Welcome to the 

Teacher's Corner!

A Sermon on First Thessalonians 3 in the time of COVID

Brief overview of the situation (from Numbers):

Israel had escaped from slavery in Egypt and was on the march through the desert. The people were grumbling and discontent about the lack of food and water, so God was dealing with that...

Then they got to Edom and asked their relatives if they could pass through. Edom said no, and threatened to attack if they did. So, Israel turned another direction.

Most of us have faced “church-abuse” in one way or another. Perhaps we’ve experienced the abuse of “being judged,” the abuse of being manipulated to do something by someone telling us it is Biblical, the abuse of being manipulated to do something by a leader for his/her cause under the auspices that this is God’s Mission, the abuse of being manipulated to support more programs at your local church under the guise that this also is God’s Mission, or maybe the abuse of being manipulated to “make a decision” for Christ and/or get someone else to make this decision under the fear that we’re all going to hell if we don’t. Have you experienced any of these abuses? 

Examples of People who did not have Blind Spots 

"People can become so morally weak that they lose their free will. We are not dealing with a  small matter but an apocalyptic life and death struggle that has already begun. Yet in the midst  of it, there are many, who still go on living their lives as though nothing had changed.  I am convinced that it is still best that I speak the truth, even though it costs me my life. If we  hope to reach our goal someday, then we, too, must become heroes of the faith. Discipleship to  Christ requires heroism. May God accept my life in atonement not only for my sins, but for the  sins of others as well.”