Counter Culture - A World Turned Upside Down (1 Thess 1, Daniel Ostendorff)

<p>Most of us think about the future without actually letting it shape how we live. First Thessalonians calls us to close that gap by living faithfully today in light of what is promised to come. The early church in Thessalonica was known throughout the region for three defining qualities: work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in Christ. Each of these qualities runs against the grain of our culture, yet our culture is desperately hungry for exactly what they offer. The gospel does not simply change what we believe. It changes everything about how we live. Like the Thessalonians, we are called to turn from the idols of our culture, share the good news boldly, and trust God with the results. Our job is to be faithful. His job is to change hearts.</p>