A Fruitful Church

Introduction

Thank you, guys!

Well, good morning!

If you’d go ahead and keep your Bibles open to 2 Thessalonians, we’ll be walking through that together in just a moment. But before we jump into that, let’s recite our mission verse together. Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and 20…remember this is Jesus’s command to the church and this is who He’s commanded each of us to be. And the purpose of us reciting it, its so that we’ll put it on our hearts and commit ourselves to being these kinds of people and this kind of church. And so, if you’re ready, I’ll get us started. Remember, I’m using the ESV translation.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

[Prayer]

Alrighty…again, we’re gonna be walking through the first five verses of 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 this morning. If you’ve been with us over the past several months, we’ve been walking through these two letters together and just last week we finished up the first letter. But as we start his second letter to the Thessalonians this morning understand that this church, it’s still in its infancy stages…they’re continuing to grow in their faith and love. They’re still learning how to live out their new faith in Christ. They’re still facing all kinds of persecution. In fact, that persecution has only increased since Paul’s first letter. Its been a few months in between these two letters and they’re still facing many challenges. Many of the things Paul addressed in his first letter, these things are still persisting. Again, persecution and culture’s influence continues to challenge their faith, false teachers continue to stir up confusion about the return of Christ and the idea of death, there’s still lazy Christians who continue to be a drain on the fellowship in Thessalonica. But listen, despite all these things, Paul still begins his letter by saying that “We boast about you among God’s churches.”

Guys, while they still face a ton of issues, they’re still welcoming God’s Word and His invitation to participate with Him in proclaiming the gospel to their city. They’re still a model church. They’re still doing their best to remain obedient to the Great Commission command. They’re still growing, they’re still hoping, they’re still seen as being different among the people around them. And even despite all their challenges, they’re still fruitful. And here’s what these first five verses are showing us about being this kind of church. Guys, when a church is grounded in its faith, it will be fruitful in its work. Meaning, when we prioritize our faith above everything else we can do, God will work through us…because we know its through faith and faith alone that God moves. It’s one of the five solas…we’re gonna talk about these in detail in February…but as a protestant church we believe in the Scriptures alone, in grace alone, in faith alone, in Christ alone, all for the glory of God alone, right? That’s the pillars of our faith. And listen, when we live in that, God moves. And He moves because when we’re constantly making much about Him…when we’re making Him the priority, when we’re doing everything to give Him the glory…He’ll work among His people. And that’s what we see here with these Thessalonians, even when they’re not perfect, God’s moving through them…He’s accomplishing amazing feats through their growing faith and love. And listen, as we do that here at FBC, together, God’ll do the same thing in Cambridge Springs…because as Paul said last week in 1 Thessalonians, we serve a faithful God.

Listen, in studying for this message, I came across a pretty convicting statement by another theologian. He said, “God in His love and grace gives His own [people] the privilege of participating with Him in what He is doing.” But he continues by saying, “[Those people] are deceived, however, if they believe that they can [actually] contribute to what He is doing.”

Let that statement sink in for just a moment. It’s a really sobering, humbling statement when you really sit back and think about it. When we view that somehow our work is contributing to God’s work, it’s to suggest that God’s somehow in need of our work to ensure His success. And listen, the most humbling thing about this truth, its that God really doesn’t need us to accomplish anything, right? He can and He will get along perfectly without us.

But listen, while that’s true…that God doesn’t need us, He’s not content on doing this kingdom work alone. He’s graciously extended an invitation to us to participate with Him in what He’s doing in the world. We get this amazing privilege of joining with Him in a venture that’s guaranteed to succeed, right? It’s not like the things you do at work…it’s not contingent on who you are or your own talents and strengths…this kingdom work that we’re called to, it’s all dependent on God and what He’s already done. And it’s not like your jobs where you have the ability to fail…what we do through the church, when we’re grounded in our faith, it won’t fail. God’s will, it will always succeed. And that assurance, that’s what makes our participation in the work of His church so fulfilling. Despite the many challenges and setbacks we experience, despite who we are, we can be confident that His work will succeed. In other words, because we know that we’re on the winning team, we’re not afraid to give our all on the field. But listen, that takes a real faith, right? A growing love…a deep hope in what’s He’s promised us…It takes a real belief in this secure future He’s presented through His Word…which is exactly our four points this morning…number 1, do we have a real faith? Number two, do we have a growing love? Number 3, do we have a deep hope? And then number 4, do we believe in a secure future? Because those are the things that ground our faith…and its only when our faith’s grounded, will there be real fruit.

And so, if you’re ready, let’s dig into this first point together.

I. Do We Have a Real Faith? (vv. 1-3a)

Do we have a real faith?

Look at verse 1 with me again. Paul introduces himself and his companions and says, “To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”

And so, just a little context here. Remember the details surrounding Thessalonica. They were a huge city in the Roman Empire, known for their port on the Aegean Sea. It was a very diverse city because of this. It was an attractive place for Romans, Greeks, Jews to live. And because of that, there were a ton of religions and different gods worshipped here. One commentary I use suggested that there were over 30,000 different false gods worshipped here. And so, naturally, this was a place that Paul and his companions went to with the intentions of planting a church.

Now, obviously, they did that…otherwise, we wouldn’t be studying this letter to the Thessalonian church. But when they were there, we read in Acts that they faced a ton of persecution themselves, right? They were forced out of the city. And eventually, they were even forced out of other cities by those from Thessalonica. Satan was working extremely hard to keep the gospel from advancing in this place. And even after Paul was forced out, he was working hard against this Thessalonian church as they worked to continue that gospel work. Satan desired to destroy the church.

And guys, I start with that because that’s exactly the same thing Satan wants to do to our church as well, here in Cambridge Springs. In fact, if you look back, what you’ll see, is at our most exhilarating experiences of spiritual victory, most likely, they were followed by some of our most intense moments of satanic attack. We have to remember that there’s a real enemy out there…and this enemy wants nothing more than our demise. And he’s not just seeking to give us a bad day…he’s seeking to halt us entirely.

And guys, it’s that reason…that truth, why Paul begins the way he always does. He writes, “To the church of the Thessalonians…to the church in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes on, “Grace to you and peace.” And then he says, “We’re proud of you…we’re proud of how you handled this problem that Satan keeps throwing your way. That’s why we give thanks for you.”

Guys, even though Satan was working hard to destroy this Thessalonian church, the gospel was still advancing because of these Thessalonians. And the primary reason for this fruit, it was because of their faith. And this was evident because while persecution’s bad…you know what its good for? It’s good for testing a genuine faith. Those that don’t have a genuine commitment to Christ, when they experience this kind of attack, there faith it withers, right? It’s just like how the heat of the sun withers a plant that doesn’t have deep roots. When we don’t have deep, genuine faith in Christ, our faith will wither when we’re pushed. And Satan knows that.

And so, what about the Thessalonians’ faith made Paul proud? He makes two observances in these verses. He shows how their faith was grounded because of their standing with God. And he shows how their faith was growing because of their passion for Jesus.

And so, what was their faith grounded in? Well, grace, right? That’s their standing with God. He’s graciously given them salvation…He’s graciously continuing to sanctify them…He’s graciously set them apart. It’s God’s gift of grace that grants us the privilege of having a relationship Him. We’ve done nothing to earn anything God’s given us. And of course, peace, it’s just the result as we acknowledge His grace by trusting in the work of Christ on our behalf. We have to root everything on those truths.

And guys, I know we talk about this every time we start one of Paul’s letters but we should never tire of speaking about and resting in God’s grace and the peace He offers through Jesus. And the reality of what Paul’s trying to say here…because he never wasted words, its that a church that remains anchored to these truths, they’ll never be overcome by Satan and his attempts. Paul starts here because this should be the readers’ foundation…its the foundation of which this letter stands on…which is why he begins and ends with this…Grace and peace, found only in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is your faith grounded to those things? Grace and peace?

And then the second thing, is your faith growing? Paul says, “We thank God because your faith’s growing.” Guys, that’s my desire for every one of you as your pastor. I desire your faith to grow…because I understand that Christ has so much more for you to experience but it takes a growing faith. That verb there, “increasing” or “flourishing,” its emphasizing healthy growth. These Thessalonians, they’re not just growing a little bit, they’re growing a lot. And notice, Paul says, “It’s ‘right’ for us to give thanks for this.”

Guys, Satan was throwing everything at these Thessalonians…I mean he was throwing the kitchen sink at ‘em. They were being chased on the outside by persecutors, they were being challenged on the inside by false teachers, of course the cultural temptations of a secular city were also present, there were doubts about the future and death, and yet despite all that, these Thessalonians remained faithful and continued to grow in that faith. And Paul writes what he does here…not just to encourage them and build them up, but because he ought to, because its right…they’re meant to grow…Jesus promised that. It’s expected for us to grow in our faith and its the only way for us to truly stand against Satan and our culture, it’s when our faith’s growing.

And so, is your faith grounded in truth and is your faith growing? The only ways that can happen, is if you’re His Word…and if you’re connected to His people who equally have your best interest at heart, which is your spiritual maturity.

That’s the first thing…do we have a real faith that’s grounded and growing?

II. Do We Have a Growing Love? (v. 3b)

The second thing, do we have a growing love?

Listen, when our faith’s grounded and when it’s growing…our love for one another, it increases.

Look at what Paul says in the last part of verse 3, “the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”

Guys, in one the very first letters written to the early church…James writes in chapter 2:

James 2:14–18 (ESV)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Listen, James’ words here…they’re providing the criteria by which genuine faith’s measured. Genuine faith, it’ll always produce genuine works. Now again…I’ve said this many times…we can’t get the cart before the horse…works comes after faith. Our faith, the work in which God does in us…we talked about this last week…the sanctification, it produces works, right? It produces fruit. And that fruit according to Paul here, it’s expressed in our love for one another.

These Thessalonians’ faith, it was vividly portrayed. Their “growing” faith was producing a visible, “increasing” love. You understand? And these two things, they’re the most distinguishing characteristics of genuine conversion. Faith and love, they’re always placed alongside each other throughout Scripture. It’s the same reason Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by saying in verse 15, “15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints.”

And in Galatians by saying, “6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” That’s Galatians chapter 5, verse 6.

To the Corinthians, Paul says, “7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.” 1 Corinthians 8:7.

Jesus is even quoted as saying in John 13:

John 13:34–35 (ESV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus, He’s revealing how faith and love work together. Faith is our response to Jesus’s invitation…His invitation to be His disciples…and love, its the proof that our faith’s real. Faith, it requires that we look up and see Jesus for who He is…but love, it requires us to look around and see others for who they are. And listen, it was this unison of the Thessalonians’ faith and love that brought Paul so much joy…their love for one another, it was increasing…it was telling him the real story of their faith. It was proving to him that they were genuinely following Jesus despite their issues. In fact, this is the result Paul prayed for back in 1 Thessalonians 3:12…that their love for each other would increase…and again in 1 Thessalonians 4:10…that they’d love each other even more…That happened, and it brought him joy.

And so, for us…if you wanna evaluate your faith, start by evaluating your love for one another here at FBC…because notice what Paul says…he’s joyful because their love, its increasing for who? Not just for anyone, right? It was for one another…for those apart of the church in Thessalonica. Because the reality is, if they didn’t love each other first and foremost, they’d never be able to come together to love those in their community…and they’d never have any desire to advance God’s kingdom without first loving each other.

And so, do you love one another here…and not only do you love them…but is your loving increasing? That takes intentionality. It takes us purposefully reaching out and building relationships. Our love, our love for Jesus and our love for one another, that’s what allows us to truly be a fruitful church. Is your love increasing? That’s the second thing.

III. Do We Have a Deep Hope? (v. 4)

The third thing…do we have a deep hope?

Hopefully, you’ve seen this so far in our study but there’s this constant theme of faith, love, and hope, right? Paul literally wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and 4:

1 Thessalonians 1:3–4 (ESV)

remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

And then if you remember, at the beginning of chapter 5 in 1 Thessalonians, Paul said the same thing.

Guys, a genuine faith, it doesn’t only produce an external love for one another, it also produces an internal hope and trust in Christ.

Look at verse 4 with me again. Paul writes, “4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.”

There’s that word again, steadfastness. Again, that’s the same word that Paul used to partner with hope in his last letter. And this steadfastness, its talking about endurance…which he uses that word as well here. And this endurance, its generated by hope as we view our afflictions and our sufferings through that set of lens. Listen, this kind of endurance, its not the one that thanks God when the trials pass…the kind of endurance and steadfastness that Paul’s talking about here…the reason he’s boasting about these Thessalonians to other churches…its because of their endurance, its one that thanks God in the mist of their trials. They understand that while God’s capable of doing anything, while He’s powerful enough, it doesn’t mean He’ll remove them from the fire.

It reminds me of what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said to Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel before he threw them in the fire because they wouldn’t bow down to idols. They said:

Daniel 3:17–18 (ESV)

If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

They were saying, “You know what? Our God, He’s capable of rescuing us…but even if He doesn’t, we still won’t bow to idols because He’s still in control…He’s still most powerful.

And guys, that’s what we see here with these Thessalonians. They’re steadfast because they have a deep hope in the power of Christ. It’s the same reason Paul writes in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s hope, the Thessalonians hope…it was in the power of Christ…the work He’s doing. It’s not placed in success. It’s not measured. It’s not placed in their own power. There’s no expectations. Its all rooted in their faith and it’s manifested in their love for one another and their steadfastness.

Guys, we should have a deep confidence and hope in what Jesus is capable of and what He’s actually doing. And that hope, it should drive us. And when we have this kind of hope…praising Jesus, even in the midst of our own trials and sufferings…that kind of hope, it’ll produce real fruit.

That’s the third thing.

IV. Do We Believe in a Secure Future? (v. 5)

The fourth and final thing…do we believe in a secure future?

Look at verse 5 with me again. Paul says, “5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.”

Guys, its not always easy to understand why God uses hardships or suffering or pain to accomplish His purposes, but He does. He doesn’t cause them…because that’s the effects of sin, right? But He does allow them to still happen. And from our limited earthly perspective, its just hard sometimes to understand why?

Listen, it’s kind of a weird statement Paul makes here…He’s saying, “Persecutions, trials, our suffering…they’re evidence of God’s righteous judgement.” It kind of seems to contradict the righteous judgement of God, right? If God’s sovereign and good, why would His people suffering and facing affliction be confirmation of His righteous judgement?

Well, Paul’s answer here is that God’s righteous judgement, its demonstrated by what His people are going through. It all goes back to verse 4 where Paul’s talking about their steadfastness…and he’s saying that God’s just judgement, its proven in the Thessalonians staying faithful in the persecutions in which they’re experiencing.

First, it justifies God’s final judgement in the end at Jesus’s return where He’ll punish the guilty. And second, those difficult situations help to sanctify them as believers. God uses these situations to grow them as they endure whatever it is they experience. They learn to trust and depend on God more.

And listen, we’re gonna talk more about what the judgement of God looks like next week…but as believers…our faith, not only does it produce love and hope in us…but it also produces a rock solid confidence in the future God’s leading us to where He’ll judge the world and where we, as believers, we’ll stand blameless.

Do you believe in a secure future where God will sovereignly and righteously and justly judge the world? Do you believe that God’s still in control, even today?

Listen, I get it…our world’s a mess. It’s scary to turn on the news right now. Everything’s chaotic…it seems that nothings really in control…all the conflict in the Middle-East. But guys, Jesus told us that in the last days, it would look like this. He said in Matthew 24 that the last days would be like Noah’s time.

Matthew 24:37–39 (ESV)

For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Meaning, that in the last days, the world’s gonna look chaotic…its gonna look like nothings in control…it’s gonna look like Noah’s time. And so, what did Noah’s time look like? Look at Genesis 6:11.

Genesis 6:11 (ESV)

Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence.

The world was violent, right? It was chaotic. Everyone did as they wished. Everyone was their own gods.

And listen, I wanna say this before I say the next thing. I have know idea when Jesus is coming back…I’m not predicting the return of Christ…I’m not a prophet…I’m not even confident in my own end times theology, other than the fact that Jesus is coming back and my body’s gonna physically raise from the dead and I’m gonna live on a new earth for all eternity with my Lord and Savior. So I wanna say that first…but guys, I’m not sure if you’ve been keeping up with the news. But there’s all kinds of conflict in Israel right now. Conflict I think the Bible talks about. And even when I was studying…I felt led to Genesis chapter 6, verse 11 to see what the days of Noah looked like and for whatever reason, I felt led to research the Hebrew word for violence there. Again, I’m not a prophet, I’m not predicting the return of Christ…but do you know what the Hebrew word for violence is? It’s Hamas. Exactly as its spelled today. In the end…the days will look like Noah’s time where it was filled with violence or “hamas.”

Guys, as believers…no matter what happens, we should believe in a secure future…one where God’s completely in control and one where God will judge the sinful righteously. And listen, if anything I said to you this morning about the end times…if any of that scares you, then you might be struggling with a genuine faith…and it might be why your love’s not been increasing…and it might be why you don’t have a steadfast hope…it might be why you crumble when trials and affliction come your way…and because of that, there’s no way you believe in a secure future…at least a secure future for yourself. It scares you.

Guys, a genuine faith, it produces a real belief in the future and what God promises…and through that, we should anticipate it…we should want it.

Closing

Listen, as we close, I just want you to reflect on everything we’ve talked about this morning. If we’re gonna be fruitful church…especially in the culture we’re living in, we have to be a church grounded in faith. And guys, faith…it’ll always produce a growing love and a deep hope…it’ll always look at things with the end in sight. Meaning, we go out and advance God’s kingdom because as believers we know what happens and we know God’s in control and we know it will happen. But listen, if we’re gonna be a church grounded in faith, it starts with each individual.

And so, are you grounded in your faith?

As you think about that question…would you bow your head and close your eyes with me this morning?

Listen, as a believer…as you ask yourself that question…how is your love for one another growing? Have you walked through situations with a deep hope and trust in Jesus’s power? Do you see that there’s a huge possibly we’re living in the last day? Does that bring you comfort…do you believe your future’s secure and does it push you to wanna reach those around you?

Listen, whatever the Spirit’s putting on your heart…don’t quench it…be obedient…follow His will, His lead. Let go of yourself…let Him grow you in all the areas He wants to grow you. Guys, maybe that means you need to slip out of your pew and come bow at the altar this morning…maybe it means you need to turn around and get on your knees right where you’re at and just seek Him. Listen, do whatever it is He’s placing on your heart.

But guys, listen…if you’re here and you don’t know Jesus. Guys, wake up…look around. Everything the Bible said would happen, it’s happening. And so, if that’s the case…then everything has to be true…it means we all have to be sinners, just as it says. It means our sin, it’s gonna be judged and we’re gonna be cast into a fiery lake where we’re separated from the goodness of God forever…a place where we’ll experience His wrath for all eternity.

But if all that’s true, it also has to be true that God provided a way back to Him through His Son Jesus. It has to be true that Jesus lived a perfect life…one without sin, where He went to a cross to die in place of us, to wear the punishment of our sins. You see, the only way to restore us…it was to pay for the penalty of our sins…because God’s just…and listen, because God’s just, someone had to still pay the punishment. And Jesus on the cross, He experienced the wrath of God in our place so that we wouldn’t have to. The Bible says, Jesus died on that cross and rose three days later and it says that when we repent and believe…when we turn to Jesus, recognize that we’re sinners, deserving death…when we repent and ask for forgiveness…when we place our trust and faith in Christ…not just our belief…demons even believe…but when we give Jesus our everything…He’ll give us a new life even now. He’ll restore us and He’ll give us His Spirit now to begin changing us. It’s that simple. It’s a free gift. All you have to do is take it.

And so, whoever you are this morning…whatever you’re struggling with…whatever the Spirit’s placing on your heart…you take these next several minutes and just respond to whatever that is…and we’ll close in just a moment.

[Prayer]