Tag: Paul Silas Timothy

1 Thessalonians, The Daily Word1 Comment

The Preaching of the Word of God Is the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

georgepwood

Every Sunday, Christians gather in churches across the globe to worship God. That worship includes singing, praying, baptizing new believers, receiving communion, and exercising spiritual gifts. One of those spiritual gifts is preaching, to which much of the service is given over. Why is preaching so important to Christian worship? Indeed, what is preaching? Paul, Silas, and Timothy answer both questions in 1 Thessalonians 2:13: 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 … Continue reading The Preaching of the Word of God Is the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

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As a Nursing Mother Cares for Her Children (1 Thessalonians 2:7b–8)

georgepwood

Paul, Silas, and Timothy used three metaphors to describe how they acted toward the Thessalonian believers: “young children” (1 Thes. 2:7a), “nursing mother” (v. 7b), and “father” (v. 11). Each of these emphasizes one aspect of the missionaries’ behavior. “Young children” emphasizes innocence. “Nursing mother” emphasizes the missionaries’ in-it-together-ness with the Thessalonians. And “father” emphasizes the goals they were trying to accomplish. I recognize that discussion about sex roles in America is contested ground, so I want to tread lightly on the differences between mothers and fathers. Nevertheless, it seems to me that that there is a basic difference between … Continue reading As a Nursing Mother Cares for Her Children (1 Thessalonians 2:7b–8)

1 Thessalonians, The Daily Word1 Comment

Don’t Let Your Life Refute Christ’s Message! (1 Thessalonians 2:3–7a)

georgepwood

The problem with Christianity is not Christianity—let alone Christ!—but Christians. Our walk too often undermines our talk. Our faults cast our faith in a negative light. We rightly strive to defend the truth of the evangel, but that effort comes to little when we evangelists are not trustworthy. This is not a new problem. It seems that some of the Thessalonians entertained doubts about Paul, Silas, and Timothy. They believed in Jesus Christ with “deep conviction,” and their faith became “known everywhere” (1 Thes. 1:5,8). But because the missionaries left Thessalonica just as the believers there started to experience persecution … Continue reading Don’t Let Your Life Refute Christ’s Message! (1 Thessalonians 2:3–7a)

1 Thessalonians, The Daily Word8 Comments

With the Help of God they Dare… (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

georgepwood

On December 23, 2011, the Iranian Intelligence Agency raided an Assemblies of God church in Ahvaz during a worship service. Church members, including children, were arrested, detained, and interrogated. Hours later, most of the members were released. As of today, however, Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh, his wife, Shahnaz Jizani,  and church members Naser Zamen-Dezfuli and Davoud Alijani are still under arrest. Their location and condition are not known. Another Christian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, has been in prison since 2009. Tried and convicted for apostasy because he converted from Islam to Christianity as a teenager, Nadarkhani sits in jail with a death sentence … Continue reading With the Help of God they Dare… (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)

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Receiving, Turning, and Waiting (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10)

georgepwood

In 1 Thessalonians 1:8–10, Paul, Silas, and Timothy praise the Thessalonian believers for their faith, which had become well known through the region: The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming … Continue reading Receiving, Turning, and Waiting (1 Thessalonians 1:8–10)