Paul’s ministry in Europe began in Macedonia, where in Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea, he preached with power and saw many come to faith in Jesus.

But resistance was strong, angry, and at times, violent. From Berea Paul moved on to Athens and Corinth in Achaia (southern Greece). While there, he received a report from Timothy about the church in Thessalonica, to which he responded with 1 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians followed later, after another and disturbing report reached him about the situation in Macedonia.

The general impression we get from these two letters is that the church in Thessalonica was faithful and outspoken about its faith in Jesus Christ.

Christians cannot escape the responsibility for exercising sound judgment in every area of life. God intends to bring His shalom to the world through our judgments, so we need to make sure our judgments are in line with His.

In the Christian community, sometimes we give the impression that only the people with big responsibilities matter. They’re the ones that get things done, the ones everyone listens to and wants to learn from, the folks we look to for leadership in our churches and Christian organizations. We need leaders, and sometimes leaders play really important roles in the Kingdom. But more than that, we need energetic, everyday believers, men and women who understand that Kingdom progress is incremental and gradual, that it comes as we lay hold on the little things of life and make them something glorious.

Coming to faith in Jesus is not the end of the Christian life. It’s just the beginning. God delivered Israel out of Egypt, and that was just the start of a long process of their laying hold on the promises God had made to their forebears. To realize the fullness of all God had in store for them, Israel would have to make steady progress against considerable odds. The Christian faith is very much like this.

The book of Joshua is in many ways like the book of Acts, introducing a new era in the history of God’s covenant and showing the enormous potential for blessing to those who follow God and keep His covenant.

Here are two subjects that, at first glance, seem to have nothing to do with one another. Closer consideration, however, reveals that they are inextricably linked. Worship is about God – honoring Him, committing to Him, and serving Him in all aspects of life. Public policy is about life and the rules by which people live. God is Ruler of all things, and thus public policy is only valid to the extent that it lines up with God’s good and perfect rule.

In this series we will sample excerpts from God’s Law in an effort to show the scope, beauty, and relevance of the Law of God for Christian life.

People live toward whatever they value. When the values we cherish are Kingdom values, we’ll realize more of the full and abundant life Jesus offers.

We don't have to give in to sin or be defeated by it. Our ReVision study "Sin and Its Effects and Cure" can help to further your growth in the Lord.

Jesus’ resurrection launches Christianity as he shows himself to many people and then disappears into the clouds. The disciples struggle to take it all in.

The book of Hebrews emphasizes the greatness of Jesus, and calls every believer to hold fast to their confession, firm to the end.

Jesus prepares his followers for the trials to come. They need to not be confused about what just happened, and they need to understand what it all means. Jesus does this through a series of dramatic appearances, combined with specific teaching, so as to sear into their memories what they saw and what they learned. These well-prepared believers will become an unstoppable force, spreading Christianity throughout the Roman Empire – and beyond.