Prepare Series Part 1
Preached at Minden Baptist Church
(3/4/2016 → 17/7/2016)
There is no greater joy than seeing a local church born. The church was born in Thessalonica in Macedonia as a result of a call from a man in a vision.
Ever heard of the saying if you find a perfect church then don’t join it, because if you do then it won’t be perfect? This is because local churches are made up of human beings and we are not perfect. No church is perfect but Paul loved the Thessalonian church and at least four times in the letter he gives thanks for them. It seems like the Thessalonian church was the good news church. It was full of people who loved to share their faith – what I call spiritual ninjas. Ninjas don’t sleep at the job. Imagine a church full of spiritual ninjas.
There is nothing that can stand in the way of the church advancing, not even the gates of hell although the gates of hell would like to stand in the way.
The Thessalonian church was on a main highway, the Ignatian Highway. It was a main stop for travellers. It was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and it had a strong Jewish community among its population of 200,000 in the day. Even as late as World War II there was a Jewish community of about 60,000 which was deported and exterminated.
The church at Thessalonica was born in hostility. There are many hot springs at this place originally called Therma and it was kind of like a resort town. A beautiful climate, hot pools, a centre of education and culture.
Attached Files
| File | Action |
|---|---|
| 1. Acts 17:1-9 "A ninja church is born" | Download |
| 2. 1 Thess. 1:1-5 "The church that is real" | Download |
| 3. 1 Thess. 1:6-10 "The church that is an example" | Download |
| 4. 1 Thess. 2:1-6 "Leadership fails of the unprepared church" | Download |
| 5. 1 Thess. 2:7-12 "Leadership qualities of the prepared church" | Download |
| 6. 1 Thess. 2:13-16 "Welcome the Word of God into your life" | Download |
| 7. 1 Thess. 2:17-20 "There will be reward for our faithfulness" | Download |
| 8. 1 Thess. 3:1-8 "God sends us everything we need to prepare us" | Download |
| 9. 1 Thess. 3:9-13 "Three ways to help new Christians" | Download |
| 10. 1 Thess. 4:1-8 "The pursuit of holiness" | Download |
| 11. 1 Thess. 4:9-12 "The power of a good testimony" | Download |
| 12. 1 Thess. 4:13-18 "The return of Jesus" | Download |
| 13. 1 Thess. 5:1-11 "The day of the Lord" | Download |
| 14. 1 Thess. 5:12-14 "Exhortations for the church" | Download |
| 15. 1 Thess. 5:15-28 "Final instructions" | Download |
