Category Archives: church
mission: demonstrate true godliness
1 Timothy 4. Paul predicts a time in the future (from his standpoint) when the church would experience a departure from true godliness and follow deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1). He charged Timothy to “put these things … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, faithfulness, future, genuineness, holiness, hypocrisy, truth, worldview
Tagged 1 Timothy 4
Leave a comment
mission: display godly behavior
1 Timothy 3. Paul’s reason for giving qualification lists in this chapter is not simply administrative. He wants the churches to display proper conduct. The body of believers is the household (family) of God, the church of the living God, … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, family, holiness, integrity, ministry, self-control, works
Tagged 1 Timothy 3
Leave a comment
mission: pray in public
1 Timothy 2. Paul explains to Timothy those things that should be the hallmark of the church’s mission – things he should promote among the people and leaders of Ephesus. Of first importance is the ministry of public prayer. This … Continue reading
Posted in church, family, humility, ministry, prayer, self-control, worship
Tagged 1 Timothy 2
Leave a comment
mission: be stewards of God’s treasure
1 Timothy 1. 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are sometimes called the pastoral epistles, although they were not written by a pastor (Paul was an apostle) and neither Timothy nor Titus were pastors. These two men were missionaries, appointed … Continue reading
Posted in church, deliverance, faith, faithfulness, gospel, grace, sanctification, truth
Tagged 1 Timothy 1
Leave a comment
when Christ comes, our work will be vindicated
2 Thessalonians 3:6-18. Some among the Thessalonians had apparently stopped working their “day jobs.” Either they were convinced that Christ had secretly already come (2:2), or they felt that secular work was beneath them. That attitude was not part of … Continue reading
Posted in church, faithfulness, perseverance, second coming
Tagged 2 Thessalonians 3
Leave a comment
when Christ comes, the glory will be obtained
2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5. Paul had just assured the Thessalonian believers that Christ had not come yet – that there remained a “strong delusion” to come that would produce an apostate church. He now tells them that they are among the … Continue reading
Posted in church, future, gospel, grace, Holy Spirit, hope, missions, perseverance, sanctification, second coming
Tagged 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Thessalonians 3
Leave a comment
when Christ comes, the delusion will end
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Paul warns the Thessalonian believers that they were in danger of being deceived about the second coming of Christ. Someone was teaching that the second coming had already happened. Paul warned that a strong delusion was about … Continue reading
Posted in church, discernment, genuineness, Jesus Christ, second coming, worldview
Tagged 2 Thessalonians 2
2 Comments
when Christ comes, will he find us blameless?
1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians here is that God would completely sanctify them by his grace. He prays for a church whose whole body, soul and spirit would be ready for her bride when he comes in … Continue reading
Posted in church, grace, Holy Spirit, integrity, love, prayer, preparation, sanctification, scriptures, second coming, submission
Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5
Leave a comment
when Christ comes, what will he find?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-22. When our Lord bursts through the clouds at his second coming, what kind of church will be here to meet him? It should be a church who respects the leaders and equipping ministers who labor on her … Continue reading
Posted in church, conflict, divisions, enemies, faithfulness, goodness, Holy Spirit, hypocrisy, integrity, ministry, worship
Tagged 1 Thessalonians 5
Leave a comment
When Christ comes: more and more
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Paul knew that the believers in Thessalonica were living the Christian life, and that because of that witness many others were coming to Christ. Or, to put it another way, Christ was coming to the city and … Continue reading
Posted in church, holiness, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, second coming, witness
Tagged 1 Thessalonians 4
Leave a comment
Devotions 