It Starts Small

Category: 1 Thessalonians

  • Rejoice. Joy. Pray.

    The text encourages unwavering joy, continuous prayer, and gratitude in all circumstances as essential aspects of faith. It emphasizes reliance on God for true joy amidst life’s challenges and stresses the importance of spiritual discernment and community support. Ultimately, believers are reminded to embrace God’s unwavering faithfulness and love.

  • {Thief in the Night}

    The arrival of the Lord is likened to a thief in the night, emphasizing urgency and vigilance among followers of Christ. This imagery warns of sudden divine judgment for the unprepared, contrasting it with the joyous rapture, which offers hope and blessings rather than fear. Understanding this distinction is crucial…

  • Jesus’ Eminent Return

    In 1 Thessalonians 4:16, Paul emphasizes the anticipated return of Jesus Christ, expressing optimism that he would be alive to witness it. While early Christians expected this event imminently, later writings indicate a shift towards patience. Today, the hope for Christ’s return remains a vital inspiration, reflected in worship and…

  • Understanding the Day of the Lord: A Call to Vigilance

    The passage emphasizes the certainty of the Day of the Lord, which will arrive unexpectedly, much like a thief in the night. Believers are encouraged to remain vigilant and prepared, as they are children of the light, promised salvation through Christ. Paul urges the community to support one another in…

  • Caught Up!

    This passage emphasizes the hope for believers regarding life after death and the imminent return of Jesus, encouraging preparedness for the rapture. Paul reassures that the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by the living believers. This monumental event brings comfort, urging believers to share the gospel and inspire…

  • Striving for Excellence in Everyday Life

    9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it…

  • Freedom from Sexual Immorality: A Biblical Perspective

    Paul urges believers to live in a way that pleases God, emphasizing sanctification and avoidance of sexual immorality. He stresses the importance of controlling desires and caring for others, warning that rejection of these teachings equates to rejecting God. Ultimately, the call is to embrace holiness and honor divine guidelines…

  • The Importance of Following Up with New Believers

    3 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 co-worker in God’s service 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. For you…

  • Paul’s Passion: Love Across Distances

    17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is…

  • How the Thessalonians Became Imitators of Faith

    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 a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s…