If you want to just get to the clips, go to the end. For a recap of our time together this morning, read on, and the clips will be at the end.
And if any of you guys that made it think of anything important that I missed, please comment on the post.
The whole idea of our Lord's "soon return", is scoffed at in our world today, just as Peter warned it would be, and also just as Ken Bough explains in the Forward to the Wiersbe Be Ready book.
So, this first study was somewhat of an "introduction to the study itself", where we will be studying 1 & 2 Thessalonians, as well as, Warren Wiersbe's commentary on the books. We'll be discussing the questions posed by Wiersbe at the end of each chapter, and we'll be seeking to apply to our lives, the Truth of the section of the epistle that corresponds to each chapter in the book. Remember, while Wiersbe was a great man of God, God's Word and His Spirit want to speak to every one of us, so I encourage us all to read, read, and re-read the Scripture we're studying.
During our first study, I also challenged the guys to let the Lord stir our hearts to come up with other questions for each chapter, by which we might all be challenged, engaged, exhorted, and especially edified. The entire group agreed with the challenge before them to engage in this study.
We basically read all of 2 Peter 3, followed by the clips below, and then we were able to read through 1 Thessalonians, chapters 1-3 together and discussed at a high level some of the points that Paul makes in the chapters.
As we continue in this study, I want to reiterate the exhortation to make sure that we all dedicate ample quiet time before the Lord, and primarily with His Word (use the commentary, but let the Holy Spirit speak to you before Wiersbe does); and then prayerfully ask the Lord for insight as we take His Word into our heart and mind.
I truly believe that this quiet time with Him, in parallel with learning to be serious, diligent, students of His Scriptures will be the number one catalyst for preparing us for that glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior and Master, Jesus Christ - whether it happens while we still live physically, or whether He ends up calling our bodies from an earthly grave!!
So here are the clips we watched:
"Are You Ready": https://youtu.be/SmLhyPjHVes
An illustration of what the Rapture might look like.
"A Heart on Fire" clip, by Leonard Ravenhill: https://youtu.be/7CBTyf50IVY
We watched only up to about the 03:25.
While this clip is dramatized with background music, Ravenhill reminds us that much of the Church is preoccupied with the circumstances of the world, contextually, God is not able to tell us things because we cannot bear them.
Another statement though encourages me. He says "God'd gonna give us a new breed of men"!
To that, I say, those men are you and me!
So with all of that said, I repeat Ken Bough's exhortation:
“Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of God’s Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.”
Stay tuned for specific notes about assignments for our studies as we go forward.