God's Word isn't just a collection of wise sayings—it’s alive, powerful, and confrontational. In this episode, we dive into 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 to explore how Scripture doesn’t merely inform us—it exposes us. From heartfelt conversion to outright rejection, everyone ultimately has to deal with the truth of God’s Word. Are you willing to submit to what it reveals in you?
--
The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.
Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.
Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.
Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.
Donate Now
--
Title: The Power of God’s Word (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16)
This week:
- God’s Word doesn’t just inform you—it exposes you.
- Whether you believe it or not, the Word of God will reveal what’s really going on inside.
- You can run, but you can’t hide from God’s Word.
- The power of God’s Word
- Specifically, how it can expose you
- Whether you believe or not, what’s really going on inside you
- I meet with people all the time, and I can’t always tell where they stand
- Some of you might say, “I don’t know myself!”
- But here’s what we can say for sure:
- God’s Word will eventually expose everyone
- You can run, but you can’t hide from God’s word.
- Our key verse actually comes from another book of the Bible
- Hebrews, author unknown (possibly Apollos)
- Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
- God’s word draws a line in the sand
- Are you willing to submit to God?
- We’ll see this in action in our text today
- Start with our question:
- Q. When was the last time God’s Word exposed something in you?
- Reading the Bible, finding something objectionable
- Ex: Kenzie reading the Bible in high school…
- Or listening to a sermon…
1 Thessalonians 2:13a Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is.
- Pay attention to two words here
- Received = paralabontes
- (Pillar New Testament Commentary) The reception of teachings from a teacher by a student was commonly described using the word employed here (paralabontes)... as in the case of Alexander the Great, who "received from his master [Aristotle] his ethical and political doctrines"...
- Intellectual assent
- Accepted = edexasthe
- (Pillar New Testament Commentary) While accepted (edexasthe) is almost synonymous with received of the previous clause, the verb commonly places more emphasis on personal appropriation. In other words, they solemnly received the sacred message and appropriated it for themselves.
- Not just head level, but heart level
- Gut-level belief
- IOW Paul is describing their
