Athey Creek | Audio Podcast

A Bible teaching titled “The End: The Rapture of the Church” from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 by Brett Meador.

As we begin our study of Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica, we learn some important history of the city, are reminded of Paul's experience there during one of his missionary journeys, and see how the city had changed dramatically since his visit. As we study verse by verse through 1 Thessalonians 1, we see how Paul commends their faith, hope, and love, praises the example they set for other believers, and then shifts our attention to one of the book's main themes: the End Times.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Paul assures the church at Thessalonica that they have been delivered from the coming wrath. But just what is it, when is it coming, and how can we ensure we are spared as well? As we take a deep dive into the reality of God’s wrath, we seek to answer these questions, begin a more comprehensive look at the End Times, and learn how we should live in light of what is to come.

As Paul begins to wrap up his letter to the Colossian church, we see him address the topics of husbands and wives, children and parents, and employers and employees. As we study Colossians 3:18-4:18, we examine how the world seeks to corrupt these relationships, learn about God’s design for them, and finish with Paul’s final thoughts and encouragements.

Paul reminds the believers in Colossae in Colossians 4:6 that their words can greatly influence unbelievers and that their speech should reflect God's grace. As we apply Paul's instruction to our own lives, we see the importance of sharing the gospel in truth and love, guarding against words that wound, and reflecting Jesus in all we say.

Paul directly addresses believers in Colossians 3:1-17, challenging them to put to death sinful behaviors and live differently. As Paul lays the framework by comparing our spiritual transformation to death and resurrection, we learn what it means to be united with Christ, identify some of the sins we must put to death, and see the Christlike characteristics we should put on instead.

Echoing a similar truth he shared with the Corinthians, Paul uses the phrase “whatever you do” to introduce some key principles in Colossians 3:17 and 23 that call us to live every part of our lives for the Lord. As we look at the practical applications Paul gives, we see how putting his words into practice can shape everything we do as we seek to glorify God.

In Colossians 2, Paul takes a deep look at the heresies creeping into the church at Colossae, identifying the false teachings they were beginning to accept and explaining why they were dangerous. As we study, we see how those same teachings remain prevalent in Christianity today, how we can respond when challenged about why we reject them, and why Jesus Christ alone must remain our foundation of truth.

False teachers with their deceptive rhetoric were infiltrating the church at Colossae and pulling believers away from the truth. In a warning that is just as relevant to the church today, Paul addresses this issue in Colossians 2:8-10 by exposing the empty ideas that creep in to derail faith and draw believers into destructive falsehoods.

Paul begins his letter to the Christians in Colossae by establishing the supremacy and divinity of Jesus Christ to build a solid framework for addressing the heresy creeping into their congregation. As we study Colossians 1, we learn what was happening in Colossae that prompted Paul to write this letter, see how Christ accomplished our reconciliation with God, and discover the glorious mystery now revealed to all believers.

Paul presents a powerful picture of Jesus in Colossians 1:15-20 as the Creator, Sustainer, and Head of the Church. As we unpack these profound truths, we discover why Christ is preeminent over all things, what it means to make Him our life, and the staggering reality that the Creator went to the cross to reconcile us to Himself.

As Paul wraps up his letter to the Philippian church, he leaves them with final exhortations about avoiding division, overcoming anxiety through godly thinking, and the blessing of giving. As we study Philippians 4, may we heed Paul's words by living as a united, joyful people enthusiastically sharing the Gospel as we await Christ's return.

In Philippians 4:10-13, Paul reveals how he learned the secret to being content whether living in abundance or enduring adversity. As he shares what biblical contentment looks like, we discover how to learn it, how to live it, and why it all centers on Jesus Christ.

Paul reflects on his past, present, and future in Philippians 3, showing how each shapes his identity and perspective in his pursuit of Christ. Along the way, he calls out those who try to derail others’ faith, shows why earthly accomplishments are meaningless apart from Christ, and explains what we should eagerly pursue instead.

In Philippians 3:14–15, Paul encourages the church to do something seemingly impossible: be perfect. As we examine what Paul really means, we discover how believers can already be perfect in Christ while still being works in progress, awaiting the day when they are made perfectly complete in His presence.

Paul continues his letter to the Philippians in Philippians 2:12–30 by praising their obedience to God, encouraging them to work out the salvation God is working within them, and reminding them that their service brings Him pleasure. He concludes the chapter by pointing to Timothy and Epaphroditus, whose Christlike character and faithful service to the Gospel provide examples for believers to follow.

As Christians, the most joyful, encouraging, and gracious words should come from our mouths, yet we are often just as prone to grumbling, complaining, and murmuring as the rest of the world. In Philippians 2:14-18, Paul strongly cautions against this, reminding us that a joyful church is marked by believers who shine as lights in a dark world, point others to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and rejoice in their salvation.

Paul addresses our calling as Christians to love one another in Philippians 2:1-11, focusing on strife within the church, being like-minded despite our differences, and walking in humility. He then points to the example Jesus set through His earthly ministry and His willingness to die for our sins.

While the believers in Philippi lived as citizens of Rome, Paul reminded them in Philippians 1:27 and 3:20 that their true citizenship was in heaven and that their lives should reflect that reality. As we celebrate our nation's 250th birthday this Independence Day Weekend, we examine what it means to be heavenly-minded while faithfully serving the Lord on earth, and most importantly, how to ensure our citizenship is in heaven as well.

As Paul begins his letter to the Philippians, his deep love for them shines through as he shares how he remembers them, what he longs for them to know, and how faithfully he prays for them. Through Paul's example in Philippians 1, we learn how to abound in love for others, have true unity in the gospel, and rejoice in every circumstance.

As we begin our study through Philippians, we find Paul imprisoned in Rome, yet overflowing with joy as he writes to the church in Philippi. As we examine what brings Paul joy in Philippians 1, we discover that when our fellowship, trials, and faith are centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we too can experience great joy in every circumstance.

Though our victory has already been secured in Christ, we are still engaged in an ongoing spiritual battle and must arm ourselves against the enemy's tactics. In Ephesians 6:10-24, we learn to identify our enemy, understand the armor God has given us, and how to tap into the power of His Word as we stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Having established who we are in Christ, Paul begins to show us what it means to walk in love, light, and wisdom. As we study Ephesians 5:1–6:9, we learn how walking in these ways should be reflected in both our behavior and in relationships among husbands and wives, children and parents, and those entrusted with responsibility over others.

As each generation comes and goes, culture continues to redefine marriage, usually missing God's intent for it altogether. In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul gives us God's design for husbands and wives – a design that points to the greater picture of Christ's love for the church.

As we continue looking at the hallmarks of church unity in Ephesians 4:11-32, we take a deep dive into the evidence of good growth and the pitfalls that will lead to serious problems. As we study, we examine the behaviors that reveal whether we are growing toward Christlikeness and identify the attitudes that damage unity and grieve the Lord.

In Ephesians 4:31-32, Paul addresses a serious sin that is often ignored, excused, or misunderstood among believers. As we unpack the difficult topic of forgiveness, we discover what it truly means, why God views it so seriously, and how we can forgive others as He has forgiven us.

One of Satan’s top tactics to wreak havoc within the church is to cause division among Christians. In Ephesians 4:1–14, Paul begins a discussion on unity, teaching us how to combat this threat by walking in God’s grace, building our foundation on the Trinity, and using our gifts to bless the body of Christ.

After explaining all that God has done for us through Christ, Paul begins to examine what the Christian life should look like when we walk in a manner worthy of this calling. As we study Ephesians 4:1-3, we learn the qualities that should define our lives as we faithfully live out the role God has placed before us.

Paul begins to unfold the mystery of God’s plan for humanity in Ephesians 3, revealing the players, the periods, and the purpose behind it all. Then, through Paul’s prayer, we are reminded that God also has a personal calling for our lives as we allow Him to dwell in our hearts and display His power through us.

In Ephesians 3:14-19, Paul makes an intriguing statement about Christ dwelling within our hearts. But what exactly was he talking about? As we explore what it means to invite Jesus to live within our hearts, we see that it involves surrendering everything to Him, and that as He makes His home in us, He prepares us for our eternal home with Him.

Paul gives a clear and powerful outline in Ephesians 2 that demonstrates what a Christian truly is and how God works in their life. As we follow the progression from our sinful state to God working in us and then through us, we see how He redeems and refines us, shaping us to fit together as His church.

After reminding us that we are all sinners who willfully disobey God and consistently miss the mark, Paul flips the script with two words that change everything. As we study Ephesians 2:1-5, we take a closer look at this glorious statement, see where it appears elsewhere in scripture, and discover how it leads us into the richness of God’s mercy and grace.

In Ephesians 1:15–23, we examine Paul’s prayer and are reminded that the Christian life is not just about knowing theology but about truly knowing God. As we walk through his prayer, we learn what our true riches are, how we are called to love one another, and why keeping Christ as the head of the church allows us to function as an effective body of believers.

Sitting in a prison cell, Paul had every reason to be sad, angry, or bitter, yet he chose to focus on Jesus and respond with joyful worship despite his crushing circumstances. In Ephesians 1:3–14, we see how Paul combines deep theology and worship as he praises God from prison, and we learn how to embrace that same mindset as we face our own trials.

We begin our study of Ephesians by examining the opulent yet morally distorted culture of its day and seeing how strikingly similar it is to our own. Then, as we walk through Paul’s extended, unbroken praise of Christ in Ephesians 1:1–14, we explore rich theological truths, including election, predestination, adoption, and inheritance.

In Ephesians 1:8–10, Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that God has a plan and purpose that brings Him pleasure. As we unpack this mystery, we discover four things we know that show how God is working in our lives, how to walk in the assignment we’ve been given, and why we don’t need to worry as we live in His perfect peace.

We wrap up the book of Galatians with Paul’s final thoughts on love over legalism. As we study Galatians 6, we learn how he calls us to treat one another, let go of legalistic behavior, and keep our focus on Jesus Christ.

Paul continues to expand on the freedom Christ has given and warns against returning to the bondage of the law in Galatians 5. As we study, we see the contrasts between the flesh and the Spirit, and between love and the law, and how walking in the Spirit produces fruit rooted in love and a desire not to practice sin.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul addresses a major issue in the Galatian church: a failure to understand the true freedom Christ came to give. On Palm Sunday 2026, we look at how similar confusion happened when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to shouts of “Hosanna.” As we study, we see how Jesus has been misunderstood throughout history, why these misconceptions and fickleness are so dangerous to our faith, and the true freedom we find when we understand who He really is and why He came.

Galatians 4 is a chapter full of comparisons that help us understand our relationship with God, the law versus liberty, and the identification of truth in a world full of lies. As we study, we see how these contrasting themes show us how to live as heirs of God’s promise, avoid being dazzled by false teachers, and walk in freedom and faith.

The Galatian church had questions about the Levitical law, whether they should follow it, and how it applied to their lives. In Galatians 3, Paul provides a comprehensive answer, reminding them of the work God had already done in their lives, pointing to Scripture to explain the history and purpose of the law, and showing how it was fulfilled in Jesus while still serving to reveal sin.

Even as some influential leaders within the church drift toward requiring the law for salvation, Paul stands firm in Galatians 2. In his powerful defense, he explains the situation, shows how the law reveals sin but cannot remove it, and reminds us that salvation comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In Galatians 2:21, Paul states that he does not wish to frustrate the grace of God – that is, to reject God’s kindness toward us. To illustrate this, we examine two Old Testament stories: one shows a person who received grace, the other shows someone who refused it with disastrous consequences. As we reflect on these examples, we see why we should respond in acceptance rather than disregard.

Paul opens his letter to the church in Galatia by immediately confronting one of their main issues: their tendency to twist and add to the gospel message. As we study Galatians 1, we see a high-level overview of how the gospel encompasses the whole Bible, how we can know it is true, and why Paul speaks with such authority on the subject.

Paul issues a strong warning to the church at Galatia against following different gospels – regardless of the source – because there is only one path to salvation. As we study Galatians 1:1-10, we see how people are still tripped up by false teachers today, learn to recognize these perversions of the gospel, and, most importantly, ensure we understand that salvation comes only by grace through faith.

In 2 Corinthians 12–13, we hear Paul’s final words to the church at Corinth as he seeks to build them up, root out lingering sin and false teachers, and firmly establish his credentials as an apostle with God-given authority. As we reflect on his message, may we learn not to take correction as criticism, to align ourselves with the true gospel of Jesus Christ, and rejoice in the grace and love found in Him.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, Paul shares a deeply personal struggle he calls “a thorn in the flesh” – a weakness he prayed would be removed, but the Lord chose to leave in place. Perhaps you can relate as you pray for relief from your own burdens but see no change. As we study this passage, we learn how God uses our struggles to display His strength and how He develops godly character in us when we allow Him to work through our weakness.

Some members of the Corinthian church treated Paul quite harshly, accusing him of weakness and questioning his authority. Paul responds in 2 Corinthians 10–11 by reminding them that the battle they face is spiritual, defending the divine source of his authority, exposing the danger of false apostles, and revealing the depth of his love as demonstrated through his suffering.

Paul confronts the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 10:7-12 concerning their emphasis on outward appearance and expectations of how an apostle should look and sound. Unfortunately, this tendency to judge by external expectations is common in both the Bible and our culture today. As we study, we see the danger of evaluating by appearance rather than by substance, learn what God looks at in our hearts, and discover how He wants to make us into people He can use, regardless of outward appearances.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul continues his instruction on giving by explaining how it not only blesses others but also brings blessing to the giver. As we examine how God calls us to give and the blessings we can expect as a result, we see how these principles take shape in our lives when we give with thankful, joyful hearts.