I Thessalonians 4:1

Leaving our first love

• Ephesus timeline

  • Paul’s second journey: Acts 18:19-21

  • Paul’s third journey: Acts 19

  • Paul’s farewell: Acts 20 (trouble brewing)

  • Paul’s letter: Ephesians

    • Ephesians 4:31-32

  • Timothy in Ephesus: I Timothy, II Timothy

    • I Timothy 1:3-4; II Timothy 2:17-18

  • John’s letter: Revelation 2:1-7 (left first love)

• The church in Ephesus started so strong and had years of teaching from both Paul and Timothy, but they still left their first love! If it can happen in Ephesus, it can happen anywhere!

• John 14:15-23

• I John 5:3

• I Corinthians 13:3

• Acts 19:10 – Ephesus was the center of the gospel in Asia at one time!

• Acts 20:36-37 – What happened to this passion?

Forming cliques (Galatians 3:27-28)

• Possible cliques:

  • More money; less money

  • College students; non-students

  • Florida College; non-Florida College

  • Members; visitors

  • Older folks; younger families with kids

• Acts 11:19-20, 26, 29

• Matthew 13:53-58 vs Acts 2:9, 46-47 – They were unified spiritually despite their different backgrounds!

• Romans 12:10, 16

• There is no reason for any of these cliques!

Hosea 1-14

Introduction to the book

• “Hosea” means salvation.

• Hosea was roughly contemporary with Amos.

• The book was written about 750-722 B.C., just before Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity.

• The primary message of the book is doom.

• Within the book, the God’s relationship to Israel is compared to Hosea’s relationship to his wife, Gomer.

Hosea 2:23 – See Romans 9:25-26; I Peter 2:10. These passages in the New Testament directly connect Hosea’s prophecy of the restoration of the people to Christ. God had a plan!

Hosea 3 – Hosea redeems his wife.

Hosea 4 – God’s controversy with Israel.

Hosea 8 – Israel would reap as it sowed.

Hosea 11 – God’s love for Israel.

Hosea 12-13 – Israel went further into apostasy.

Hosea 14 – Compare Amos 4:12. This is a plea to return to God.

Lessons for us:

• The great love God has for fallen man.

• Internal apostasy is more dangerous than external enemies.

• The folly of trying to direct your own ways.

• God always desires to show mercy.

• The great blessings from God for those that obey Him.

• Lack of knowledge is destructive.

• It is now time to seek the Lord!

• Hosea 14:9 – The ways of the Lord are right and the upright walk in them.

The concept of denominations is not present in the New Testament.

Organization: We are not part of any earthly hierarchy.

• Ephesians 5:22-24

• Church in the universal sense:

  • Ephesians 4:4 – There is one body – the group of people saved by Christ.

  • Matthew 16:16-19

  • Hebrews 12:22-23

  • The Bible often describes the church in the universal sense – all those that are saved in Christ.

    • I Corinthians 16 – This includes dead Christians.

• Church in the local sense:

  • Romans 16:16

  • I Corinthians 1:2

• What’s not in the Bible: denominations

Doctrine: We simply try to study and obey the Bible (not a creed book, statement of beliefs, tradition …)

• Matthew 7:21-23

• John 17:17-23 – We should be unified on truth – not separated by creeds and traditions.

• Ephesians 4:5, 11-14 – Let’s just read the Bible!

• Failure to be unified leads to church-shopping to see whose beliefs you like best, rather than searching for truth. We should only be comparing to the Bible, not our own desires.

Identity: We are simply Christians, not a type of Christian.

• Romans 6:3

• Galatians 3:27

• We have no Bible authority to identify ourselves as any type of Christian.

• I Corinthians 1:10 – Paul tried to stop this sort of division.

I Thessalonians 2:1-20

I Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Paul had been mistreated in Philippi (Acts 16:12-40). Paul was jailed, then miraculously freed and the jailer was converted. Paul persisted in spreading the gospel with boldness.

• Hebrews 12:1-3

I Thessalonians 2:3-12 – You are witnesses and so is God.

• I Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 4:9 – Paul sometimes used himself as an example.

• II Corinthians 12:13 – Paul was prepared to give himself to help them.

• II Thessalonians 2:10

• Could we use ourselves as examples to others?

• I Thessalonians 2:6 – Paul could have thrown his weight around as an apostle but did not.

• I Thessalonians 2:9 – Paul was worthy of wages as a preacher but did not burden them (II Thessalonians 3:8).

• I Thessalonians 2:7, 11 – Paul described himself as a father or mother trying to help his children toward the end goal (I Thessalonians 2:12).

• There may be times when it is permissible to do something, but it’s more beneficial if we give up personal liberties and refrain.

I Thessalonians 2:13 – Paul wrote that the word “performs its work in you who believe.” Compare Psalms 119:103-105; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:17-18; II Timothy 3:15-16; Hebrews 4:12.

I Thessalonians 2:14-16 – The Thessalonians suffered just like brethren in other churches (Acts 4:3; 17:5; Philippians 3:10; II Timothy 3:12). Suffering is a theme and point of fellowship among Christ and Christians and not a sign that Christians are doing something wrong.

I Thessalonians 2:17-20 – Paul had formed a close relationship with them and longed to see them. See Philippians 4:16. Some time had possibly passed between Acts 17:4 and Acts 17:5. He spent at least three weeks with them according to Acts 17:2.

Hebrews 8:1-2

He’s there to save us from our sins forever.

• Hebrews 2:17

• Leviticus 16:15, 32-34 – The high priest made atonement for all Israel once a year.

• Hebrews 9:23-28; 5:6, 9-10 – Jesus made atonement for all mankind, once for all time.

  • Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Psalms 110:4). Jesus is a priest perpetually. Melchizedek was superior to Abraham (since Abraham paid him tithes), and thus his priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood. Thus, Jesus’ priesthood is also superior to the Levitical priesthood.

• The perfect high priest is in place and will always be there for us!

• Hebrews 7:3-4, 7, 17, 23-25; 6:19-20

He encourages us to confess Him and never turn back.

• Exodus 28 – The high priest garments.

• Exodus 29:9-10, 12, 21, 29

• Hebrews 5:1-3; 4:14-16 – The high priest was one of the people, so would sympathize with their weaknesses. Jesus lived and was tempted as we are, so we have an even greater advantage with Him as our high priest.

• Hebrews 3:1; 10:19-23 – We can have confidence through Jesus.

• Matthew 10:32-33

He has proved His love. Now it’s our turn.

• Hebrews 4:15

• Isaiah 59:2, 9, 15-16, 20

• Hebrews 2:17-18; 9:11-14