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The End of 1 Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:23-28)
"I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers." (1 Thessalonians 5:27)
This week at Grace, we're reaching the end of our series in 1 Thessalonians. One of the final things that Paul writes is a declaration that this letter is for all of us. There is something sacred, significant, and substantial in this section of Scripture that we all need.
So, here's what I'd love for you to do: Before you come to church on Sunday (or tune in online), read the whole of 1 Thessalonians and reflect with God on what you've learned over these last few months.
As you read through the book, look for these major themes that come up one more time in the concluding paragraph of the book:
- The Return of Jesus
- The Pathway to Holiness
- Our Need for One Another
This Sunday in the sermon we'll cover the last paragraph of the book as a lens to review the book as a whole.
Look forward to seeing you on Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. We'll be celebrating five baptisms during the 11:00 AM service this Sunday! Please pray for Bill, Emma, Meg, Zach, and Grayden as they take this significant step of faith.
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Brothers, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28
Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22)
There are a lot of phrases we use in our everyday talk that, if you stop and think about it, are pretty absurd.
“It’s raining cats and dogs.”
Really? What kind? I hope the small kind! Is there a 40% change of chihuahuas this afternoon?
“You have to get your ducks in a row”
What are we farmers? What happens if our ducks are not in a row? Will they form a union and demand better living conditions?
“Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater”
Now, who would ever do that?
I appreciate that the English language is colorful and avoids the boredom of just saying “it’s raining hard today” or “you need to make sure you’re things are in order.” I bet you do too.
Now about that baby and the bathwater. That particularly absurd phrase came to mind this week as I was preparing to preach 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophecies,
but test everything; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil.
Nothing God has given should be tossed. Even when the bathwater gets murky.
To hear more, come in person or (if you're not able) tune in Sunday.
Hope to see you soon!
Pastor Tim
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
All the Time (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
This week at Grace we're going to talk about an important and beautiful passage, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
What stands out to me is the consistency that Paul exhorts us to: "always," "without ceasing," and "all circumstances."
How do you become the sort of person who is like that?
What do we do with the times that our feelings don't like up with Scriptures commands to rejoice or be thankful?
How do we deal with the guilt of losing track of God, going not just moments without praying but days or weeks?
Let's talk about it together this Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The Gift of Leaning In (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15)
What sort of people bug you? Who are the ones that really get under your skin?
I have some personality types that are more difficult for me than others. Maybe you do, too. For me, it's often when I see personality characteristics in others that I don't like about myself. For others, maybe it's when you meet someone who reminds you of someone who has wounded you in the past or who violates values you hold dearly.
How do we respond to people who we don't like? Do we ignore them, judge them, or dismiss them?
In this week's passage (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15), Paul challenges his readers to respond to difficult people in their church not with harshness but with grace, leaning in even when it is uncomfortable and extending patience through it all.
This Sunday we'll think through why such behavior is necessary for us as Christians, how we become people who can live like that, and the joy that can come from being in a community that functions this way.
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15
How Should We Regard Our Church Leaders? (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
There was an old chorus we used to sing in church that went,
"I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God."
Even though the lyrics may sound a bit dated, it affirms the truth of Ephesians 2:19, that in Christ we "are fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household." That "Family of God" chorus also adds some color to our study of 1 Thessalonians, where Paul repeatedly uses familial language to describe their local church.
We're going to dive into the final part of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians this Sunday, where we'll get a clearer picture of what Gospel families look like. In other words, if an alien from another galaxy visited a healthy church family, what would they see?
The two verses we'll look at together are 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, which answer the question, "How should we regard our church leaders?
I hope we grow closer as a church family this Sunday!
-Pastor Chris
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
Be Prepared (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
What do you do if you don't know something?
People in ages past (like pre-1990) used to go to the public library or consult a dictionary or maybe ask someone who knew. Today, what do we do? Almost instinctively?
We Google it or we ask Siri.
(me) "Hey Siri, what is the capital of Alabama?"
(Siri) "Montgomery is the capital of Alabama."
(me) "Hey Siri, what's the weather going to be like today?"
(Siri) "It's currently cloudy and 55 degrees. Expect partly cloudy skies starting in the morning…"
(me) "Hey Siri, what happens when the end comes?"
(Siri) "Okay, I found this on the web for 'what happens when the end comes.' Check it out."
There is a lot of speculation (online and otherwise) about the End of Days, the End of Time, the Day of the Lord, the Return of Christ. THE END of life as we currently experience it.
When will it be?
What will happen?
How should we prepare?
Maybe these are your questions. Maybe you have others. Join us Sunday as we hear from the Apostle Paul who tells us what we most need to know.
Hope to see you then!
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Grieving With Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
What would you say to someone who was dying?
In our culture, due to our general discomfort with the topic of death, we try to avoid being in this situation at all. We confine that to the few people who work in hospice, professional clergy, and medical professionals.
But the truth is, all of us are in the process of dying. And therefore we're around people who are dying all the time. Ignoring that fact is helpful for many of us in dealing with the discomfort, but it doesn't change reality. And it certainly leaves us vulnerable when death rears its ugly head in life, as the war in Ukraine makes clear.
This week at Grace we'll be studying 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 together. Paul tells them to encourage one another in the face of death with the hope that comes from the death, resurrection, and return of Jesus.
In the message this week, we talk about how you can do that: both how you can encourage others and be encouraged yourself.
Look forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
A Life Pleasing to God (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
This week at Grace we're continuing our series in 1 Thessalonians, covering 4:1-8. This passage addresses the question: Why live a life of sexual holiness?
I've got to be honest, I have no idea whether a sermon on sex is going to be a hit.
On the one hand, we live in a culture obsessed with sex. We are deluged with images and depictions of it all week. It can be disorienting. Reflecting together on God's Word about sexual morality gives us a rare sense of order in a sexually disordered world. I really believe that what 1 Thessalonians 4 says is beautiful, helpful, and encouraging.
And yet there are few topics so personal, so emotionally laden, and (frankly) so awkward to talk about. I would understand if some people said, "I'd rather not talk about this in public."
I imagine that for some of us, we think of sermons about sexual immorality to belong to a bygone era - either for a previous generation or for a younger aged audience. But I hope that when we look at 1 Thessalonians 4 together we will see the goodness, timelessness, and hope that the gospel brings for all of us in this area.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. While I have no desire to be provocative or crass, the nature of the topic makes this sermon sensitive for younger kids. Parents/Grandparents/etc, it's your call!
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Living in Love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)
What do you want to be known for?
Is it your accomplishments in your career? Your beauty? Your wit or insight? What you have? Your reputation?
This Sunday at Grace we'll be looking at 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Paul commends the Thessalonians for excelling at brotherly love, and encourages them to continue to grow in this by being thoughtful in their ambition, energy, and work.
I'm fascinated by this passage because it is so timely for us today. In many ways, our culture yells at us to live life in opposition to what Paul describes. We are encouraged to create isolated, anxious, and selfish lives, all out of fear that we will miss out if we don't grab everything we can. Self-expression, self-awareness, and self-fulfillment are idols of the age; and they all foster isolated selfishness.
We need to hear (I need to hear) these words of Scripture and how good it is to live a quiet life, free from comparison or grumbling, in Christian community with my brothers and sisters in the faith.
Let's listen to God's Word together this Sunday at Grace and reflect on the goodness of God together.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
PS. If you're saying, "Wait, didn't we skip a part of 1 Thessalonians? What happened to 4:1-8?" Yep, you're right. We'll come back to that next Sunday (2/20) but due to widespread COVID exposure in our Grace Kids program last Sunday, we are going to have Grace Kids online and/or joining us in all-ages worship this week. And, if you read 4:1-8, you might understand why it's best to hold off on covering that passage with young kids present.
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
It's Good to Be Together (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
This week at Grace, we'll be continuing in our series on 1 Thessalonians with 3:6-13. It's a warm paragraph, where Paul expresses his affection and gratitude to hear how well the Thessalonians are doing, as well as his prayer for their continued growth in faith.
I wonder how often any of us hear, "You're doing really well in faith. Keep it up."
And if we do hear that, I wonder if we'd be able to take it in. Would we minimize it, thinking, "If only they knew..."? Or get lost in a comparison game? Or just squirm at the pridefulness of it all?
I'm looking forward to Sunday so we can dive into this passage together and delight in God's work in the Thessalonians and in you.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Longing to See Your Face (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5)
I assume that if you're reading this, on your computer or phone, that you've probably made an online purchase. A book. An article of clothing. 27,000 other things. It's pretty typical for us to make purchases without actually checking the binding or trying on the product before we hit "buy" and have it arrive at our door within a day or two. Now, return policies being what they are, there's little to no risk in this. If it's damaged or doesn't fit, we simply send it back and try again.
But what if our purchase was a lot of money, like buying a car or even a house online or over the phone? Now that would definitely be a risk. There are some things that you need to be there for, right? Descriptions, and even pictures, just don't cut it. You can't kick the tires online and you'll never know to ask, "what's that smell?" when you walk through a virtual tour of the kitchen in your soon to be new home. Some things just need to be experienced in-person.
Books and clothes and cars and homes are important. But nothing is more important than people. Relationships. Being with others. Being together. There is no substitute for being face-to-face. During the past 2 years, we've had to settle for less, in some cases. And thank God for technology that makes distance not quite as devastating as it would have been in previous generations. But still, there's no substitute for physical, unmediated, flesh-and-blood presence.
When you have it, with those you love, it is sweet and you want to savor it. And when it's gone, you want it back. You long to see your loved ones. Phone calls and text messages are great. Zoom and FaceTime, even better! But nothing can replace being face-to-face.
If you've ever felt this longing, Paul knows how you feel. He had a lot of reasons for wanting to return to the Thessalonians. You can read the passage to discover them for yourself. Even better, join us in-person on Sunday and we can discover them together!
Many blessings,
Pastor Tim
But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5
Receiving the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16)
This week at Grace we're going to look at 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16, a little passage with huge questions.
What do we do when people claim to speak for God?
Why does religious persecution happen?
What do we do with passages of the New Testament that seems anti-Semitic?
Let's get into these tough questions together on Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
You Know the Truth (1 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
Apparently this is a thing. Tie a string around your finger to help you remember something important. In fact, when I Googled to find the above image, I typed, "string tied" and then auto-fill took over and finished it - "string tied around finger."
I have never tied a string around my finger to remember something. Have you? In fact, I'm curious if you know anyone who has actually done this. The reason I've never used this tactic is because I am confident I would look at the reminder string and think, "now, what's that for?" It wouldn't help me. I have other ways to remind myself of what's worth remembering. And God has His ways to remind us of what's worth remembering. And, needless to say, His reminders are most important.
Leave your strings at home and join us Sunday!
Pastor Tim
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Are You Known For Your Faith, Hope, and Love? (1 Thessalonians 1:2-10)
"So, how's the church doing?"
I get that question a lot. And I appreciate it. I'm glad people care, either members of Grace or friends from other parts of my life.
And there are a lot of ways to answer that question. We could talk about organizational health, missional effectiveness, or metrics of attendance and giving.
None of these are "bad" answers, but they pale in comparison to how Paul commends the Thessalonian church at the start of his letter to them.
"We give thanks to God always for all of you... remembering... your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 1:2-3)
This Sunday at Grace we're going to dive into our study of 1 Thessalonians, which begins with Paul's gratitude for how God was at work amongst them in these key areas of faith, love, and hope.
As we reflect on how the Thessaloanians were known for these three virtues, it's worth considering how God could work in similar ways among us today.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come
-1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
Welcome to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 17:1-9)
Happy New Year*!
This week at Grace we're beginning a new series in the book of 1 Thessalonians. From now until Easter we're going to slowly and thoughtfully move through this under-appreciated New Testament book.
Paul founded the church in Thessalonica and then was run out of town after only three weeks. Understandably, they were left with a lot of questions - about their new faith, how it affected their lives, and what to do with their doubts. His answers to these questions are a gift for us today, as many of the things they wondered about we're still wrestling with (life after death, the return of Jesus, sexuality, the will of God, and others).
Looking forward to starting our series with you Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
*PS. Technically speaking, the Christian church calendar begins with the first Sunday of Advent. But only a really persnickety seminary student would point that out.
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
-1 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 17:1-9
We the Redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Recognizing the Work of God (Matthew 2:19-23)
Our sermon series this Advent has been called, "God at Work."
Throughout this month, we've looked at how God brought together personal choices, a miraculous conception, political forces, and even astronomical phenomena to carrying out His purposes.
With Christmas, it's easy to be confident that this was God's doing. But today when something happens, how do you know it's God at work? Aren't there a lot of times that people claim something is the work of God, but it's really just personal charisma, social forces, or (in darker situations) people using religious language to manipulate others?
This week at Grace, we'll be finishing our advent series in Matthew 2:19-23. In this little passage we see three distinctions that help Joseph (and us today) rightly make distinctions around the work of God.
Look forward to seeing you Sunday at Grace!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
-Matthew 2:19-23
The Christmas Card You Never Got (Matthew 2:11-18)
We've been making our way through Matthew's gospel (chapters 1 and 2) as part of our Advent series, "God at work." And as we've been reading these familiar passages each week, I can't help but think of children's plays, with their casting of Sheep #1 and Sheep #2 or A Charlie Brown Christmas where Linus reminds everyone of the true meaning of Christmas when he reads from Luke chapter 2.
The cast of characters is memorable: Jesus, of course. Mary and Joseph. Shepherds and Wise Men. Every year, whether religious or not, people seem to genuinely look forward to hearing the Christmas news, "For unto you is born in this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
I wonder how often we wonder what this Savior is saving us from. Why a Savior is needed at all.
If we just needed better instruction, we'd be welcoming a heavenly Teacher this Christmas.
If we just needed a moral example, we'd be welcoming a heavenly Boy Scout.
But if we need rescue. If we need deliverance from circumstances that we can't change. If we need someone to save us from our sins (someone to do something about all sin) then no one but a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, will do.
Join us this Sunday as we continue our Advent series with a message titled, "The Christmas card you never got" from Matthew 2:13-18.
Hope to see you soon!
- Pastor Tim
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
-Matthew 2:11-18
Seeking God (Matthew 2:1-12)
So, are you ready for Christmas?
When I hear that question, my blood pressure ticks up a bit. I think of all the things I don’t have yet - gifts for people I love, plans nailed down, and a message for Christmas Eve (okay, that last one might be a weird pastor-problem).
While the anxiety of the season can put a strain on our souls, it can also offer a silver lining by reminding us that we are currently living in the age of preparation. While it can be embarrassing to come to Christmas day with no gift ready for our spouse, it is much worse (infinitely, so) to come to the return of Jesus unprepared.
Advent is a time of preparation, shaping our hearts to notice God.
This week at Grace, we’re continuing our series “God at Work.” In Matthew 2:1-12, the famous passage about the coming of the wise men, we see two conflicting approaches to preparation - on the one hand, magi that put everything they had into finding God. On the other, Herod's fear-based attempts to avoid God.
Looking forward to preparing with you on Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
-Matthew 2:1-12
A Surprising God (Matthew 1:18-25)
Since moving to Southern CA, I've ridden up and down PHC on my bike dozens of times. Most days have been glorious, sunny days with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The one thing that is a consistent challenge on those rides is the WIND.
When I ride into a strong headwind, it's about all I can think about. "I'm not going very fast," "my legs hurt," and "I wonder when I'll make it home?" are some of the common refrains that pass through my mind. With all the energy I devote to these headwinds, can you guess how much I think about the tailwind at my back pushing me forward? Almost never.
This analogy feels true to life. All of us are facing some opposing "headwinds," some of us to an enormous degree. And those "headwinds" often get a disproportionate amount of our mental energy. But, in the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday we just celebrated, we're going to concentrate our thoughts on the "tailwinds" pushing us forward in our new Advent sermon series "God At Work."
Over the next few weeks, we'll be digging deep into Matthew's account of Jesus's birth and early childhood, Christmas passages you'll likely be familiar with. Are adversities present in this historical account? Yes. Is God at work in the midst of it all? Absolutely.
This Sunday, God becomes a person (Matthew 1:18-25). I'm looking forward to worshiping Immanuel (God with us) together!
-Pastor Chris
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
-Matthew 1:18-25