6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Th 3:6–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Who are you imitating? Who are you spending time with in your life? Are you spending time with people who love Jesus and are committed to sharing the good news of love and peace? Or are you spending time with “brothers who are walking in idleness”? I believe Paul encourages us to stay away from these brothers or sisters because they are not spending time reading the Bible and knowing the long established doctrines of the church. Instead they are watching TV or staring at social media that is telling them about the values of the world rather than the values of God and how to live a life that displays the love of Christ. Learning to live as one in the world and not as one of the world is a challenge but Jesus showed us a better way to live and to model to others. Be an imitator of Christ and a model to others. Walk worthy of a life of a higher calling that shows Christ in all that you do. In living this life you will have the opportunity to lead others to know Christ.

Pastor Aaron Kruse 

2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Col 4:2–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

I remember attending Via De Cristo 100 a couple of years ago and one of the leaders pointed to this little chapel and he said that chapel is the engine to a great weekend. Every minute of this weekend, someone is in that chapel praying for you. 

Prayer makes a difference both for those we are praying for and for ourselves. A prayer life filled with thanksgiving, confession, and intercession for others helps to move our lives from selfish concerns for our own lives to grateful and loving hearts for others. As you continue in prayer may your life be a shining light for others. May it transform your life and the lives of others. May your thoughts be for the concern of others to know Christ and may your words bring hope and life to others.

Pastor Aaron

Paul is encouraging the church in Thessalonica of staying strong in the faith and the love they have toward each other. The persecution of others and the struggle of daily life could steal their faith and love. Let’s look at our text today. 

Paul’s Longing to See Them Again

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy. 

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. 

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Th 2:17–3:13). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Are you feeling discouraged in your faith? Is there something that is keeping you from loving another person? You are not alone. There are things in life that can cause us to question our faith and there are people who require extra grace from us. This should not be an excuse to give up on the church. Instead Paul encourages us that he was struggling for the church. I want to remind you that there are pastors and saints who are struggling for you. They are praying for you and encouraging you to keep the faith and the love so that their joy may be complete and that your joy may be exceeded when you finish the race of life and hear the savior say “Well done!” Be encouraged, Jesus loves you. Run the race well.

Pastor Aaron Kruse

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. (Psalm 23)

No matter where I’ve gone, I have yet to find a place I’d rather live than home, sweet home. There are many amazing sites but none that can take the place of being home with my family, my dogs, my church and my guitars. What a beautiful thought that this whole life is really just like a very nice trip. When the trip is over, we are all going home to God. The home he provides us is greater than any we have ever known. Thomas asked Jesus, “but we don’t know the way, Lord.” He said, maybe after a chuckle, “Yes you do! I am the way, the truth and the life.” The Shepherd who is always with us one day will lead us all home.

Pastor Andy

You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;  my cup brims with blessing. (Psalm 23)

Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. (Psalm 23)

You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. (Psalm 23)

God, you are my shepherd! I have everything I need.

Is it really true that we have everything we need if God is our shepherd? There may be times where we feel our wants and our needs are not being met. The key is for us to trust in the shepherd and follow him anyway. What chance does a lone sheep have of finding his or her way home? There came a time where God’s people felt lost so he did a truly amazing thing-he sent his Son to be our shepherd on earth. He even laid down his life for the sheep, for us. You can believe the psalmist-because the Lord is our shepherd we have everything we need.

Hey Advent Family, 

Some might notice that this final statement may not be included in some of the versions of the bible that you are reading from. Some scholars say that it wasn’t included in the original manuscripts.  Others say that there is reference to it in early church father’s writings so it should be included. We pray it every Sunday with it included, so it’s safe to say I’m in good company here : ) 

As Jesus wraps up his prayer, He is teaching the disciples, He gives us a sandwiched ending that is reminiscent of its beginning. Three things he emphasizes, the kingdom, the power, and the glory, all of these belonging to God. Just like the beginning of this prayer, He refocuses our attention and thoughts to our heavenly Father.  In an unequivocal statement declares that God is king, omnipotent, and worthy of all glory, always and forever.  What a way to end it! 

This ending reminds me of another ending. When king David in the bible came to the end of his reign and was told by the prophet Nathan that he couldn’t build the temple, he did the next best thing, he prepared all the plans and resources to build the temple for his son Solomon. Talk about a man after God’s own Heart! Rather than getting bitter and rebellious because God forbade him to do so, he chose to set his son up for success.   As all these resources are gathered and stored, plans already laid out for his son to finish the work, he bursts into an amazing prayer, read along, and see how similar it is and shares the same sentiments of our great God.

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 10 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,

“Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

As we come to a close of our series through the Lord’s prayer, what better way than to acknowledge and declare that the Kingdom, power and Glory all belong to Him. Remember just like David no matter what the circumstances, whether we get our way or not, that the kingdom, power and glory all belong to God. It’s all about God. It was a great time going through this prayer together! My hope and prayer is that over the last eight days you have gained new insight and grown closer to God.  And as you say this prayer moving forward that you would not let it become a routine, or a habit, or an afterthought of just going through the motions, but that you would reflect on each statement with understanding and great awe and reverence for the prayer that Jesus taught us about our heavenly Father, 

And remember 

Jesus loves you, and so do I!

Pastor Will 

“Following the leader”

“Following the leader, the leader, the leader. Following the leader wherever he may go!” My daughter Gloria comes home singing this song from Advent ECS, saying “daddy you must follow the leader, follow me daddy!” Jesus teaches the disciples to pray to the Father that he would not lead us to temptation but deliver them from the evil one. This indirectly instructs us many things but mainly two that stand out to me today.  

First, our heavenly Father is the leader.  He is the one who is leading us. If we are faithful to him, we are following. Some might think that praying this way insinuates that if we don’t pray this way that the He will lead us to temptation, but James 1:13 says “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.” So, we know he will not do that. It’s more like a father leading a child down a winding hill with dangerous curves and steep run offs. That father will lead their child away from danger to stay in safety, to get down the hill.  When we pray for the father to lead us, we acknowledge he is the leader and we are following, that as he leads, he will guide us away from temptations that we are prone to fall into. We are prone to wander on our own aren’t we, in our thoughts, our habits, our conversations, we need the Father to lead us into safety in these areas every day,  

The second thing is that there is evil out there, an evil one who wants to cause us harm. We need the Father to protect us from our wandering and to protect us for the one who wants to harm us. The enemy, Satan, is on a constant attack against the children of God, whether we realize it or not. I think both of these asks in the Lord’s prayer are a request and a reminder that we need the Father’s constant leading and protection.  It’s like we are in a War that has already been won, but there are still pockets of resistance out there that are trying to cause us damage in our journey of faith.  We don’t have to be afraid or fear because we have the victory, but the battle is still very real. Take Paul’s encouragement in
1 Corinthinas 10:3-4 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

And 

James 4:17 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

So, as you pray the Lord’s prayer today, pause and remember this when asking for the Fathers leading and deliverance, He is faithful to do it. “Following the leader, the leader, the leader…”

And Remember 

Jesus Loves you, and so do I!

Pastor Will