SPOTmail!!

If you're reading this, you haven't been raptured . . . so, we'll see you in class tomorrow!

Lesson Preview

This week will be our third lesson in 1 Thessalonians.  So far, we have covered the topics of:

• When You Started Out -- Reminding us of the joy and zeal we had at the time of our salvation experience.
• When Others Helped You -- All of us recalled people in our past that gave of themselves to help us grow in our faith.  Our conclusion to this study was to pass it on.

This week we will look at the topic, "When Others Cared for You".  Some people care for us like a mother.  They tenderly nurture us.  They lovingly help us recover from scrapes and scratches.  Then, there are the "typical" Dad-type care-givers.  They tell us to "suck it up" with a firm slap to the back.  Their goal is to make sure we are prepared to handle the hard stuff life dishes out.  Who are some of the spiritual care-givers in your life?  How do you see yourself in the role of spiritual care-giver to your teens?  Let's talk about it Sunday.

See you then,

Don

SPOTlunch

SPOTlunch is on this week at Lion's Choice on South Lindbergh.  Get a great roast beef sandwich with your fries and indulge in a mini ice cream for dessert!  Plan on meeting us there right after class.

Snacks

This Sunday:  Luther

May 29:  Memorial Day weekend -- no class

June 5:  LaRowe

Prayer List

Jeff Bradshaw is recovering at home after a bout with pneumonia

Carolyn Amen is still hospitalized after more than a month with complications from pneumonia

Kevin Hurt's father has been hospitalized

College students returning home

Allen Decker's child custody issues

Baseball Tickets

Each year Brad Slinkard offers the SPOTclass tickets for a summertime Cardinal game at discounted rates. This year's game is on Saturday, June 18 against our cross state rival, the KC Royals.  Tickets in this section are normally $37, but they're available through Brad at just $15. That's much better than StubHub and these are a genuine bargain with no pesky prossessing or delivery fees.  And you don't even have the use the ink in your printer.  In exchange for your $$$ you actuallly get a real ticket.    It's a good Father's Day gift (as that is Father's Day "Eve").  There's (virtually) no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase for your family and friends. Tickets are in section  372 of the Left Field Pavillion (right above Big Mac Land).  Contact Brad Slinkard at 314-494-5081 or email at bs4@sbcglobal.net.

Update on Jeff Bradshaw

Jeff got home from the hospital yesterday afternoon.  He still does not have a lot of energy.  He has been cleared to return to work on Monday.

The Mid-Week Update...Express Edition!!!

My apologies, but due to a computer virus I will be unable to put the lesson recap in this edition of the Mid-Week Update.  I will be back up and running pretty soon, so no worries!

SPOTlunch

The SPOTlunch for this month will be this Sunday at Lion's Choice on South Lindbergh.  Come and enjoy some fellowship and good food!

Muny Voting

..will continue this week.  Watch for the sheet in this week's SPOTfolder. 

Snacks

• 5/22  Luther

• 5/29  No Class  
• 6/5   LaRowe  

Prayer Requests

 

• Kevin's dad remains in the hospital.
• Jeff Bradshaw is recovering from pneumonia. 
• Carolyn Amen is still slowly improving despite a set-back last week.
• New worship/fine arts minister...keep praying!
• Kids/parents continue traveling home from college.
• Allen Decker with ongoing child custody issues, as well as a silent prayer request.

   

 

Prayer Request

Jeff Bradshaw is in Missouri Baptist Hospital with pneumonia.  The doctors who are treating him say he will be there for a few days while he recovers.

A Thought or Two...

Strong words from C. H. Spurgeon, but so true: "We should always remember that we are a part of the Church, and that our own lack of revival is in some measure the cause of the lack of revival in the Church at large. I will lay this charge before us: we Christians need a revival of piety in our lives."

and

"We are mirrors whose brightness, if we are bright, is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us." (C.S. Lewis) When others look at your life do they see the light of Jesus? Are you living the life of a fan or a follower?

 

SPOTMail!!

Lesson Preview

We continue our study of 1st Thessalonians.  Be sure read ahead into Chapters 2 & 3 and you should be able to keep up with our fearless leader.

 Baseball Tickets

Each year Brad Slinkard offers the SPOTclass tickets for a summertime Cardinal game at discounted rates. This year's game is on Saturday, June 18 against our cross state rival, the KC Royals.  Tickets in this section are normally $37, but they're available through Brad at just $15. That's much better than StubHub and these are a genuine bargain with no pesky prossessing or delivery fees.  And you don't even have the use the ink in your printer.  In exchange for your $$$ you actuallly get a real ticket.    It's a good Father's Day gift (as that is Father's Day "Eve").  There's (virtually) no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase for your family and friends. Tickets are in section  372 of the Left Field Pavillion (right above Big Mac Land).  Contact Brad Slinkard at 314-494-5081 or email at bs4@sbcglobal.net.

Snacks Schedule

May 15 = Massey

May 22 - Luther

May 29 - MEMORIAL DAY - No class

Prayer List

Carolyn Amen's recovery is very very slow, but steady

Fine Art's ministry

Tornado and flood victims

Traveling students

The Late Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

1st Thessalonians 1:1-10

Puppy Love 

In beginning our study of Thessalonians, we started with a quick quiz that covered the following facts.  1st Thessalonians was the 2 in chronological order of Paul's 13 letters. Thessolanica was and still is in Greece.  Thessolanica was like Corinth that it was a good port, had lots of traffic, and was prosperous.  The 3 groups that responded to Paul's preaching were Jews, God-fearing Greeks, and leading women. His message appealed to the Jews because of the Messiah, and to Greeks and leading women because of it's message of freedom rather than the legalism of Judaism.  Paul stayed in Thessolinica less than three weeks, at which time he was run out of town by the non-believing Jews.  Paul wrote the letter in response to Timothy's report.

Intro:

What is puppy love?  About how old was your teen when they had their first bite of puppy love?  How did it affect them?  How old were you when you had your first puppy love?  How did it affect you?  In this lesson we saw what puppy love had in common with 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1-4 Recognizing God's Work

When you look here at the pronouns you notice that they are all plural.  This indicates that Paul was open.  We see here that Silas helped start the church and that Timothy was sent to encourage them.  Paul was pleased by three things about the Thessalonians in Timothy's report.  They were-their work of faith, their labor of love, and their endurance inspired by hope.  Their work of faith demonstrated the motive behind their labor of love/service.  Both were strengthened by their endurance of hope in the return of Christ, giving Paul reason to rejoice.

These evidences of godliness prove the reality of one's faith in Christ in this fashion; they are evidences of God's presence in one's life and are a consistent reflection of a genuine faith in Jesus.

5-6 Responding to the Spirit

Here Paul is commending the Thessalonians for responding to the message in spite of severe suffering and persecution.  The Holy Spirit is given credit for the success of Paul's preaching.  What do you think was behind Paul's bold statement that the Thessalonians become imitators of him and his coworkers?  How important do you consider "spiritual modeling" in you relationship with others?

7-10 Influencing Others

The Thessalonians faith had a great effect on Christians in Macedonia and Achaia.  This is because the Thessalonian believers made a complete break with the worship of idols, which was a radical step of faith for them.  They believed the gospel, and they passed it on by deed and word.  The gospel is presented primarily through the lives of believers (2 Cor 3:1-3).  Paul touched on 4 basic themes of the gospel message as he observed in the Thessalonian's spiritual growth and reputation.  They are:

1. Turning from idols to save God.
2. Anticipation of Christ's return.
3. What Christ accomplished for us through His resurrection.
4. The inevitability of a coming judgement for those who reject Jesus.

Conclusion:

The comparison we see between puppy love and what we have seen in this lesson about the Thessalonians is a radical change because of a love relationship.

Muny Poll

A revised (with dates!) poll of what Muny show the class should attend will be in the SPOT folder this Sunday!

Baseball Tickets

Brad Slinkard has discounted baseball tickets for sale.  The game is for Saturday, June 18th against our Cross State Rival, the KC Royals.  Tickets are normally $37.00 but he is willing to sell for $15.00 per ticket.  It's a good Father's Day present as that is Father's Day "Eve".  He has plenty in hand and willing to sell as many as you'd like.  Also mention to any friends/family who may be interested as you won't find any cheaper than this in this particular section.  Sec 372 of the Left Field Pavilion (right above Big Mac Land).  You can contact him at:

Brad Slinkard

314-494-5081

bs4@sbcglobal.net

 

Prayer Requests

 

• Carolynn Amen is improving slowly.
• New worship minister (keep your fingers crossed and your knees on the ground!)
• Keep praying for college kids as they take finals and travel home.
• Susan's sister-in-law's brother committed suicide.  

 

  and finally!!!

... a neat little graduation video here.

  

SPOTMail!!

Lesson Preview

Puppy Love.  As parents of teens, you are well familiar with this phenomenon.  But can you recall your first case of puppy love?  I do, but no details will be given.  What is it about puppy love that changes a person forever?  Once you have been bit, it starts a process that lasts for life.  I was once told that puppy love is not real love -- but it certainly is real to the puppy!

Well, in a way, that is what we will be talking about this Sunday as we look at 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.  I look forward to meeting with you and sharing this time together.

Don

Baseball Tickets

Each year Brad Slinkard offers the SPOTclass tiocvkets for a summertime Cardinal game at discounted rates. This year's game is on Saturday, June 18th against our cross state rival, the KC Royals.  Tickets are normally $37 tickets, but they're available through Brad for $15 per ticket.  It's a good Father's Day present as that is Father's Day "Eve".  There's no limit on the number of tickets you can purchase for your family and friends. Tickets are in section  372 of the Left Field Pavillion (right above Big Mac Land).  Contact Brad Slinkard at 314-494-5081 or email at bs4@sbcglobal.net.

Snacks this week

Zenobia Perry

Prayer List

Carolyn Amen

Traveling students

The Mid-Week Update!!!

Lesson Recap

This week began our study in 1st Thessalonians.  We started out with an introduction to this book.

Where Is Thessalonica?

Thessalonica was located in the region of Macedonia.  It was the principal and capital city of Macedonia.  Its original name was Therme, after the hot springs in the area.  It was a free city within the Roman Empire.  That means they enjoyed self-rule within the framework of the laws of the Empire.

What Was The City Like?

Thessalonica was located on the Thermic Gulf and enjoyed the benefits of an excellent harbor. In Roman times it was the site of great dockyards.  The City was also on the Egnation Way, Rome's highway linking Europe and Asia.  Its sea and land location meant that it was a great trade center.  And like other major Roman cities (i.e. Corinth) it was religious, immoral and enjoyed wealth. Most of the residents were Gentile.  All the ingredients that made Thessalonica such an important city then is why it continues to be a thriving city today though spelled Thessaloniki.

Did Paul Ever Visit The City?

Paul came to the city on his second missionary journey around A D 50. (Acts 17:1-9). Verse 1 of Acts 17 informs us when Paul arrived Jews were established in the city and worshipped at their synagogue. Paul spent three Sabbath days debating with them out of the Scriptures with reference to the death and resurrection of Christ. He proclaimed Jesus to them as the Messiah.  The first converts included some Jewish along with many devout Greeks and leading women.

Why Did Paul Write The Letter?

The significance of the Devout Greeks and leading women following Paul sets up the ongoing conflict between Paul and the Jewish leadership.  Women enjoyed a higher status in Macedonia and Asia Minor than elsewhere.  The devout Greeks were God-fearers.  Disillusioned by idolatry and low moral standards of the pagans, the God-fearing Greeks and leading women were attracted to the monotheism and high moral standards of the Jews.  As God-fearers they were studying the Jewish religion but had not yet adopted it as their own.  One barrier to this final step probably was the legalism of the Jewish faith.  So they were readily attracted to Paul's gospel of freedom.  This aroused great jealousy and resentment of the unbelieving Jews for losing these potential converts.  Another cause for the conflict between the Jews and Paul was their rejection of Paul's message about Jesus being the promised Messiah/Christ. This group of faithful Jews made life difficult for Paul and the new believers. It reached the point where Paul had to leave town.  The story continues in Acts 17:13.

When Paul left Beroea/Berea he wen to Athens but left Silas and Timothy in Beroea.  Paul sent for them in Athens.  Soon after Timothy's arrival in Athens he was sent to Thessalonica to check on the new believers.  Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica was in response to Timothy's report.  The new believers were growing in their faith, although they being persecuted.  They had raised some questions, particularly about the second coming of Christ.  Thus Paul penned his first letter to the Thessolonians to congratulate, encourage, and instruct them.  He wrote from Corinth, probably within months of first preaching in Thessalonica.

Following are the lessons we will study from this letter:

Remember Where You Were-helps us celebrate important evens in our Christian life

When You Started Out (1:1-10)

When Others Helped You (2:1-16)

When Others Cared For You (2:17-3:13)

Consider Where You Are Going- helps us show we are ready for today's challenges

What Is Your Goal in Life (4:1-12)

What Hope Do You Have (4:13-18)

Do You Get Along With Others (5:12-28)

Men's Event

Step Up To The Plate 

Special 2 Day Men's Event featuring:  Chuck Walker (former pro-football St. Louis Cardinal and Atlanta Falcon), Mark Arneson (former St. Louis football Cardinal), and Dave Tobik (former Major League pitcher for Detroit, Texas and Seattle), also our own Bob Weigel (former ESPN World's strongest man competitor and current Scottish Games competitor).  All of these men will be speaking on Friday evening May 6th from 7-9:30PM.

 

Then on Saturday morning, May 7th from 9-11:30PM, we will have special guest speaker Andy Benes (former St. Louis Cardinal pitcher), who will be giving his testimony and a challenge for all men to Step Up to the Plate.

 

Prayer Requests

 

• Continued prayers for Carolynn Amen.
• Prayers for all those ravaged by tornadoes and flooding.  

 

Mother's Day

 

...is this Sunday.  So Remember your Mom!  Take a peek at the quick video here for some fun perspective!!!