Preach The Gospel to me

Background

Paul stopped in Thessalonica and preached the gospel. He was chased out, so he didn’t get to put in place everything the church needed. Later he sent Timothy back to see how the church was doing, and the report was awesome!

Preach The Gospel to me

1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Something I’ve never understood, preach the gospel to believers

Be examples for other people

Be examples for other churches

1 Thessalonians 3:5-10

5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.

He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.

8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Paul is in Corinth when he wrote 1 Thessalonians. In Corinth he’s dedicating all of his time to preaching and people are coming to Jesus, but at the same time he’s opposed from every side and he’s brought up on legal charges.

I live because you are standing firm - Black clover: When we’re down, seeing someone stand gives us hope

VIDEO

1 Thessalonians 5:11

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Outro

The gospel is the work of Jesus. When I see you, I can see the work of Jesus.

Our mission field isn’t just people who don’t know Jesus.

When other churches see us, they can see the work of Jesus.

When I see 8 people join our daily bible reading, I see the work of Jesus.

“Harvest. A harvest worthy of the price paid to obtain it. This part reminded me that the path isn’t going to be easy but the price we pay will be worth it. Our salvation. Our good works. Our hard work. Our ability to reach others. Discipleship. None of these things are easy but they are worth it.” Lindsay Olyha

Meagan McCormick “I think God gave me an example for this yesterday. I don’t know if you have ever had to try to help someone up out of the snow before but it is much more difficult than helping someone just off the ground. The snow and ice make the ground slippery and it is very hard to get good footing. Yesterday, Norman and I had to help someone up outside and it was very cold and icy. We had to form a chain with our bodies and this person so that we could pull each other along and not slip. I think this fits what it is like to disciple one another in Christ. It is very easy to slip and fall. It is very easy to say it’s too hard and give up, and it’s not something that someone could do on their own. We need to be lifting one another up when times are hard, linking ourselves together tightly, and pulling each other along so that we can walk with Christ even in difficult conditions.”

Apostle Paul, “now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord”

Preach the gospel to me