003 Light in the Darkness: The Message of a Thriving Church

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Kiddos - do what you did last week (fill out the notes and one thing you learned) and I will add ONE question at the end.
1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 ESV
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
What we see is the impact the gospel had on these believers, and later we will see the impact it is having going out from the church in Thessalonica.
4 observations.

1. The author of the gospel must be trusted.

“We know… He has chosen you.”
This can be a difficult truth, but this letter continuously points us to divine election.
1:4 - Chosen
2:12, 4:7, & 5:24 - Called
5:9 - destined (ESV) or appointed (NKJV)
When we understand this with other verses it is incredibly encouraging.
Ephesians 1:4–5 ESV
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

1. The author of the gospel must be trusted.

Chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
This is incredibly important to note the time of the choosing.
God’s redemptive plan was not an afterthought.
Redemption was not a plan B.
It was carefully and intricately crafted plan before creation.
He predestined us for adoption to himself as Son’s
That intricate plan was to bring regenerated believers into His own family.
According to the purpose of His will.
Redemption was ultimately for God’s glory.
God will do what He always meant to do and nothing will change that.

A. Trust God’s timing.

If this plan was laid out in intricate details before creation, then months or years are no big deal.
We can only do what is in front of us to do.
Keep going. Don’t give up. Stay in their lives. Keep praying.

B. Trust God’s will.

This is so hard for us.
What if they don’t get saved?
The problem we have with election and choosing is that we struggle to see God’s goodness in it all.
We MUST trust God’s will.
We are saved out of the good pleasure of God’s will.
If someone never repents of their sins and receives Christ as their savior, that isn’t your burden to carry.
People will come in and out of our lives.
We can’t control that.

C. Follow this trust to obedience.

When you witness and pray and invest time and you see nothing… remember your part is obedience.
When someone falls out of your life… remember your part is obedience.
When you come up with excuse after excuse as to why you can’t witness… remember, God does it all… your part is obedience.
This takes us directly to our next point… the action of obedience…

2. The message of the gospel must be carried and spoken.

Put action to your faith - GO!
We come up with so many excuses yet we just need to GO and let God do the rest.
Paul said: “Our gospel came to you…”
The gospel must be carried by God’s people.
Romans 10:13–15 ESV
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

2. The message of the gospel must be carried and spoken.

This passage should feel somewhat comical to us, but obviously we needed Paul to say this so let’s look at this closer.

A. Lost people cannot believe something they have never heard.

This is a tension our human minds can’t figure out.
It isn’t our fault is a lost person dies without Christ.
Yet… they cannot believe the gospel if they don’t hear the gospel.
Paul’s point is that a clear gospel message must precede true saving faith.
1 Corinthians 1:17–18 ESV
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

A. Lost people cannot believe something they have never heard.

In every evangelistic effort the gospel must be spoken at some point in time.
In most casts, some time will be spent building a genuine relationship.
You will probably have opportunity to share biblical truth about life.
But ALWAYS you will need to clearly lay out the gospel for them to be genuinely saved.

B. Lost people cannot hear something if nobody goes to tell them.

Paul didn’t say, they can’t hear if nobody brings them in.
He said they can’t hear if nobody GOES to them.
Those who are to be going is every single Christian.
The church in Thessalonica was thriving because they were habitually going with the gospel.
It was Paul’s entire life to take the gospel to the world.
Is it unusual or is it my habit and your habit to take the gospel to the world?
A thriving church must have an evangelistic heartbeat.
Barna: 95% of evangelicals in America have never led someone to Christ outside the programs of the church.
Yet we have excuses a mile long why churches are dying.
It is vitally important to the health of and life of our church that every believers is carrying the gospel into the world.
This is one of the reasons you hear us talk about ONE!
We are not searching out transfer growth.
We are incredibly thankful!!
We want you here!
You are part of Christ building His local church.
You are a valuable part of our local body.
But transfer growth is not kingdom growth!
Ultimately we want Kingdom growth.
That’s why every Christian is living on this earth!

C. There is beauty in going.

This phrase comes from Isaiah.
Isaiah 52:7 ESV
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

C. There is beauty in going.

The idea of the greek word “beauty” is blooming beauty.
The Hebrew word for “beautiful” means pleasant, suitable, and pleasing.
The feet of those who carry the gospel are blooming into a pleasant beauty suitable for pleasing God.
A pastor friend and I talked about this. He will come home and tell his wife he did something of actual eternal value.
Would God look at your feet or my feet and say they are beautiful?
If you are not actively going, why not and how can you change that?
Who are you actively carrying the gospel to?

3. The power of the gospel must be lived.

“You know what kind of men we proved to be.”
Be different.
Show them the power of gospel in your own life.
Love them - build relationships with them.
Matthew 22:37–39 ESV
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

3. The power of the gospel must be lived.

It is easy for us to forget this is an unconditional command.
He doesn’t tell us to love our neighbors as ourself for any reason.
It is simply a command.
Are we willing to love our neighbors if we get nothing in return?
“You knew what kind of men we proved to be.”
Paul says that it was clear to them (even when they were lost) what kind of men they were.
They proved themselves.
1 Peter 2:12 ESV
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

3. The power of the gospel must be lived.

Not just words, but the way we live.
It is easy for us to push people away from the gospel.
Closing thoughts
The church in Thessalonica regularly was practicing individual, personal evangelism.
A thriving church must have each member speaking the gospel.
Each member actively searching out the lost.
The church was born because Paul was actively seeking out the lost and speaking the gospel to them.
Questions for the week:
If the longevity of the church was dependent on my gospel carrying efforts, how long will the church last?
Who am I actively, prayerfully, lovingly carrying the gospel to?
If I am don’t have someone, am I willing to start praying for God to give me one?
Kiddos - who is one person you can pray for and give the gospel to?
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