Berea
Introduction to Thessalonica
1.
2.
3.
4.
This was a healthy church.
This was a young church.
This was a threatened church.
This was a watchful church.
Significance
1. A memorial of Jesus’ death till he returns.
2. A checkpoint for the individual
3. A checkpoint for the community
1 John 1:6-9
“This then is the message which we have heard of him,
and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with
him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the
truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we
make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
Isaiah 53
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm
of the LORD revealed?
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and
as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor
comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no
beauty that we should desire him.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it
were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes
we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the
LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment: and
who shall declare his generation? for he was cut
off out of the land of the living: for the
transgression of my people was he stricken.
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with
the rich in his death; because he had done no
violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath
put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an
offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand.
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be
satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous
servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and
he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he
hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was
numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors.
Church Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of
God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our
Savior, and on the profession of our faith
having been baptized in the name of the
Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we do
now most solemnly and joyfully enter into
covenant one with another, as one body in
Christ.
AMEN
In our personal lives we pledge to Christ our love,
faith, and obedience and covenant to live as
Christians in our community and in our world, to
be exemplary in our conduct, just in our dealings,
and faithful in our engagements. We strive to
maintain a Christ-like walk, always guarding our
testimony, and to be zealous in our efforts to
advance the Kingdom of our Savior.
AMEN
In our homes we covenant to engage in personal
and family devotions, to teach our children by
instruction and example that Jesus Christ is
our Savior and Lord; and to seek the salvation
of our family and acquaintances.
AMEN
In our church we covenant to live with one another
in Christ-like love; to pray for one another; to
help each other in sickness and distress; to
cultivate Christian friendships and to be
hospitable to strangers; to avoid all tattling,
backbiting, gossip, and excessive anger; to be
slow to take offense, but always ready for
reconciliation; to forgive one another as Christ
has forgiven us; to be gentle with those of
differing preference and opinion; and to minister
to one another in compassion, sacrifice, and
concern as we share each other’s joys and
sorrows.
AMEN
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we covenant to grow in
His grace and knowledge; we will not forsake the
assembling of ourselves together; nor neglect to
study the Holy Scriptures; nor fail to pray
faithfully. We will seek to know and develop our
spiritual gifts to serve others in love as God gives
us opportunity. We also covenant to contribute
cheerfully and regularly to the expenses of the
church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of
the gospel through all nations.
AMEN
We will, when we move from this place, as soon
as possible, unite with another church where
we can carry out the spirit of this covenant
and the principles of God’s Word.
AMEN
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I am found,
was blind but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to
fear. And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.
When we’ve been there ten thousand
years bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s
praise than when we’d first begun.