Category: 1 Thessalonians

Church Community Conduct on Feelings, Emotions, and Thoughts

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-18

Main Idea:

Focusing on verse 11, specifically “just as in fact you are doing.” This means that their church during that time was already “encouraging and building each other up.” A good question may be, “Am I encouraging or building someone up?” “Am I being a source of encouragement?” An excellent way to encourage a dear brother and sister is to show up every Sunday.

In our Fresh Encounter series, we are being encouraged to share our testimonies, teaching us to confess our sins, repent, and embrace restoration. One of the good biblical practices they taught was public confession and repentance (in a small group context).

The Struggle: But there seems to be a struggle. First, we are shy or ashamed of what we have done. Second, unaware of feelings and mix up our intentions; third, we do not see feelings as a signal indicator in order to sustain a relationship (e.g., Feelings are like a fuse; it tells us that there is something wrong with the circuit). Fourth, we repress or suppress and ignore these feelings.

The Means: When the early church was experiencing persecutions, injustices, and oppression, they were not only struggling physically and spiritually but also emotionally, mentally, and holistically. I said “holistically” because our emotions have a physiological aspect. It is what psychologists and medical personnel call “psychosomatic” – a physical symptom caused by an emotional or psychological condition.

The method to control our feelings is to be aware of them and to experience them consciously. Then we can control the behavior flowing from the feelings.

  • Anger – we want to fight physically or verbally (Breathe faster; our heart beats faster; sensation of heat)
  • Fearful – have the desire to run away (The mouth becomes dry; feels cold; palms are sweating
  • Hurt – we withdraw or regress (Crying, expressing pain through tears)
  • Trust – comfortable with someone (Willing to be vulnerable; openness)
  • Love – warm glow in our body (Love is a fulfillment of all these other feelings.)

The Value: The passage encourages and sets a standard for communal accountability. There is a value in sharing our feelings, struggles, and emotions with one another. Read verses 12-18. Deep communication makes our ministry effective because it enables us to deal with our feelings before we attempt to minister to others’ feelings, as stated by G. Niklas.

Conclusion:

Apostle Paul today (sermon today) and Apostle Peter last week (sermon last week) show us that emotions, feelings, and mental well-being are essential aspects of a Christian community, both individual and church life. You may ask, “where is Jesus in here?” First, last week, we explored that there is hope in Christ. Christ redeemed these parts of our life as well. Lastly, Christ himself as fully God-Man has heart, soul, and mind (next week’s topic).

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
August 21, 2022

Remember Who You Are

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (16)

Introduction:

“God, Creator of all things, give me first of all the grace to pray to you properly; then make me worthy of being heard; and, finally, deliver me… God, to withdraw from You is to fall. To turn to You is to rise up. To remain in You is to be firm. God, to depart from You is to die. To return to You is to be revived. To dwell in You is to live. God, whom no one loses except by deceit, whom no one seeks except by being called, and whom no one finds except by being purified.” ~ St. Augustine

Background:

As we learned last week, it was in Thessalonica where Paul stayed when they were imprisoned and forced to escape from Philippi. However, it was only when he was already in Corinth that he wrote this letter to the local church members in Thessalonica as a thanksgiving, encouragement, and a reminder of the second coming of Christ.

Let me pause for a while. Many times, we speak about the second coming of Christ especially when the Covid pandemic happened, and now the Monkeypox. Indeed, I am eagerly waiting for His return. But if the Lord tarries his return in His will, may we not ignore proclaiming the first coming of Christ, his incarnation, the beginning of the gospel of Chris, our Good News, and hope. Both the first and second coming of Christ must have room in our hearts.

Main Idea:

Perseverance – Paul started saying, in verse 2, that they have endured and persevered the struggle that they experienced when they were with them. Because even in Thessalonica, there were Jews who despised them for teaching another form of religion (Acts 17:5) and accusing them of proclaiming another king other than King Caesar (v. 7). Yet with all these accusations, a mob formed for a riot and dragging their brothers in Christ to the city officials, Paul together with others remembered who they were in Christ; they kept their Christlike character, endured, and showed meekness.

Perseverance is doing something with dedication despite facing challenges. Alongside perseverance is endurance. As Christians, remembering who we are is exemplifying both perseverance and endurance in our lives. Endure because Christ endured. Hebrews 12:3, “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Then in verse 7, “Endure hardship as discipline.”

Every time you will encounter hardships, persecutions, or even temptations, always remind yourself that you are, first and foremost, God’s child and that you are a Christ follower. Would the people in Thessalonica be encouraged to follow Christ if they saw Paul, Silas, and Timothy showing an “unbecoming” Christlike character? Always ask yourself, “Am I reflecting Christ in this decision? Or actions?” Even in your words, the Psalmist David says, “My lips will glorify you” (Ps 63:3). If there’s nothing good to say, or if it will only cause someone to stumble, better yet to keep quiet.

Article 133. Conduct Unbecoming an officer and a gentleman: Any commissioned officer, cadet, or midshipman who is convicted of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. (United States Uniform Code of Military Justice 10-933) or shall be dismissed for UK British Armed Forces.

In the passage, what are the unbecoming Christlike characters: impure motives, mischief or trying to trick others including manipulation and coercion, pleasing others for the sake of being liked, flattery or empty words including giving false hopes or sugar-coated sermons like the prosperity gospel, greed, putting on a mask means having a personal agenda, and having a divisive spirit. Paul, in another case, reminded the church in Rome, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.” (Romans 16:17-18) And again in Titus 3:10, “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.”

Again, in your actions, speech, and thoughts always remember who you are. In our passage, before I end, let us check several characteristics of a true Christian.

In verses, 7 onwards: (1) Caring — like a nursing mother cares for their children. (2) Loving, (3) persevering, enduring, (4) holy and righteous (blameless), (5) encouraging and comforting like a father, (6) grateful, (7) accepting and obeying God’s word, (8) imitators of Christ, (9) sufferers with Christ and his church, and (10) redemptive or missional. The ultimate joy and hope of Paul and others are to see the members of the church living a Christlike character. Again, remember who you are.

Conclusion:

Let me end with Paul’s description of a True Christian—those who are made alive in Christ—in Colossians 3:12-17, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
July 31, 2022

Gospel Supremacy

Posted on by Union Community Bible Church

 

 

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10

Introduction/ Background:

Written by Paul for the church at Thessalonica (modern-day Greece) in 50-51 AD. Paul with Timothy and Silas planted a church in Philippi. They were imprisoned because of some conflicts with other Jewish leaders and Gentile hearers. After their escape, they arrived in Thessalonica and started another Christian community at Jason’s household. However, the persecutors of Paul followed them there with some mob. This caused Paul to move out to Berea, Athens, and Corinth.

Paul’s aim is to give thanks and encourage the church at Thessalonica for standing firm in the gospel of Christ. Moreover, he emphasized the second coming of Christ in a later chapter of this epistle. In verse 2, the evidence is that he was continuously praying for them (Eph 1:16; Phil 1:3).

Main Idea: 

The supremacy of the gospel of Christ in the lives of the Christians in Thessalonica is known to almost entire Macedonia and other regions of Galatia. The term supremacy means a condition of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status; “the supremacy of the king”, in short, preeminence. What are the supremacy principles of Christian living? Five Principles of Gospel Supremacy in our passage:

Gospel Efficacy (verse 3)

  • 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
  • Efficacy means power, benefit, value

Gospel Assurance (verses 4-5)

  • The “chosenness” does not just pertain to individual salvation but speaks about God choosing his people beyond Israelites, which means, including Gentile converts.
  • The power of the gospel of Christ to convert and transform people’s hearts is not dependent on the preacher’s ability to persuade his audience but grounded in the assurance of the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who seals and illuminates the Word of God in our hearts.
    • Eph 1, “13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

Gospel Endurance (verse 6)

  • “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.” Philippians 1:29-30 (cf. Acts 16)
  • “… These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” Acts 17:6-7.

Gospel Expression (verses 7-8)

  • “and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians.” Acts 11:26

Gospel Transformation (verses 9-10)

  • “turned from the idols”
  • “to serve the living and true God.”
  • While waiting for the return of Christ—the first among us and the One who has redeemed us from our iniquities, sin, afflictions, and the impending judgment of God. (Chapters 4-5)

Challenge:

Let us live out the supremacy of the gospel of Christ in our lives. There is an assurance that God would sustain us through the Holy Spirit, our Helper, and Sanctifier.

 

Ptr. John Paul Arceno
UCBC New Jersey
July 24, 2022