1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 KJV (WS)

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Introduction - SLIDE #2

I am honored to be able to address this gathering of ministers here tonight.

No I am not confused.

Every believer is intended to be a minister. - POINT #1

How can we be effective ministers? - POINT #2

First, and most obvious, engage in ministry.

Ministry is service.

How we minister matters as well.

We want to minister in a way that will lead others to glorify God with their lives. - POINT #3

One of the best to ever do this was Paul.

We see many instances of God using Paul throughout the NT.

We should probably ask ourselves the question.

How can we be ministers like Paul?

How was the ministry to the Thessalonians so successful?

Over the last few weeks we have seen in chapter 1 a testimony of faithfulness among the Thessalonians.

Anyone that invests spiritually into the lives of others, should have a desire to see this same kind of health in the people that they minister to.

While the old saying is true, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

As ministers, we should at least know how to lead others to the water.

Paul ministered in such a way as to remove as many obstacles as he could that might hinder the Thessalonians from receiving the gospel.

He says in vs 1 that their ministry was not in vain.

Ch1 showed us that this was partly due to the the Thessalonians’ reception of the gospel.

Even in Ch1, though, and especially here, the success was also partly due to the manner in which Paul and his team served God in Thessalonica.

Paul ministered as a steward. vss 1-6 - SLIDE #3

In verse 4 of this first paragraph, Paul says that God had put him in trust with the gospel. - POINT #1

This is very simply a statement that means God had made him a steward of the gospel.

He does not own the gospel.

He is tasked with increasing the gospels reach and return.

As a steward, Paul understood that he was not in Thessalonica to represent himself, but God. - POINT #2-3

This is made clear for us in vs 4 where Paul says his motivation was pleasing his master not pleasing men.

You can either try to please God or please men.

You will never please men.

Throw your efforts into pleasing God. - POINT #4

That is what Paul did.

Because of this, he spoke with boldness. - POINT #5

Paul and Silas had just come from Philippi.

While God did some powerful things in Philippi, the start of the Philippian church had come at a great personal price to Paul.

He and Silas were still tending to their wounds when they arrived in Thessalonica.

If the gospel was their own invention, they would have been a little timid in their declaration of it in Thessalonica.

It wasn’t their’s however, so when they entered the city they proclaimed it boldly.

Even when there was contention in Thessalonica, they still spoke up.

The presence of contention means that it was a struggle at times in Thessalonica just as it had been in Philippi.

Paul and Silas proved to be good stewards of the message God had entrusted to them, even in the face of opposition.

He also spoke without deceit, uncleanness, or guile.

All three of these tactics rely on man’s cunning rather than the power of the Gospel which we saw in ch1.

Deceit is a bait and switch.

The gospel does not need to rely on tricks.

Uncleanness in his methods.

The gospel does not need to rely on carnality.

Guile is a baited hook.

The gospel does not need our cleverness.

God has endowed his message with the power that it needs.

The gospel needs no help from man other than to deliver.

Paul viewed himself as a steward of the gospel only.

He did not pretend to be it’s designer, creator, or quality control agent.

This affected his approach to ministry.

Neither did he use flattery nor a cloke of covetousness.

Paul knew that the gospel is for God’s glory not mans.

He did not puff people up to get them to listen to him.

Flattery is a lie.

A flatterer is a manipulator and not a communicator.

He did not use religion as a means of getting rich for himself.

That’s what a cloke of covetousness means.

Using the gospel to increase one’s own standing.

Paul makes it clear how he views his role as a steward in verse 6.

He was not out to attain any one’s approval except for God’s.

It was God that approved him to be a steward of the gospel in the first place according to verse 4.

Allowed = approved.

Paul ministered as a steward, but that’s not all.

Paul ministered as a mother. vss 7-8 - SLIDE #4

Look at the feminine qualities promoted by Paul to be adopted by ministers. - POINT #1

Gentle - POINT #2

Affectionate - POINT #3

Sacrificial - POINT #4-5

These are not signs of weak leadership, these are signs of true leadership. - POINT #6

Paul ministered as a father. vss 9-11 - SLIDE #5

He worked long hours to provide for and not burden those he loved. - POINT #1-2

Labor and travail refers to a struggle and hard work.

He sought to earn the respect of the people he ministered to. - POINT #3-4

Holily

This greek word means to carefully fulfill the duties that have been given to someone.

Justly

Unblameably

Unable to find fault.

Paul wanted to be in a position that the people would listen to him. - POINT #5

He exhorted

Built up.

He comforted

Not

He charged

Everyone of you indicates that Paul had personal relationships with the people he ministered to.

Paul was thankful for the Thessalonians acceptance of the gospel.

Receiving the gospel for salvation is not the end of its affect on believers.

God intends for the gospel to define our lives from the point of salvation onward.

That is why Paul ministered this way. - SLIDE #6

He says this in verse 12.

All of these decisions about how he ministered were so that he could teach the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God. - POINT #1

Live a life that agrees with your connection to God. - POINT #2

You claim to be a Christian, you should live like it. - POINT #3

Application - SLIDE #7

We have a blueprint here for ministry.

Whether you are a pastor or a Sunday school teacher, your blueprint is the same.

We have been entrusted by God with the gospel.

We must share it in a way that removes barriers for people to hear and apply it.

God gave us this passage so that we too could follow Paul’s example. - POINT #1

We are stewards. - POINT #2

We are mothers. - POINT #3

We are fathers. - POINT #4

If we want to see the kind of success that Paul saw in the Thessalonians, then we should follow his example.

We should desire most of all to see our students walking worthy of God. - POINT #5

Not for our glory but for his.

Conclusion - SLIDE #8

Are there any changes that you could make in your ministry to others? - POINT #1

When we minister in this way, we remove even ourselves as a hindrance to the work of the gospel.

When we minister this way, God gets all the glory for the things that happen. - POINT #2

That should be our goal; lives changed for the glory of God.

God used Paul to accomplish this. - POINT #3

He can use you to do it as well.

Reflection Questions for a Study Group

• Question 1: “Paul says his goal was to please God rather than people. In what ways can we focus more on pleasing God in our ministry?”

• Question 2: “How can we show gentleness, affection, and sacrifice like Paul in our interactions with others this week?”

• Question 3: “Are there areas in our ministry where we’ve unknowingly placed obstacles to the gospel? How can we remove them?”