Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

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Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

  • Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-7 and 5:16-18. The sermon will focus on 5:17, the rest of this reading is to set the context.  Who are the recipients of this letter and what does the author say about them?  
  • What does Paul claim to have in common with his audience and what is his attitude toward them? What does Paul testify to with regard to God’s power among them?
  • How did Paul pray for the recipients?  What does Paul say about God’s will for them?  How does Paul instruct them to pray? 
  • The Sermon Study equipping class notes are available online for anyone wanting to dig deeper. Please review this week's notes to help study this passage. Click here for the notes.

Prayerfully Meditate

  • What is the content of your prayers when you reflect on your own salvation, considering what Paul says about his prayers for the Thessalonians?
  • What comes to mind when you read 5:17? How often do you intentionally pray?  Do you find yourself talking to God throughout the day when you haven’t specifically planned to?  What is the content of most of your prayers; praise, confession, requests, etc?
  • How would you explain your current understanding of 5:17 to someone else? How have you previously heard this verse explained?
  • How has this verse informed or changed your approach to the practice of prayer? What are some things that cause your times of prayer to cease?