Issues In Perspective

Paul concludes his 1st letter to the Thessalonian people, reminding us to hold fast to what is good, turn from sin, and to live our lives according to the promises & hope that our Lord Jesus Christ offers.

We discuss Paul's practical instructions for supporting church leaders & interacting with others, plus gives 3 commands for personal holiness.

Paul reminds the Thessalonians about the coming "Day of The Lord," and explains how this can be a time of blessing & salvation, or that of judgement & wrath. To be "prepared" is the simple act of accepting the gospel of Christ.

Paul describes how Christ will fulfill His promise to come back for His people. Dr. Eckman discusses Biblical truth for this coming event, including details for the resurrection of the dead.

Paul gives instructions on Sanctification - conforming one's life to the image of Christ. It is God's will for our lives to be sanctified, and we are encouraged to develop a strategy for avoiding sin & being Holy.

Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians, and Timothy brought back word of the persecution they were undergoing, and of their steadfastness in the midst of it. We are encouraged in our lives today to grow in our dependence & trust in God, and live holy lives pleasing to Him.

Dr. Eckman discusses Paul's teachings on the differences of hearing, receiving, and accepting the Word of God, and learning to see others & the world around us through God's perspective.

Dr. Eckman leads this discussion involving Paul's defense of his motive & his ministry to the Thessalonians. These passages encourage us to examine our lifestyle & behaviors, to be sure they are honoring to God.

Paul gives thanks to the Thessalonian people for their faith, as they had become good models to other believers in the region. We are encouraged to be the same models of Christ in modern times.

Dr. Eckman begins a new study of the book of 1 Thessalonians. We discuss cultural & geographical factors of the time, and a breakdown of Paul's opening statement of Thanksgiving.

Paul concludes his letter to the Philippians, encouraging us to be content with everything & every situation God puts before us.

What we think about is important to God: Paul continues his call for Peace with a directive & thorough description of 'the right thoughts' for Peace in one's mind.

Paul makes a Call for Peace: Peace in the Church and Peace in one's inner self, encouraging believers to have gratitude, be gentle with others, and to not be anxious.

"Future promises determine present behavior" - Paul reminds the church at Philippi that because one has accepted Christ as a Savior, our thoughts & actions will be shaped & molded by Him.

Paul encourages the people of Philippi to continue in pursuit of holiness & maturity as a Christian. He offers himself as a model to follow, warns of false teachers, and reminds them that their true citizenship is in Heaven.

Paul's words to the Philippians are a perfect summary of the basic Christian principle of Justification: Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we have a new position in Him & are declared righteous, and the process of defining & shaping our new lives begins.

Paul warns the Philippians of false teachers, and reminds them that the hope of salvation is not based on one's genealogy, flesh, or works; Salvation comes through faith in Christ.

Paul teaches us that because we are children of God, we are to live pure & faithful lives in a crooked world. In modern terms, we are instructed to "live what we are" because how we live matters.

Dr. Eckman leads discussion on a short verse with big implications in our Christian lives: "Do everything without complaining or arguing."

Paul tells the Church at Philippi to pursue God & to be obedient to Him, because God is already at work in the lives of His people, shaping their thoughts, desires, and actions.

Paul makes an appeal for unity amongst the church at Philippi which applies to us today: because of our Christian characteristics, we should have unity of mind, love, spirit, and purpose. Unfortunately, man's selfish ambitions get in the way, so we are encouraged to follow the example of the humble & selfless Jesus Christ.

In this study, we discuss this verse that characterizes the God's values of love & compassion, and how we are to model this in our own lives.

In today's study, we see how despite his imprisonment, Paul is determined & focused with an eternal view, and he encourages us to conduct ourselves in ways that are honorable to the Gospel.

Paul tells the church at Philippi that his imprisonment is not hindering the gospel in any way. He also speaks of those who preach with impure intentions: God blesses the message, but not the motives.

Discussion of Paul's powerful prayer for the Philippians, and how it reflects God's desire for each of us today: that as we love God, we gain knowledge & discernment, so that we may be pure & blameless, and righteous.