1 Thessalonians 4

What is your ambition in life? Tom Norvell shares with us some insights from 1 Thessalonians and how to life a quiet life and honor God and win the hearts of outsiders.

"Dear Father, sanctifier of families, Help us to learn how we ought to live and how we ought to please you. Help us give greater attention and effort...."

Most folks just don't want to think about this, but they're going to have to do so! Paul Faulkner reminds us that funerals are great times for us to face the reality of our final destination.

It's not too late to mend that relationship in the Lord. The greatest joy is knowing that we will see each other again!

Can you be sure you will see them again?

"Dear Disciple, In his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians, Paul wrapped his teaching on My coming back in glory — which we will..."

"For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each..."

Why do we try to change God's standards? Max Lucado reminds us that God's holiness standards do not change and that we must not compromise on what we feel called to do.

Is she offering more than just conversation over a cup of coffee? Can a man be expected to resist when things are so easy?

"We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord....."

"Dear Father, perfecter of our love, Don't ever let us disregard you or your Holy Spirit, which you give us. Give us perfect love for our brothers and..."

Do I really believe this stuff? Phil Ware shares another message in his Light on the Dark Side of the Mountain series, focusing on Abraham, Jesus, the dirt, the hole, the tree, and the question.

What kind of hope do you have? We don't grieve as those who have no hope because we have great hope in Jesus' resurrection.

Can you wait until he returns? A child waiting for morning and mommy reminds us that we are waiting for Jesus' return.

How do we survive in a place and time like this? Phil Ware talks about being stuck in the Land of In-between and how hard it is and some core ideas to take with you as you find yourself in that kind of place.

"Dear Father, who lifts our spirits, According to your teaching, we look for the Lord himself to descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the....."

"Dear Father, comforter of the bereaved, On the death of our dear loved ones in Christ, may we comfort one another with thoughts of a glorious..."

Can Jesus really promise us that we will never die? Phil Ware continues his "I Doubt It" series focused today on Jesus' promise to Mary that those who believe in him will never die.

Do you ever long for someone who has gone home before you? Phil Ware reminisces about his father's death and the years that have gone by and the reasons things happen and how we will know it all at the end of the Road, just like Amy Grant sings.

Christmas isn't over; it has only just begun if we recognize that it is our job, together, to be Jesus to the world! Phil Ware finishes his series on "Give Me Jesus" focusing on our role as his people to be his presence to the world.

What's your ultimate destination? Russ Lawson reminds us that we will all have a final flight and we want to make sure the destination is the good one, God!

What will they sing when you are gone? We miss our loved ones when they die, but we can live in such a way to make sure that we see them again.

Should this interfere with us being intimate? Joe Beam answers a question about low sexual desire after a heart attack and what a wife should do in this situation.

"Dear Fellow Heir of Glory, As God's child and as My younger sibling in the Father's family of grace, you are an heir of glory. The glory that I enjoy..."

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the..."

"The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will...."

"For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy..."

"Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are...."

"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is...."

"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting....."

"Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by [Paul's instructions] is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we....."

"But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed, you already...."

Bible Image of 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 -- For God did not call use to be impure, but to live a holy life.

Inspirational illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 -- 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we wh

Inspirational illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 -- Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will

How are you doing in your struggle to be pure? Men have a real struggle to live pure lives, but a small group that holds us accountable and confession can help.

Why would anyone think Chrisitans do not grieve? Christians grieve the loss of loved ones, but we grieve differently because even in death we have hope of a better life.

What difference does it make that Jesus knew and did it anyway? Phil Ware continues his series of articles based on Jesus' LifeWORDS, the words he spoke after his resurrection. This week the focus is upon Jesus knowing and predicting he would be crucified and raised and what difference does it make to us today.

When this life-altering grief and separation invade our worlds, we are left with many challenges, some seem insurmountable. Gene Vance shares insights from his book, 'Transition to Eternity' to help us find great hope and anticipation of Eternity with Jesus!

Wouldn't you want to work here? Rubel Shelly talks about the best places to work and how it isn't all about money.

What time is it in your relationship with your older friends and family? What time is it in your own life? Are you ready for closing time? Philip Gulley talks about his dad's heart surgery and his directions for his funeral service in case he didn't survive and the lasting impact this has had on Phillip's life.

Are you full of anticipation for this event? We should live passionately expecting the Lord's return.

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him."

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality..."

"Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit."

"Even the sweetest visits from Christ, how short they are-and how transitory! One moment our eyes see him, and we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full..."

"Let us not imagine that the soul sleeps in insensibility. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise," is the whisper of Christ to every dying saint...."

Inspirational illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:3 -- It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality ...

Inspirational illustration of 1 Thessalonians 4:14 -- 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.© Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible SocietyAll rights re

We will exchange our mortal bodies for immortal bodies that are made for eternal glory! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in a virtual, DIY, worship through words and music using YouTube videos to glorify God as we remember the encouraging future and forever-change we have in Jesus at his return in glory.

When's the last time you thought about the your ultimate homecoming? All earthly homecomings should remind us of our ultimate joyful homecoming to God.

Jesus died. He was buried. He was raised from the dead. Each one of those facts reminds us that Jesus was not some antiseptic hero from a distance. James Nored and Phil Ware remind us that Jesus died and was buried and that his burial has special significance for us.

So we are really supposed to delight in this? Phil Ware continues his series of posts and articles called Fifty Shades of Grace and focuses on the gift of pleasure, delight, joy, fulfillment, and blessing in sexual intimacy for the Christian married couple.

What do you most fear? Phil Ware continues his 7 sayings of Jesus on the Cross with the meaning of the line today of "you will be with me in paradise" and talks about the hope it brings in the face of death.

Christmas isn't over; it has only just begun if we recognize that it is our job, together, to be Jesus to the world! Phil Ware reminds us that Christmas isn't over, but now our role is to be Jesus' people, his presence, in our world.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this meal, but be reminded that Jesus makes simple things glorious! Phil Ware reminds us that though the bread and wine of this meal are simple, so were Jesus' words to Jairus' daughter, and those words changed everything.

Is there anything good about being away from the one you love? Being away from someone you love only makes you want to be with them more, but it hard and stinks!

Why can't every day be like Christmas? Wouldn't the world be a better place if we lived as each day were Christmas?

When all seems lost, where do you find hope? Phil Ware continues his series on Jesus as the UNPREDICTABLE Savior who gives life that cannot be taken away.

Here's one secret that needs to get out! Phil Ware shares his second message in the Holy Passion series about delight in sexual intimacy being one of God's primary purposes.

Your world is fractured and lost. It needs to see what the way of the Kingdom looks like in real life today! Phil Ware continues his short series on Acts 1:1-11 and focuses today on restoring the kingdom.

Won't it be such a great surprise party? Going to heaven must be like arriving at your own surprise party and seeing all the people you love.

He silently slipped out. Exited. Departed. He passed, not away, but on. Yet, on to where? Max Lucado reminds us that Easter, Jesus' Resurrection Sunday, is not just about Jesus being raised, but our life beyond death!

Do you notice the folks around you who are the true heroes? Phil Ware shares about two people passing from life and how their quiet lives of service were essential to the work of God's Kingdom.

Every sacrifice matters, that's why he came! Image for memorial day.

"Dear Precious One, Some words are simply more important than others. In the human vocabulary that We — Father, Son, and Spirit — use, one..."

Are we really letting our love light shine in a world filled with so much darkness? Byron Ware reminds us that in our world of darkness, now more than ever, we need to be a people who do put love into practice every day.

What will we do when the choice is ours and the moment comes? Phil Ware continues his series connected to The Story, this week from Chapter 3, focusing on Joseph and his temptation with Potiphar's wife.

Today's must have items are tomorrow's junk. Are we? Throwing away old toys and furniture help remind us that we will never be thrown away. We will live forever.

Have you seen a hero lately? Rubel Shelly reminds us the nature of heroism is about being diligent and faithful to our everyday tasks like Sully.

When Christmas is more than Christmas. Christmas can be a blessing even in the face of grief as the White Enevelope shows.

What do we do when our partners are involved in email relationships? Joe Beam deals with the challenging issue of improper email relationships.

As followers of Jesus, the clouds hold a message of hope for us, not just a warning. Phil Ware continues his series on Resurrection 2.0 and focuses this week on Jesus' return in the clouds which is guaranteed by his resurrection from the dead.

Did God place an anticipatory hint in Jewish expectation in the Talmud that Jesus fulfilled at his birth and will complete with his return in glory? Lee Wilson offers us a unique and Jewish insight into the coming of Jesus and his return anticipated in the Talmud.

Does God still speak and make his presence known in our lives or is he silent, leaving us to decipher our own way through our troubled world? Phil Ware continues his series on finding God's vision for our lives and living on mission for God.