Links to Rev James Philip’s notes on 1 and 2 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians

Don’t let God’s Word go in one ear, and out the other ear (Journey through the New Testament: 1 and 2 Thessalonians).

1 Thessalonians ‘The Word of God, which is at work in you believers’ (2:13). Don’t let God’s Word ‘go in one ear and out the other’. We need both ‘love’ and ‘holiness’ (3:12-13). Our love is to be holy. Our holiness is to be loving. Do you feel like giving up? God is not about …

God’s love, God’s call, God’s glory

2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 God's love, God's call, God's glory (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) "the traditions" (2 Thessalonians 2:15): Who is behind the tradition? If it's the Lord, we have something that's more than a tradition. Who does the message come from?  - It comes from the Lord. That's why we must "stand firm." Eternal encouragement for …

Wars and rumours of wars

This sermon was preached on 11th November 2018 - the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The Bible reading was 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5. --- On 11th November, David Lloyd George announced the Armistice - the ending of hostilities, the truce which, it was hoped, would lead to a better and brighter …

The Lord is always near to us, even when the going gets tough.

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches, we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring" (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4). Faith is growing. …

2 Thessalonians

Here, Paul speaks of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The way in which he speaks is a great warning to those who are overoptimistic about the future. First, there will be the arrival of "the Rebel, the Lost One... the Enemy." This will be part of "the Great Revolt" (chapter 2). When …

The Kingdom has come. The Kingdom will come.

The Kingdom Of God: 1st Thessalonians and 2nd Thessalonians When Jesus began his preaching ministry, he proclaimed this message: "The kingdom has come." In the coming of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God has come.  This is a message of great practical relevance to our lives here and now. Since Jesus Christ has come, we …

The Kingdom Will Come.

When Jesus began his preaching ministry, he proclaimed this message: "The kingdom has come." In the coming of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God has come.  This is a message of great practical relevance to our lives here and now. Since Jesus Christ has come, we are called to repent and believe the gospel - …

According to Your Word

Jeremiah 29:24-31:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Psalm 119:33-40 In the Christian life, there is always the problem of the false or counterfeit which opposes the true or authentic. In Jeremiah 29:31, we read about the false prophet. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9, we read about “the lawless one.” There are also the promises of God’s blessing (Jeremiah 31:1-6; …

Times of suffering, and glorious hope

Jeremiah 27:1-29:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; Psalm 119:25-32 There was a message of hope (Jeremiah 29:11), but, first, God’s people had to suffer seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:10). There is a glorious hope - “He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have …

Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:15-32:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; Proverbs 25:1-10 Jeremiah 32:17 tells us that nothing is too hard for the “Sovereign Lord”, the Creator of “the heavens and the earth.” He is able to deliver us “from wicked and evil men”, to “strengthen and protect us from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:2-3). We are enabled to …

There are two things going on.

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring" (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4). …

Praying Through God’s Word: 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12Lord, we thank You that Your Son, Jesus, is coming again. For “all those who have believed”, “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” will be a great Day, the Day of celebration, the Day of our salvation, the Day of “our being gathered together in Him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1 & 1:10). It …

One Year Bible: Days 274-304

Day 274 Jeremiah 2:31-4:9; Philippians 2:12-30; Psalm 115:12-18 The Lord calls us back from our backsliding: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding” (Jeremiah 3:22). The returning people say, “Yes, we will come to You, for You are the Lord our God ... surely in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel” …