In Psalm 1:3 the person whose delight is the law of the Lord is compared to a tree planted by streams of water. Fresh streams result in fruitful seasons and healthy growth. Being Grounded in Truth & Growing in Grace provides the same spiritual benefits. The constant stream of truth from God’s word, coupled with His grace provides healthy spiritual growth - Christ in us, the result of the cross. Truth and grace are essential ingredients as we seek to make disciples of one another at LJBC and of others within our sphere of influence.
A study in 1 & 2 Thessalonians
As we study through 1 and 2 Thessalonians, we are asking God what kind of a church He wants us to be. The believers in Thessalonica met with the apostle Paul and Silas in Acts 17 for a very short time on their 2ndmissionary journey. After just 3 Sabbath meetings there arose such a persecution that the missionaries were expelled and found themselves ministering in Berea. 1 Thessalonians was likely the first epistle that Paul penned from Corinth. He expressed his love for those in the church and encouraged them to continue to honor God by serving Him faithfully. He added practical spiritual instruction including Jesus coming again for His saints and also a word concerning the day of the Lord. 2nd Thessalonians was written not long after the first epistle. In it he encouraged those in the church to 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed(.) 2 Thessalonians 2.2-3 Those within the church were encouraged to continue in ministry and not be idle, neither spiritually nor in life in general.
The church of Thessalonica faced much persecution because of their alignment with Jesus Christ, yet they continued serving Him faithfully. They were strong in their love for God and for others within the body of Christ. Though they lived in a difficult situation they were faithful and faith filled. As we study 1 and 2 Thessalonians, we are asking God to form in us the type of church He wants us to be, faithful to Him while rejecting the faithless world around us. May we also anxiously anticipate the coming of the Lord as Paul encouraged those in Thessalonica to do.
--Jerry
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