2 Thessalonians 2:1-17 Are you able to survey the brokenness of our world and still have a sense of peace, hope, and joy? Paul was concerned the Thessalonians were becoming “unsettled or alarmed,” so he wrote about their ultimate source of peace —Jesus. The truth which should bring hope into our lives is Christ’s return and his making all things right. Regardless of life's challenges, Christ's tri...

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 How do you feel about God being a judge and Christ returning to judge the world? Podcast interviewees recently claimed if we got rid of the doctrine of hell and God’s judgment, then it would make Christianity a lot more palatable to our culture. Though easier for people to swallow, they would be embracing a lie. The doctrine of hell and God’s judgment is true and brings hope...

1 Thessalonians 5:4-28 Are you the same person during the day as you are at night? Most of us are probably the worst version of ourselves at night. We get tired, grumpy, angry, and just want to be left alone. This is even more true as we consider crime rates, DUIs, and other illegal activity during the day versus at night. Darkness brings out the worst in everyone, which is why, as believers, we a...

1 Thessalonians 4:1-5:3 Our culture and even Christians view many sins as okay if they do not seem to hurt anyone. This is especially true around sex. Behaviors such as pornography, sex outside of marriage, and homosexual sex are viewed as normal, ordinary, and justified behaviors. Yet Paul points out a myriad of problems with this perspective in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8.To walk in any sexual sin is ...

1 Thessalonians 2:9-3:13 We can all confuse pleasure and contentment with joy. We can become pleasure addicts seeking the next fix or feeling a loss of pleasure when things don’t go according to plan.There is an experience that is more satisfying than momentary happiness and it is joy. It is not fleeting but a deep state of mind that is obtainable by all believers. Joy is ultimately not to be foun...

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8 When you think of a model you might think of a person walking along a runway wearing unrealistic, extravagant, costly clothing. Someone who is attempting to draw attention to themselves. Paul called the church of Thessalonica models but a completely different type. They were models that embodied a life of following Jesus and, in doing so, showed how life should be lived. So...

Colossians 3:18-4:18 Jesus said the two greatest commands were to love God and love others. These are not meant to be two distinct realities but rather a love for God that overflows into a love of everyone. Paul’s focus in Colossians 3-4 is on what it looks like to love others well. He wanted the church to understand that their relationship with God should impact all other relationships. How do yo...

Colossians 3:1-17 Get your mind out of the gutter! This is a phrase you have probably heard many times and potentially even used yourself. Today's passage challenges us not just to get our mind out of the gutter but to get it all the way to heaven. We are to think upon things of God, things which are eternally meaningful and significant. This idea of dwelling upon eternal things may simply seem li...

Colossians 2:8-23 Would you like a warranty on that? Would you like to supersize your drink or make that a meal? Wherever we go we are bombarded by attempts to sell us a newer, bigger, and better version of what we already have. This is not only true of material things, but Colossians 2 tells us there is a similar spiritual temptation to think that Jesus is not enough.Paul tells the church that Ch...

Colossians 1:18-2:7 Have you ever been asked an absurd question like: if you were a tree, what type of tree would you be? Or, if you were an animal, which one would you be? Obviously, the right answer is: who knows?!?!? I am not a tree and I am not an animal; I am a human made in the image of God. Yet Scripture often uses the imagery of plants and animals to help us understand who we are. Read Col...

Colossians 1:1-17 One of the most beautiful and succinct descriptions of Jesus is Colossians 1:15-20. This is a helpful passage for us to reflect on as we consider the identity of Jesus. Paul begins by stating that Jesus is truly God and has revealed God in a way that had never occurred previously. No one could see God, but when Jesus took on flesh, he revealed the invisible. Then, as God, Jesus i...

Philippians 4:1-23 The world we live in is a constantly changing environment. The values of the world are always in flux; what is considered moral is up for grabs, and truth changes on a whim. Amid this, we are called to “stand firm.” We are not to be moved; instead stand upon God’s truth.In Philippians 4, Paul explains the characteristics of a firm foundation. We are to walk in unity and love for...

Philippians 3:4-21 I took an accounting class in college. One of the challenging aspects of accounting was figuring out whether something was an asset or a liability, whether it was a credit or debit. If you had to list everything in life on an accounting ledger, what would go on which side? You might initially think that things like relationships, jobs, material assets, and a myriad of other thin...

Philippians 2:19-3:3 Are you an Epaphroditus or a Timothy? Are you someone that God sends out to make disciples and help others to grow and mature in their walk with God? If called to do so, would you know how do this?Timothy’s leadership was marked by "genuine concern" for others, and he proved himself with a track record of service. We cannot lead people if we do not love them. If we do not care...

Philippians 1:27-2:18 WWJD bracelets were a passing fad in America. The heart behind the movement was to get people to consider in each situation in life how Jesus would respond, and by extension, what we should do as well. Though the bracelet may have been a passing cultural phenomenon, the wisdom of asking how Jesus would act in any given situation and how we can act like him should always be on...

Philippians 1:1-26 One question that may arise while reading Philippians is, "What is the source of joy, especially when facing difficult circumstances as those Paul experienced?" Paul found joy in a multitude of places. He found joy when people placed their faith in Christ and used their lives to serve him. He rejoiced in the fact that God will be faithful to finish the work he has begun in each ...

Ephesians 6:1-24 At Sunday schools around the world, kids learn about the armor of God. They put on plastic Roman armor and learn about the necessity of fighting a spiritual battle. This teaching is critical for kids and for adults as well. Are you aware of the war you are wrestling? We have a ruthless enemy, Satan, and rulers, powers, and spiritual forces, who are seeking to devour and destroy us...

Ephesians 5:1-33 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This modern proverb speaks to the fact that we imitate and follow what we value and appreciate. Therefore, it is important for us to consider what we are imitating.Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 that we are to imitate God above all else. His character is to become our character, and his life is to be reflected in ours. The two clearest wa...

Ephesians 4:17-32 Every morning we wake up, we take off our pajamas and put on clothes that are appropriate for the day’s activities. In the same way when we come to faith in Christ, we are to discard our old clothes and put on a new outfit which is in line with our new identity. So, the question we want to explore today is how well our wardrobe matches our identity in Christ.Outside of Christ, Pa...

Ephesians 4:1-16 Would you listen to the advice of someone who is in prison? Do you think that the incarcerated have something to offer you? We typically judge people by the outcome of their lives and then consider whether we should imitate them. Yet Paul is writing Ephesians from a prison cell and calling us to live in a way that reflects his life. He calls all believers to “live a life worthy of...