The Enduring Faith

Faith That Inspires Thankfulness

Bible Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Summary: In this passage, Paul expresses profound gratitude for the Thessalonian church due to their faith, love, and hope, which are evident in their actions and endurance despite trials.

Application: This sermon can encourage Christians to reflect on their own faith journey and recognize how their lives can inspire thankfulness in others. It calls believers to actively live out their faith, demonstrating love and perseverance in difficult times, thus fostering a community of thanksgiving.

Teaching: The sermon will teach that genuine faith produces visible actions of love and hope, impacting not only the individual believer but also the church and the wider community. It emphasizes the importance of giving thanks for what God is doing in and through others.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of the whole Bible, Christ embodies the qualities of faith, love, and hope that Paul highlights. He is the source of our salvation and the ultimate expression of God's faithfulness, which serves as the foundation for a life that inspires gratitude.

Big Idea: Our faith in Christ should inspire a culture of thanksgiving as we see the evidence of His work in ourselves and those around us.

Recommended Study: As you prepare, consider exploring the historical context of the Thessalonian church and its struggles in 1 Thessalonians 1 using Logos. Look into various commentaries that discuss the faith and actions of the early church to elucidate how Paul’s thanksgiving reflects their character. Additionally, examine any cultural implications of perseverance during trials in this context.

Introduction:

Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonian church will begin this morning. We have 5 chapters in the first epistle and 3 chapters in the second.

Paul’s 2nd missionary journey would be where he would visit this group of believers before having to flee because of the Jews seeking to imprison and kill him.

This same journey will be where he will write to them, making these letters one of the earliest writings to the church’s established in Paul’s ministry.

These believers, Paul will go onto write about, will be the example of how a church struggling can remain steadfast with a attitude of encouragement while remaining to labor in the Lord.

This morning we will begin here at ch. 1:1-10…

1. Faith That Functions

1 Thessalonians 1:1–3 ESV

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul begins with an opening that will become very common in his letters. Most theologians agree that this is one of the main markers in which we can deduce Paul’s writings.

V1: Paul himself is named first, followed by Silvanus, then Timothy.

Silvanus: (Silas) The changing of his name to Silvanus is a Gentile expansion of his name which was common in this time. Ex: US does this too, To-mas = Thomas

Acts 15:22 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,” ( A leading man )

Acts 15:32 “And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.” ( A Prophet)

Silvanus’ age and position would be why he was named first before Timothy.

Timothy:

Would still probably be a youth at this point

Both he and Silvanus both aided in planting the church, therefore this would be why they are both named here.

“To the church”…

Here in Thessalonica, Paul refers to the body of believers as the “church”.

to us that might be that big of a deal, but Thessalonica will be one of the only epistles he writes with this title. In Eph./Col./Phil./ he writes to “the saints”, in Romans he writes to “those at Rome”

He designates them by this honorable term implying that their status in not just a body of believers, but a corporate body with spiritual rulers. (Think of a mission church that becomes organized into a fully autonomous church.)

“In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”…

Meaning they were in a vital union with God the Father, marking them as no longer heathens ( gentile dogs) AND with the Lord Jesus Christ, marking them not Jews either but Christians.

Then Paul will go onto V2 where his sentences will build up the over-the-top feelings of joy when he thinks on their church and what they are accomplishing.

“We give thanks to god always…without ceasing /constantly…mentioning you before our God… of your work of faith, labor of love and steadfast hope.”

To do some word work here on this idea of their “work of faith”. This could be better translated to bring out this idea of their working reality of their faith.

meaning they were putting into action what they believed in, it became their driving force in the next characteristic Paul would use for them.

Their labor of love, denoting a sense of labor that they bear by the love they have for their Lord. Labor of love that would be self denying, denying your own needs for those around you.

Ex: Even though this church would be predominately Gentile, this does not mean that there weren’t sacrifices they had made for their faith.

Then in those labors there was this eventually by product to their works, which was a steadfastness of hope. A patience that they had in Jesus to would give them the ability to not grow cold to the ministry work they were doing, even though it was difficult.

Application:

Their faith had brought them into a season of functionality. This meant that they allowed themselves to be driven by their faith into acts of selflessness, laboring in the needs of those around them and all while doing it with the greatest of attitudes because they were serving God and not themselves or each other.

Paul begins a letter to them recognizing them for their reputation that they had built for themselves throughout the believers.

We must remind ourselves from time to time who we are truly serving. Its not just the communities that we live in, its not just the people we know or live around, and its certainly not ourselves, its Jesus!

This thinking is what will give us a drive to serve the kingdom of God and never grow cold of doing it.

2. Chosen and Cheerful

1 Thessalonians 1:4–6 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. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they have been loved by God, being chosen by Him. And Paul give proof of this knowledge in V5:

Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

The gospel, Paul points out, has not only been taught to them by the words of Jesus. Also it has been given to them in power, meaning the Holy Spirit had clothed them with power in the preaching of the gospel message, giving them a full conviction to spread the truth.

Remember that there are churches in this time that had been subdued by false teachings, that had reclused into their homes and gatherings instead of boldly proclaiming the gospel message.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

It might seem that Paul is boasting here of his own accomplishments and that of his companions, but rather it paints a picture of the imitation the church takes on especially in the midst of affliction within their own ministry in Thessalonica.

They had found their joy, Paul will tell them in V6, within the Holy Spirit that indwells every believer.

Application:

Let me remind you, today if you have Jesus in your heart, you have been chosen by God. His ways are better than your ways, His plans are better than your plans, you cannot fail in what He has called you to do.

This doesn’t mean in wont get hard, that there wont be afflictions. But take care to how you view it all, take care not to get bogged down in the affliction but rise above it because you are chosen, you are God’s creation.

Your joy comes from the Lord, so embrace your journey of faith, embrace all the ups and downs and walk with God each and everyday.

3. Examples of Endurance

1 Thessalonians 1:7–10 ESV

so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Paul encourages them to remain on the course that they are on, if for anything, so they can become examples to all the believers in their home country of Macedonia and in Achaia.

Paul isn’t trying to blow their head up here so they cant fir through the door. But he informs them of the reputation they are building for their church.

One that is abounding faith as he says in V8 “.. but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere..”

One that receives those traveling with hospitality as in V9 “ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you..”

One that turned away from serving idols to serving the living God and true God and one that is patiently awaiting The Son who will deliver them from the wrath that its to come.

This reputation was built through hard work and time spent in ministry effort. And it serves, not to build them up, but to build up God’s grace and mercy and the gospel message of Jesus to the people.

Yes God doesn’t need us to build Him up to his creation, but we will proclaim the goodness of God until our days are over in order to show others what God has done for us.

Application:

Thessalonica’s endurance had been hard won over years of affliction that only served to make them stronger.

Life has a way of trying to break us, because the enemy had designed it that way.

We are not in a sprint, but a marathon, a race that will take time and planning, and most of all endurance. As Hebrews says, let us lay aside every weight and run the race with all endurance.

Your example of living by faith is known by more people than you probably realize. Use that reputation to show the goodness of God this week. Use it to proclaim the saving grace of Jesus to someone that needs to hear it.

What Do I Do?

Remember who you serve….

You serve a God that walks beside you everyday. One that will not let you fail in the things He has called you to.

Remember your Joy…

You Joy should be found in the Lord, plain and simple. Although we are emotional creatures, let us find our anchor in the Joy of the Lord.

Remember your endurance…

You have gone through affliction in your walk with God, but you are not alone! you have been given a way to be stronger than you ever were before. Be patient, for the time is drawing near that we will stand before the Lord, that we will have ran our race and will embraced with open arms.

You could emphasize how the Thessalonians became examples to other believers, as their faith spread far and wide. Encourage listeners to live as examples, letting their transformed lives through Christ inspire others. Show how the hope in Christ's return fueled their perseverance and thanksgiving.