Month: March 2009

Responsibility…what’s that? Responsibility, not quite yet!

Rob Woodrum1 Comment

Running late this week, per usual.  Don’t forget that Burning House is this Sunday…and Save the Ship will be leading worship and providing original music!  Do NOT miss this.

This Sunday we’ll be finishing up our teaching in 1&2 Thessalonians…and we’ll be reading 2 Thes 3:6-18. (Also in The Message)

It appears as though end time fever got the best of some of the people in Thessalonica…and they quit showing up to work and just sat around looking for Jesus to come back.  Every met anyone like that?  Ever done that yourself?  I heard a phrase once, that said “Live as though it were your last moment on earth, but plan as though you’ll be here 100 more years.”….or something like that.  I actually used that very unromantic phrase when I proposed to Robbie…but that’s a whole ‘nother story.

In reading these verses, we should tie v6 to v14-15, because those latter two revisit what is said in v6.  How do you interpret what Paul is saying there…and even more, how would you actually carry that out in real life?

Paul uses himself as and example in v7-9.  What do we learn from his example?

In v10-13, Paul makes a two fold challenge…one is to the slackers…the other is to those who have been trying their best to do the good that endures.  What is the message to these two groups?

He finishes it all off reminding of something very encoruaging…v16….what is it?

See you guys Sunday…and don’t forget to make room for Burning House!

“Priorities Under Pressure”

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When times are hard, and life seems to have the pressure set at “11”, it’s easy sometimes to forget what comes first.  I know in my own experiences, whenever there’s a problem, I have a tendency to fixate on that problem, and treat it as though it’s the most important thing in the world, until it gets solved.  But is that the right procedure for handling life’s difficulties?

We’re going to continue our study in 2 Thessalonians, and read v1-5 of chapter 3.  (In the Message)

In the first verse, Paul asks the Thessalonians to do something…pray.  What does that tell us about our priorities during times of stress?  What obstacles are in our way to praying?

Combining v1-2…what does Paul ask them to pray about?  What does THAT tell us about our priorities in life?  What is the most important thing in the world for the Christ follower?

In v3-4, Paul expresses his confidence in God, that he will continue doing his work in the people of the Thessalonian church.  Based on what he says, what else is our priority as a Christ follower?

Finally, v5 has Paul praying for them again.  Its a neat kind of rhythm to this…like breathing, or a heartbeat, how the prayer goes from one to the other.  What is his final request for the Christians there?  What is OUR priority, based on his hope for them?

Stuff to ponder.

Hanging in There

Rob Woodrum7 Comments

Ever need a good pep talk?  Clearly, Peyton Manning is probably not the place to start looking for one, but all of us need a good encouraging word now and anon.

This Sunday we’ll be looking at 2 Thes 2:13-16 (and in the Message), and I believe that’s what Paul is doing with his closing thoughts to the church in Thessalonica…giving them a pep talk.  Mind you, it’s a pep talk that’s pretty deep and rife with theological implications that have been studied and debated for 2,000 years…but a pep talk none the  less.  In a way, Paul is saying “look, I know that times are hard for you, and people keep predicting the end of the world for you…but hang in there.”  Then he gives them some reasons and ways to hang on.

In v13-14, Paul sets up the foundational encouragement for them.  What do you get as encouragement from these two verses?  Based on these verses, what can you remind yourself of when times are tough and you need something to hang on to?

V15 gives us a straightforward encouragement to do something in our “hanging on”.  What is it?  What do you think Paul is talking about, and how would we apply it to our day and age?

V16-17 tells us that God is the source of something to us?  What is it?  What should it result in concerning our state of mind and heart?

Ok…stuff to chew on.  We’ll talk about it more on Sunday.

Don’t Believe the Rumors

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Whoops!  Had some skin cancer removed this week…and I’m such a weenie about it, it threw my whole schedule off.  Sorry about that.

Sunday we’ll be reading 2 thes 2:1-12 (the Message)

Once again, Paul is trying to calm the Thessalonians down after they’ve been zapped with end-time fever.  What is it that they are afraid has happened?  Have you ever felt left out of something…if so, what emotions did it inspire in you?  What does Paul do to calm them down…what does he encourage?  As you read the whole 12 verses…who has the upper hand in the events that are going to one day unfold?  What is there in this that can encourage a Christian who is concerned about the end of the age?

See you Sunday.