Sunday, June 9, 2024

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church Cor 1:3-8 --- Gratitude, Hope, and the Power of the Gospel

 The secrets of building a church community with power and influence are given in this passage.  They are "Gratitude, Hope, and the Power of the Gospel". The gospel gives us gratitude, and hope, and hope empowers us for the good works of faith and love which cause growth in fruits and influence.


Lessons:

  • #1 The Trinity God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If God is just one, the He could not know Love.
    • We see the Father being thanked, Jesus as the source of faith and love, and the Holy Spirit working in believers.
  • #2 Praying for Fellow Believers
    • Know their good work --- faith and love
    • Give thanks to God for their good work that they may continue.
    • Know their needs to intercede for them
    • The growth of the gospel.
  • #3 Know your Hope - The Assured Vision of the Future
    • We are destined for eternity with God.
    • It is the hope that drives our work of faith and love.
  • #4 Know the Gospel
    • The salvation of men by faith in Christ Jesus
      • The crucifixion to redeem men's sin
      • The resurrection to give eternal life to men
      • To reconcile men to God.
    • It is the truth.
    • It is the hope too of glory laid up in heaven for men.
    • The giving of Grace to empower the believers to live out the Christ within as witness for the gospel
  • #5 Learn from Epaphras
    • faithful minister
      • evangelizing
      • fellowship and co-working with others like Paul and Timothy


Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
  • May we live with gratitude, recognizing Jesus Christ as the source of our faith and love.
  • Help us to always remember the hope we have in Christ and the power of the Gospel message.
  • Guide and empower us with Your Holy Spirit as we grow spiritually and live out our faith.
  • We pray for our fellow believers, thanking You for their faith and love, and interceding for their needs.
  • May we be inspired by faithful ministers like Epaphras, and actively participate in the spread of the Gospel.
In Jesus' name, Amen.




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