Sometimes it helps to go back to the basics.
In the New Testament book called 1 Thessalonians, we have a little letter—possibly Paul’s earliest letter—written from the mission field to teach a church plant about the basics of Christianity.
This summer, as we follow this precious letter, we’ll learn about how the church can thrive in Christian mission, Christian relationships, and Christian ethics (for things as down-to-earth as our day jobs). And throughout the letter (maybe in every paragraph) there is a theme: how the future hope of the gospel informs everything in life right now. I’d love to invite you to read the letter—for most people it would only take 10-15 minutes to read it out loud in one sitting—and listen for these themes yourself.
In short, I think that spending some time in this letter this summer can motivate us to love Jesus more, love each other more, love our neighbors more—all because of our hope in Christ.
Here’s an overview of how I think the sermon series will work. (Of course, sometimes plans change!)
- June 20: Basic Christian Mission (1 Th. 1:1 + Acts 17:1-9)
- June 27: Basic Christian Gratefulness (1:2-10)
- July 4: Basic Christian Ministry (2:1-16)
- July 11: Basic Christian Relationships (2:17-3:13)
- July 18: Basic Christian Sanctification (4:1-8)
- July 25: Basic Christian Neighbor Ethics (4:9-12)
- Aug 1: Basic Christian Hope in Death (4:13-18)
- Aug 8: Basic Christian Hope in Life (5:1-11)
- Aug 15: Basic Christian Community (5:12-28)