermon challenges both the individuals of the church and the church as a collective – a Godly reputation is what matters most, and the church needs to stand up and stand out!

Sermon Outline – Stand Firm: The Imitation GameDownload

Read the text – 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Conference Talks – Heaven & Hell

Heaven and Hell

5 AWAY Weekend Away Talks – by Ken Noakes

Talk 1 – Scaring the Hell out of You!

Talk 1 Outline – Scaring the Hell out of You!

 

Talk 1 Script – Scaring the Hell out of You!

Discussion Group Questions – Hell

 

Talk 2 – Heaven Sent!

Talk 2 Outline – Heaven Sent!

 

Talk 2 Script – Heaven Sent!

Personal Reflection Questions – Heaven

Sermon – Gospel-driven guidance: God’s Work in You

In this, the third of three sermons on Gospel-driven guidance Geoff Lin explains that the Bible teaches that God is more interested growing in our character and convictions than in our current circumstances – God is in the business of growing us in holiness, making us more like Jesus. Watch or listen to the sermon to find out how God will do this.

Watch the Sermon

Listen to the Sermon

Read the Bible texts: Romans 8:18-30, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

English Support Handout

How can the Bible be from men but also from God?

How is it that the Bible arrives in the form we have it?

The Apostle Paul, along with Timothy, writing to the church in Thessalonica said:

‘we thank God continually because when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe’                                       (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

The word received, was handled down by God through those who had first heard it and their job was to tell others.

Of course that begs the question – how can the Bible be from men but really from God? How can we be sure that humans who spoke and wrote actually have the spoken and written word that God wanted them to express?

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Why leave a ‘church’?

101 5pm church update header

The question ‘Why leave a ‘church?’ may be a dangerous question to ask, especially on a church blog!

The reality is that all churches have people leave them – for both wise and unwise reasons. It is worth spending some time thinking about why one would take the step of leaving a ‘church’ and then further considering how to do that well. That said, I am hoping that no one reading this will in fact leave 5pm Church as a result!Trinity City 'Five by 5' Challenge - hand

In the previous two articles we have considered ‘What is ‘Church’?’ and then ‘What to expect of ‘Church’?‘ which as background should help establish that leaving a church should be thought about carefully – that is not a decision that should be made hastily or prayerlessly. If ‘church’ is about God’s people gathering as a family in Christ around his Word, it should give some pause for thought to a person when deciding to stay or to go. Leaving means leaving a family and a place where God’s word should be key to their fellowship.

Changing churches or leaving church altogether is no small thing.

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