“We don't want Idaho to have a bad reputation. This is our home state. We love our home state. It's beautiful. We pride ourselves on our nature. We pride ourselves on our wildlife. And instead, we are continuing to do things that are… that are sickening.” - Ella Driever In 1995, wolves were reintroduced to central Idaho, and in 2003 a Boise High school called Timberline officially adopted a local wolf pack. Throughout the 2000, students went on wolf tracking trips and in their wolf packs range. But in 2021, Idaho's legislature passed Senate Bill 1211, 1211 allows Idaho hunters to obtain an unlimited number of wolf tags, and it also allows Idaho's Department of Fish and Game to use taxpayer dollars to pay private contractors to kill wolves. That means bounties on wolves, including on public lands. And in 2021, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission expanded the wolf hunting season and hunting and trapping methods. So it's not too surprising to learn that also in 2021, the Timberline pack disappeared. The students, the ones that cared about wolves, at least, were devastated. Last summer I went to D.C. with some of the Species Unite team for a wolf rally on Capitol Hill. While I was there, two young women gave a talk about what happened at Timberline in 2021. Their names are Ella Driver and Sneha Sharma. They both graduated from Timberline High School and were there when their wolf pack disappeared. Please, listen and share.…
We all grieve, but Christians grieve differently. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13 1. Grief is good. Grief and faith are friends. 2. Our grief should be accompanied by hope. “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:14 How to Grieve - Don’t bury it. - Do it with others. - Turn to Jesus. How to Minister to the Grieving - Pray - Be present. -Join in their grief. We grieve differently because we live expectantly. “For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'" — Revelation 21:3–4…
God’s will for you is to become more like Christ each day. God’s Secret Will God’s plan that always happens. God’s Revealed Will Something God has already made known in the Bible. “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2 We never stop growing as children of God. “The Christian life is marked by either growth or decay.” — W.E. Vine “For this is the will of God, your sanctification…” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3 God’s will for us in our personal holiness. 1. Our personal holiness includes a strong sexual ethic. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 2. Our personal holiness includes love and good works. “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 Commit to following God’s will. Genuine followers of Jesus hunger for the things of God.…
“By this they will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”— John 13:35 The people of God are marked by a growing love for one another. 1. Biblical community is marked by deep desire. “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 Benefits to Biblical Community: - Friends and family. - To encourage and be encouraged. - Personal holiness and accountability. - Prayer and care. - To build your faith and the faith of others. - Use of gifts and service. - Missions and mobilization. “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.” — 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.” — Psalm 119:67 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.” — Psalm 119:71 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” — Psalm 34:19 2. Biblical community is marked by deep joy. “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, [10] as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” — 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 What will hurt you spiritually when you are walking through struggles (affliction)? - You isolate from God’s people. - You insulate from God’s people. If you isolate and/or insulate, you limit how people who love you can pray for you. 3. Biblical community is marked by growing love. “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”— 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Real life change happens best in meaningful relationships. We will not love one another like this until we understand God’s love for us.…
“I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.” — Psalm 119:162 We wait with purpose when we get in the Word and the Word gets in us. The Bible is our final authority. The goal of the Bible is to transform the heart. “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:13 1. The gospel is a message that must be heard and accepted. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” — Romans 10:14-15 Are we actively sharing the gospel with others? Are we actively sharing the gospel with self? What are some ways we can prepare ourselves to hear and receive the Word? - Prepare for church the night before. - Bring your Bible with you. - Take notes. - Reflect on sermon privately and with family and friends. 2. The gospel is a message that must be valued “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews…” — 1 Thessalonians 2:14 “But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.” — Acts 17:5–9 Get in the Word and let the Word get in you. A daily acceptance of the gospel results in life transformation.…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” — John 11:40 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” — Hebrews 11:6 “For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:9–12 We wait with purpose when we walk in a manner worthy of God. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” — Philippians 1:27 “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” — Ephesians 4:1 “I pray that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” — Colossians 1:9-10 1. An example of Godly conduct. The Christian life is marked by sacrifice. “You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:10 Christians, the way you live will push people toward Jesus or pull them away from Him. 2. An exhortation to behave like a child of God. “For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 Live in submission to the King. Walking in a manner worthy of God is a heart issue. When our hearts are aligned with God, our behaviors naturally follow.…
A true disciple of Jesus finds great delight in making more disciples. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” — 3 John 4 “Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers…” — 1 Thessalonians 1:2 1. A disciple has been transformed by Jesus. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you…” — 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “…because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” — Romans 1:16 True salvation produces obvious results. 2. A disciple imitates the life of Jesus. “And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit…” — 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “…so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 3. A disciple proclaims the story of Jesus. “…so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10…
As sent people, we carry out the mission of King Jesus. 1. Sent people worship King Jesus (vs. 16–17). Matthew 28:16–17 “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.” 2. Sent people submit to King Jesus’s authority (vs. 18). Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” 3. Sent people obey King Jesus’s command (vs. 19–20a). Matthew 28:19-20a “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” - Make Disciples - Go - Baptize - Teach 4. Sent people rest in King Jesus’s presence (vs. 20b). Matthew 28:20b “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”…
يقوم برنامج مشغل أف أم بمسح الويب للحصول على بودكاست عالية الجودة لتستمتع بها الآن. إنه أفضل تطبيق بودكاست ويعمل على أجهزة اندرويد والأيفون والويب. قم بالتسجيل لمزامنة الاشتراكات عبر الأجهزة.