17 June 2018
Two-Minute Features | 24 June 2018 | 10 June 2018

Paul Equates God the Father with God the Son (TMF:915)

Friday, June 22, 2018
Peace to Live By: Paul Equates God the Father with God the Son (TMF:915) - Daniel Litton
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       It is important to note also that Paul equated God the Father and God the Son here, by using the word “and” to combine them as one in his first sentence to the church. This brings to mind the scene of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemene right before his crucifixion, which is recorded in John 17. Remember, he said to God the Father concerning his disciples, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17, ESV). The Word of God, the Truth of the Word, is what makes the church become sanctified, that is, more and more like Jesus himself. The same fellowship that was shared between God the Father and God the Son was to be shared between God and believers in God, for Jesus said: “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:22, 23, ESV).

The Thessalonians Were an Obedient Church (TMF:914)

Thursday, June 21, 2018
Peace to Live By: The Thessalonians Were an Obedient Church (TMF:914) - Daniel Litton
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       1 Thessalonians 1:1: “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (ESV). Interestingly enough, Paul doesn’t give himself a title with his name when starting this letter to the church in Thessalonica, like that of ‘Apostle.’ He gives a less formal greeting which is more personable. And so it becomes clear that Paul has a special place in his heart for this church. And it’s probably because of their obedience in everything he and his companions had taught them and showed them when they had shared the Gospel with them sometime before this. Paul knew, as we will see in the next verse, that their love was genuine. And this church, like any good and growing church should do, had held fast to the Word of God. They had not shifted from the Gospel which had been presented to them. This undoubtedly made Paul proud of them. It is important to note also that Paul equated God the Father and God the Son here, by using the word “and” to combine them as one in his first sentence to the church.

Intro to The Model Church of the Thessalonians (TMF:913)

Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Peace to Live By: Intro to The Model Church of the Thessalonians (TMF:913) - Daniel Litton
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       We often nowadays as Christians, both those employed by a church and those who are not, consider how churches are to function, and what a church should look like in its functioning. Unfortunately, there seems to be a continuous debate over what a church should do, that is, how it should manage its time—what activities it should participate in, and what each individual member should be devoting his or her time toward. The Church at Thessalonica was a church that had all things together, and those who were part of it were focusing on the right things. Paul praised them for that. There are multiple facets and qualities that should be part of any growing and thriving church, these qualities of which the church in Thessalonica modeled. They are in order as they appear, and are as follows: 1) Great faith, 2) Works of love, 3) Waits for the return of Jesus, 4) Becomes imitators of good human examples, 5) Believes and continues despite persecution, 6) Becomes an example to other churches, 7) Becomes disciple-makers, and 8) Believes only in the True God.

Death Has No Victory Over the Christian (TMF:912)

Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Peace to Live By: Death Has No Victory Over the Christian (TMF:912) - Daniel Litton
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       By believing in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins, we can be made right with God today. Jesus rose from the dead to give us new life. And he will be on our sides. There is no fear of anything really after that. Death has no victory over us because if we die, we just go to Heaven and are safe with him. If eternal life is something you would like today, and you do want to believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of our offenses against God, then please follow my lead in this simple prayer: God, I believe that I am currently separated from you. I don’t have a personal relationship with you. But I know that by believing in Jesus, by counting on the blood he shed for my offenses, that I can be made right with you today. And I want to be right with you. So, I believe that Jesus died for me, that he rose from the dead, and that today he is with you in Heaven. I want you to be my Leader from now on; I want to follow your ways, which are the right ways. Father, please help me to change, and to become like your Son, Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

God Loves Everyone in the World (TMF:911)

Monday, June 18, 2018
Peace to Live By: God Loves Everyone in the World (TMF:911) - Daniel Litton
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       Remember, we discussed the fact that God is not a mean killjoy of a God. No, he is kind, being the one who has given us our lives, everything we have, and he wants to continue to bless our lives. He wants more blessings in them now, and the wants to give us good things in the future. Many of these things we will see in this life, and many of the good things we will get will be in the next life—in eternity. You see, God loves everyone in the world. The Bible says that he loved the world so much that he sent Jesus, his Son, to die on the cross so that anyone can have a personal relationship with him. Because we all have sin in us, we all from birth were separated from God. But through Jesus, we no longer have to be separated and estranged from God. By believing in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins, the wrongs we’ve done in our lives, we can be made right with God today. Jesus rose from the dead to give us new life. And he will be on our sides. There is no fear of anything really after that.