1 Timothy - 08.07.25

SCRIPTURE

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves—full acceptance:

Christ Jesus—came into the world—to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners,

Christ Jesus might display his immense patience—as an example

for those who would—believe in HIM and RECEIVE—eternal life.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

OBSERVATION

Paul writes this letter to Timothy, his beloved spiritual son, who is overseeing the Church in Ephesus. What is pressing Paul’s heart? Young Timothy is struggling with infiltrators who are teaching a different Gospel. Paul reminds Timothy of his calling saying, “I urged you to STAY in Ephesus when I went on to Macedonia SO that you may COMMAND those who are teaching false doctrine to STOP” (vs 4).

There is only one Gospel. The Gospel of Grace. Jesus Paid it ALL. We cannot add anything OR subtract anything from the Good News.

The Gospel makes it clear there is a dividing Line and a choice.

Jesus is the only way to Eternal Life.

APPLICATION

Share -The Gospel -often-everywhere-without hesitation

The Gospel is the Reason Jesus CAME.

The Gospel is WHY Jesus suffered The Cross.

The GOSPEL of LOVE—is WHO-JESUS -IS…

Without the Good News..People will suffer eternal separation from God.

Should there be any doubt we should be sharing the GOOD NEWS?

Awhile back RK Castillo visited our church to give a Saturday morning seminar on how easy it is to GO SHARE the GOSPEL. RK said that lengthy and extensive “trainings” weren’t necessary—

Just share Your Story..Your personal testimony how Jesus Changed your life.

Paul shared his personal testimony

Before Jesus—Paul was—blaspheming the Name of Christ and persecuting His people (vs 13).

Paul was a pure-blooded Hebrew who took pride that he could trace his lineage back to Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Paul went on to state he was circumcised at eight days old, a full citizen of Israel, and a member of the Pharisees who demanded the strictest obedience to Jewish law. Paul considered himself “righteous” obeying the law without fault.

He had considered these things—valuable.

Then one day CHRIST Jesus—encountered Paul—on the road to Damascus (Acts 9)

Paul was headed to Damascus that day to continue his persecution of all Christ Followers—When suddenly Christ Jesus encountered Paul and changed His life forever.

I once thought these things were valuable,

but now I consider them worthless —because of what Christ—has done.”

‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

What did Christ DO?

He came INTO the World to suffer the Cross and pay the penalty for our sins.

So that ANYONE who BELIEVES in Him will have forgiveness of sins

and eternal life. It’s a Free Gift

so no one can boast about their own righteousness.

“For it is by GRACE you have been saved—through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God—”   (Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

My Testimony

I was so proud to be Lutheran—it was a strong identity within our Scandinavian family. I clung to that identity, especially because my relationship with my dad’s side was inconsistent. He didn’t like sharing much with any of us—my half-sister, half-brother, or me—about his heritage, which was Russian Jewish.

Going to the Lutheran church was mostly about religious rituals—although it did offer certain basic fundamentals. Every child was expected to learn the 10 commandments and be able to recite the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed. There just wasn’t much understanding of relationship with Jesus and the Gospel itself wasn’t shared.

At 24 yrs old I heard the Gospel message for the First time..

After Jesus—everything changed.

My heart changed.

I heard God’s voice speak to me “this is for you”.

I felt His forgiveness.

Immediately I experienced changes in my life—

Long time struggles with unrealistic—yet very real—fears—simply disappeared.

I had a NEW identity—I Belonged—to Jesus

I developed new friendships that became lifelong friends.

I experienced Christ’s forgiveness being poured into my heart for others who had wounded me deeply. A supernatural forgiveness that I didn’t even have to strive for…it was literally poured into me and overrode the hurt. Instead of unforgiveness, I had compassion for them. Jesus allowed me to see them with His eyes—as broken and in need of His love.

And more than that..God began to pull out gifts in me, things I had never heard of or even read yet in the Bible. My life had purpose. I was reading His word and praying daily. I experienced relationship with Jesus.

Before Jesus I was guarded, prideful, self-reliant, fearful, anxious, depressed, and broken. Although I was raised to be polite, calm and collected—and appeared “good” on the outside…

On the inside at times I felt so lost I wondered if the world would be better without me.

But God in His Infinite Love had Mercy on me and had pursued me…

FIRST, God sent someone to the store where I worked who was an evangelist. In addition to her assigned work, She spoke to EVERYONE that day about Jesus. EVERYONE. At the end of her shift when she came to speak with me I was not very nice to her and told her to “Go Away”.

THEN, God placed someone in my life that I didn’t even want to meet. I ended up being “tricked” into meeting her. This lady who I had envisioned to be a very different kind of person ended up being very nice and invited me to church, something I had been contemplating since the evangelist had come in the store.

BUT the sweet lady who became a friend took me to a Pentecostal Church— a place I wasn’t sure I wanted to go. However, she was driving—so I didn’t have a choice. She began telling me what I might witness when we got there.

People speaking in strange unknown languages. What?!? No thank you.

BUT, God had a plan. Thank YOU—Jesus!

I heard the Gospel Message that Day and I heard Jesus speak to me, “This is for you”.

SO that Christ Jesus

could use me

as a Prime example

of His Great Patience.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank YOU for Your very Great Patience in pursuing me and pursuing me and pursuing me. Thank You for saving me when I didn’t know I needed to be Saved. I never knew this kind of relationship was possible. YOU Love to talk to Your Children. Thank YOU for Your forgiveness and the assurance of Heaven. Thank YOU for FILLING me WITH Your Holy Spirit—when again—I said I didn’t want it.

YOU have been SO merciful to me. So gracious to me. SO Good to me.

Help me to be more transparent so others can really KNOW that YOU- ARE-

a very REAL and LOVING God—who SEES them and LOVES them…

SO much—that YOU came—for the express purpose—of dying on the Cross.

YOU are Life. YOU are Hope. There is NO other way. Here I am Lord.

My life is Yours.

In Your Holy and Precious Name, amen.

Tina L Kudelka

2 Thessalonians 3 - 8.6.25

Scripture

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that You are doing and will continue to do the things we command (2 Thessalonians 3:3-4)

Observation

In these verses, Paul reminds us of the foundation of our faith and our life. The Lord is faithful. (v3). He will strengthen us (v3). He will protect us from all the plans of the enemy (v3). Our confidence is in the Lord (v4). We are not confident in ourselves that we will live according to the commandments of the Lord. Our confidence is in Him, that he will enable us to continue to do the things that are commanded in the word (v4).

Application

These verses talk about 3 things - strength, protection and confidence. We need these everyday for our daily life. Let us remember that our source for all three is our Lord.

Strength: We can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). The One who called us is faithful and He will do it (1 Thess 5:24). We are engraved on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). Our strength comes from Him. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). We live and breathe and go through life because He is holding us. Underneath are the everlasting arms of our Father who is holding us (Deut 33:27).

Protection: He will keep us from all harm (Ps 121:7). In the time of trouble, He will hide us in his pavilion (Ps 27:5). The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and we run into it and are safe (Prov 18:10). He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in times of trouble (Ps 46:1).

Our confidence in facing our life comes from Him. We are confident that we will obey the Lord, and will live a life pleasing Him, because our confidence is in Him. He will keep us from falling, and will present us faultless before Him (Jude 1:24).  We will stand because the Lord is able to make us stand (Romans 14:4).

Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your love for me. I thank You for your word. I thank You for your promises which are yes and Amen (2 Cor 1:20). Thank You because You are my strength. Teach me how to wait on You and renew my strength (Isaiah 40:31). Thank You because You are my protection. You have promised to keep me safe as the apple of Your eye (Zech 2:8). Thank You because You have commanded Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways (Ps 91:11).

Thank You because You are my confidence, and You will keep my foot from getting caught (Prov 3:26). You teach me, You give me the skills I need for all the roles You have called me to in life. I am more than a conqueror through You who loved me (Rom 8:37). Help me to bring all my worries and anxieties to You. Teach me what it means to take Your yoke on me and learn from You, so that I can find rest for my soul (Matthew 11:29). Thank You because You have given me everything I need for a Godly life (2 Pet 1:3). I am complete in You (Col 2:10). I rest in You. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

2 Thessalonians 2 - 8.5.25

SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-16 “But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to help them grow in their faith.  In this second letter, he continued to encourage them to be courageous and to remain consistent in their conduct.  Back in the Book of Ephesians, he taught that they didn’t influence God’s decision to save them; He saved them, and us according to His plan.

We have been made holy and blameless by God because of how Jesus exchanged our sins on the cross for God’s mercy, grace and forgiveness.  To those who believe and have professed that Jesus is Lord, God actually looks at us as if we never sinned! 

Paul is reminding them that they were chosen, predestined, and called to share in the glory of Jesus Christ!

APPLICATION:  It is hard to fathom why God would choose to use us to partner with Him, but His Word says that we have been called by God to share in the glory of Jesus Christ!  We have been chosen to receive His gift of salvation. His purpose for our lives was settled before the foundation of the world.  He knew who would respond to His call. 

PRAYER:  God, thank You that You called me and created me for Your good purpose.  You set me free from the bondage of sin and death so that I could be given the freedom to serve and honor You. Thank You that even though I didn’t deserve it, or couldn’t earn it, You saved me, and are the One Who is helping me to stand firm through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for encouraging me through Your Word, and for building me up so that I am able to turn around and do the same for others in sharing Your eternal encouragement and good hope.  And thank You for teaching, helping, and equipping me to be a faithful witness for You, and for giving me the awesome privilege of being able to share in the glory of Jesus!

- Robin Orefice