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2025-10-19 Sunday Service
Keep the Bell Ringing
Scripture Reference(s)2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; 1 Thessalonians (overview); Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 81:10; Psalm 68:5; John 1:14; Ephesians 4:15; Philippians 1:6; 1 Timothy 6:12; Matthew 25:21; Matthew 24:37; Genesis 6:5; Hebrews 10:25
Introduction
• Pastor Mike opens with the picture of morning walks on a Catholic college campus where chapel bells “ring out.”
• Connects the image to Paul’s phrase, “the gospel rang out from you” (1 Thessalonians).
• Sermons are meant to be fresh bell-strikes; believers become “echo chambers” carrying that sound beyond the walls.
• Warning: if we only collect sermons without personal engagement, the ripple stops after one splash.
• Goal of today: learn how to make Scripture incarnate—moving from information to transformation.
Key Points / Exposition
1. Let the Gospel Echo
•Illustration of ringing bells and ripples in water: truth must keep reverberating through meditation, prayer, and conversation.
•Two dangers:
• Pastor Mike opens with the picture of morning walks on a Catholic college campus where chapel bells “ring out.”
• Connects the image to Paul’s phrase, “the gospel rang out from you” (1 Thessalonians).
• Sermons are meant to be fresh bell-strikes; believers become “echo chambers” carrying that sound beyond the walls.
• Warning: if we only collect sermons without personal engagement, the ripple stops after one splash.
• Goal of today: learn how to make Scripture incarnate—moving from information to transformation.
Key Points / Exposition
1. Let the Gospel Echo
•Illustration of ringing bells and ripples in water: truth must keep reverberating through meditation, prayer, and conversation.
•Two dangers:
• Sermon-to-sermon Christianity (passive listening).
• Information overload (100 messages a week with no obedience).
•Remedy: choose a focused portion of Scripture (e.g., 1 & 2 Thessalonians) and “work with it” until you can summarize and share it.
2. Prayer that Fuels Mission (2 Th 3:1-5)
2. Prayer that Fuels Mission (2 Th 3:1-5)
Paul’s three requests:
1.The message “spread rapidly.”
2.The word be “honored / glorified.”
3.Workers be delivered from “wicked and evil people.”
•Prayer must be targeted, not “rabbit-chasing.” Scripture shapes faith-filled petitions.
•Recommended tool: Andrew Murray’s classic, With Christ in the School of Prayer
•Confidence rooted in God’s character: “The Lord is faithful” → therefore we pray expectantly.
3. Honor the Word—Trust the Faithful One
•To honor Scripture is to give it sacred, unrivaled authority.
•Example: George Mueller believed “Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5) and built orphanages solely on God’s promise.
•Lack of honor signals lack of confidence in God’s faithfulness.
•Practical test: do we treat biblical directives as absolute or optional commentary?
4. Idleness vs. Perseverance (2 Th 3:6-15)
•Definition of “idle/disorderly” (ataktos): out of rank, refusing prescribed practice.
•Rule: “If anyone is unwilling to work, neither should he eat” (v.10).
• Addresses able-bodied believers who sponge off the body under spiritual pretexts.
•Paul’s example: worked “night and day” making tents to model diligence.
•Idle hands become the devil’s workshop—empty minds tune to destructive frequencies.
•Church discipline: withhold casual fellowship so idlers “feel ashamed,” yet treat them as brothers, not enemies (v.15).
•Positive call: “Never tire of doing what is good” and enter “Christ’s perseverance” (v.13,5).
5. The Lord of Peace and the Grace Envelope (2 Th 3:16-18)
•Title: “Lord of peace.” Peace flows from submission to His authority.
•Benediction promises peace “at all times and in every way.”
•Authenticity note: Paul signs with his own hand to guard against counterfeit letters.
•Final thunderclap: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all”—the atmosphere believers live in daily.
Major Lessons & Revelations
• Truth must be echoed, not stored.
• Prayer is most powerful when Scripture-directed.
• God’s faithfulness demands our honor and obedience to His Word.
• Idleness is spiritual danger; diligence is discipleship.
• Peace and grace are covenant gifts for every circumstance.
Practical Application
1.This week read 2 Thessalonians 3 daily; journal key verbs (pray, honor, work, persevere).
2.Schedule one corporate prayer gathering; use Paul’s three requests as an agenda.
3.Identify one command you’ve “shelved”; act on it within 48 hours.
4.Evaluate your media intake—replace one hour of passive content with active Scripture meditation.
5.Offer practical help to someone in need of work or discipline; model diligence.
Conclusion & Call to Response
The bell has sounded again. Will we let the echo fade, or will we take hold of the rope and keep ringing—through prayer, obedience, and diligent service—until the world hears the gospel’s clear chime?
Prayer
“Lord of peace, direct our hearts into Your love and Christ’s perseverance. Make Your word spread rapidly through us, be honored in us, and protect us from the evil one. Strengthen every listener to work faithfully and live graciously, until we hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
References & Resources
• Andrew Murray –
With Christ in the School of Prayer
• Illustration cited:
Dog the Bounty Hunter family prayer practice
•Recommended tool: Andrew Murray’s classic, With Christ in the School of Prayer
•Confidence rooted in God’s character: “The Lord is faithful” → therefore we pray expectantly.
3. Honor the Word—Trust the Faithful One
•To honor Scripture is to give it sacred, unrivaled authority.
•Example: George Mueller believed “Father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5) and built orphanages solely on God’s promise.
•Lack of honor signals lack of confidence in God’s faithfulness.
•Practical test: do we treat biblical directives as absolute or optional commentary?
4. Idleness vs. Perseverance (2 Th 3:6-15)
•Definition of “idle/disorderly” (ataktos): out of rank, refusing prescribed practice.
•Rule: “If anyone is unwilling to work, neither should he eat” (v.10).
• Addresses able-bodied believers who sponge off the body under spiritual pretexts.
•Paul’s example: worked “night and day” making tents to model diligence.
•Idle hands become the devil’s workshop—empty minds tune to destructive frequencies.
•Church discipline: withhold casual fellowship so idlers “feel ashamed,” yet treat them as brothers, not enemies (v.15).
•Positive call: “Never tire of doing what is good” and enter “Christ’s perseverance” (v.13,5).
5. The Lord of Peace and the Grace Envelope (2 Th 3:16-18)
•Title: “Lord of peace.” Peace flows from submission to His authority.
•Benediction promises peace “at all times and in every way.”
•Authenticity note: Paul signs with his own hand to guard against counterfeit letters.
•Final thunderclap: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all”—the atmosphere believers live in daily.
Major Lessons & Revelations
• Truth must be echoed, not stored.
• Prayer is most powerful when Scripture-directed.
• God’s faithfulness demands our honor and obedience to His Word.
• Idleness is spiritual danger; diligence is discipleship.
• Peace and grace are covenant gifts for every circumstance.
Practical Application
1.This week read 2 Thessalonians 3 daily; journal key verbs (pray, honor, work, persevere).
2.Schedule one corporate prayer gathering; use Paul’s three requests as an agenda.
3.Identify one command you’ve “shelved”; act on it within 48 hours.
4.Evaluate your media intake—replace one hour of passive content with active Scripture meditation.
5.Offer practical help to someone in need of work or discipline; model diligence.
Conclusion & Call to Response
The bell has sounded again. Will we let the echo fade, or will we take hold of the rope and keep ringing—through prayer, obedience, and diligent service—until the world hears the gospel’s clear chime?
Prayer
“Lord of peace, direct our hearts into Your love and Christ’s perseverance. Make Your word spread rapidly through us, be honored in us, and protect us from the evil one. Strengthen every listener to work faithfully and live graciously, until we hear, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
References & Resources
• Andrew Murray –
With Christ in the School of Prayer
• Illustration cited:
Dog the Bounty Hunter family prayer practice
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Sermon Detail
Date: Oct 19, 2025
Category: 2 Thessalonians
Speaker: Mike Holm
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