In Sermon Illustrations: "1 Thessalonians 1:1-14"

Growing Potatoes Takes Time

Contributed by Paul Steen on Dec 24, 2018

Be thankful while you wait. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. My Aunt Grace had a large garden. One time she showed me how to cut seed potatoes so that each piece had at least one eye, and we planted them in ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Tags: Thankfulness, Patience, Waiting, Being Prepared

Denomination: Calvary Chapel

Gratitude - Dorothy Day

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

I try to think back. I try to remember this life that the Lord gave me ... I just sat there and thought of our Lord and his visit to us all those centuries ago and I said to myself that my great luck was to have had him on my ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude

Denomination: Pentecostal

An Observation About Immanence

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Mar 12, 2020

One of my favorite pastimes is playing some computer games, especially the ones where you make money—okay, run a business, simulation, or that kind of thing. In one of these you, as manager of a transportation company, have the opportunity to choose how best to serve the industries and communities ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Immanence, Return Of Christ, Rewards For Believers

Denomination: Baptist

Rapture

Contributed by Darlington Okereke on Apr 2, 2020

Something happened recently in my area that was unprecedented, from far away there was an explosion or bomb blast on a Sunday morning and people inside the church ran out because the whole area shook, window glasses shattered, while in this pandamonium a certain man thinking that the rapture has ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Tags: Mercy, Rapture

Nobody Left Behind

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

We hear the mantra of “No Man left behind” (referring to both men a women) coming from the Military. But the left behind principle has more to do with those living. Although it does pertain to those that are MIA (Missing in Action). The “No Man left Behind” is seen as ---no matter the cost--- that ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Encourage Each Other, Nobody Left Behind

Denomination: Independent/Bible

No One Thanked Him.

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Dec 2, 2020

Back in 1860, an excursion boat on Lake Michigan collided with a freighter and began to sink less than a mile from the shore. Hundreds of passengers began screaming as they leaped into the icy water. Edward Spencer was a student at a nearby seminary, and he ran down to the beach to see what he ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Gratitude, Selfishness, Depression

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Give Thanks In Everything

Contributed by James Dina on Dec 6, 2020

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) If it is the will of God that we should give thanks in everything, then we should reduce our complain lest we go against His will. COMPLAINING IS CONTRARY TO THANKSGIVING. In ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Tags: Thanksgiving, Complain

Denomination: Pentecostal

Green Thumb Versus Black And Blue Thumb

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 16, 2021

If you came to our parsonage, you would discover all over our property, plants and flowers. Just don’t ask me to identify what they are. I can tell a plant from a flower, but that’s as far as it goes with me. That is not true with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. She gets all the credit for ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Unity, Differences

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

What Would He Say?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

WHAT WOULD HE SAY? If He should come today And find my hands so full Of future plans, however fair, In which my Savior has no share, What would He say? If He should come today And find my love so cold, My faith so very weak and dim I had not even looked for Him. What would He say? If He should ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Tags: Return Of Christ, Judgment Seat Of Christ, Rapture Of The Church, Evangelism, Second Coming, Last Days  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

What A Crazy World We Live In

Contributed by James Snyder on Feb 26, 2022

Driving home from an appointment across town, my wife and I encountered some crazy driver weaving in and out on the road in front of us. The fact that there was not an accident was somewhat surprising. “What,” The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage exclaimed, “is wrong with people?” Looking at ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Tags: Family, Crazy

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Christians Die Better

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jan 13, 2009

CHRISTIANS DIE BETTER On May 28, 1914 a ship called the Express of Ireland hit another ship and began to sink quickly. As the ship began to sink in the cold Atlantic Ocean it was discovered that there were not enough life belts on board for all the passengers. On that ship were 130 Salvation Army ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Tags: God Brings Hope

Believers Happier

Contributed by Sermon Central on Feb 13, 2009

BELIEVERS HAPPIER People who believe in God are happier than agnostics or atheists, claim British researchers. They become even happier the more they pray and go to church. The report found religious people were better able to cope with disappointments such as unemployment or divorce than ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Tags: Happiness

Great Ambition Is The Passion Of A Great ...  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 11, 2007

Great ambition is the passion of a great character. He who is endowed with it may perform very good or very bad actions; all ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Tags: Ambition

Possums And The Grave  PRO

Contributed by Joel Pankow on Apr 13, 2001

POSSUMS AND THE GRAVE I have heard that possums are smart animals. You wouldn’t think so because you hardly ever see one except when it’s dead on the road. There’s a joke that goes, “why did the chicken cross the road? To prove to the possum that it could be done!” But possums, it turns out, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 8:10-15, Luke 24:13-24

Tags: Volunteer, Victory, Resurrection, Servant, Service, Missions, Easter Resurrection, Easter, Go, Death  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Lutheran

Slow And Steady  PRO

Contributed by Troy Borst on May 28, 2003

SLOW AND STEADY The power of the Holy Spirit is not just for salvation, but transformation, a process that might be slow and gradual. The difference might look like this: You can take ten gallons of gasoline and release a tremendous amount of power and energy by just dropping a lighted match ...read more

Scripture: Acts 1:4-8, 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tags: Holy Spirit Attributes, Holy Spirit General

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., Is The Chief Judge Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Mary Lewis on Jun 11, 2004

Alexander M. Sanders, Jr., is the Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals. When his daughter Zoe graduated from the Univ. of South Carolina in 1992, he told this story that happened what she was just three years old. Sanders came home from work one day to find his home – and especially ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4

Tags: Children, Commandments Murder

Denomination: Baptist

Ernest Hemmingway Was Once Asked To Write A Story ...  PRO

Contributed by W F on Jul 8, 2008

Ernest Hemmingway was once asked to write a story in just six words. He wrote a sad one ... "For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn." The world's shortest story inspired writer Larry Smith who wondered what memoirs people might be able to concoct in just six words. So he began a website which, to date, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:13-18, Psalm 39:5

Tags: Fulfillment

Denomination: *other

The Stolen Baby Jesus Syndrome  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Apr 20, 2011

THE STOLEN BABY JESUS SYNDROME A few years back, Wellington, FL had their baby Jesus stolen two years running. This was a wealthy community and their Jesus was worth around $1800. The third time around they put a GPS inside and traced the thief to her home. But the baby Jesus doesn’t have to be ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-25

Tags: Commandments Steal

Dolphins Sleep With One Eye Open

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

Did you know that dolphins sleep with one eye open? It’s true. They do so because they can only ever let one side of their brain sleep at a time. When the left side of the brain sleeps, the right eye will close, and vice versa. This isn’t some weird, ambidextrous stunt they’re pulling. Rather, ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-3

Tags: Revelation, Church, Vision, Sight, Prophecy, Second Coming, Rapture, Focus, Eyes, End Tiimes  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Are You Packed And Ready To Go?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 28, 2023

The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye" but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look ...read more

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, John 14:1-6

Tags: Rapture, Ready, Readiness, Maranatha, Feast Of Trumpets, Prepared, Church, Preparation, Second Coming  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational