IThe scriptures are great for so many things. 2 Timothy 3:16 say that they are useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that we can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Thoroughly. And truly, that's what I need. I know that even when I apply my best learning and all my effort to living for Christ, I don't have what it takes on my own. I need more. I need to be taught what it means day by day to live a godly life. I need someone to show me how to walk in the light and live worthy of my calling, pleasing God in every way (Colossians 1:10).

Why is this so important? Well, for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that the time is short and we've been told to be ready for Jesus to return at any moment. This mandate is ours to carry every day in the midst of a culture that is very far from God. There are pressures all around us to compromise, to become tired of doing what is right, and to choose apathy.

Over the next several weeks, we're going to study 1 & 2 Thessalonians together with an eye on how the scriptures are modelling for us just how it is that we can be people who are ready for the challenges of today and, ultimately, for the return of Christ.

Like we did in Nehemiah, we'll be taking a different path through these letters from Paul to the church in Thessalonica than Pastor Del's course from 1 Thessalonians called Get Faithful. But, I'd still encourage you to use it as a devotional guide in the coming weeks to get a more robust look at this short but powerful book. You can find it here: learn.freedomchurchkw.com

I'm excited to get started with our first message on Sunday called "A Model for Waiting." The Thessalonians have given us a beautiful model for what it looks like to set our intention on being ready for Jesus.

See you then, Pastor Tracy