A Flourishing Church
2 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Connection:
What are the necessary ingredients to the growth and flourishing of a plant? Sunshine, water, tending, nutrients… etc. Only when the ingredients are given, does a plant flourish.
Need:
We need to grow, flourish, and abound in the Lord. All of us do. It truly is our ever present need—as we grow in our communion with God by faith—and with one another in love
Theme:
A Flourishing Church
Purpose:
Paul is writing to establish the church in the grace and peace that is theirs in union with God in Christ; and to encourage the church in the fact of their growth in faith, love, and steadfastness! May this be true of CBC too!
Context:
Who, what, when, where, why?
BTS: Paul’s purpose for writing 2 Thessalonians includes (1) commending the Thessalonians for their continued spiritual growth despite persecution and encouraging them to progress further (1:3–4; 2:13–17; 3:4), (2) dealing with the false information about the second coming (2:1–12), and (3) giving an extended discussion concerning the idleness problem (3:6–15). [And it was written before 70AD].
Text: 2 Thess. 1:1-4 ESV
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
(1) The Church is United to God in Christ and Shares in Grace and Peace - v. 1-2
(1) The Church is United to God in Christ and Shares in Grace and Peace - v. 1-2
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(1) The Church is United to God in Christ and Shares in Grace and Peace - v. 1-2
(1) The Church is United to God in Christ and Shares in Grace and Peace - v. 1-2
As is Paul’s custom, in basically every single letter we have of his in the New Testament, he loves to begin with Trinitarian Greetings from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Messiah anointed by the Spirit. Paul wants us to know that we are welcomed and greeted by our Triune God. And it’s on this basis, that he speaks to us as God’s people!
Here he refers to the church of the Thessalonians. Whether this was one congregation, or many in one city, he is writing to the saints here (as you remember), who are struggling with erroneous or faulty views regarding end-times, the coming of Christ, and how we should live in light of such things. And Paul is writing them to refute these errors, but to encourage them in what their God will do for them in and through Jesus Christ!
And the glorious thing about this opening, is that Paul refers to the church, to the assembly of the saints, as those who are in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Q - What does Paul mean when he uses the phrase: “in God” or “in Christ”? What is he trying to say by this?
Yes! Paul is referring to the doctrine of union with Christ. He normally says that we are in Christ, but here he says that we are in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not only united to Jesus Christ, as his Body, but we are also united to God the Father—because we are united to his Son, Jesus Christ. This is the doctrine of union and communion with God. And if you ever get the chance, you need to read: communion with God by John Owen. Here’s how Owen defines communion with God:
Communion is the mutual sharing of those good things which delight all those in that fellowship … Those who enjoy this communion are gloriously united to God through Christ and share in all the glorious and excellent fruits of such communion … Our communion with God lies in his giving himself to us and our giving ourselves and all that he requires to him. This communion with God flows from that union which is in Christ Jesus! … This communion will be perfect and complete when we enter into the full enjoyment of Christ’s glory. Then we shall totally give ourselves up to him, resting in him as the utmost fulfilment of all our desires! - John Owen
But all of this glorious communion with God can be summarized from Scripture in the words of the Apostle John, who helps us to understand this glorious truth!
Q - Can someone turn and read from 1 Jn. 1:3?
that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
And all of this is contained in Paul’s words: to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s that glorious fulfillment of the promise of the covenant of grace, that is woven through all of Scripture and redemptive-history: I will be your God, and you will be my people. And so it is, in union with Jesus Christ! We have communion with God!
Q - How does this change the way that you think about yourself? About who you are? About your status?
And notice what Paul says next, he doesn’t just tell us that we belong to the Triune God—he tells us what we receive from the Triune God. He adds:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I don’t remember exactly when it was, but I remember hearing a pastor say: you never hear Paul say, grace to you and peace from God our Father and Gabriel the archangel! Why not? Because this is a divine greeting! This is a greeting from equal parties. Angels are not equal to God the Father. But Jesus Christ, God the Son, is equal to God the Father.
EBC: The words make explicit what is already implicit—viz., that God is ultimately the only source of grace and peace. Two persons of the Godhead are specified: the Father and the Son. To Paul, Jesus was Deity in the fullest sense. This is the only justification for placing his name beside the Father’s as co-author of the unmerited favor and harmonious relationship pronounced in this greeting.
And thus these words emphasize the deity of Jesus Christ, who together with the Father and the Spirit is worshipped and glorified—and who together with the Father and the Spirit, pours out grace and peace upon his church and saints in all the ages!
Q - In what ways do we stand in need of Grace and Peace from the Triune God? And do we still need it, even after we are converted and united to God?
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Q - Can I get volunteers to look up passages of Scripture? Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 1 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Tit. 1:4.
Henry: We are as much indebted to him for the improvement of grace, and the progress of that good work, as we are for the first work of grace and the very beginning of it.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Q - Any questions or comments from verses 1-2?
(1) The Church is United to God in Christ and Shares in Grace and Peace - v. 1-2
(2) The Church Flourishes by Thanksgiving, Faith, Love, and Endurance - v. 3-4.
(2) The Church Flourishes by Thanksgiving, Faith, Love, and Endurance - v. 3-4.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
(2) The Church Flourishes by Thanksgiving, Faith, Love, and Endurance - v. 3-4.
(2) The Church Flourishes by Thanksgiving, Faith, Love, and Endurance - v. 3-4.
And so, since Paul has grounded the saints in their identity in Christ, he now seeks to encourage them in how they have been growing abundantly in the Lord! Paul begins:
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right,
Both Paul, Silvanus (Silas), and Timothy, all feel a deep sense of duty, of divine obligation—they ought always to give thanks to God. The Greek word used is: ὀφείλομεν, which refers to a debt that must be paid. These three, as they see the grace of God shining in the church, feel obligated to resound in praise to the God of all grace who has done such wonderful things in his church.
Q - Why is there a divine obligation upon us to not only praise God, but to praise God for his church and all that God is doing in his people?
Q - Can somebody turn to Psalm 111:1-4? And someone to Psalm 145:4-7?
Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Q - And one more, in Thessalonians. Can someone turn to 2:13 and read it aloud?
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
And so in light of these verses, we see that when does wonderful things in his church, we are obliged to bring forth thanksgiving unto His wonderful name! John Calvin puts it this way:
In these words Paul shews that we are bound to give thanks to God, not only when he does us good, but also when we take into view the favours bestowed by him upon our brethren. For wherever the goodness of God shines forth, it becomes us to extol it. - Calvin
But what exactly does Paul have in mind? What is he praising God for? Let’s keep reading:
because your faith is growing abundantly,
The first reason for Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy giving thanks to God is that the faith of the church is growing! And literally the Greek read: your faith is growing wonderfully, or, as I titled my study: your faith is flourishing! Paul gave thanks to God because the faith of the Thessalonians was flourishing. What could that mean, but that the saints at large were affectionately trusting in the promises of God. They were deepening in their assurance of faith. They were strengthening their commitment to the Gospel.
Let’s look at a few verses from Hebrews that shows us how faith is related to God’s promises!
Q - Can someone turn to Heb. 10:23; 11:1; 12:2?
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Their faith was not a faith of miracles, nor a mere historical faith, or a counterfeit and temporary one, but the faith of God’s elect; which is the evidence of things not seen, of an unseen Christ, and the glories of another world; that grace by which a man goes out of himself to Christ for righteousness, life, and salvation; by which he is justified, and by which he lives on Christ, and walks on in him as he has received him. - John Gill
Q - How can we, by God’s grace, grow in our own faith? How can our faith flourish in the Lord?
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Now it wasn’t only the faith of the church that was flourishing, it was also their love. Paul also praised God b/c:
the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
The second reason for Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy giving thanks to God is that the brotherly love of the saints for one another was growing as well! When God is at work, multiplying his grace and peace unto a congregation, then their love for one another deepens and abounds beautifully! Literally the Greek word for increasing is: πλεονάζει, which means to increase, yes, but also to grow and to be more than enough, to multiply! Thus faith, works by love, which produces this superabundant and overflowing communion of affection for one another in the church. Brotherly and sisterly love the church is a mark of a flourishing church with God’s blessing! Gill adds again:
As their faith in Christ, so their love to one another was increasing …which made their communion with one another very comfortable and delightful. For what is more pleasant than for brethren to dwell together in unity? - John Gill
Q - How can we, by God’s grace, grow in our love for one another? How can our brotherly love multiply in the Lord?
Q - Can someone look up 1 Pet. 3:8-9?
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
And so, in light of the faith and love of the saints at Thessalonica flourishing, Paul concludes with that which he boasts about and takes pride in:
4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God
Paul took great delight in the churches that he planted. He cared for them. He loved them. He laboured for them. He laid his life down for them. He gloried in them. He boasted in them.
And Paul shared how the Thessalonians were flourishing in the Lord, to increase thanksgiving, and to encourage imitation! He already said this way back in 1 Thess. 2.
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
The Thessalonians imitating the perseverance of the churches in Judea—and so Paul is boasting in the Thessalonians, and sharing their perseverance—in order that other churches might also do the same.
Q - Why is it so important that we aren’t isolated as churches? Why must we be connected to other in order to grow?
When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
We need each other, as one Body, and we need to endure together through tribulations as we are journeying on to the eternal kingdom of God. And thus, Paul, was boasting of the Thessalonians to the other churches:
for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
We are all in need of more steadfastness, of patient endurance, of faithful constancy—which is the fruit of faith—and which must buckle up through persecutions and afflictions and trials and tribulations.
And Paul was delighted at how the saints were pressing onward into the battle, with an eye on the prize!
Q - Can someone turn to Acts 17:4-5 and read aloud some of what the church was experiencing in Thessalonica?
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
EBC: Their tenacious loyalty to Christ in spite of fierce adversity is what Paul finds so remarkable.
Q - Can someone turn to the words of our Lord in John 16:33?
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
We need to emulate such endurance as we stay loyal to Jesus in tribulation! Because through suffering, we endure, on our way to glory with Jesus Christ!
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Q - Any questions or comments from verses 1-2?
(2) The Church Flourishes by Thanksgiving, Faith, Love, and Endurance - v. 3-4.
So let me give us a concluding and summary thought from this passage this evening:
(C & A) The Church is United to God in Christ—and she Flourishes as Grace and Peace Nurtures her Faith and Love.
(C & A) The Church is United to God in Christ—and she Flourishes as Grace and Peace Nurtures her Faith and Love.
Henry: Where there is the truth of grace, there will be an increase of it. The path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. And where there is the increase of grace, God must have all the glory. Where faith grows, love will abound, for faith works by love. It shows faith and patience, such as may be proposed as a pattern for others, when trials from God, and persecutions from men, quicken the exercise of those graces; for the patience and faith of which the apostle gloried, bore them up, and enabled them to endure all their tribulations.
(C & A) The Church is United to God in Christ—and she Flourishes as Grace and Peace Nurtures her Faith and Love.
(C & A) The Church is United to God in Christ—and she Flourishes as Grace and Peace Nurtures her Faith and Love.
These are some of the ingredients which will cause the church of Christ to flourish here at Calvary. May we all walk in them, and abound in them, for God’s glory, and the good of our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Amen? Let’s pray and then sing #295.
