Undistracted: Standing Firm in Faith and Peace

Today, we gathered as a family—young and old, new faces and familiar ones—to celebrate the goodness of God and the beauty of being together in His presence. We took time to honor those who serve, especially our veterans and their families, recognizing the deep biblical truth that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for another. We prayed blessing and peace over them, acknowledging that their sacrifices echo the sacrificial love of Christ.

Gratitude was a thread woven throughout our time. We paused to thank those who serve behind the scenes—cleaning, maintaining, leading, and caring for our campus and community. Each act of service, no matter how small, is a reflection of God’s grace at work among us. We also celebrated milestones, like the completion of my doctoral dissertation, not as individual achievements, but as testimonies to what God does when we surrender and work together.

Turning to the Word, we reflected on Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, a church facing confusion, fear, and distraction. Paul’s words are not meant to frighten, but to steady us. He reminds us that God is not forming us for fear, but for peace. In a world that is noisy and often chaotic, it is easy to lose focus on Jesus. Distraction, more than persecution, is often the greatest threat to our faith. The enemy doesn’t need to destroy our belief; he only needs to divert our attention.

We explored the difference between living by the iron rule (do unto others as they have done to you), the golden rule (do unto others as you would have them do to you), and the platinum rule (do unto others as God has done unto you). The call is to move beyond self-centeredness and even beyond our best intentions, into a life shaped by the grace and love we have received from God. Holiness, then, is not about perfection, but about attention—fixing our eyes on Jesus in the midst of the world’s noise.

We ended with an invitation to surrender our fears and distractions, to let God’s perfect love cast out fear, and to become people who pour out what Christ has poured into us. Our peace grows where our attention rests. May we be a people marked by gratitude, surrender, and the steady presence of Jesus, so that His love overflows to all around us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Distraction is a greater threat than persecution In our context, the enemy often works not by outright opposition, but by subtly diverting our attention from Jesus. When we become distracted—by worries, busyness, or even good things—we become less available to the voice and leading of Christ. The call is to recognize these distractions and intentionally refocus on Jesus, knowing that where our attention goes, our devotion follows. [53:46]
• 2. Perfect love casts out fear Paul’s encouragement to the Thessalonians is rooted in the truth that God is not forming us for fear, but for peace. Fear breeds panic and confusion, but the love of Christ brings comfort and stability. When we remember who God is and what He has done, gratitude replaces anxiety, and we are able to stand firm in hope, even when the world feels unstable. [56:37]
• 3. Move from self-centeredness to Christ-centered love The journey from the iron rule to the platinum rule is a journey from self as the center to Christ as the center. We are called not just to treat others as we wish to be treated, but to love as God has loved us. This requires surrender, humility, and a willingness to let God’s grace transform our responses, so that our lives become a testimony to His love. [70:25]
• 4. Holiness is attention to Jesus in a noisy world Holiness is not about achieving flawlessness, but about where we fix our gaze. In a world full of noise and competing voices, our peace and transformation come from sustained attention to Jesus. As we cultivate habits of gratitude, prayer, and surrender, we become more attuned to His presence and more available for His purposes.
  
  ** [66:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [19:24] - Gathering and Opening
• [20:45] - Invocation and Greeting
• [21:03] - Prayers and Community Updates
• [22:26] - Gratitude for Volunteers
• [24:39] - Honoring Church Board and Leaders
• [25:49] - Invitation to Leadership and Service
• [26:13] - Honoring Veterans and Families
• [28:07] - Prayer of Blessing for Veterans
• [32:13] - Celebrating Milestones and Testimonies
• [51:26] - Invitation to Children’s Church
• [51:46] - The Danger of Distraction
• [54:46] - 2 Thessalonians: Standing Firm
• [56:37] - God Forms Us for Peace
• [57:21] - Reading and Reflecting on Scripture
• [60:31] - Evil, Hope, and Faithfulness
• [66:18] - Holiness and Attention to Jesus
• [70:25] - The Platinum Rule: Christ’s Love
• [72:14] - Surrendering Fear in Prayer
• [77:53] - Announcements and Blessing
• [86:32] - Benediction and Sending Forth

Bible Reading

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 (ESV) —
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,
2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:2, what was causing the Thessalonian church to be “shaken or alarmed”?
2. What does Paul say is God’s purpose for His people in this passage—are they being formed for fear or for something else? ([56:37])
3. In the sermon, what are some examples given of how easily we can become distracted, even during times of prayer or worship? ([52:38])
4. What are the three “rules” described in the sermon for how we treat others, and how are they different from each other? ([01:07:45])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Paul emphasize not being “easily unsettled or alarmed” by rumors or false teachings about Jesus’ return? How might this relate to our own experiences with fear or confusion? ([57:21])
2. The sermon says, “Distraction is a greater threat than persecution.” Why might distraction be so dangerous to our faith, even more than outright opposition? ([53:46])
3. What does it mean that “holiness is attention to Jesus in a noisy world”? How is this different from thinking of holiness as just being perfect? ([01:06:18])
4. The “platinum rule” is described as “do unto others as God has done unto you.” How does this raise the standard for how we love and serve others? ([01:10:25])

Application Questions

1. The sermon mentions that “where our attention goes, our devotion follows.” What is one area of your life where your attention is being pulled away from Jesus? What practical step could you take this week to refocus? ([53:46])
2. When you feel fear or anxiety about the future, what helps you remember that God is forming you for peace, not fear? Is there a specific verse, prayer, or practice that brings you back to God’s love? ([56:37])
3. Think about the “iron rule,” “golden rule,” and “platinum rule.” Which one do you most often find yourself living by in your daily relationships? What would it look like to move toward the “platinum rule” this week? ([01:10:25])
4. The sermon says, “We cannot offer to others what Jesus has not already poured into us.” Are you trying to serve or love others from an empty cup? How can you make space to receive from Jesus before pouring out to others? ([52:10])
5. The pastor shared about being distracted even during prayer. What are your biggest distractions when you try to spend time with God? What is one thing you could do to minimize those distractions? ([52:38])
6. Gratitude was described as a way to form peace in our lives. What is one thing you are grateful for this week, and how can you express that gratitude to God or someone else? ([01:05:32])
7. The sermon ended with an invitation to surrender fears and distractions. Is there a specific fear or distraction you want to surrender to God today? How can your small group support you in this? ([01:12:14])