A surge trip to Thessalonica

Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3 There is this story that Pastor Tolu tells of a circus performer who engaged his audience in a performance. He would ask each time if they believed he could perform a particular trick and they would say ‘Yes!’ and he would go ahead to do it. Then the time came for him to walk across a rope carrying a human being. He asked if they believed he could do it. “Yes!” they all said, then…

Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2 Philemon had been preparing hard for an international scholarship exam for the past 3 months. He downloaded resources online, treated past questions, did group discussions, and all of that. He was fully prepared.  Finally, the day of the exam came and Philemon made sure he got to the venue very early. He met a man dressed like a British Professor on his way to the exam hall who told him he got the time wrong…

Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1 One of the things parenting has taught me is to never miss out on being sensitive in the moment after. You can focus all you want on the moment, but the moment after is just as important when you’re dealing with kids. And in life generally. In fact, that’s when you know whether or not you really had a moment. It’s not just the ‘yes daddy’ you get for the clear instructions that you give-…

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5 If you’ve been through school, then I’m sure you had some end-rush moments in an exam hall. You know that moment when the invigilator announces that you have five minutes to go and there are suddenly like thirty-two brilliant points flying in your head. You seem to just be scribbling it all out as quickly as you possibly can. Who cares about his handwriting being neat anymore, let’s just get the damn (*or insert whatever…

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4 What picture do you get in your mind when you think about the people of Thessalonica in the Bible? I might be wrong- and maybe it’s just me- but in my mind, the Thessalonians were these unattractive ancient people, walking around in robes and turbans and taking care of camels and donkeys all day.  Whatever it was, I’m unable to imagine what about the Thessalonian ladies was possibly causing any rancor between the guys? I…

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3  If like me, you were blessed with the privilege of an older sibling who was always looking out for you, you’ll probably be able to relate better with our reading today. Big brother Paul was looking out for the people of the church in Thessalonica and even though he couldn’t see them personally, he sent brother Timothy to check things out.  Why was this so important? “That no one [of you] should be disturbed and…

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2 Have you ever gone to some ridiculous extent just to get something you wanted even if it didn’t really make rational sense? Like the fuel in the generator finished at 10 pm and you just had to watch the final episode of your favourite TV show or the final of the Champions League, so you passionately travelled the entire city in search of a filling station that was still open. Or maybe you gloriously endured…

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1  Have you ever seen the traffic sign “KEEP RIGHT”?  At certain times it leaves me with a bigger question than an actual traffic instruction, because I’m thinking, “what do I do when I’m supposed to be taking a left bend and the road sign keeps telling me to keep right?”.  In our reading today, Paul speaks on behalf of himself and his guys about the believers of Thessalonica. He says that the Thessalonians lives were…