Throughout the year, we give gifts to those we love, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas.

But what about gifts to our fellow believers? Is there something we could give one another

year round? Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck's Wendall explores First Thessalonians to share essential gifts

that require no shopping and no wrapping paper, just willing hearts.

These are gifts that last, that lift up one another, strengthen the family of God,

and honor our Savior.

Chuck titled his message, Gifts to Give the Family.

It's message number 10 in our 12-part study on Contagious Christianity.

Suppose you have a Christian friend who has left God's path to walk in the ways of the world.

No longer attending church, this person is closing off spiritual things and neglecting family

responsibilities. Your initial thought is probably, I should admonish my friend.

And yet when you meet with this person, you hear a story of heartache and frustration,

maybe even disillusionment. And you began to think, no, I don't have a heart to admonish him, but what should I do?

What do I do?

Are your friends' actions a result of unruliness, faint-heartedness, weakness, or maybe all three?

Should you confront or should you console?

Should your love be tender or tough?

Those are hard questions, aren't they?

If you're wrestling with these issues as they relate to someone about whom you care very much, you'll really appreciate Paul's

words to the Thessalonians, even though they came way back in the first century. If you have a Bible,

please turn with me to First Thessalonians, the last chapter, chapter five, and listen as I

read for you, verses 12 through 15. First Thessalonians 5, and listen as I read for you verses 12 through 15.

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