BE GRATEFUL FOR MORE IN 2024 2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-4 NEW YEAR'S EVE MESSAGE 2023- OUTLINE

I. I AM GRATEFUL FOR JUDSON BAPTIST CHURCH BECAUSE OF YOUR GROWING FAITH

“We are bound” means “obligated, to have a duty.”

We are obligated (under duty) to thank God because of your faithfulness. It is not merely “faith, it is the fact that “your faith grows exceedingly.”

A growing faith is a faith that is not stagnant. A growing faith is centered in Jesus.

Jesus purchased for us His salvation by faith. At this point members of the body begin to work, not for salvation, but in genuine gratitude for our growing faithfulness.

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

I am grateful for your growing faithfulness.

II. I AM GRATEFUL FOR JUDSON BAPTIST CHURCH BECAUSE OF YOUR GRACIOUS LOVE

The church at Thessalonica genuinely loved and cared for each other. I sense that same quality here at Judson Baptist Church. That love has been demonstrated many times.

I just love this phrase, “the love of every one of you all abounds.” It is not merely “the love of every one” but “the love of every one of you all abounds.”

“bounds” means “to be more than enough.”

Here it is connected to the abstract noun love making the meaning “to greatly abound” or “to become more and more.”

Wherever love abounds in a church there is unity.

I am so grateful for your gracious and enthusiastic love.

1 John 3:17–18 CSB

If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.

III. I AM GRATEFUL FOR JUDSON BAPTIST CHURCH BECAUSE OF YOUR ZEALOUS SPIRIT OF PATIENT ENDURANCE

The Thessalonian church endured afflictions and persecution from unbelievers in the culture around them.

They endured this in great measure because they were convinced Jesus was going to return soon.

Would that not be a wonderful way to live?

The Thessalonian church endured difficult times by anticipating Christ’s return.

Judson, we have endured difficulties in the past and we will certainly endure more this upcoming year. ,

Let us, therefore, settle the issue right now. Let us determine to keep going on together, whatever we must face, by maintaining the same eschatological focus (the return of Christ) as did the Thessalonian church.