BaptistWay Lesson for 11/2: A church for which to be grateful_102003

Posted: 10/17/03

Nov. 2

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10, 2: 13-14

A church for which to be grateful

By Dan Curry

While I was in college, I had the opportunity to pastor my first church. It seems like yesterday, but it was 27 years ago that the only church in the little community of Progress called me to be their pastor. I still hear from that congregation.

What amazes me is that many of the people in that church who molded my ministry are still serving God right there. Since then I have had the privilege to pastor five other wonderful churches. Each of those congregations is still special to me. I love to receive word from each church, and occasionally I make time to go back and visit. Nothing thrills my soul more than to hear about the progress each church is making.

From Paul's letter to the church at Thessalonica, I know he felt the same way I do. He was grateful for the church at Thessalonica and was moved by the news of its progress.

Several things led Paul to travel to Thessalonica and then to write the church he started in that city. Paul was on his way to Asia when in a dream God directed him to go to Macedonia. The first city Paul visited was Philippi. After departing Philippi, the book of Acts (Acts 17) records for us that Paul went to Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia.

It was a large city and a city of great importance in the spread of the gospel. The road to the east and the road to the west converged at Thessalonica. If Paul could plant the gospel in this crossroad, the good news would soon spread to the east and the west.

Paul preached the gospel for three consecutive Sabbaths in the Jewish synagogue, and many believed. However, the unbelieving Jews created such chaos and opposition it became imperative for Paul to leave. After a brief stay in Berea, his friends took Paul to Athens. It was there that Silas and Timothy caught up with Paul after staying back for some time.

And it was from Athens that Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica. He could not rest until he had received information about the work in Thessalonica. Timothy then returned to Thessalonica and brought word back to Paul, who by that time was in Corinth. After hearing about the good work, Paul began writing the words in the text today.

These beginning words are words of thanksgiving. Paul was excited about what he heard and grateful about the ongoing ministry of this church. Three times in this letter, Paul gave thanks for the church and the way it had responded to his message (1 Thessalonians 1:2, 2:13, 3:9).

A close examination of this text will reveal the characteristics in this church that made Paul so thankful. Paul helps outline this text in the first phrases of his prayer. Paul says, “We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). As we examine Paul's words and discover the characteristics that marked this church, we must ask the question, “Are these the characteristics that mark my church?”

Paul was thankful for their life-giving faith

Paul said he was thankful for their “work produced by faith.” He uses the ordinary term for “work” that could also be translated “business.” Paul was saying their faith was being productive, and the direct results of that faith were the good deeds in their life.

How did they come to have such faith? They came to this faith because God initiated it out of his love. Paul says, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, … ” (v. 4). It was God who moved first in the heart of Paul and led him to Thessalonica.

Then as Paul proclaimed the gospel, the Holy Spirit worked with power and conviction. The result was repentance. Paul says, “… you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, …” (v. 9). When these men and women in Thessalonica repented and turned to God, a change began to take place in their lives. This change produced good deeds. People who respond to God's call with repentance and trust will see a dramatic change in their lives. Those whom God chooses, he changes.

A great example of this is found in the conversion story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19). Luke tells us how Zacchaeus met Jesus and as a result of that encounter repented and became a follower of Jesus Christ. The dramatic results were demonstrated in a changed life.

One of the most dramatic conversions in recent years took place in the life of Charles Colson. He might be better known as “the hatchet man” for Richard Nixon. Charles Colson was implicated in the Watergate scandal in 1974. As a special assistant to the president, he was at the top of his career and still a very young man. He was sentenced to prison in 1975 for his part in Watergate.

However, two years earlier, Colson had publicly professed his faith. He recounts that story in his book titled “Born Again” (1976). It was a friend by the name of Tom Phillips that God used to share the gospel with him. As the Holy Spirit then worked in power and conviction, Charles Colson repented and trusted Jesus Christ. The dramatic result was he went from “the hatchet man” to the founder of a ministry that shares the gospel with prisoners. In much the same way, Paul went from being a “hatchet man” to sharing the gospel with people who were prisoners of sin.

As Paul looked at the church at Thessalonica, he saw lives being changed and the change producing works. He was thankful for what he saw.

Paul was thankful for their contagious love

Paul wrote that he was thankful for their “labor prompted by love” (v. 3). These people were contagious as they lived the word of God and shared the gospel. The impact of their contagious love is found in the their witness and the testimony of others about their faith.

Paul writes: “You became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia–your faith in God has become known everywhere” (vv. 7-8). Their “labor of love” expressed itself in sharing the gospel. The verb “rang out” actually means “to sound as a trumpet.” They were sounding the gospel as a trumpet.

Although Paul possibly overstated his remarks for emphasis, he paid the Thessalonians a high compliment by declaring the report of their faithful witness had extended beyond Macedonia to “everywhere.” This witness was due to the love they had first experienced from Paul and then in their relationship to Christ. They became imitators by sharing Christ's redeeming love everywhere.

Today, more churches are needed where the people are contagious with the love of Jesus Christ. George Barna, a Christian research analyst, shares in his book, “Evangelism That Works” (1995) that since the beginning of the 1990s, the proportion of the adult population that is unchurched has risen significantly, to 32 percent from about 25 percent. That equals about 60 million to 65 million un-churched people in the United States. These numbers echo the fact that the church needs to be sounding the trumpet of the gospel once again.

Paul was thankful for their expectant hope

Paul says he was thankful for their “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 3). The word “endurance” is from the Greek word “hupomone,” which conveys the idea of perseverance. It denotes the condition of staying under pressure. Paul shared clues to the fact that these new converts had suffered many hardships. He says, “In spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit” (v. 6). The word Paul uses for “severe suffering”is the Greek word “thlipsis,” which means “intense pressure.” So the new converts experienced severe persecution, but they never lost their joy. How could this be possible? It was possible because of their hope.

Like Paul, many often use these words–faith, love and hope. Most people can describe the meaning of faith and love. However, it is difficult to define hope. The Greek word for “hope” means much the same as our English word. It means “to anticipate.” It is having the expectation that someday one will experience the fulfillment of desire. It has been said by many that a person can live weeks without food, days without water and only minutes without oxygen. However, without hope, it is impossible to live.

These new converts at Thessalonica had hope. Their hope was in the Lord Jesus Christ. When they had worshipped idols, they had no hope. But when they trusted in Jesus Christ, they had a living hope. That hope was demonstrated by their expectant waiting for the Lord's return. Paul had heard these young believers had turned from idols, they were serving the Lord, and they were waiting for his return.

The church that lives in the expectation of seeing Jesus Christ at any time will be a dynamic congregation. Expecting the Lord's return is great motivation for soul-winning and godly living. Living expectantly helps every church stay focused and sense the urgency of living our faith and sharing our love.

Questions for discussion

Ask someone to share how his or her life has been changed because of your church.

How is the word of God being shared in your church?

What are some ways individuals can share their love of Jesus Christ with others?

List some ways salvation has given you hope.

Dan Curry is pastor of South Oaks Baptist Church in Arlington