Sunday, May 26, 2013 - Memorial Weekend

Sunday School

1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

• Christians are afflicted, persecuted, have trials and tribulations but they are momentary because the victory is already ours. (John 16:33 - "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.")
• The Thessalonians were new Christians so Paul wanted to revisit them but was unable to do so. I send Timothy along with a letter to encourage them to be steadfast even though their own people would more than likely turn against them.
• Paul spoke about the three progressions to the Word of God - 1. Some receive it with joy but if they don't get a firm foundation, persecution kills their faith; 2. Others begin to grow, but worldly concerns, desires for pleasure, riches and other things choke them out and make them unfruitful; 3. But the third grow correctly bearing fruit and multiply.
• Paul urged them and reminded them to dawn the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17). Their struggles are not against flesh and blood but against Satan.
• Thessalonians were praised for their labor of love. They loved God and served Him diligently.
• We are to be good witnesses for the love of Christ.
• Everything is received through the knowledge of Him!

Sermon

Mark 2:1-5
v1. A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that He had come home.
v2. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the Word to them.
v3. Some men came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.
v4. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
v5. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

 

Subject: When The Lord Is In Our Midst

• Many tend to perform for God, dancing and shouting as a show
• The church is not just a place to hang out.
• We should come to worship God in group support

When God is in the midst....... 1. Don't keep it to yourself - Tell everyone about the goodness of the Lord. If God has touched you, healed you, spoken to you through the Holy Spirit, tell about it. Don't keep God a secret.   2. God speaks to us through the Word. In quiet times we find peace and joy in the Word. As we know, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.  God spoke to Moses, Paul and Saul, to name a few, and once God speaks to you, your life will never be the same.  3.  He sets the captives free. When Jesus died and rose with all power, we were freed.
 
(Ephesians 3:20-21) Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and every. Amen.