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SERMON TEXT • 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
SUMMARY & KEY POINTS
Theme: "Encourage One Another"
Summary
Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost draws from 1 Thessalonians 4 and addresses the confusion and grief that surrounds death, both for the original Thessalonian congregation and for believers today.
Pastor Pett establishes that Christians are not called to grieve without hope, but rather to grieve with hope rooted in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus rose never to die again, all who believe in him are promised a bodily resurrection, an eternal reunion with the Lord and with one another, and a transformed, imperishable life that will never end.
The sermon calls believers to hold fast to two foundational truths in the face of loss: we have a living Savior, and we will always be with him.
Key Points
Christians grieve differently than unbelievers because they grieve with hope, defined as having only positive expectations
The Thessalonians feared that loved ones who died before Christ's return were lost forever, and Paul wrote to correct this misunderstanding
The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation on which all Christian hope rests, because he rose never to die again, unlike others raised in Scripture
At Christ's return, he will descend from the sky, the dead in Christ will rise first, and those still living will be transformed and caught up to meet him
Believers will recognize one another in heaven, as illustrated by the disciples recognizing Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration without formal introduction
Death in this world remains a reminder of sin, but the way out is through Christ's death and resurrection
In the face of loss, two truths are always available to offer comfort: we have a living Savior, and we will always be with him
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Primary Sermon Text:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, was our sermon text.
Other Scripture Alluded To or Thematically Present:
1 Corinthians 13:12 - Referenced in response to the question about whether we will know each other in heaven, describing how we will fully know and be fully known
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 - Read near the end of the sermon, describing the mystery of transformation at the last trumpet, the raising of the dead imperishable, and the mortal putting on immortality
Romans 6:9 - Cited directly, affirming that Christ raised from the dead will never die again and that death no longer has dominion over him
Acts 1:10-11 - Referenced when discussing the angels who spoke to the disciples as Jesus ascended, declaring he would return in the same way he went into heaven
Matthew 17:1-4 / Mark 9:2-5 / Luke 9:28-33 - The Transfiguration accounts, referenced when discussing how Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah on the mountain with Jesus
Luke 8:49-55 - The raising of Jairus's daughter
Luke 7:11-15 - The raising of the widow's son at Nain
John 11:38-44 - The raising of Lazarus
1 Kings 17:17-23 - Elijah raising the widow's son in the Old Testament
QUOTES FROM PASTOR PETT
We don't grieve as others do who have no hope, that instantly suggests the opposite. We grieve, how? With hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, that's where everything lies. That's the key on which everything turns.
We believe in a bodily resurrection, a physical resurrection. We believe in that bodily resurrection, that physical resurrection, because that's our promise.
Jesus rose never to die again. Romans 6, verse 9 says this.
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again. Death no longer has dominion over him.
And because Jesus has life in himself, that's a life that now never ends. And that's the kind of life that he in turn gives to all those who believe in him.
Death in this world is a reminder of what? We're still sinners. And this is what sin caused.
We have a living Savior. We will always be with Him.
What awaits us is a reunion. A reunion with Jesus, and a reunion with every other believer for all time.
Death for a believer is nothing to fear. We have hope in the midst of it. Only positive expectations. Because we will always be with the Lord.
SERMON-BASED 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
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5-Day Bible Reading Plan and Devotional Guide Based on the Theme of Grieving With Hope
Sermon From Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Day 1: We Do Not Grieve Without Hope Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
The world grieves without answers. Believers grieve with a foundation. Paul does not tell us to suppress sorrow or pretend loss does not hurt. He tells us to grieve differently, anchored to something real. The difference between hopeless grief and hopeful grief is not the absence of pain but the presence of a promise. That promise rests entirely on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When grief threatens to overwhelm you, return to the foundation. Jesus died. Jesus rose. Everything else stands on those two facts. Your sorrow is real, and so is your hope.
Reflection: What promises from Scripture do you return to when grief feels heaviest?
Application: Write down one promise from God's Word that speaks directly to a loss or fear you are currently carrying. Return to it each morning this week.
Day 2: The Living Savior Changes Everything Reading: Romans 6:8-11
The resurrection of Jesus was unlike every other resurrection recorded in Scripture. Lazarus was raised and died again. The widow's son was raised and died again. Jairus' daughter was raised and died again. Jesus rose never to die again. Death no longer holds dominion over him. This is not a small distinction. It is the entire foundation of Christian hope. Because Jesus has life in himself, a life that never ends, he is able to give that same unending life to all who believe in him. A Savior who could die again would be a Savior who could ultimately fail. Ours cannot.
Reflection: How does the permanence of Christ's resurrection change the way you think about your own mortality?
Application: Spend five minutes in quiet prayer, specifically thanking God that Jesus is alive right now, not merely a historical figure, but a living Savior who intercedes for you today.
Day 3: The Reunion That Awaits Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:9-12
One of the most tender questions believers ask is whether they will recognize their loved ones in eternity. Scripture points us toward a glorious answer. The passage in 1 Corinthians reminds us that now we see and know in part, but then we will know fully, even as we are fully known. The transfiguration offers a glimpse of this reality. Peter, James, and John recognized Moses and Elijah without introduction. Heaven is not a place of anonymity and isolation. It is a place of reunion, full recognition, and unbroken fellowship with Christ and with every believer across all of time.
Reflection: Is there someone you are looking forward to seeing again in eternity? How does that hope shape your grief today?
Application: Reach out today to someone who has lost a loved one. Remind them gently that what God has joined together in faith, death cannot permanently separate.
Day 4: The Trumpet Will Sound Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
Paul does not leave the Thessalonians, or us, with vague spiritual comfort. He gives a vivid, concrete picture of what is coming. The Lord himself will descend. A command will be given. The trumpet of God will sound. The dead in Christ will rise first. Then those who remain will be caught up together with them. This is not poetry meant to be spiritualized away. It is a promise meant to be believed. The same Jesus who ascended into the sky will return from the sky. And when he does, not one believer, living or dead, will be left behind.
Reflection: How does the specificity of this promise strengthen your faith compared to vague ideas about an afterlife?
Application: Memorize the final phrase of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Carry it with you through the day and repeat it whenever anxiety or grief surfaces.
Day 5: Encourage One Another With These Words Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
Paul does not end his teaching on resurrection with a theological conclusion. He ends it with a command to act. These truths are not meant to be stored privately. They are meant to be spoken aloud, shared with those who are hurting, and declared into the darkness of grief and fear. We have a living Savior. We will always be with him. These are not merely comforting sentiments. They are weapons against despair. The perishable will put on the imperishable. The mortal will put on immortality. Go and say so. Someone near you is grieving without hope, and you have been given exactly what they need.
Reflection: Who in your life is grieving right now and has not yet heard the hope of the resurrection spoken over their loss?
Application: This week, find one person who is grieving and speak these two truths directly to them: we have a living Savior, and we will always be with him. Do not wait for the perfect moment. The words themselves carry the weight.
LIFE APPLICATION
Timeless truth:
God gives His people real hope in the face of death because Jesus died, rose again, and will return. Humanity grieves loss, but believers do not grieve as those without hope because Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection and reunion with Him.
How it confronts/transforms us today:
This message challenges fear, confusion, and despair about death. It calls us to view death through the promises of Scripture rather than through uncertainty or cultural speculation. Because Jesus lives, we can face grief with confidence, comfort, and expectation.
Desired response:
God desires His people to trust His promises, take comfort in the resurrection, and encourage one another with the hope that “we will always be with the Lord.”
SERMON TEXT • MATTHEW 5:1-12
1 Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
SUMMARY & KEY POINTS
Theme: "Blessed"
Summary
Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from All Saints' Day explores the Beatitudes not as a checklist for earning God's favor, but as a description of the life of those already blessed by God's grace.
Pastor Pett emphasizes that the word "blessed" reflects a current state of being rooted entirely in God's grace, not human effort. Each Beatitude describes a quality that flows naturally from recognizing one's spiritual poverty before God, and each promise attached to those qualities points forward to a future fulfillment at the return of Christ.
The sermon concludes with a reflection on All Saints Day, affirming that all believers in Christ are saints, sinners saved by grace, who are counted worthy to suffer for his name and who await the complete fulfillment of every promise Christ has made.
Key Points
The word "blessed" reflects a current state of being that originates entirely in God's grace, not personal achievement or effort
The Beatitudes are primarily law, describing the character of those in whom the Holy Spirit has worked faith
Poverty of spirit means recognizing complete spiritual bankruptcy before God, having nothing of value to bring to him
Mourning follows the recognition of spiritual poverty, as the believer grieves over his or her sinful condition
Meekness is not weakness but humility, the opposite of pride, arrogance, and conceit
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness refers to a desire to see what is wrong in the world made right
Purity of heart is not self-generated but is received through God's Word, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper
Peacemaking is accomplished by speaking the truth in love, not by compromising God's truth
Persecution is a mark of authentic Christian faith, and believers are to rejoice in it as evidence that God has counted them worthy to suffer for Christ's name
Every promise attached to the Beatitudes is future tense, pointing to their complete fulfillment at the return of Christ
All believers in Jesus Christ, living and departed, are saints by grace
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Primary Sermon Text:
Our Gospel Reading for All Saints' Day, Matthew 5:1-12, was our sermon text.
Other Scripture Explicitly Mentioned:
1 John 3:3 - Everyone who hopes in Christ purifies himself as Christ is pure
Ephesians 4:15 - Speaking the truth in love, growing up into Christ who is the head
Scripture Alluded To or Thematically Present:
Acts 1:15 - The gathering of approximately 120 disciples after the resurrection
Matthew 25:31-33 - Christ on his throne at judgment, the separation of sheep and goats
Ephesians 2:8-9 - Salvation by grace through faith, not by works
Romans 8:30 - Those God called he also justified and glorified
Revelation 7:9-17 - The great multitude of saints before the throne
QUOTES FROM PASTOR PETT
When we recognize we have absolutely nothing that we can bring to God of any value, spiritually, We are totally spiritually bankrupt. We have nothing in us at all with which we can bring to God and say, look at this. It's all emptiness.
Once you recognize your power impoverished in your spirit once you mourn over that fact then you are absolutely humble humble before god and humble in this world and that changes everything on how people look at you and it changes what you want to see in the world
If someone hates you because of your faith, who put that faith in you? Which means what? were chosen you were chosen by god to be his own you were chosen by god and the holy spirit working that faith in you made it seen through you so that others recognize and you are blessed because you are counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ
Wear that as someone I am worthy enough in my faith to be persecuted for what I say for Jesus Christ my Savior. And that should make me rejoice and be glad because all that I am shows Jesus and not myself. He's counted me worthy not only to believe but worthy to suffer for his name.
All of us. Absolutely everyone who is a believer in Jesus Christ, whether they've passed or whether they're alive, all believers in Jesus Christ are saints. Sinners, yes, too, but saints because of Christ.
We find peace in God's truth. So we bring peace through God's truth. and we do so in a compassionate way.
SERMON-BASED 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
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Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from Pastor Paul Pett’s sermon from All Saint’s Sunday, November 1, 2026, based on the Beatitudes and the Grace That Blesses Us
Day 1: The Poverty That Makes Us Rich
Reading: Matthew 5:3; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:8-9
Devotional: Before grace can fill us, we must first see the emptiness we bring to God. The first beatitude confronts us with a hard truth: spiritually, we arrive before God with nothing of value in our hands. There is no achievement, no moral record, no inner strength that earns His favor. This poverty of soul is not a failure to overcome but a reality to embrace. It is precisely at the point of our spiritual bankruptcy that God's grace rushes in. Recognizing what we lack is the beginning of receiving everything Christ offers. Rest today in the wealth that only He provides.
Day 2: The Mourning That Leads to Comfort
Reading: Matthew 5:4; Psalm 51:1-4; 2 Corinthians 7:10
Devotional: There is a mourning the world cannot understand. It is not grief over circumstances or loss alone, but a deep sorrow over the condition of our own souls. When we truly see our spiritual poverty, sorrow follows naturally. We mourn not to punish ourselves but because we take sin seriously. God does not despise this mourning. He promises comfort to those who grieve rightly over who they are apart from Christ. That comfort is not merely a feeling but a Person. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, meets us in our grief and transforms it into the settled peace that only forgiveness brings.
Day 3: The Strength Hidden in Meekness
Reading: Matthew 5:5; Numbers 12:3; Philippians 2:3-8
Devotional: Meekness is not weakness dressed in religious language. It is pride surrendered and arrogance laid down at the feet of Christ. Once we mourn our spiritual poverty, humility follows as naturally as morning follows night. The meek person has stopped fighting to prove their worth before God and before others. This is not passivity but a redirected strength, one that no longer serves the self but serves the kingdom. Christ Himself is the supreme example, possessing all authority yet taking on flesh and walking among the broken. To be meek is to walk as He walked, and the inheritance He promises is no small reward.
Day 4: Hunger, Purity, and the Peace We Pursue
Reading: Matthew 5:6-9; Ephesians 4:15; 1 John 3:3
Devotional: The Christian life is marked by holy dissatisfaction. We hunger and thirst for righteousness because we see clearly how far the world falls short of what God intends. We pursue purity of heart not through sheer willpower but through the means God provides: His Word, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. These gifts wash and renew us repeatedly. From that renewed heart flows peacemaking, not the false peace that compromises truth, but the courageous peace that speaks truth in love. As the epistle reminds us, everyone who hopes in Christ purifies himself as Christ is pure. That hope shapes every word we speak and every conflict we enter.
Day 5: Counted Worthy to Suffer, Destined to Rejoice
Reading: Matthew 5:10-12; Acts 5:41; Revelation 21:3-4
Devotional: Persecution for the sake of Christ is not a sign that something has gone wrong. It is a mark that something has gone profoundly right. When the world grows hostile toward genuine Christian witness, it is often because the light of faith exposes the darkness of guilt and unbelief. To be reviled for Christ's name is to be counted among those He has chosen and called His own. The Beatitudes do not end in suffering, however. They end in a future that swallows all present sorrow whole. Every promise attached to the Beatitudes points forward to the day Christ returns, when mourning ends, mercy is fully received, and we see God face to face.
LIFE APPLICATION
What needs to change—and why?
I need to let go of pride and self-reliance. This message reminds me that I am “poor in spirit”—spiritually bankrupt apart from Christ—and everything I have before God is by grace. That should make me more humble, merciful, and less defensive toward others.
One practical step this week:
In one conversation where I’m tempted to argue, criticize, or prove myself right, I can intentionally “speak the truth in love”—with patience, gentleness, and a desire for peace rather than winning. This is a concrete way to live as someone blessed by Christ.
How this reshapes my response to a current challenge:
If I’m facing criticism, conflict, or feeling misunderstood because of my faith or convictions, I can see it differently: not as proof that God has abandoned me, but as a reminder that I belong to Christ. I can respond with humility, mercy, and hope, trusting that my final comfort and reward are found in Him.
SERMON TEXT • REVELATION 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7 And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
SUMMARY & KEY POINTS
Theme: "Give Him Glory"
Summary
Drawing from Revelation 14, Pastor Pett calls every generation of believers to redirect their fear and glory toward God alone. Using the context of the Reformation, he contrasts a works-based approach to salvation, which places glory on human effort and ecclesiastical authority, with the gospel truth that salvation is entirely God's gift through Christ.
The central message is one of profound relief: everything required for salvation has already been accomplished by Jesus through his life, death, resurrection, and ongoing means of grace. Because salvation is by grace through faith, all glory belongs to God, not mankind.
Key Points
The book of Revelation is one singular, continuous prophecy spanning from John's generation through all generations that follow, with some prophecy already fulfilled and some yet to come
An angel, understood strictly as a messenger, carries an eternal gospel to proclaim, and many Lutheran theologians identify this messenger with Martin Luther and the Reformation
In Luther's generation, people were fearing and glorifying church authorities and human works rather than God, which is precisely the condition this passage addresses
When salvation is understood as something earned by works, human beings receive the glory; when salvation is received as a free gift by grace through faith, God receives the glory
Every element of salvation, including the cross, the forgiveness of sin, baptism, resurrection, and the ongoing gift of Christ's body and blood, has been accomplished by Jesus on behalf of the believer
The appropriate response to this completed work is relief, worship, and the redirecting of all glory to God
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Primary Sermon Text:
Our First Reading for Reformation Sunday, Revelation 14:6-7, was our sermon text.
Other Scripture Explicitly Mentioned or Alluded to:
Ephesians 2:8-9 -- Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so that no one may boast
Romans 3:23-24 -- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace
Psalm 115:1 -- Glory belongs not to us but to God alone, because of His love and faithfulness
Acts 4:12 -- Salvation is found in no one else but Christ
Romans 6:23 -- The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Titus 3:5 -- God saved us not because of works we have done, but because of His mercy, through the washing of rebirth and renewing by the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 6:20 -- We are to glorify God, for we were bought at a price
Proverbs 9:10 -- The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
QUOTES FROM PASTOR PETT
If salvation is by works, who gets the glory? We do. We do. But if salvation's by grace through faith, who gets the glory? God does. Jesus does.
Absolutely every bit of your salvation was done by Jesus. He went to the cross for you. He suffered and died for your sin.
He took that sin and removed it from your life. He brings the power of baptism to your life with the power of the Holy Spirit to wash away that sin. He rose from the grave to give you everlasting life.
Everything that you need to be saved is done. What do you feel?
The people in Luther's time couldn't feel that relief because they were told they either had to work or buy their way of salvation. They would have never been able to pay the price.
It's like looking at your own sins as that mountain saying, there's no way I can do this myself. And Jesus steps to your face and says, what? I got this. It's done.
Don't let anyone tell you you've got to do it yourself because who did it for you?
They're fearing man, not God. And that's where God is saying, wait a minute. You are fearing the wrong place. You are fearing the wrong people. Fear God. Fear me.
How do you spell relief? C-H-R-I-S-T. Try spelling relief again. That's where our true relief comes from.
SERMON-BASED 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
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Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from Pastor Paul Pett’s sermon from Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2026:
Theme: Fear God, Give Him Glory, and Rest in the Gospel
Day 1: The Fear That Frees Us
Reading: Proverbs 9:10 -- This verse establishes that true wisdom begins with a reverent, rightly ordered fear of God rather than fear of any human authority.
Devotional: It is easy to live under the weight of what others think, what institutions demand, or what the world requires of us. But God calls us to something different. He calls us to fear Him alone -- not a terror that destroys, but a reverence that reorients. When God is the one we fear above all else, every other fear loses its grip. The reformers discovered this truth at great cost. We receive it freely. Ask yourself today: whose voice carries the most weight in your life, and does that voice point you to God or away from Him.
Day 2: Glory Belongs to God Alone
Reading: Isaiah 42:8 -- God declares that He will not share His glory with another, establishing that all honor and praise belong to Him as the source of all good things.
Devotional: When salvation becomes something we achieve, the glory quietly shifts to us. We begin to measure our standing before God by what we have done, how faithful we have been, or how much we have given. But the gospel dismantles that entirely. Salvation is not a mountain we climb -- it is a gift placed in our hands. The one who made that gift possible is the one who deserves all honor. Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be glory, is not just a Reformation slogan. It is the only honest response to a grace we could never have earned.
Day 3: The Eternal Gospel
Reading: Romans 1:16 -- Paul describes the gospel as the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, a message that carries divine authority across every generation and circumstance.
Devotional: The angel in Revelation carries an eternal gospel -- not a message bound to one moment in history, but one that speaks to every generation from John's day to ours and beyond. The good news does not age. It does not expire. It does not need to be updated or softened to remain relevant. What God accomplished through Jesus Christ on the cross is sufficient for every sin, every shame, and every broken life in every era. The same gospel that brought relief to a burdened conscience in the sixteenth century brings the same relief today. Receive it again as if for the first time.
Day 4: It Is Finished -- Rest in What Christ Has Done
Reading: John 19:30 -- In this verse, Jesus declares from the cross that the work of redemption is complete, a statement of total and final accomplishment on behalf of all who would believe.
Devotional: Imagine standing before a mountain of debt you could never repay, a burden of sin too heavy to carry, and hearing someone say: it is done. Every sin accounted for. Every debt cancelled. Every barrier between you and God removed. That is the reality of the cross. Jesus did not begin your salvation and leave the rest to you. He finished it. The guilt that feels like a mountain has been moved -- not by your effort, but by His sacrifice, His burial, His resurrection, and His ongoing presence through Word and Sacrament. You are not still climbing. You have been carried.
Day 5: Worship as the Response of the Relieved
Reading: Psalm 96:7-9 -- This passage calls all people to ascribe glory and strength to God, to worship Him in the splendor of holiness, and to declare His greatness among the nations.
Devotional: When relief is genuine, gratitude follows naturally. The person who has been forgiven much loves much. The one who understands what Christ has done cannot remain unmoved. Worship is not a religious obligation performed to earn favor -- it is the overflow of a heart that has grasped the gospel. Fear God, give Him glory, worship Him. These are not burdens laid on the redeemed. They are the natural posture of someone who has seen the mountain of sin removed and replaced with the righteousness of Christ. Go into this day not striving to earn what you already have, but celebrating the one who gave it.
LIFE APPLICATION
Timeless truth:
God alone is to be feared, worshiped, and glorified, because salvation is entirely His free gift through Jesus Christ—not something humanity can earn or buy.
How it confronts/transforms us:
This message confronts our tendency to trust human authority, personal works, or our own efforts for spiritual security. It transforms us by bringing relief: Christ has done everything necessary for our salvation.
Desired response:
God desires His people to fear Him, give Him glory, trust fully in Christ’s finished work, and faithfully proclaim the eternal gospel in word and life.
SERMON TEXT • 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
SUMMARY & KEY POINTS
Theme: "...To Serve the Living and True God"
Summary
Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from the Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost, drawing from 1 Thessalonians 1, explores the reality that God's love for believers is demonstrated through the very fact that He has chosen them.
Pastor Pett reflects on the power of Christian example, noting how faithful role models -- parents, grandparents, pastors, and teachers -- shape the faith of those around them. Just as Paul and his companions served as examples to the Thessalonians, believers today are called to be living witnesses of the gospel. The Thessalonians turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and their faith spread throughout the surrounding regions without any additional prompting.
The sermon emphasizes that Christ bore the fullness of God's wrath on the cross so that believers would be delivered from eternal judgment, and that this profound act of love compels Christians to live faithfully and boldly in every area of life, including civic participation.
Key Points
God's election of believers is evidenced by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives and their coming to faith upon hearing the gospel
Christian role models -- particularly within families and the local church -- play a significant role in shaping lasting faith
The Thessalonians turned from idolatry in all its forms, including the worship of money, political power, and cultural ideologies, to serve the living and true God
Christ absorbed the full wrath of God against sin on the cross, delivering believers from eternal judgment
The faith of the Thessalonians spread organically throughout Macedonia and Achaia as a result of their visible and consistent witness
Believers are always setting an example, whether they are aware of it or not, and their words, actions, and love all form part of their witness
Christians have a God-given right to gather for worship and are called to defend that right through faithful civic engagement
Summary
Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from the Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost, drawing from 1 Thessalonians 1, explores the reality that God's love for believers is demonstrated through the very fact that He has chosen them.
Pastor Pett reflects on the power of Christian example, noting how faithful role models -- parents, grandparents, pastors, and teachers -- shape the faith of those around them. Just as Paul and his companions served as examples to the Thessalonians, believers today are called to be living witnesses of the gospel. The Thessalonians turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and their faith spread throughout the surrounding regions without any additional prompting.
The sermon emphasizes that Christ bore the fullness of God's wrath on the cross so that believers would be delivered from eternal judgment, and that this profound act of love compels Christians to live faithfully and boldly in every area of life, including civic participation.
Key Points
God's election of believers is evidenced by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives and their coming to faith upon hearing the gospel
Christian role models -- particularly within families and the local church -- play a significant role in shaping lasting faith
The Thessalonians turned from idolatry in all its forms, including the worship of money, political power, and cultural ideologies, to serve the living and true God
Christ absorbed the full wrath of God against sin on the cross, delivering believers from eternal judgment
The faith of the Thessalonians spread organically throughout Macedonia and Achaia as a result of their visible and consistent witness
Believers are always setting an example, whether they are aware of it or not, and their words, actions, and love all form part of their witness
Christians have a God-given right to gather for worship and are called to defend that right through faithful civic engagement
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Primary Sermon Text:
The Epistle Reading for the Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, was our sermon text.
Other Scripture Alluded To or Implied:
Acts 16:9 - Paul's vision of a man from Macedonia urging him to come and help
Psalm 22:1 - The cry of desolation, quoted by Jesus on the cross, referenced in the sermon as expressing the fullness of God's wrath bearing down on Christ for sin
Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34 - Jesus crying out asking why God had forsaken Him
QUOTES FROM PASTOR PETT
You're sitting here right now, hearing His word, sitting here right now, believing in Him, sitting here right now, worshiping because He chose you. chose you to hear, chose you to believe, chose you to receive these gifts from Him.
You were that precious and that important to Him. And being that precious and that important to Him, He didn't wanna see you perish.
Those words, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" We shouldn't take too lightly, but recognize there the fullness of God's wrath was coming down on His own Son to save us, to redeem us, Because He loved us so much.
One of the things that hurts Christian witness more than anything is when we don't recognize that people are watching.
Not only by what we say, but also by what we do. By the example we set. By the love we show. By the kindness we offer. By just being who God has called us to be.
I have a God-given right. Be the witness through your vote. Be the witness and stand up. to be together in God's house.
They were giving such a... Faithful witness, such an excellent example of Christian faith and love that it was obvious to everybody around these people knew God, believed in God, trusted in God, served God, and wanted to love others and help them experience the love of God.
We're not talking about the idols only of like Allah and Buddha and Vishnu. Those kind of gods. We're talking about other gods. Money is a god. Political power is a god. Gender dysphoria is a god.
SERMON-BASED 5-DAY DEVOTIONAL
Tap or click for a printable PDF version of this devotional
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost:
Theme: Chosen, Called, and Sent as Witnesses
________________________________________
Day 1: Chosen by God Before You Ever Chose Him
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
Devotional: The apostle Paul opens his letter by reminding the Thessalonians of something staggering -- they are loved by God and chosen by Him. This was not a reward for their effort or wisdom. God initiated everything. The same is true for every believer today. You are sitting in faith, hearing His Word, and trusting in Christ because He chose you first. That choosing is itself an act of love. Let that truth settle into your heart today. You are not an afterthought to God. You are precious to Him, and your faith is evidence of His sovereign grace at work in your life.
Reflection: In what moments have you most clearly sensed that God was pursuing you rather than the other way around?
Practical Application: Write down one moment in your life when God's hand was unmistakably at work in drawing you closer to Him. Thank Him for that moment in prayer today.
________________________________________
Day 2: The Gospel Comes in Power, Not Just Words
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
Devotional: Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the gospel did not arrive among them as mere information. It came with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction. The Word of God is not simply a collection of moral lessons or historical accounts. It is living and active, and when the Spirit accompanies it, lives are transformed. The Thessalonians became imitators of Paul, his companions, and ultimately of Christ Himself -- not by willpower, but because the Spirit was genuinely at work. Today, as you read and hear Scripture, ask the Spirit to do more than inform your mind. Ask Him to transform your life.
Reflection: When has God's Word struck you with a power that went beyond simple understanding?
Practical Application: Set aside time today to read a passage of Scripture slowly, pausing to ask the Holy Spirit to apply it personally and specifically to your current circumstances.
________________________________________
Day 3: Turning From Idols to the Living God
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and Exodus 20:3-6, where God commands that no other gods be placed before Him
Devotional: The Thessalonians turned from literal idols, but the principle extends far beyond carved images. Anything that occupies the place in your heart that belongs to God alone is an idol. Money, status, political power, comfort, approval -- all of these can quietly take the throne. Paul celebrates that the Thessalonians made a decisive turn. They did not merely add Jesus to their existing priorities. They turned away from false gods and turned toward the living and true God. Real faith involves that same turning -- what theologians call repentance. It is not a one-time event but a daily reorientation of the heart toward Christ.
Reflection: What competes most consistently with God for your attention, trust, and devotion?
Practical Application: Identify one area of your life where a lesser thing has been receiving the energy and trust that belongs to God. Confess it and deliberately redirect that area toward Him this week.
________________________________________
Day 4: Delivered From Wrath Through the Risen Christ
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Romans 5:8-9, which describes how Christ's death reconciles sinners to God and saves them from wrath
Devotional: The closing image of 1 Thessalonians 1 is striking -- believers wait for God's Son from heaven, the one who was raised from the dead and who delivers us from the wrath to come. God's wrath against sin is real and serious. The cross was not a symbol or a gesture. It was the place where the full weight of that wrath fell upon Jesus in the place of sinners. The cry of dereliction -- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" -- was not despair without meaning. It was the Son bearing what we deserved so that we would never have to bear it ourselves. That is the heart of the gospel.
Reflection: How does the reality of God's wrath against sin deepen your appreciation for what Christ accomplished on the cross?
Practical Application: Spend time today meditating on the crucifixion account. Let the weight of what Christ endured renew your gratitude and reshape how you approach your sin.
________________________________________
Day 5: A Faith That Sounds Forth to Others
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 and Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus describes His followers as a light that is meant to be seen
Devotional: The faith of the Thessalonians was not quiet or contained. Paul says the Word of the Lord sounded forth from them throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their example was so clear and consistent that Paul said he hardly needed to say anything -- the Thessalonians themselves were the testimony. This is what genuine faith produces. It does not stay hidden. It shows itself in work, in love, in steadfast hope, and in the daily witness of a life oriented around Christ. People around you are watching. Your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members are seeing something -- or not seeing something. What does your life declare about the God you serve?
Reflection: Who in your life first showed you what living faith looked like? Who might be watching your life right now for the same reason?
Practical Application: Reach out today to one person who modeled Christian faith for you and express your gratitude. Then ask God to show you one person in your life who needs to see that same kind of example from you.
Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from Pastor Paul Pett's sermon from Sunday, October 18, 2026, the Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost:
Theme: Chosen, Called, and Sent as Witnesses
________________________________________
Day 1: Chosen by God Before You Ever Chose Him
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-4
Devotional: The apostle Paul opens his letter by reminding the Thessalonians of something staggering -- they are loved by God and chosen by Him. This was not a reward for their effort or wisdom. God initiated everything. The same is true for every believer today. You are sitting in faith, hearing His Word, and trusting in Christ because He chose you first. That choosing is itself an act of love. Let that truth settle into your heart today. You are not an afterthought to God. You are precious to Him, and your faith is evidence of His sovereign grace at work in your life.
Reflection: In what moments have you most clearly sensed that God was pursuing you rather than the other way around?
Practical Application: Write down one moment in your life when God's hand was unmistakably at work in drawing you closer to Him. Thank Him for that moment in prayer today.
________________________________________
Day 2: The Gospel Comes in Power, Not Just Words
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
Devotional: Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the gospel did not arrive among them as mere information. It came with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction. The Word of God is not simply a collection of moral lessons or historical accounts. It is living and active, and when the Spirit accompanies it, lives are transformed. The Thessalonians became imitators of Paul, his companions, and ultimately of Christ Himself -- not by willpower, but because the Spirit was genuinely at work. Today, as you read and hear Scripture, ask the Spirit to do more than inform your mind. Ask Him to transform your life.
Reflection: When has God's Word struck you with a power that went beyond simple understanding?
Practical Application: Set aside time today to read a passage of Scripture slowly, pausing to ask the Holy Spirit to apply it personally and specifically to your current circumstances.
________________________________________
Day 3: Turning From Idols to the Living God
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and Exodus 20:3-6, where God commands that no other gods be placed before Him
Devotional: The Thessalonians turned from literal idols, but the principle extends far beyond carved images. Anything that occupies the place in your heart that belongs to God alone is an idol. Money, status, political power, comfort, approval -- all of these can quietly take the throne. Paul celebrates that the Thessalonians made a decisive turn. They did not merely add Jesus to their existing priorities. They turned away from false gods and turned toward the living and true God. Real faith involves that same turning -- what theologians call repentance. It is not a one-time event but a daily reorientation of the heart toward Christ.
Reflection: What competes most consistently with God for your attention, trust, and devotion?
Practical Application: Identify one area of your life where a lesser thing has been receiving the energy and trust that belongs to God. Confess it and deliberately redirect that area toward Him this week.
________________________________________
Day 4: Delivered From Wrath Through the Risen Christ
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Romans 5:8-9, which describes how Christ's death reconciles sinners to God and saves them from wrath
Devotional: The closing image of 1 Thessalonians 1 is striking -- believers wait for God's Son from heaven, the one who was raised from the dead and who delivers us from the wrath to come. God's wrath against sin is real and serious. The cross was not a symbol or a gesture. It was the place where the full weight of that wrath fell upon Jesus in the place of sinners. The cry of dereliction -- "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" -- was not despair without meaning. It was the Son bearing what we deserved so that we would never have to bear it ourselves. That is the heart of the gospel.
Reflection: How does the reality of God's wrath against sin deepen your appreciation for what Christ accomplished on the cross?
Practical Application: Spend time today meditating on the crucifixion account. Let the weight of what Christ endured renew your gratitude and reshape how you approach your sin.
________________________________________
Day 5: A Faith That Sounds Forth to Others
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 and Matthew 5:14-16, where Jesus describes His followers as a light that is meant to be seen
Devotional: The faith of the Thessalonians was not quiet or contained. Paul says the Word of the Lord sounded forth from them throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their example was so clear and consistent that Paul said he hardly needed to say anything -- the Thessalonians themselves were the testimony. This is what genuine faith produces. It does not stay hidden. It shows itself in work, in love, in steadfast hope, and in the daily witness of a life oriented around Christ. People around you are watching. Your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members are seeing something -- or not seeing something. What does your life declare about the God you serve?
Reflection: Who in your life first showed you what living faith looked like? Who might be watching your life right now for the same reason?
Practical Application: Reach out today to one person who modeled Christian faith for you and express your gratitude. Then ask God to show you one person in your life who needs to see that same kind of example from you.
LIFE APPLICATION
Timeless truth:
God loves and chooses His people, calls them from idols to faith in the living and true God, and delivers them from the wrath to come through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again.
How it confronts/transforms us:
It reminds us that our faith is never private or unnoticed. Others are watching our words, actions, priorities, and love. We are confronted to turn from modern idols—money, power, cultural sins, or anything that replaces God—and to live as faithful Christian examples.
Desired response:
God desires His people to trust Christ, worship Him boldly, serve Him faithfully, and bear witness to others through both words and actions—showing His love, standing firm in faith, and pointing people to Jesus.