Category: Sermons
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True Hearing
1 Thessalonians 2:13 As Paul returns to thanksgiving, he commends the Thessalonians for how they heard the word. When he came preaching, they leaned forward and listened with faith and made application of the word to their lives because they believed what they heard was from God and not from men. This message explores the…
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Shepherds, Not Ranchers
1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 Some contemporary church growth gurus argue that the shepherding manner of ministry must be exchanged for the concept of a rancher. They say that ranchers are better for church growth because they are not caught up in the fray of servant ministry; instead, they are visionaries, leaders, motivators, and change agents. But…
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Faithful Preaching
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 Advocates of the contemporary model of preaching argue that the impact of secularism and social media means that the traditional preaching model won’t connect to 21st century audiences. To bridge that gap between preaching and the modern audience, preachers need to be funny and likable and preach practical sermons. Paul’s seems to…
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True Conversion
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 Conversion testimonies are of two kinds: tedious or edifying. What makes the difference between these is authenticity. True conversion stories don’t have to be dramatic or spectacular; all they need to be is genuine. The story of the Thessalonian’s conversion is one which stands out as remarkable for its simplicity and truth…
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Persevering in the Word
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 Though the Thessalonian church was young in Christ, it was mature in faith. Paul commends these new Christians for their unyielding commitment to Christ and Scripture. In spite of intense trials, they persevered in the word with joy. Their example was so unmistakable that the testimony of their faithfulness radiated far and…