Category: 1 Thessalonians

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Every one of the people of God had a place in the Promised Land – that place where God would walk and talk with His people again. Consider too the importance of family faith. It is Caleb’s nephew Othniel who becomes his heir and Israel’s first Judge after Joshua dies.

SJA Notes

* Dear God, prove us and try us, test our hearts and our minds – Your steadfast love is before our eyes, we walk in Your faithfulness.

“… Because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.”

Caleb loved the Lord, he walked in His God’s faithfulness.

Caleb was hale and hearty at eighty-five years old, strong as at forty – strong for war!

But that is not what recommends him.

Caleb was singular in his devotion. He chose to follow the Lord instead of man, he chose to trust in God’s power instead of wallowing in the fear of man.

Caleb was faithful in little and in much.

He wholly followed the Lord.

Can this be said of us?

It is a good example to encourage us onwards.

Choose the Lord today, choose Him and the life He brings!

* Lord God Above,

Thank You for the witness of Caleb.

Please help us to be singular in our devotion of You, rejecting idolatry in all its forms.

Thank You for the hope we have in Jesus, eternal life, and life to the full!

Thank You Lord!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Paul reminds these people of the disturbing events of his imprisonment and beating at Philippi (another city of Macedonia), and of the validity of his apostleship. Grumblings and murmurings appear to be an ever-present evil amongst God’s people, but one to be resisted and overcome. How?

SJA Notes

* Dear Lord God, thank You for Your word. Please open our hearts to listen and obey today.

“But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.”

“For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to talk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

Paul uses two wonderful images here.

One is the gentleness of a mother with her young children, nursing them. The other is a father exhorting and encouraging his children.

These are both used to describe what he (Paul) and others did in bring the good news to the Thessalonian church.

It is important for us to remember that both of these sets of characteristics and found in the preaching of the gospel. Gentleness alongside encouragement and exhortation.

* Gracious Father in Heaven,

Thank You for Your word.

Thank You that it shows us how we are to act.

Thank You for the example set in today’s passage of building up and encouraging a church family.

Please help us to be gentle among one another, exhorting and encouraging each other.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

This city is called Salonika today and is in Macedonia. It was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. These are the people of Alexander the Great. Read Acts 17:1-9. These people were one focus for Paul’s prayers. What should we pray for each other?

SJA Notes

* God of Light and Love, thank You for Your mercy to us seen best of all in Jesus. Please teach us today.

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, …”

Today’s passage has a good practical reminder for our prayer lives.

Sometimes we can get caught up in praying through lists, items for this person or that family.

Paul encourages us here in the GIVING OF THANKS.

Thanksgiving, being thankful, has benefit across many areas of life, including our spiritual health.

And Paul highlights here the pattern of giving thanks in our prayers for others!

Let’s do that now.

* Father God,

Thank You for the pattern and faith of believers that is etched on our hearts, those close to us here on earth, and those dearly departed to be with You.

Thank You for the work of Your people across this world.

Thank You for our church families.

Please help us to be a continually thankful people, both to You as our Creator and Sustainer God, and for those of Your people around us and in our lives.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.