Letters: 1 Thessalonians 1 and 2

A real letter used to feel like an event. You waited for it, you opened it carefully, and you could almost feel the person behind the words. We start there with a story about the last generation before phones and what it was like to get a handwritten note that felt unforgettable, then we ask a bigger question: what if the Bible is that kind of letter, only eternal?

We trace the idea through the New Testament letters and land in Thessalonica, using Acts 17 to set the scene. Paul and his team bring the gospel into a city that pushes back hard, and a believer named Jason takes heat simply for offering a home. That moment reframes the church as a people who can “turn the world upside down” not through hype, but through conviction, hospitality, and loyalty to King Jesus. From there we open 1 Thessalonians and sit with Paul’s gratitude for a community marked by faith, love, and hope, all empowered by the Holy Spirit rather than empty words.

We also talk about the kind of leadership that actually forms disciples: bold in conflict, gentle in care, and committed to pleasing God over people. Paul describes nurturing tenderness like a mother and guiding strength like a father, which challenges us to grow up in our faith without becoming harsh or performative. The message ends with a clear invitation to follow Jesus, receive forgiveness through the cross and resurrection, and step into a life shaped by God’s presence and God’s people.

If this encouraged you, share it with a friend who needs courage, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review that helps more people find this Bible teaching and discipleship conversation.

Cornerstone
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/

Follow Jesus
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-...

Life Groups 
https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-gr...

Giving 
https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.co...

Church Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZ

iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-ch...

Android 
https://play.google.com/store/apps/de...

----

Instagram 
  cornerstoneaz  

Facebook
  cornerstoneaz.org  

Twitter
  cornerstoneaz.org

Transcript

A Story About Real Letters

Jason Brown 0:00

Letters. So I'm probably the last generation that was before phones existed. You guys remember? So we would be like and then we'd send a carrier pigeon into the air. All right, maybe not that bad, but pretty close. And so we were that last generation of people that had that wrote letters to each other. And I'll tell this story. It's about my cousin Eric. A few of you know him in the room. He's a great bro. He's like a brother to me. We're the same age, and I love that guy. We had got to nationals for doing fine arts from church. And so they would go to nationals, and nationals is in Springfield, Missouri, at this time. Now, we're broke kids from the desert in Phoenix. So when we get to Nationals, we're staying in like a Super Eight, right, motel. So all the doors face out. And we're there, and we show up, and immediately all the rest of this place that we're staying is all full of youth groups. So we're like, who's gonna be my girlfriend today? And so Eric, very guapo, he's very handsome, he has a you know, je ne sais quoi, he's got that thing about him. He goes up in there and he he he hits it off with somebody. It wasn't me, it was my cousin Eric. So my cousin Eric, he meets this girl and no, it really was my cousin Eric. Possibly also me. We're not talking about that today. So Eric, he he meets this girl, and this is before we had phones. We were broke, we barely had a pager, we had to hide it from our parents. And so we get their phone number, but you call the house, you're gonna get the mom. So we're like, Can I have your address? We're gonna write you. I promise. I love you so much. What was your name again? I love you. So we get the letter, we get the information. Of course, we're guys, so we get home, we're like, I don't know. Where'd the letter go? I don't know. Where's the address? I don't know. But magically, in the mail came a letter. And Eric got this letter. We're in summertime, we're just hanging out, you know, sunburnt mostly, just running around doing whatever, in and out of the pool. He gets a letter in the mail. Now, this was transformational. This was like we were at war, and they're like, you know, Dixon. He's like, What? And he got a letter, you know. We open it up, we're all like kind of huddled around, like, what's in the letter, man? What's in the letter? And he opens it up. It's to him, it's not just a normal letter, it's like actual stationary. He doesn't know what I'm talking about. There's levels to this stuff. So actual stationary as he opens it, it's not just the letter, there's like sparkly stuff, there's all sorts of things inside. We're like, oh boy, she likes you, boy. Woo! When he opened it up, he opened it like this. She had sprayed it with her perfume. And we were like, whoo. Oh man, you're gonna marry this girl. What was her name again? You get the idea. Remember, this was not me, this is my cousin Eric. But the point was like those things only lasted for so long, and it was the back and forth, and he would write a letter and she would write a letter, and so on and so forth. It lasted forever, like six whole months. It was a long, long time. But you know, after that, Christmas came and everybody forgot everybody else existed. You know, it was crazy. And I was like, whatever happened to the girl? He's like, I don't know. The letters just stopped coming. I was like, you know, you gotta write her back too, man. That's how it works. But there's this thing about receiving a letter and having that kind of that moment that's there, you know, that wow, my this letter that I receive is

Scripture As God’s Love Letter

Jason Brown 3:15

so powerful. And that's kind of what happened in the early church is that these letters that we're talking about today, they come from Paul, they come from Peter, they're talking to the church. And as we focus on the ones during the summer, we're talking about these letters that they're they're they're sent with love, they're sent with care, they're sent with instruction to live for God. And so it's beyond just the love letter that that my cousin got. It goes beyond that to the word of God. And it's something that's not just fleeting, it's not just a passing moment, it's something that's eternal. And so the word of God and these letters that are written to the church, they bear weight that has survived from the early days when they were written by Paul and his and his people around him that go to the church today. And they still speak to us. It's a love letter from God to us. It talks about how much God loved us, that he would create us in his own image. He loved us so much that he would be the one that later, despite us breaking his heart time and time again, he would continually show his grace, show his love, show his compassion. He would send someone to save them, he would bring them out of slavery, he would give them victory despite themselves being not for him. Great is his faithfulness to us. And in doing so, it was something that was so powerful this love letter from God to us. And as it does so, then that's Jesus as he comes, he's the ultimate love letter, and that he comes and takes all of our sin and all of our shame and all of our brokenness upon himself to pay for it once and for all so we can be free. And it's the ultimate love letter to us from God. So as we hold our word, as we hold the Bible, as we read these letters, we're hearing not just a love letter, but also a manual for life, instructions in how to live for God. It's also a way for us to connect to Him as we spend time in His Word, and we starts to wash over us. It starts to change how we feel about God because we're close to Him. It's like that love letter is, you know, as it's sitting on the shelf, it might not mean much, but as soon as you start to read it, and you see you start to get the presence of what's going on, that aroma of what's happening as we spend time with God, it's the same. But more powerful because it's not just a fleeting idea of romance, it's something that's transformational, that God wants to have an eternity with you, not just a few fleeting moments. And so our purpose is found in this book. It's found as we read these letters as they start to pour over us and transform our life. How many people would say amen to that?

Cornerstone’s Mission And Life Groups

Jason Brown 5:55

Now, today I want to welcome you to Cornerstone. If we haven't met, my name is Jay, and it's a blessing to be here with you today. You know, uh, we see ourselves very much as people in need of a savior. That none of us has arrived anywhere. All of us are imperfect, all of us need God. And so we see this image of Jesus walking as disciples, and that's how we identify. We're saying, That's me. I'm walking with Christ. I want to continue to follow where he's leading me to go. I'm not finished yet. I want to be more like Jesus. Say it with me. Be more like Jesus. And in doing so, that's why we love God. It's why we make disciples, it's why we reach the world. And so we do that intentionally. It's why I encourage you so often to be a part of life groups. We have some of our guys that were went up to the Go Fishing as part of our men's group even recently this week. Uh, we had a lot of life groups that happened this week. We had prayer praying over every single seat in this room. So if you're in this room, even online, we were praying over you as well. Know that people were praying for you this week because of life groups, which is a powerful thing. So that's why we want you to encourage you to be those that connect and grow and serve the Lord. Amen. We're talking about letters today, and we're gonna be picking up in the Thessalonians, and it's actually with Paul, as he's the right, he's the writer of these letters, he's writing it to the church leaders that are there. And you gotta remember that Paul at this time, it's it's something he's in the middle of his missionary journey. He's a mentor to those that he's speaking to. He's the pastor, he's the one that he has started this church, he's the one that led them to Christ. Not just that, but he has people like Timothy alongside him, that he's mentoring him and showing him to do what Paul does. Paul realizes that he's not the end-all be-all, that he is the start of many things that are to come, and he wants to see other people step up to do what they're supposed to do for God. Amen. So, in this way, he wants to guide Timothy. He wants to guide this church and see them be successful. He is some someone who is modeling what it means to live for God. Now, we've talked about how each of us is challenged to be those that lead someone to Jesus this year. And that means not you bring them here and that we present to them, that's great. What we're talking about is you using your testimony to share the love of Christ with someone. And in doing so, then that means that you need to model to them what it means to live for God. So that means that how are you doing in being a model for them? And see, that's why Paul is so transparent in these letters, often talking about his own shortcomings, because he's modeling to those he's mentoring and saying, listen, as I follow Jesus, follow me, and we're gonna go after the image of Christ. We want to be more like Jesus. And so as you look at those missionary journeys, you can see that, you know, Paul has been all over the the Mediterranean and the known world of that time to what was known to them. And so it came out of that empowerment moment on the road to Damascus where he meets Jesus. He's struck down, he's caused to be blind, and through a series of events is prayed for and restored back to sight, but challenge takes him from someone who is persecuting the church, chasing after the church, and throwing them in prison, to someone who is the very number one church planter ever in the same person. And that's why we pray even for our enemies, because God can do something transformational in their life to make them powerful for God. I can tell you because I was a jerk face, I'm less of a jerk face. Because God, not because of anything I did, but because of God, and people that met me back then would be like, wait, you're the wait, wait, you're the pastor? I've heard this a lot. But it could be said about me, it could definitely be said about you, because you're starting out in a better place. So you could even do greater things, and so may it be so that God would use you and your testimony to reach people. And then Paul, as he went and you see this map that's behind me, as he started going through the known world. He starts out in Jerusalem and they set out and they start to go into Antioch, which were first called the church, and then it goes to these other places, and then they doubled back in a series of these events as they would go back and report to the brothers there in Jerusalem. They would say, This is what's going on, praise be to God, this is where the gospel is going forward. And it wasn't just them, there were others that were going out, but this is the one that we have chronicled to us in Acts, and it actually picks up in Thessaloniki, in Thessalonica in their day, is what it's called, but you could see it here in this next image of it zooming in from the earth. It's this kind of this piece that comes all the way in that takes us to the what would be modern day Greece. And so there in Thessalon, in Thessalonica, or Thessaloniki, as we'd say it today, that's where this takes place. It's a beautiful jewel of a city. I've had a chance to spend a week there before. We've partnered with missionaries that were planting churches there, and even today the gospel goes forward. Amen. And so it's a powerful thing as we start to look at this city, and that's where the setting takes place. Now, as they go into Thessalonica, this is something that is upon their heart that Paul would go in and he would present first the message of the gospel to those who already were Jews. So he'd go to the synagogue and he would present to them the gospel message that Jesus came and is the Christ that they had been looking for, that he fulfilled all the things that the Messiah would be, and he has given his life for all people upon the cross. This powerful, this powerful idea is called the gospel. It's called the way. And in doing so, it means living after the way of God and believing in the gospel. So we actually

Thessalonica And The Gospel Clash

Jason Brown 11:38

pick up not in Thessalonic Thessalonians, though we'll go there shortly, we actually pick up in Acts chapter 17. And it says, Paul went in as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, This Jesus who I proclaim to you is the Christ. Someone say amen to that. So this gospel message, it starts to permeate the hearts of the people. This gospel starts to be the thing that is there that radiates through this community, and it starts to upset a number of people that did not believe, very much like Paul was whenever he was named Saul. Same situation. It says, and some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas. Silas was with him as well. And it did many, uh as did many great of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some of the wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, and they set the pit and city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. Now we pick up here, and it introduces a couple people we know, Paul and Silas, they would go together on their missionary journey. So they were they were co co-journeying together. They were going and planting the church. We see that Timothy was there with them and being sent back and forth to different places as they planted these churches, including back to Thessaloniki. But we'd see here that they pick up one of those that believed was uh is a Greek person named Jason, and he invites them into his home, and so they start to attack Jason because he believed and gave them comfort. And so they start to attack. Why should you attack a Jason? Jasons are nice guys. What are they doing? That's not fair. That's my real name. Don't worry about it. It picks up here in verse 6. It says, When the crowd could not find them, meaning Paul and Silas, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authority, shouting, These men have turned the world upside down and have come here also. Jason has received them, and they're all acting as the decree against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus. Now I love this because it starts to say, listen, these guys are world changers. They don't know they're accusing them of the very thing that God has empowered them, anointed them by his Holy Spirit to do. Is that they are world changers. And I love this is that someone like Jason and those around him in that day, though they were willing to stand up for their faith in Christ and say, No, that's fine. I'll be taken instead. I'll be the one that goes in front of you because I believe and I won't renounce Jesus. And so we see that's what happens in his testimony. What a powerful thing to be said about you. That you would not cower, but instead you stand strong. You have moxie, you have grit, you have tenacity to stand for God. And so that's the testimony of Jason. He's a fleeting one in this book, In and Out, but it's something powerful that starts to happen there. Now, as they leave the city, they go on to these other places, but now there's a set of believers and a church that's happening there. So later Paul sends Timothy to them to encourage them, and then Timothy returns back to Paul. And as he writes this letter to them, he's writing from a place of love. He's writing as a father figure of the church. He's writing to them because he cares for them and he wants them to thrive.

Faith Love Hope That People Notice

Jason Brown 15:03

So as we see this narrative start to happen, we pick up here in 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 2 and 3. If you have your Bible, your tablet, your phone, we encourage you to turn there today. Now we've been encouraging people to bring their paper Bible to church if they have one. Did you have your Bible with you today? Hey, I like that. So as we turn to 1 Thessalonians to the New Testament, you'll find it there, smaller book. It picks up here in verse 2 and 3. He's writing to them. He says, We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. What a powerful thing to be said about someone. That they are they are those that have faith, that they are those that exhibit love, that they are those that are sharing hope with people around them. That's an amazing thing to be said about you, even from a distance. You know, it's like, oh, I heard a rumor about them. Usually that's a negative thing, right? But instead, what if man, I heard that they are actually those that are continuing in their faith, they're not backing down. They're actually those that are living with love of Christ for others, the love of Christ for others. That they're actually operating in the hope of the gospel and not in the fear of what could happen. What a powerful thing that would challenge us to live the same. Amen. We continue here in this uh the next verse. It picks up here and it says in verse 4 As we know, brothers, love by God, that He has chosen you. Because our gospel came not to you only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction. And you know that kind of men we prove to be among you for your sake. I love what it says here. What does it say? It says that it wasn't simply an empty word or just a word that they believed. No, they experienced the power of the Holy Spirit of God. The reason that we were praying during Pentecost for you to be empowered by the Spirit is that we want you to be empowered to live for God in the same way. That we want you to live not timid, but instead full of the power of God. And we don't mean that's gonna make you an outgoing, you know, like somebody like me, chatterbox. No, you don't have to change your personality, but you can be full of the power of God to live for him and what he's called you to do. And so, what a powerful thing to be said to them about what God wants to do through their lives. And he's saying, you know that this isn't fake. You've experienced the power of God about what we said. This isn't empty things and praying to all the gods that were in Greece at the time. No, you're not praying to all these false deities, you are praying alone to the one true God. And that is all. And so as they give praise to God, they see what starts to happen with this alignment that's there. And it picks up with them and starts to share about what that means. As you said, became imitators of us and of the Lord. For you receive the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Arcassia. What we start to see is that they start to be those that are imitating Paul. They lived with boldness because Paul lived with boldness. Two, you know, it talks about what we talked about recently, and Pastor Angus talked about it as well, that we are not called to be those that are condemned, but convicted to be aligned by the power of God. And so that's how they've been living is convicted by the power of God. They'll change what they're doing to be in alignment with him. And so they're not living, they're not living in a cowardly way. No, they're living full of the power of God. And in doing so, they saw the example of people like Paul, Silas, Timothy. They see their example, they see these other women of faith that it talks about these devout women, these Greek women there. They're seeing them and they're saying, This is what we need to live like too. We need to follow Jesus. And we need to keep following after him and be an example, not just the example that he was, but we need to be example to others around us. And so we see what happens. What does it say? That not just here are you known, not just in Thessaloniki, but actually in a whole nother region of Macedonia, which is adjacent to them, but in a whole nother region knows about your faithfulness because despite them trying to come and attack you, you stood your ground for God. Friends, that's what it means to be an example, is to live with the power of God in a way that other people would take note of your faith in God. And I don't mean in a bombastic speaker on the side of the corner way. No, I mean in the way you live every day to the people in your sphere of influence that you're an example of what it means to live for Christ. And when we make a mistake, and we'll all make a mistake, but when we make a mistake, we say, Please forgive me, help me. I want to be someone who lives for you. It continues here in the scripture.

Boldness In Conflict Through The Spirit

Jason Brown 20:11

It says this in 1 Thessalonians 2, 2, going to the next chapter. It says, And though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of such conflict. See, that's what it means to have boldness for God. Is that they, meaning Paul and all of those were planting the church, they just had come from Philippi experiencing a very similar situation where they were attacked there. And then they, even having understood the great suffering that was there, did not keep them from planting the church in going forward. I wonder how many times that we get shook by our circumstances now that prevents us from doing the very thing that God was trying to teach us the lesson here in this circumstance in the future. See, I think he wants us to learn the lesson and not be shook by our circumstance because when he takes us to the greater thing, the next thing that happens, then we know the lesson from before, and we have a boldness to say, I can trust God in this circumstance, I can trust God now in my circumstance, I can trust God as I go into the next journey in the next circumstance. And friends, I could tell you that's my own personal testimony that there are times where I get shook or I get mad or I get angry or whatever's going on, and he said, Do you not remember what I did for you over here? And I said, Yes, Lord, I'm so sorry, my God is faithful. And he says, Do you not remember what I did for you here? And I said, Lord, I'm so sorry, you're right, you are faithful. Can I not do for you today what I did for you in these seasons? Friends, he can do not just that, but more than that. If we live with the boldness of faith in the Lord's Say, Lord, I trust you, and I'm not going to hold back from what you want to do in my life. It continues here. It says in 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 3, for our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive. Or just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. That goes against God. I'm going to stand for God. I'm going to please him. What happens is that he will start to use you as an example because they'll light the fire of God inside of you, and that people are like, whoa, hold on a second. They didn't bow down. Remember the guys in front of the fiery furnace? They didn't bow down. Remember whenever these other things started to happen, they didn't back down. No, what happened? They stood because they wanted to please God and God alone. That's what they were worried about, not trying to please other people. And so whenever we start to have that kind of alignment with God, it changes our whole narrative. It changes everything for

Gentle Care And Godly Example

Jason Brown 23:31

us. It continues here and says in verse 7, but we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. I love this idea that they start to give there. They talk about what it means to be a mother. And I could tell you, as I have an amazing mother, as my wife is an amazing mother, there's something different about the love of a mother, the mother can give. It's a different feeling. It's a different closeness than that a father. I mean, that's also equally as valid, but it's different. It's a comfort and a care that I could tell you, whenever my kids are growing up, man, like they would fall down, and my my wife's heart is like, oh, she's the mama's heart. And I'm like, get up, recover. Are you bleeding? You're not bleeding that much. Keep going. It's a different love. And it's a good thing, though. It's a good thing. And what is he saying? He's saying, we cared for you like that. We cared for you where you were close to us. We cared for you because you didn't know how to feed yourself yet in the gospel. So we taught you how to do these things and we cared for you step by step. Friends, that's what it also means is that it's not just about being bold and strong and brash. No, it's also about being those that can be warm and caring and comforting. And there's some of us that are more gifted in that than others. But we're all called to be those people and to walk in that way. It continues here in the next uh next verse. It says in verse 10, for you are witnesses in God also how holy and righteous and blameless was our contact, was our conduct towards you, believers. Friends, think about that. They're saying, listen, our testimony to you is that we came across to you holy and righteous and blameless. Christ has done that work in them. Paul is not saying that he is holy or righteous or blameless. No, he's saying by the power of Christ, he has done this work in us, that we would be those that are attached to Christ, that Christ's holiness comes through our lives to you, that his righteousness comes through us, and that you see us in right standing because we're aligned with Jesus. Not in our own power, not in our own strength, not in our own authority, but instead in the righteousness of Christ. And so that's how they're called blameless because Christ is blameless, because Christ has taken all of our sin and shame, because Christ first and everything else for naught. And so that's why they're saying this to them, saying, listen, what we've been example to you is that we want you to know that it's not about us, it's always been about Christ. And as if you live for Christ and stay connected to Christ, then everything that we're talking about will be yours as well, except multiplied, because the church multiplies and goes out. It continues here in the next verse, in verse 11 and 12. It says, For you know how, like a father with his children, we have exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. I love this. He shows the other side. He talked about being a mother and comforting and caring. He's talking about being a father who's instructing. Why? Because the love that he has for a children. And so the father is there. The father is the example. He's saying, Listen, we want to instruct you so you will live victoriously after God. We're not telling you a bunch of things so that you feel like you're bogged down by rules. Friends, I can tell you as a pastor, I don't need to give you a bunch of rules. Everyone will break them by next week, and everyone will have to come to the altar. We should probably come to the altar anyway. Normalize that. Because guess what? It doesn't matter. We all need Jesus. We all need more Jesus. So we can come to the altar. Nothing wrong with that. What I'm talking about is being those that it's the point is not the rules, it's the relationship. And as we walk full of the Spirit of God, then we're guided day by day, not in big segments where we have to go and repent for a thousand things. No, every day walking with him. And so this love letter, this instruction manual, this thing that he's using and giving to us, it has so much power if we allow it to speak to us and draw near to it. Like that love letter we talked about at the beginning, how it has an aroma to it, that we would spend time with the Lord so that his aroma gets on us. And that there's a difference that people, when they take note of you, they're like, Wow, wow, there's something different. Your vibe is different. Something's going on with you. Because God is doing something in your life. And it's the Spirit of God that they're connecting to. That they're experienced the peace of God that you have that they don't have that they need. That they experience it because you said, Lord, your kingdom come, your will be done in me. And you're bold enough to stand for God and have the courage to give your testimony when Holy Spirit prompts you to do so. And in all these ways, we align with the Father. We align with this perspective for us. Friends, as we come to these ideas of these letters, we want it to speak to us that we want to be those that live for God. We want to draw near to God and be empowered by the Spirit of God to live boldly after him. That we would be those that as we read these things, and as we allow them to wash over us, it transforms us to draw near and be closer to God. That in every aspect of our life, we don't try to shut off doors in our heart. No, instead we kick those things open and say, Lord, every area, every piece, Lord, have your way in me. Have your way in me. And that we would be those that understand that this is a love letter to us, and so we would respond accordingly.

Invitation To Follow Jesus

Jason Brown 29:32

Today, as we come to this altar, we do so with a heart that every person would know the love of God. Maybe you're here, you've never made a decision to embrace Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Every single person needs to answer this question of have you embraced Jesus? For us, we've been talking about it. The image of the cross is so powerful because of Jesus, because of what he has done on our behalf, because he took all of our sin and shame and brokenness, because he did that not just for me, he did that for every single person. Because he's done it for you, he gets done it for everyone. And he's saying, Listen, I've taken all of these things, I've already paid for it upon the cross. And so for us, when we see the cross, we see freedom, we see forgiveness, we see a symbol of hope, a symbol of light in the darkness, because Christ, though I was supposed to go there in my shame and my ugliness, Christ went there instead. And he took my place for the things that I've done that would break the heart of God. And instead, when I accept Christ, the Father sees Jesus, not me. That's what Paul's writing about when he says, We came to you as holy and blameless and righteous, they see Jesus, not me. And the Father sees Jesus as I accept him into my heart and life as my personal savior. And it's that very thing that each person has to do for themselves. No one can do it for you. Each person has to make a decision about what they're gonna do with Jesus. Maybe you're here today and you've never made a decision to embrace Christ. Let me encourage you, you would make that decision today to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. Apostle Paul, he later writes to the church in Rome and says this, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Friends, today is an opportunity for you to invite Christ into your heart and life. I'm gonna ask if you're here in the room, be to stand to your feet right where you're out and bow your head. As Christians are praying and people are making decisions to follow Jesus, friends online, wherever you are, take a moment for what God wants to do in your story today. Friends are so encouraged to hear the testimonies of what God is doing across Arizona by these pastors that were here recently this week with us. They're telling stories of people that came out of shambles and God has put their life back together and healed up their life and they're living for Jesus. Friends, that can be your story as well. That you would be someone who embraces embraces Christ today, invites him into your heart and life, that you be different forever. As heads are bowed, I'm gonna ask you today, if that's you, you just raise your hand indicating to me that you say, Pastor, I just want to be included in that prayer today to invite Christ into my heart and life. If that's you, you just raise your hand right where you're at today. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. We see some that are raising their hand, making decisions. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Others today, thank you, Jesus, online as well. Thank you, Lord, for what you're doing. If they would just pray this prayer out loud after me. Lord, thank you for loving me. I thank you for sending Jesus. I believe Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe he rose again. Forgive me of my sins. I surrender my life to you. In Christ's name I pray. Amen. Amen. Friends, we rejoice with those raising their hands today. Praise God. Several people in the room, as well as people online, making decisions for God. Last week we had people, even on TikTok, giving their heart to Christ. Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus, for those making decisions. Hey, that was you. Take a moment. We have a resource for you. It's a QR code. You can take a snapshot of it. Follow it later. Let it be a blessing to you. We don't want you to do this life alone. We want you to be equipped to live for Christ. Today, as we come to the altar, we do so asking for an empowerment of the Spirit, that we would be those that draw near to God, that we would have his heart for what he wants to do through our story. See, friends, I think every single one of us can lead someone to Jesus this year. But that means that we need to be near to Jesus so that his character can go through us. So I'm encouraging every person that they would come and make an altar with God, asking for impartation of his spirit. Lord, we thank you so much for this word today, Lord, how you challenge us. Lord, how you're using this obedience of someone like Paul, people like Silas and Timothy and others, Lord, and you're using their obedience, Lord, to go and do difficult things. Lord, you're using that, Lord, to help us to know what it means to live for you. Lord, as we come to this altar, we ask for you to pour your spirit out upon us. Lord, that we would we would be empowered by your spirit, Lord, to live for you. Lord, to live as that example, Lord, and that you would come and meet us for those that need something from you today, Lord, a touch, a healing, Lord, for an opportunity, open doors for amended marriage, Lord, for whatever it would be in all areas. Lord, we come and we seek you here at this altar. We pray this in the powerful name that is Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mercy House Signup And Final Blessing

Celeste Brown 35:05

Well, we want to remind you again that our Mercy House back to school event is coming soon, and we need you. So do not hesitate. They really need to know how many people are gonna be there to help them. So if you can go on the app, sign up, if you can give, um, we want to bless the community, and there are a lot of people that are in need right now. So anything that you can give is gonna be a blessing, but also just your heart to serve and to love people in the community. We need you. Just smile, hug people, and lead them through the school, and it will be a huge blessing. So we are just so excited to see all of you there.

Jason Brown 35:40

Amen. Before we go, I want to pray this blessing over us. The Lord bless you and keep you. Lord, make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Lord, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Or we pray the blessing upon your church, your people. Lord, you would empower us by your Spirit to live your love out to those around us. We pray all this in the powerful name that is Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Know this. We love you very much here at Cornerstone. God bless you and have a great week.