Doug Schorle

As we enter into the Christmas season, our thoughts often go to all things Christmas.  The trees and decorations, the lights and presents.  Sunday School programs rehearse the Christmas story, and we return to passages such as Matthew 1, or Luke 2.  But what we don't often associate with Christmas is the story of creation.
When John opened his Gospel in John 1, he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.”  Later in John 1:14, he wrote, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..."  The Second Person of the Trinity, the One who created the universe, became a man.  This is the story of Christmas.
So, as we look back to Genesis 1 at the story of creation, may we get a glimpse at eternal character and nature of God.  And may this cause us to stop and wonder, as David did, “When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established; What is man that You remember him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NASB)
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed as we consider who God is and what He has done for us through His Son.

As Paul closes out his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he does so by encouraging to live lives in light of the Gospel and in the hope of the soon return of the Lord Jesus.  This hope is the certain expectation based upon the faithfulness of who God is and what He has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Join us for today's lesson as we explore living life in light of the Gospel, drawing four lessons from today's passage.
The Corporate Life of the Believer
The Individual Life of the Believer
The Dynamic Life of the Believer
The Power to live the Life of a Believer
Thank you for listening to today's message.  May the Word of God richly bless you.

One of the themes throughout Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica is the imminent return of Jesus Christ.  As he continues this letter, he takes time to answer some concerns of the believers there.  Of great concern was the fate of loved ones in Christ who had died.  When Jesus returns, which they fervently believed would be at any time, what will happen to those who have died?  Will they share in the blessings of eternal life with Jesus?
Paul's answer to this question was likely a great comfort to the believers there, just as it is a great comfort to believers today.  There is good reason why this passage, particularly 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is often read at funerals, because if we are honest with ourselves, we are concerned about the fate of our loved ones in Christ who have passed.
As we study this passage, we will focus on three main points:
The Certain Hope for the believer 
The Certain Judgment for the world
The Certain Foundation of the believer
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  We pray you are blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.

Throughout Paul's letter, he has overflowed with praise for this young church.  He has been impressed by their faith in the face of persecution.  Despite their young status, this church already distinguished itself as an example of faith and love to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, that is, Greece.
But now Paul moves on to so-called practical matters.  Answering questions as well as addressing issues within the church, Paul starts by noting their faithful walk with God, encouraging them to excel still more.  And Paul starts in an area which has the potential to deeply influence the church, both then and today; the area of sexual immorality.  This is a topic which affects us today, drawing away both young and old from a faithful walk with the Lord.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching His Holy Word.

As Paul continues his letter to the church in Thessalonica, he calls to mind the sufferings this young church endured at the hands of their own countrymen, just as the churches in Judea suffered at the hands of their Jewish kinsmen.  Because of such suffering, Paul feared this young church might fall away.  This deep concern caused him to send Timothy from Athens into Thessalonica to see how they fared.  And the news coming from this church couldn't give Paul any more joy.  Rather than faltering, this church was vibrant and thriving; an example to the churches in Greece.
Paul, in his letter, also answers his critics.  In today's lesson we see what appears to be a charge that he was insincere in regards to his concern for this church.  Paul's response gives us three lessons for the believer today:
The Destiny of the Believer
The Duty of the Believer
And the Hope of the Believer
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.

In Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he pours out his love and thankfulness for this local body which, despite fierce opposition, grew and thrived and prospered.  In 1 Thessalonians 2, we see Paul defending his ministry against his critics, who appeared to accuse him of deceitfulness, immorality and hypocrisy.  But Paul always returns to the Gospel.
But what is it about the Gospel message that allows Paul to withstand these attacks?  And how well do we understand the power of the Gospel for our own lives?
In today's lesson, we learn how the Gospel is not just good news.  The original readers of Paul's letter would have understood this term to be the good news of a history changing event that impacted everybody's situation and to which people need to respond.  In the Gospel of Jesus Christ not only impacted history, but eternity, as well.
Is this how we view the Gospel?  Does the Gospel impact us as the life changing, eternity altering event it truly is?  And if so, how does this change our lives?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May God bless you through the teaching of His Word.

The book of Acts records for us the rise of the church in Thessalonica.  Seeking to spread the Word of the Lord in Asia Minor during his second missionary journey, the Holy Spirit made other plans, guiding Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, into Greece.  In Greece, after preaching in Philippi and travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the capital city of the Macedonian province, Thessalonica.
In Acts 17, we read how, over three Sabbaths in the Jewish synagogue, Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, "explaining and giving evidence that the Chris had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.'" (Acts 17:3 NASB).  The result is that many believed, both of the Jews and the God fearing Greeks.  Filled with jealousy, the Jews stirred up the city, effectively driving Paul and his companions away from Thessalonica.
Given these circumstances, Paul sent Timothy from Athens back to Thessalonica to see how the church fared and to encourage them.  His greatest fear was that the "tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain." (1 Thessalonians 3:5b NASB).  But when Timothy returned, the news gave great joy to Paul.  For instead of returning to the former ways of idolatry, the church in Thessalonica stood firm in their faith, becoming an example to the other churches in all of Greece, as well as spreading the Word of God wherever they went.
The result of this report was the letters from Paul to the church of the Thessalonians.  A letter in which Paul, like a concerned father, pours out his heart to this body of believers; expressing both his deep love and concern for, was well as his great joy in, this local church.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be encouraged through Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica.

Matthew records that following Jesus's baptism and His temptation in the wilderness, He settled in Capernaum and "began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'".  In the following chapters, we are presented by the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 thru 7, followed by signs and wonders; healing the sick, healing the leper, driving out demons, raising the dead, etc.  The pattern we see is preaching and teaching, truth, followed by signs and wonders which serve to authenticate His teaching.
It should not surprise us, then, that when Jesus summoned the twelve, that He sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, preaching, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  This was to be accompanied by signs and wonders; in other words, truth accompanied by signs and wonders.
In today's lesson we see how this pattern can be a model for the church in proclaiming the Gospel and bringing the compassion of Christ to bear on a hurting world.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

As we celebrate Mothers' Day, we often look to Scripture for examples of mothers from whom we can gain valuable lessons.   When we look at Hannah, we see a figure barren for so long, praying for a son, only to give away her first born son to the Lord.
What made it possible for Hannah to surrender a child for whom she had so desperately longed?  And as we consider her character, what lessons are there for us?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May God bless you through the teaching of His Word.

Following the life of Abraham, we are presented with a picture of the life of every believer.  We see great mountain top experiences characterized by tremendous faith and courage.  But right next to these, we see dark valleys characterized by doubt and fear.  But throughout, God reveals Himself to us through these dark times.
In Genesis 22, we see the climax of Abraham's walk with the Lord.   Called to an impossible task, we see Abraham respond in obedient faith.  But more that Abraham's tremendous faith, no other Old Testament story gives such clear glimpse into the heart of God.  Just as Abraham was called to offer his own son, our Heavenly Father offered up His own Son, to bear the burden of our sin.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Word.