God and Sex

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. Let’s go!
 
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (NIV)
1  Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
2  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4  that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
5  not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;

On verses 1-8: It appears that some members of the church in Thessalonica were engaging in sexual immorality – that is, having sex outside of marriage. So Paul takes the opportunity to remind the church about the instructions he and his team had earlier given on sex. He says that it is God’s will (v3) and God’s instructions “by the authority of the Lord Jesus” (v2) that God’s people should avoid sexual immorality.

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The Heartbeat of a Pastor

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13.  Let’s go!

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NIV)
1  So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.
2  We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
3  so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
4  In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
5  For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
 
On verses 1-5:  From this passage we get an inside look into what makes a pastor’s heart beat.  First, we learn that a pastor is concerned for the well-being of the church.  Notice that in verses 1 and 5, Paul repeats these words, “When we/I could stand it no longer”.  Paul here is talking about the pain of being separated from his spiritual family in Thessalonica and not being able to know how the church was doing.  So what did Paul do? He sent his spiritual son and disciple, Timothy, to the Thessalonian believers to find out how they are doing (v2).  

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The Greatest Investment You Can Make + The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20.  Let’s go!

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NIV)
13  And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
14  For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
15  who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men
16  in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

On verses 13-16:  In these verses Paul praises his church in Thessalonica for two things: (1) the way they received the Word of God from Paul’s preaching (v13); and (2) the way they persevered in their faith despite great trials and opposition (v14-16).  
From these verses we can learn the following:

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10 Traits of Excellent Leaders

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12.  Let’s go:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (NIV)
1  You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2  We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
3  For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4  On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
5  You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed–God is our witness.

On verses 1-12:  In this passage we get an inside look at what made Paul and his companions such excellent ministers of the gospel and such excellent leaders.

You too are called to be a leader, whether it’s in your home, your workplace, your school, your church, or a team you lead.  Here are 10 traits of excellent leaders we learn from today’s passage:

1. Excellent leaders don’t let fear or suffering keep them from chasing the dream God has placed in their heart.  Paul and his companions “had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi” (v2).  They faced “strong opposition”.  Still “with the help of our God” they “dared to proclaim the gospel” to the city of Thessalonica (v2).  Excellent leaders push through pain to get to their dream.

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Begin with Thanks

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Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of 1 Thessalonians, a letter written by Paul in approximately 50 AD to the church in the ancient city of Thessalonica.  Ancient Thessalonica was an important port city, located in what is now modern day Greece.  Paul established the church there during his second mission trip (Acts 17:1-10).  1 Thessalonians is one of the earliest letters of Paul in the New Testament.
 
Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.  Let’s go!
 
1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 
 
On verses 1-2:  Typical Paul — he begins his letter with thanks.  In whatever you do, it’s a great idea to begin with saying thanks.

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When You Love Others in Little Ways, It Makes a Big Difference

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 4:7-18.   Let’s go!

Colossians 4:7-14 (NIV)
7  Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
8  I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.
9  He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.

On verses 7-14: Paul had just finished telling the Colossians in verse 6 that their conversation should be “always full of grace, seasoned with salt”. Now in verses 7-14 we see Paul practicing what he preaches as he speaks graciously about his co-workers.

As Paul describes each of his co-workers, notice how he speaks only good things about them to the Colossian church. He calls Tychicus “a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord” (v7-8). He calls Onesimus “our faithful and dear brother” (v9). He says Aristarchus, Mark and Justus are “a comfort” to him (v10-11). When talking about Epaphras, he calls him “a servant of Christ Jesus” who “is always wrestling in prayer for you” (v12) and who is “working hard for you” (v13). He calls Dr. Luke, the one who wrote the gospel of Luke, “our dear friend” (v14).

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You Can Reach People Who Are New To Church

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 4:1-6.   Let’s go!

Colossians 4:1 (NIV)
1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

On verse 1: If you’re a boss who employs others, verse 1 applies to you. Provide your employees with what is right and fair. Don’t take advantage of your employees by low-balling them. Pay them a good, right and fair wage. And why? It’s not just for their good. Even more, it’s because we all have a Master, a boss in heaven who is committed to taking good care of us and who expects us to do the same with those we employ.

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Worshiping God in My Home, My Work and My Studies

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 3:18-25.

Colossians 3:18-21 (NIV)
18  Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
21  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
 
On verses 18-21:  I love the simplicity of this passage.  Verses 18 to 21 show us that we all have a God-given role to play in making the home we live in a happy, healthy, God-honouring one.

On verses 22-25:  Verses 22-25 are verses I’ve tried to apply to my own life when studying and working, and I have benefited as a result. These verses show us that God cares about how we go about our work, whether it’s work we’re doing for pay, work for our family, our studies, or our volunteer work. Jesus wants to be at the centre of our work.

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Do You Have a Life Verse?

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 3:12-17. Some passages don’t need much explanation, just memorization!  Colossians 3:12-17 is one of those passages.  An excellent passage to memorize, I challenge you to memorize it!  You’ll be glad that you did.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

On verses 12-17:  Each of these verses is beautiful and could be a sermon on its own in terms of learning how to do each one.   If you’re wondering how to clothe yourself with virtues like kindness, humility, and gentleness (v12), check out our Sweeter Than Honey relationship series from 2017.  If you’re wondering how to do what verses 13-16 tell us to do, sign up for the next term of Thrive Discipleship School Level 2: Growing in Your Relationship with God.

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How to Put a Bad Habit to Death

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 3:1-11.  Let’s go!

Colossians 3:1-10 (NIV)
1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

On verses 1-10:  Yesterday we learned from Colossians 2:16-23 that our focus needs to be on Jesus, not on our own effort.  If that’s the case, should we still bother trying to become more holy, or trying to have a GAME time, or trying to go to church or small group? Yes, absolutely.  Paul is not saying “don’t work at all on your relationship with God” or “don’t try to grow spiritually”. He’s saying spend your effort and time on what really matters, which is becoming more like Christ. 

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