This was one of those short sections I keep talking about. But still powerful. Here are some things that caught my attention in this LISTENing:
- The content of these two letters is amazing since Paul spent only about 3 weeks with them. These are also the first two letters from Paul that we know of.
- Many preachers have discredited the Thessalonians’ reception of Paul’s message because of Luke’s comment about the Bereans. Based on these comments, though, I think Paul would disagree.
- What an interesting comment I’ve never seen before: “The Jews have always gone too far with their sins.” (Note that this is a religious remark, not an ethnic or racial remark. Paul was a Jew, too.)
- Leaders find it an awesome thing when their people get it; it energizes them
- Following Christ is more than just believing – it’s obeying too
- Just like he did in Colossians, Paul lists a couple of things to remember in order to have a good reputation with outsiders
- When we have a proper view of the end times, we will know without a doubt that “God does not intend to punish us“. Many who teach about the end times believe that Christ-followers from our age will have to suffer at least a little bit. I don’t see that in Scripture.
- How can you show respect and love for your leaders? افضل طريقة للربح في الروليت Try to get along with each other
- “The one who chose you can be trusted” – enough said
- Paul is consistently tying action together tightly with faith. Like two sides of the same coin, you can’t have one without the other. It has to be both or neither.
- Don’t miss this – it’s the answer to a huge, widely-asked theological question. God doesn’t make people not believe, but when they choose to not believe, he does not hesitate to punish them as an example, so that others will choose to believe.