• Watch this message along with helpful notes and resources here

What happens when the gospel truly takes root in a life?

In 1 Thessalonians 1:1–2:16, Paul looks back at a young church and sees unmistakable evidence that God is at work. Their faith is working, their love is laboring, their hope is holding firm. They receive the Word in affliction with joy, turn from idols to serve the living and true God, become examples to other believers, and before long the Word of the Lord is sounding forth from them.

The gospel came to them, went to work in them, and began ringing out through them.

We'll follow that movement through these opening chapters and consider what it means to be entrusted with the gospel, where true boldness comes from, how discipleship happens through shared lives, and why Paul can thank God that His Word is “at work in you believers.”

Along the way, we'll build some theological and Bible-study vocabulary, look at words including dokimazō, energeō, and adelphoi, and practice reading one of Paul's more difficult passages in its context while letting Scripture help us understand Scripture.

And we'll bring the passage home personally: How did the gospel come to me? Where can I see God's Word changing me? How might my faith begin to ring out through the way I live?

This episode accompanies Lesson Two of the 50-day Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful Bible study from Dwelling Richly Ministries. Get the complete study book here:

DwellingRichly.org

Welcome to Dwelling Richly, a Bible-based, faith-strengthening, community-building ministry devoted to helping believers know and love God’s Word, grow in their faith, and help others do the same.

At Dwelling Richly, we don’t just “do” Bible study. We dwell. We learn to read Scripture carefully, think biblically, ask good questions, make connections across God’s Word, and grow increasingly confident opening the Bible for ourselves.

Whether you’re studying with a Dwelling Richly Grace Group, alongside a friend, or on your own, I’m glad you’re here.

http://dwellingrichly.org/

https://dwelling-richly.churchcenter.com/

https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/podcast/

Dwelling Richly exists to disciple believers to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them, and to help others do the same.

#DwellingRichly #BibleStudy #ChristianBibleStudy

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Any platform - "The Dwelling Richly Podcast"

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Teaching Session with every lesson - When/Where to Watch/Listen - Main Message Page click here Dwelling Richly on YouTube: click here Dwelling Richly on any Podcast: click here Released every-other Tuesday, 6am (PST). 2026 release dates:

• 📖 September 8, Episode 1 “An Invitation to Dwell” (early release 9/2)
• 📖 September 22, Episode 2 Lesson 1 Review “Dwelling Well Through Thessalonians”
• 📖 October 6, Episode 3 Lesson 2 Review “The Gospel at Work”
• 📖 October 20, Episode 4 Lesson 3 Review “Established in Holiness”
• 📖 November 3, Episode 5 Lesson 4 Review “Because He Lives”
• 📖 November 17, Episode 6 Lesson 5 Review “Holy & Hopeful”

• Watch this message along with helpful notes and resources here

Learn how to dwell well in these remarkable letters by paying attention to the world behind the text, the world of the text, and the world in front of the text.

We'll follow Paul through Acts from Philippi to Thessalonica and Corinth, see how Scripture helps us understand Scripture, and trace the biblical story behind Paul's teaching through Genesis, Isaiah, Joel, Habakkuk, Psalms 27 and 46, and the words of Jesus.

Along the way, we'll consider what it means to read Thessalonians as letters written to real people living faithfully while they waited for Christ. Their questions about suffering, grief, holiness, hope, and the return of Jesus weren't abstract theology. Paul was teaching them how to live.

This episode accompanies Lesson One of the 50-day Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful Bible study from Dwelling Richly Ministries. Get the complete study book here: DwellingRichly.org

Welcome to Dwelling Richly, a Bible-based, faith-strengthening, community-building ministry devoted to helping believers know and love God’s Word, grow in their faith, and help others do the same.

At Dwelling Richly, we don’t just “do” Bible study. We dwell. We learn to read Scripture carefully, think biblically, ask good questions, make connections across God’s Word, and grow increasingly confident opening the Bible for ourselves.

Whether you’re studying with a Dwelling Richly Grace Group, alongside a friend, or on your own, I’m glad you’re here.

http://dwellingrichly.org/

https://dwelling-richly.churchcenter.com/

https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/podcast/

Dwelling Richly exists to disciple believers to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in them, and to help others do the same.

#DwellingRichly #BibleStudy #ChristianBibleStudy

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dwellingrichlypodcast

Any platform - "The Dwelling Richly Podcast"

https://dwellingrichly.podbean.com/

Teaching Session with every lesson - When/Where to Watch/Listen - Main Message Page click here Dwelling Richly on YouTube: click here Dwelling Richly on any Podcast: click here Released every-other Tuesday, 6am (PST). 2026 release dates:

• 📖 September 8, Episode 1 “An Invitation to Dwell” (early release 9/2)
• 📖 September 22, Episode 2 Lesson 1 Review “Dwelling Well Through Thessalonians”
• 📖 October 6, Episode 3 Lesson 2 Review “The Gospel at Work”
• 📖 October 20, Episode 4 Lesson 3 Review “Established in Holiness”
• 📖 November 3, Episode 5 Lesson 4 Review “Because He Lives”
• 📖 November 17, Episode 6 Lesson 5 Review “Holy & Hopeful”

New Fall Study is here! Groups are forming now and officially starting after Labor Day. Sign-Up Today to get your study book (spiral bound or digital copy) and join a group, grab a friend, or study on your own. Here's an earlybird release of the first episode in the series, "Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful" - Details/Register Here

What does it look like to live holy and hopeful while we wait for Jesus?

Join Jennifer Richmond and the Dwelling Richly community for a journey through 1 & 2 Thessalonians, two letters filled with encouragement for believers learning to stand firm, grow in holiness, love one another well, endure hardship, and live with confident hope in the return of Christ.

These teaching messages accompany the 50-day Thessalonians: Holy & Hopeful Dwelling Richly Bible study. Each episode builds on the Scripture you’ve been studying, helping you understand the biblical and historical context, make connections across God’s Word, work through challenging passages, and grow increasingly confident studying Scripture for yourself.

Dwelling Richly studies are designed to be Bible-based, faith-strengthening, and community-building. We take Scripture seriously, ask good questions, learn to think biblically, and leave room to wonder, wrestle, notice, and grow.

Whether you’re participating with a Grace Group, studying alongside a friend, or joining us on your own, you’re welcome here.

Our goal isn’t simply to finish another Bible study or collect more information. We want to know God better, love His Word more, live faithfully in light of what is true, and become better equipped to help someone else do the same.

Don’t just do Bible study. Dwell.

→ STUDY WITH DWELLING RICHLY http://dwellingrichly.org/

→ JOIN THE DWELLING RICHLY COMMUNITY https://dwelling-richly.churchcenter.com/

I know how small, weird things can end up meaning the most. This past year was messy, painful, and full of loss, and it showed up in my body and my grief. But as I started to dwell in Scripture instead of just doing the motions, I found a steadiness I hadn’t had before. I didn’t stop hurting, but I had somewhere to look when everything felt chaotic.

Looking down at my hands and seeing my nails grow back felt like a tiny, tender sign that my soul was catching up with my body. If you’ve been weary or wondering where God is in the hard stuff, this is for you. We don’t see everything yet, but we see Him, and that changes the way we walk through sorrow.

If this reflection resonates with you, my new 50-day Bible study through 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Holy & Hopeful, may be a meaningful next step. It is designed to help you do more than complete a Bible study, but to truly dwell in Scripture, understand it in context, and grow in a faith that is rooted deeply enough to hold steady when life is anything but easy.

Learn more about Holy & Hopeful here: https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/thessalonians/

Read the original blog post: https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/my-fingernails-are-growing-again/

Dwelling Richly exists to encourage and equip believers to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly.

NOTE: Watch the video to see the on-screen notes and download the Follow-Along Notes at https://www.jennifergrichmond.com/teaching/dwelling-richly-chill-ep5/

A verse-by-verse Psalm 46 study exploring “be still,” and why we can let go and trust God. What does it mean to “be still” when nothing around you is still? Psalm 46 speaks into a world of roaring waters, shaking mountains, raging nations, and uncertain outcomes—and calls us to behold the works of the LORD. True rest grows as we see who God is, remember what He has done, and entrust what we are holding to His faithful hands.

In this fifth and final message from the CHILL: Rethinking Rest & Stress series, we'll walk verse by verse through Psalm 46, exploring its vivid imagery, repeated Hebrew words, and powerful refrain: “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Rather than treating “Be still and know that I am God” as a peaceful slogan, this study restores the verse to its setting and reveals God’s command to cease striving, release our resistance, and acknowledge His sovereign rule.

Whether you’re studying Psalm 46 on your own, leading a small group, preparing to teach, or struggling to release fear, control, resentment, or an uncertain outcome, this study will help you behold the character and works of God—and understand why you can safely open your hands before Him.

In this Bible study you’ll discover: • Why Psalm 46 begins with God before describing the trouble • How the repeated Hebrew root mot contrasts moving mountains, tottering kingdoms, and the city that will not be moved • Why “she shall not be moved” refers to Zion, not an individual woman • What the name YHWH Tseva’ot—the LORD of hosts—reveals about God’s power and covenant presence • The meaning of harpu—“be still,” “cease,” “release,” or “let go” • How “Come and see” leads from Psalm 46 to Jesus and the empty tomb • Why we can rest while God remains active, sovereign, and faithful • How the entire CHILL study leads us to come, hide, know the I AM, let go, and let God be God

Key Passage 📖 Psalm 46 Series CHILL: Rethinking Rest & Stress Episode 5 / Let Go-Let God Resources 📖 Follow along with your Bible open to Psalm 46. 🌿 Learn more about Dwelling Richly Bible Studies 📚 Browse Bible studies, devotionals, podcasts, and free resources: About Dwelling Richly Our mission is to encourage and equip believers to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength by letting the Word of Christ dwell in them richly (Colossians 3:16). If this message encouraged you: 👍 Like this video 💬 Share what stood out to you in the comments. 📤 Share this study with a friend. 🔔 Subscribe so you won't miss future Bible studies and discipleship resources.

If this study encourages you, please subscribe, like, and share this message with a friend. We'd love to have you join us as we learn to dwell richly in God's Word together.

Should Christians believe Mercury retrograde affects their lives? How can you help others think through this idea biblically? Explore a biblical perspective on astrology, God's sovereignty, and the purpose of the heavens. Learn why Scripture teaches that the stars declare God's glory but do not direct our lives. Discover the difference between astronomy and astrology and why our confidence belongs in the Creator, not creation.

Listen to this episode here, YouTube/DwellingRichly, or read the blog post on the Dwelling Richly blog.

"So Glad You Asked" is a Dwelling Richly series where honest questions meet biblical truth. Together we'll open God's Word, think carefully, and discover that knowing the Creator is always better than simply finding an answer. #MercuryRetrograde

Have you ever wondered, "Am I grieving right?"

That question haunted me after losing my dad, my mom, a dear friend, and my college roommate. I didn't find easy answers. But I did find a God who wasn't offended by my questions, my tears, or even my anger.

Excerpt: "Is everyone else just able to crush their sadness like a recycled plastic bottle and toss it far away so they can move on? Because my sadness couldn't fit in a bottle, not even close. My sadness? ...it could fill the ocean, and I feel like I'm drowning in it. Should I be more thoughtful? Less scared? More insightful and less selfish, because I feel pretty sad and selfish - truthfully, I wish they were all still here - my roommate, my friend, my dad, and my mom too...I wanted more time with them. Is it weakness that I still sit in my car, in the garage, in the quietest most sound-proof place I have and just wail and sob until I'm so exhausted and out of tears that I just let the darkness of the garage blanket me from the world?"

I wrote "Letter to a Grieving Friend" during a dark season a few years ago and today it felt right to revisit and share again. I pray it will bless and encourage you today.

#Grief #ChristianHope #Faith #Healing

Get more resources and read this blog post here: "Letter to a Grieving Friend"

Psalm 145...if you’re tired of the latest stress hacks that never stick, Psalm 145 gently reminds us to start with the Lord. This short message walks through how praise and remembering God’s character can actually reorient our hearts from worry to rest.

Instead of rehearsing our fears, try rehearsing who God is: slow to anger, full of steadfast love, near to the weary, and the one who opens His hand to satisfy creation. Read it aloud, open your hands, and let these truths sink in.

Take a deep breath, re-read Psalm 145, and lean into the simple invitation: come to the I AM and let praise shape your rest.

Are you looking for peace in the middle of stress? Psalm 145 reminds us that true rest isn't found by mastering life. It's found by knowing the Great I AM. In this verse-by-verse Bible study, we'll discover how God's character transforms the way we face anxiety, uncertainty, and the pressures of everyday life.

In this fourth message from the CHILL: Rethinking Rest & Stress series, Jennifer Richmond walks through Psalm 145, revealing the beauty of God's covenant name, His steadfast love, His eternal kingdom, and His invitation to trust Him. Rather than offering another technique or life hack, Psalm 145 calls us to rehearse what is true about the LORD until our hearts remember what stress makes us forget.

Register today for the Chill study. 👇🏻

Whether you're studying Psalm 145 on your own, leading a small group, preparing to teach, or simply longing to know God more deeply, this study will help you see how praise, meditation, and worship lead us into genuine biblical rest. In this Bible study you'll discover: • Why Psalm 145 is one of the most significant psalms in Scripture • What God's covenant name, YHWH (Yahweh), reveals about His character • The meaning of the Hebrew phrase אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם (erek appayim) — "slow to anger" • The richness of hesed (steadfast love) and emet (truth) • How Psalm 145 points us to Jesus • Practical ways to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly every day Key Passage 📖 Psalm 145 (ESV) Series CHILL: Rethinking Rest & Stress Episode 4 / Know the Great I AM Resources 📖 Follow along with your Bible open to Psalm 145. 🌿 Learn more about Dwelling Richly Bible Studies 📚 Browse Bible studies, devotionals, podcasts, and free resources: https://jennifergrichmond.com About Dwelling Richly Our mission is to encourage and equip believers to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength by letting the Word of Christ dwell in them richly (Colossians 3:16). If this message encouraged you: 👍 Like this video 💬 Share what stood out to you in the comments. 📤 Share this study with a friend. 🔔 Subscribe so you won't miss future Bible studies and discipleship resources. #Psalm145 #BibleStudy #KnowGod #ChristianLiving #ChristianWomen #Discipleship #DwellingRichly

If this study encourages you, please subscribe, like, and share this message with a friend. We'd love to have you join us as we learn to dwell richly in God's Word together.

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