Pastor Brad Franklin brings a message of Hope through 1 Thessalonians.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/N-tjFV2sozY
Sermon Notes:
Context and Intro:
When Paul wrote this letter, he may have been feeling a bit hopeless, like it was going to be impossible for him to get back to the community of Thessalonians. He offered the community a prayer and a blessing as a way to be with them and share his love for them.
He extended his love outward and invited the community to do the same. It seems like the Thessalonian community cherished this letter and kept it safe, since the letter became part of our Biblical canon. Perhaps Paul’s words acted like a balm and a blessing to the community in their time of need.
Our hopes for one another and for the world can be a blessing too. As we move into the rest of this week and through the season of Advent, the theme of hope continues. Who might we share a blessing with this week? Our words, our hopes, and our love just might be the life-saving grace someone else needs to hear.
For example, in John 17:
First, Jesus prays that the Father would protect His church. He not only prays for physical protection, but even more He prays for spiritual protection–that the church’s faith would stay strong after Jesus left them to return to His Father (17:11).
Second, Jesus prays for His church to be sanctified…that they would be made holy; that they would know the truth of God and reflect the glory of God on earth (17:17,19).
Third, Jesus prays for those who will believe through the message of the disciples (17:20).
Jesus prays that his church will grow and that many people in all the earth will come to know Him through the faithful ministry of all His disciples.
Pray:
Lord, I’m facing an impossible situation and I need You. Give me strength and faith to come to you earnestly, knowing you’re a Good Father.
