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Tag: 1 Thessalonians

Posted on December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 4 Comments

Joy Despite Our Sorrow: My Sermon on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 for Gaudete Sunday

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 This Third Sunday of Advent has a good old-fashioned church name that I kind of like - it is called “Gaudete Sunday,” gaudete being the Latin name for rejoice. It…

Posted on November 10, 2023November 9, 2023 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 1 Comment

Caught Up in the Clouds: My Sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (and Matthew 25:1-13)

Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died 1 Thessalonians 4:14 I don’t want to ignore today’s gospel reading (Matthew 25:1-13), but I also don’t want to start with it. I want to start instead with our second reading from Paul’s…

Posted on October 27, 2021October 26, 2021 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 5 Comments

Bible Nonets: The Letters of Paul (Romans – Philemon)

As I read through the Bible this year, I am writing a nonet poem for each of its sixty-six books. Here are my nonets for the thirteen canonical letters of Paul.

Posted on December 11, 2020December 10, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 6 Comments

Unquenchable Spirit

Here is a sonnet inspired by Paul's words in First Thessalonians, "Do not quench the Spirit."

Posted on October 17, 2020October 17, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 4 Comments

Grace and Peace: My Sermon on First Thessalonians 1:1-10

The opening of Paul's earliest New Testament letter shares five words that remain central to our Christian faith: Grace, Peace, Faith, Love, and Hope. Here is my sermon on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

Posted on February 6, 2020April 13, 2020 by Rev. James E. Laurence · 3 Comments

The Costly Grace of a Worthy Life

What does it mean to lead a worthy life? My recent re-reading of Paul's New Testament letters led me to ponder that question. Here are my thoughts.

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