Worship: Sundays at 8:15 am | 9:40 am | 11:00 am, Wednesdays at 6:35 pm, Fridays at 7:00 pm
Strength Through Suffering

You know, bothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.  We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition (I Thess 2:1, 2)

I had forgotten that Paul and Silas suffered in Philippi - because the letter to the Philippians is such a wonderful, delightful letter; maybe Paul had put all of that aside by the time he wrote them.  Sometimes we engage the "gift of blessed forgetfulness" as well!  It's not a bad thing.

At any rate, as he traveled westward from Philippi to Thessalonika, he encountered strong opposition - why?  Most new things are opposed, aren't they?  And this new Gospel, which is the extraordinarily Good News of God's love and grace shown through the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus, opening the door to Abundant Life for everyone, was, at first not well received by those of the old order.  Though, eventually many came around.

I'm so grateful Paul and Silas persisted, otherwise you and I might never have heard the Good News!  Persistence through the tough times - that's what God is calling you to do today, and God is giving you the strength to do it!


If you can't be at Sunday worship, you can watch it live at 9:40 here: youtube page or an archived video on Monday mornings on our website.

Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Ave | Gainesville, FL 32653
352.376.6615
TrinityGNV.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm