STATIC: crackling or hissing noises on a telephone, radio, or other telecommunications system.

In “nations across the world, a range of social issues that had been simmering under the surface burst forth—bringing forward a raft of issues such as racism, religious tensions, sexism and the environment. The problems of the era were intensifying at the precise moment that the era was passing.”

--Mark Sayers

Acts 17:1

Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Acts 17:2–4

As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.” Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.

1 Thessalonians 1:1–5

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

The gospel is the good news of what God has done through the person and work of Jesus Christ, especially what he accomplished through his death, burial and resurrection.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

…because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

 1 Corinthians 15:2–6 (NIV84)

By this gospel you are saved. . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

Q: How would my life be different if I fully trusted the power of the Gospel?

I long for the power of the gospel to affect my daily walk with Jesus.

The “greatest difficulty in conversion, is to win the heart to God; and the greatest difficulty after conversion, is to keep the heart with God . . . heart work is hard work indeed.”

--John Flavel

I long to live with a focus on the power of Gospel instead of the power of me.