Sermon for June 2, 2019 - "A Sure and Certain Arrival"

This week, we start off our Sizzlin' Summer Sermon Series! Through the summer, we'll be looking at the letters of the Apostle Paul. Rev. Tom begins with Paul's first letter, written to the believers in Thessalonica. We often imagine Paul as a solo preacher, a lone ranger in his many travels. But Paul was always working within and for the Christian communities. And as a practical theologian, he was concerned about addressing a community's needs. Here, he faces a question that has troubled Christians throughout the ages - how we are to live while we await the day when Jesus comes again "like a thief in the night." Rev. Tom describes Paul's assurance that there is hope for all who trust Jesus; alive or dead, we are saved, now and always. (Bible reading - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 NRSV)