1 Thessalonians 5:14-18. This is the last lesson in our series going through 1 Thessalonians. Rather than focusing on every verse to close out ch. 5, this lesson places all attention on those 5 verses. You could say today&apos;s text is full of "rapid-fire, short impactful statements." How are we growing spiritually from year to year? There may be small, subtle changes in our spiritual growth, but if you take a look at our lives in chunks of 5-years at a time, how have we grown? One way to measure our spiritual growth is to examine ourselves with 1 These. 5:14-18. 

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Until He Comes: Invest in Spiritual Growth (Jody Garner)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 is our main text for this sermon. This deals with the certainty of the second coming of Christ and the uncertainty of when it will happen. I believe that Paul (Silas & Timothy) are answering a question/fear that the church in Thessalonica had: what will happen to those who have died before Jesus came back? It is unfortunate that there is a chapter division where it is. I believe that Ch. 5 is a continuation of the same subject. Therefore, for this sermon we will study this entire text together in one lesson.

Until He Comes: Ain't No Grave (Jody Garner)

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. We are now moving into the practical part of the letter.  How do we live lives that please God? What if we are already doing that? Well, today&apos;s text tells us not to settle for the status quo. "More and more" is the challenge, keep pressing in and digging deeper. What does "sanctification" mean and how do we live that out and live into it? There are three main focus areas according to our text today, and they are just as applicable in our world as it was 2,000 years ago.

Until He Comes: Sanctification "More and More" (Jody Garner)

Today we cover 1 Thessalonians 2:17, 18 & then Ch. 3.  The sermon theme is based around the children&apos;s song "This Little Light of Mine." The third verse in this song is "never let Satan put it out." In our text today,  Paul claims that "Satan blocked our way." What does that mean? Is it possible that if Satan blocks one door, God can open another? The main fear that Paul has is whether or not the church in Thessalonica is still shining their light? What do we learn about God&apos;s open doors along the way? 

Until He Comes: Never Let Your Light Go Out (Jody Garner)

1 Thessalonians Ch. 2. In this chapter: 2:1-6 - Paul (& Silas & Timothy) defend their motives in ministryWhat is our motive in following Christ?2:7-12 - They use several family metaphors, why?How are you loving like family?2:13, 14 - Prayer of thanksgiving, side-by-side with a reference to their sufferingWhat are you thankful for? Why do we also go straight to the negative?2:19, 20 - Another reference to the "coming" of Christ

Until He Comes: Motives, Family, Thanksgiving (Jody Garner)

This lesson focuses on 1 Thessalonians Ch. 1. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are co-authors writing to a church that they love dearly. In this chapter we see the impact that this young church was having on other churches both locally and globally. They turned from idols to God. They are imitators (being discipled) and examples (discipling others). They were leaving a "Jesus Sized Footprint." 

Until He Comes: Jesus Sized Footprint (Jody Garner)

Today we being a new series on the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. At the end of each chapter in the first letter, Paul references the "Parousia" (coming of Christ). The major theme in the letter is that Christ is coming again. What does it mean to live in anticipation that Jesus is coming? During this lesson we will spend some time going backwards, back to the origins of this church, found in Acts 17. How does Paul&apos;s experience in Thessalonica impact his attitude towards the people of that city and the church that he loves so dearly? How does it impact what he writes to this congregation? 

Until He Comes: Living in Anticipation (Jody Garner)

Luke 4:1-13. This is our third and final week exploring the "Temptation in the Wilderness" text. Philip Yancey once referred to it as the "Throw-down in the Desert." In this lesson, we explore how to resist temptation the way that Jesus did. Relying on sheer willpower doesn&apos;t seem to work very well, does it? I want to learn to immerse myself into a disciplined spiritual life like Jesus did so that we the tempter comes, the life of God flows out of me in response. 

Resisting Temptation (Jody Garner)

8-8-21 - Togo Missions (Rodney Britt & Leonard Riley)

Matt. 4:1-11. This week we focus on the three temptations in the wilderness and how they compare to the way the devil tempts us today.

Three Temptations (Jody Garner)

Temptation in the Wilderness. Luke 4:1-13. 

Who Are You, Really? (Jody Garner)

Rev. 3:14-22 - The letter to the church in Laodicea 

Dear Churches: I Stand at the Door and Knock (Jody Garner)

Rev. 3:7-13 - the letter to the church in Philadelphia 

Dear Churches: You Have an Open Door (Jody Garner)

Rev. 3:1-6 - the letter to the church in SardisNIV“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.NRSV“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. 3 Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. 4 Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. 6 Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.CEB“Write this to the angel of the church in Sardis:These are the words of the one who holds God’s seven spirits and the seven stars: I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, and you are in fact dead. 2 Wake up and strengthen whatever you have left, teetering on the brink of death, for I’ve found that your works are far from complete in the eyes of my God. 3 So remember what you received and heard. Hold on to it and change your hearts and lives. If you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief, and you won’t know what time I will come upon you. 4 But you do have a few people in Sardis who haven’t stained their clothing. They will walk with me clothed in white because they are worthy. 5 Those who emerge victorious will wear white clothing like this. I won’t scratch out their names from the scroll of life, but will declare their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. 6 If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Dear Churches: Wake Up!!! (Jody Garner)

Rev. 2:18-29 - the letter to the church in Thyatira

Dear Churches: Don't Tolerate Snakes (Jody Garner)

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