The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
October 11, 2026
      • Bible Trivia
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      • 1 Corinthians 1:18NASB95

  • Here I Am To Worship
  • Doxology
  • I Shall Not Be Moved
  • Wonderful Merciful Savior
  • Faith Is The Victory
  • ILLUST: Praying for rain, one boy shows up in rain boots, jacket, umbrella - we look at him like, “aw, that’s cute” -
    But the boy says, “We prayed for rain, don’t you believe it’s going to happen? I thought we were going to believe God.” - OUCH
    Faith - not “I believe God can”
    Faith is living like God is actually going to do what He promised
    We say we believe God, we just don’t act like we do.
    Real faith carries the umbrella BEFORE the clouds appear
    So that when the storm comes, you are already locked in, ready
    READ 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
    OPEN - Reading through this ending of the chapter - struck by…
    The power of God’s Word - to save, to sanctify, to keep/protect, to correct, grow
    Humility and Awe - seeing this in action, first hand, what I have witnessed when people trust the Word
    From a pastor’s heart - sincere
    Paul pushed churches hard - he loved and appreciated them
    I tend to stress and push the truth, hard, maybe seeming inflexible
    I love and appreciate all you believers here
    My sincere concern is for God’s sheep, and I am one of them as well
    You are not MY sheep - He has tasked me with your care
    Speaking of truth…

    Effects of the Truth

    1) The Chosen

    Clarify - chosen according to a plan - Jesus Christ
    This is the truth - Jesus is the Truth
    John 14:6 NASB95
    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
    From ME - Thank you
    To the believers here
    I love that you have believed the truth - this is a term of unity
    I am thankful that when I present truth - you get it - you desire truth
    You will not give in to deception, trickery, false teaching
    Because you, as believers, chosen, are saved FROM that!
    The Bible says - believers, you are loved by the LORD
    Recall - God so loved (gave to) the world…
    John 3:16 NASB95
    “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
    He has done that - ONCE - He gave, once for all
    Hebrews 7:27 NASB95
    …because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
    NOW - state of being - continued to be loved by God - is to be saved, NEED to be saved
    ASIDE - This is special to Paul, as Moses way back, declared a special blessing on the tribe of Benjamin, for following and not rejecting truth (Paul is from Benjamin)
    OK, back to the text…
    God had placed these Thessalonican believers in the condition that made salvation available
    To THEM (and this applies to us all as well)
    Paul’s emphasis here - GOD’s work to do this!
    Psalm 3:8 NASB95
    Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
    Salvation is God’s - to make available, to give it, to keep people in it - when they accept and trust
    Thank God for believers! - You have taken God at His Word to save you

    2) Stand Firm in the Truth

    The truth urges this - implying a firm grasp
    Paul refers to these believers as being “chosen from the beginning” - meaning
    They were the first in that immediate area to be saved - and so they are fervent about faith
    Just being tested to an extreme…
    Two aspects of truth are shown in them
    The Gospel is THE truth
    Believers are committed to truth, entrusting self to truth, and surrendered to truth
    This is crucial when confusion pushes against truth - STAND FIRM
    The truth begs you to trust the truth - STAND FIRM
    Paul is thankful that believers will not cave
    I am thankful that believers here will not cave
    People “hear “truth
    Once you stand firm in the truth, people hear it, people hear you
    …by your response to the truth while in this world
    QUESTION - Are you standing firm?
    Look at verse 14 - gaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ
    You are sharers of that glory - showing that you believe Him
    Contrast this against those who are facing eternal judgment
    And then…STAND FIRM
    V. 15 - “So then” stand firm
    And hold to the traditions - let’s discuss what this “tradition” is
    1 - Letters from Paul to them (there were others)
    2 - Apostolic prophecy - gift of Spirit sharing the Word before written
    3 - Holding fast/firm, no matter what - it was worth it
    Paul received teaching from the Lord - and it was passed down, faithfully

    3) Let Truth Encourage

    Prayer wrapped in truth is so powerful
    Paul prays for God to encourage them, so that they can encourage each other
    This is also responsibility God gives to us
    GOD is the one encouraging here
    Believers listen to the Holy Spirit and get that encouragement, and then pass it along
    ASIDE - LOVE this phrase -”God our Father”
    God = authority
    Father = term of endearment
    Children think Dad is the most powerful person around, who loves them
    BELIEVERS - The CREATOR says we can call Him FATHER! - GET THAT!!
    HOPE - also love this term - confident expectation
    We share hope, remind each other
    Rejecters of truth face condemnation
    Not us - See Rom 8:1
    Romans 8:1 NASB95
    Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
    Encourage - eternal perspective
    This is needed in times of present distress, for them and us
    Strengthen - the works produced by our faith
    Our works are our response, based on faith
    Our works are our response to the challenges meant to weaken us, the church
    Working out our faith, strengthens our faith
    NOTE
    Paul does not ask for destruction of the wicked
    That will occur after the “gathering”
    “God, deal with them! - ever feel like that?
    Psalm 90:13 NASB95
    Do return, O Lord; how long will it be? And be sorry for Your servants.
    God says: I’ve got this, in due time
    God never rebukes us for asking Him “How long?”
    When justice comes, it will be swift and efficient
    Luke 18:8 NASB95
    “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
    When He answers and returns, will He find you ready, faithful? Do you REALLY believe?
    CLOSE
    I am so thankful for salvation
    I am so thankful for believers
    I am so thankful for believers here
    I am humbled to see the TRUTH affect believers here
    My sincere prayer is for your growth, strength
    My sincere prayer for you, sharers of the Lord’s glory
    Is to shine a light so bright that it cannot be ignored
    In other words…Let’s pray for rain, and carry and umbrella…

      • John 14:6NASB95

      • John 3:16NASB95

      • Hebrews 7:27NASB95

      • Psalm 3:8NASB95

      • Romans 8:1NASB95

      • Psalm 90:13NASB95

      • Luke 18:8NASB95

  • Go Light Your World
  • King Of Kings

      • 2 Thessalonians 2:16NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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