URBAN LIFE CHURCH
  • Home
  • About
    • About us
    • Values
    • Values - Spanish
    • What we believe
    • Radstock
  • Blog
  • Communities
    • Urban Life Normanton
    • La Reunion
    • Hangout
    • International Supper
    • Basecamp
  • St Chads Centre
  • Contact
  • Gospel readings

Meeting our Thessalonian brothers and sisters

21/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Through January and February we have been getting to know the brothers and sisters from the first century, who received the books of the New Testament that we call 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

They lived a long time ago, but their story of faith, hope and love is a challenge to us as we live out the same faith 20 centuries later.

Acts 16 and 17 describe how Paul and Silas were on their tour of the churches, supporting these new believers, when the Holy Spirit kept pointing them westward. This culminated in the 'Macedonian call' across to start new churches in Europe - around Philippi and on down intro Greece, through Thessalonica and beyond.

Acts 17 tells us how the church was born in controversy, as their was a riot and Paul and Silas were ushered out of town at night. It seems they had only been there a few weeks. Their teaching time with them was limited. Which all meant that when Paul was sitting in Corinth some time later, he was constantly thinking about them and wondering how they had got on since they left. No email or even Royal Mail then!

He wanted to go back, but was prevented, until eventually he sent his new co-worker Timothy. Timothy came back a little while later with the great news, that not only was there still a church in Thessalonica (he must have feared it would be broken up) but it was thriving!

Reading 1 Thessalonians with this backdrop, helps us as we hear this as a real letter from a real person to a people living out their faith in real life.

So what have we seen?

In chapter 1 we have seen how their life was marked by faith, love and hope.
We've seen how their conversion was a marked by 3 things...
1. Turning from idols (alternate world views)
2. Serving the living and true God, and
3. Waiting for his Son from heaven.

In chapter 2 and 3 we've seen how Paul served among them with authenticity.
We've seen how Paul taught they would face trials, be challenged by the devil, and need support from the wider church.  But they would persevere sacrificially (see a great example of this video about Steve Saint's story)

In chapter 4 we've seen how their grasp of Jesus' return affected their choices in living for God in the present.
And we've seen how Paul led them further in their understanding of Christ's return, describing how all God's people, including those who have gone in past generations, will be gathered one day as Christ appears and the new heaven and earth arrives - the barriers between our physical world and the spiritual realm being brought down. The Kingdom fully and finally arrives.

But we need to be ready - chapter 5 - the moment comes as a thief in the night. Unannounced. Those who are ready are not surprised by the thief. But others who think all is fine, and there is no need to think about it, are caught out.

To be continued...
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Urban Life  - followers of Jesus living life and bringing life in an urban setting! 

    The blog gives a snapshot of our life together as we post things we are learning about; things we believe; songs we love;  readings and prayers to strengthen and help us; and general information about what is happening in our community.

    So here are updates,  reviews, reminders and support for those who are part of our community, and a chance to 'look in' for those who are interested and wondering what we are all about.

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Bible
    Bill Hybels
    Church
    City
    Community
    Discipleship
    Humanity
    Jesus
    Justice
    Prayer
    Remembrance Sunday
    Rend Collective
    Social Action
    Songs
    The Story
    Trinity
    UL Values
    Video
    War

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly