when Christ comes, what will he find?

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12680 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? 

  1. It should be a church who respects the leaders and equipping ministers who labor on her behalf. All too often we use our leaders as targets for criticism and complaints (12-13). We should abstain from this form of evil.
  2. It should be a church who is at peace among herself. All too often it is a host of churches with competing ideologies and divided loyalties (13). We should abstain from this form of evil.
  3. It should be a church who patiently helps all who need help at the point of their need. She should be admonishing the idle to work, encouraging the fainthearted to not give up, and helping the weak to thrive. All too often it is caught up in programs and plans and the people get swept aside (14). We should abstain from this form of evil.
  4. It should be a church who seeks the good of brother and enemy alike. All too often both fellow believers and outsiders are targets of our vengeance (15).  We should abstain from this form of evil.
  5. It should be a church who is caught up in the presence of the Holy Spirit, and always open to the manifestations of His spiritual gifts in her worship. All too often we quench the Spirit, and refuse to let him get close enough to do his work among us. The result is a dry and tasteless Christianity that the world rejects as hypocrisy (16-21).  We should abstain from this form of evil.

LORD,  when you come, find us faithful. Purge the evil from us that keeps us from manifesting your genuineness.

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when Christ comes: three questions answered

Posted on May 18, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC13124 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11.  Paul had been instructing the Thessalonians about making Christ come into their city by sharing the gospel and thus building the kingdom. He now answers three questions about the hope of Christ coming again physically and setting up his kingdom on earth.

  1. What will happen to believers who have already died?   Paul’s answer:  the dead in Christ are asleep —  not conscious of the passing of time. Their next conscious moment will be the sound of Christ coming. He will raise them from the dead so that both they and we who are alive will experience that great event together (4:13-18).
  2. When will this happen? Paul’s answer: True believers do not need an answer to that question, because we know that God has designed it to remain a mystery, so that Christ comes unexpectedly, like a thief (5:1-3). {There is a group of Christians who are convinced that Christ is going to return on May 21st. They may be right, but he may also come back today, or it may be another century. We do not know, and we were not meant to know!}
  3. How can we prepare?  Paul’s answer: The best way to prepare for the master’s coming is to be found doing what he commanded. He commanded faith, love and hope. If we remain awake and sober, sharing our faith, love, and hope, then we will experience salvation. We will not experience the wrath that the world is destined for (5:4-11).

LORD, come today!  But if you do not, may we not waste today by drunkenness and sleep. May we spend this day sharing our faith in you, our love for each other and the lost, and our hope of your coming kingdom.

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When Christ comes: more and more

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12675 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 he was making a difference in how the people lived. Paul’s instruction was for them to keep on doing what they were doing “more and more” (1, 10).

  1. Keep on showing that the Holy Spirit is within you more and more by remaining sexually pure. Control your bodies in holiness and honor. Do not be controlled by the passion of lust. Do not wrong your brother by seeking his wife, because the Lord will avenge the wrong (1-8).
  2. Keep on showing the brotherly love that Jesus commanded you. Do this more and more because this is what God has taught you and it brings honor to him (9-10).
  3. Keep on walking properly before outsiders — those who are not yet brothers. The Thessalonians were doing this by living quietly, minding their own affairs, and working with their own hands. Perhaps by remaining independent of others, they prevented the outsiders from assuming that their faith was merely a means of exploiting the generosity of wealthier Christians (11-12).

Before Christ comes in the clouds, he wants to come to our community. He wants to do that through our witness.

LORD, since Christ comes to our community through our witness, help us to keep doing the right things more and more. 

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when Christ comes, a crown of boasting

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

gold-crown-ring 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13.  Satan had hindered Paul from personally visiting the Thessalonians by means of some affliction (2:18; 3:3, 7). So, Paul sent another member of his team – Timothy – to find out if the gospel was taking root there. Timothy’s report comforted Paul, because through it he found that not only was the church thriving, but they were also longing for another visit from Paul.  He described the Thessalonians as his glory and joy. He pictured them as a crown of boasting that he would be able to present to the Lord when he comes.

LORD, may we invest our lives in those who need you, preparing crowns of boasting before you when you return.

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when Christ comes through sharing the gospel

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12679 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16.  When Christ comes into the lives of people in a community he comes through sharing the gospel.

  1. Believers who are called to spread the gospel are willing to suffer whatever it takes to share the truth of God’s message because they are like nursing mothers whose affection for their children lead them to put the needs of their children before their own needs and wants (1-8).
  2. Believers who share the gospel do so consistently and with integrity like godly fathers to their children (9-12).
  3. Believers who share the gospel are not surprised when new converts are persecuted, but are thankful that the word is accepted because it is God’s word, not their own (13-16).

LORD, give us a passion to share the message so that Christ comes to new places in our community and around the world.

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when Christ comes: faith , love, and hope

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12677 1 Thessalonians 1.  Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is a celebration of what happens when the Lord Jesus Christ comes. When he first comes into the lives of people in a community…

  1. they become people of faith – repenting of their idolatry and choosing to serve the living and true God (9). They experience the power of the Holy spirit which brings conviction and joy (5-6).
  2. they become people of love for the lost. Although sometimes persecuted for their faith, they proclaim the gospel with the joy of the Holy Spirit (6). Propelled by love for the lost, their faith goes forth everywhere (8).
  3. they become people of hope. Not satisfied with the transformed life they now have, the await Christ’s second coming, and the complete deliverance from God’s wrath to come (10).

LORD, come into our hearts fully, and manifest the faith, love and hope so that those who still seek you can find you in us. Change us into people of faith, who love the lost enough to labor in the midst of affliction, and whose hope is firmly set upon your return.

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Christ, our Lord

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12674 Colossians 3:18-4:18.  Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians by reminding them how the lordship of Christ should affect them.

  1. Since Christ is Lord of every relationship, an attitude of submission and consideration is called for (3:18-22; 4:1, 5-6).
  2. Since Christ is Lord of all, everything that is done must be done for him and his kingdom (3:23-25; 4:11).
  3. Since Christ is Lord of time, his servants must spend time in prayer, struggling for open doors for ministry, and struggling for the spiritual growth of the believers they minister to (4:2-4,12).
  4. Since Christ is Lord of his mission, appreciation and support is due to those who work to spread the gospel, and establish his kingdom among us (4:7-18).

LORD, we acknowledge you as our master. May we be faithful servants for you and your kingdom.

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Christ, our life

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12671 Colossians 3:1-17.  The words “if then” which begin this section signify that there are logical consequences to being a Christian. We who have been raised with Christ demonstrate it by…

  1. … setting our minds on the ascended Christ who is coming again in glory (1-4),
  2. …  putting to death the passions of our old lives, and allowing our new selves to dominate – renewed lives that are under God’s control and ignore differences of the flesh (5-11),
  3. … manifesting the nature of the ascended Christ in our relationships with others by forgiving love and harmonious living (12-14),
  4. …  allowing the gospel and and the commands of Christ to fill our thoughts, and be the reason for our actions (15-17).

LORD, you are our life. help us to live like Christians.

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Christ, our substance

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12663 Colossians 2:6-23.  Christ is our substance, we do not need to grasp at the shadows that others seek.

  1. Christ is the reality that has set us free from dependence upon the philosophies of earth and false allegiances of the heavenly realms . He is more than godly, his body possesses the fullness of deity. Our faith in him fills us with the godliness we seek. We need not add anything to that (6-10,14).
  2. We need not submit to the code and traditions of Judaism to please God. Christ’s death and resurrection secures the putting away of sins by forgiveness, and by our baptism we identify with his atonement. We thus participate in the circumcision made without hands (11-13).
  3. Religious rituals and ceremonies can actually distract us from the substance and grace of Christ’s substitutionary atonement. Christians are free to dismiss these things because they foster pride (16-19).
  4. Religious taboos are from the world, and do  not preserve godliness. Christ has set us free from the penalty of sin, and his Holy Spirit can help us to overcome sin. Throw away your lists, and cling to God’s grace! (20-23).

LORD, we accept your free gift of salvation, and refuse to go back to religion as a means of pleasing you.

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Christ, our hope

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12661 Colossians 1:21-2:5.  Paul wanted the Colossians to understand that (providing their faith was real) what Christ has done for them had changed their status before God, and changed them from the inside out. He expected them to show maturity for today and a new destiny for tomorrow.

  1. He expected stability of character and steadfastness of faith (1:21-23).
  2. He was willing to suffer whatever was necessary in order to fulfill the stewardship of the gospel given to him for the Gentiles (1:24-29).
  3. He wanted his words to encourage believers to persevere in their pursuit of their destiny by loving one another and by learning more about him – rejecting false teaching (2:1-5).

LORD, may we stay true to our hope, and allow that hope to manifest in us by making us more Christ-like.

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