Today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall presents the first message in our next topical series called

Strengthening Your Grip. The inspiration for this study came upon Chuck in an unlikely setting,

far from home. He'll describe his

epiphany toward the end of today's message. Chuck's congregation in Fullerton, California,

had just moved to a brand new facility when this message was given. You could feel the excitement,

and it was an important time to recalibrate and make sure the church remained true to God's

calling. The lessons learned true to God's calling.

The lessons learned apply to all of us.

Chuck titled his message, Strengthening Your Grip on Priorities.

If you have your Bible, I'd like you to look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 2, please.

The first 13 or 14 verses will be the basis of all that I have to say this morning on

priorities. I think there are four absolute basic priorities that must characterize this work.

The first priority to make a ministry meaningful, it must be biblical.

You'll notice that the people took it as the Word of God, verse 13.

When you received from us the Word of God's message,

you accepted it not as the Word of Men, but for what it really is the Word of God.

When the Scriptures are taught, God's people are fed, and everyone benefits.

Well, let's go to the second priority. It's in verse five and verse six. Read it with me.

For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed, God is witness.

Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ,

we might have asserted our authority. That's good, isn't it? We didn't have one hand in your hand and the other

hand in your pocket. We weren't going for the bucks. Our basic purpose was to stimulate you to

...