RTW 2024

And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

• “The Epicureans were followers of Epicurus, a Greek philosopher who had lived from 341-270 BC. Epicurius taught that nature rather than reason is the true reality and that nothing exists but atoms and voice (matter and space). The chief purpose of humankind in his view was to achieve happiness. People have free will, he asserted, in order to plan and live lives of pleasure…Epicureanism was widely espoused at the time of Christ, and Paul met it in Athens when he encountered the philosophers of that city. Epicureans were not impressed by his teaching of creation, judgment and resurrection, since all of these doctrines were denied by Epicurean philosophy.” Archaeological Study Bible
• Greeks had an altar(s) to “an unknown god” in order to avoid the possible failure of appeasing a god they did not know about or have. 
• Accountability is necessary and a firm call to repentance for those who have harmed others.. However, for people who feel shame or who have been wounded, they want to know if God is real, and if God loves them. 
• God is a Father who comforts and encourages and walks with us to live the life He called us to live.
• Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
  Romans 2:4 (NRSVUE)

Receive the Father’s encouragement and comfort and kindness, and offer it freely to others.