Brighton message

I gave a message at Brighton on February 6 for their protestant service run by some good friends.

I based it on 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and then talked some on what comes next in the chapter.

I thought I only had 10 minutes but NJ was feeling bad so I purposed to go longer. I lost track of time. I really did not know how long I went but when I looked down nd saw it was almost time for the service to be over I was surprised.

I was proud that I kept it simple. I think it was practical. I did not get too far off track. My professor would be proud I think that I did not use most of my research. There was a lot of background I learned that was not a part of the topic so I did not use it.

Basically the theme was God is proud of us and yet he wants (invites) us to do more and more. I meant the emphasis to be on the God is proud of us. It could have been better nuanced.

But then DW and SJ who were leading the service with me both gave responses that made me think they mostly heard the part about doing more and more. It's not that their takes were not valid. How can I control how God speaks to people? That is what I want and pray will happen, God will speak through me.

But I found it humorous that I think this is what Paul was speaking to here to the Thessalonians. Paul emphasizes that they are doing what he taught them. Yet he felt compelled to say it again. I think Paul saw they were being obedient as far as the understood what he said. But they had not understood the totality of the message. And this is important. So he is gently saying to people who love him and did not want to disappoint him, "do more and more". He is carefully saying to them, "look deeper, think carefully about what I am saying".

So the fact that my fellow servants got different takes on what I said seems funny to me. Not bad, maybe even better, not sure. But not what I meant. Paul is sure it is not better in his situation. So he makes his case again, especially about sexual behavior and not taking advantage of one another, again. He wants them to see it in a new light. He does not believe they are being consciously disobedient, they just have not gotten it yet.