Traits of a Model Church
A Church Worth Writing Home About • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,
9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.
10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Illustration:
1- Pastor : “Sister Jones told me that I am the model pastor.”
Wife: “I agree… a model is a small imitation of the real thing.”
B- Paul told the Thessalonians that they had become the model church. (1 Thessalonians 1:7)
1 Thessalonians 1:7 (NLT)
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
(ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ.)
τύπον = a model of behavior as an example to be imitated or to be avoided—‘model, example.
1- They were not perfect, as we will see, but had some traits that brought about this assessment by Paul.
2- Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica is recorded in Acts 17:1-9.
1 Paul and Silas then traveled through the towns of Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row he used the Scriptures to reason with the people.
3 He explained the prophecies and proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”
4 Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with many God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women.
5 But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd.
6 Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too.
7 And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
8 The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.
9 So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond, and then they released them.
I- A CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)
I- A CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-2)
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace.
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
A- Personal relationship. (1 Thessalonians 1:1a)
A- Personal relationship. (1 Thessalonians 1:1a)
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace.
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη.
1- Paul was writing to those who were part of the church (ἐκκλησίᾳ = from ek, “out of,” and klesis, “a calling” (kaleo, “to call”), Those who are “called out by God to be a part of his church.)
2- God calls us out to be in a personal relationship with himself and each other.
3- Note that the relationship was a personal one for those to whom he was writing. Paul addressed the letter on a first name basis.
4- This personal relationship begins with the new birth.
B- A Planted relationship (1 Thessalonians 1:1b)
B- A Planted relationship (1 Thessalonians 1:1b)
1 Thessalonians 1:1 (NLT)
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace.
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ· χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη.
1- Paul writes to those who “belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
a. The phrase translates a greek phrase that literally is “to those who are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. It means that we belong to and are one with them.
(John 17:9-10, 20-21)
9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.
10 All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
2- Being one with the Lord begins with the new birth and continues as we walk with Christ.
a. Have you entered into that relationship with Christ through repentance and faith?
(Mark 1:15)
“Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
(John 1:12)
12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
C- A prayerful relationship (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
C- A prayerful relationship (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.
Εὐχαριστοῦμεν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν μνείαν ποιούμενοι ἐπὶ τῶν προσευχῶν ἡμῶν, ἀδιαλείπτως
1- Paul thanked God for the Thessalonian believers.
2- He prayed (προσευχῶν) for them constantly (ἀδιαλείπτως).
a. ἀδιαλείπτως = ‘not ceasing, not stopping, unceasingly, continuously.[1]
3- Relationships with other believers are built up through prayer.
a. You can’t pray constantly for fellow believers without tying your heat to them!
II- A CONSISTENT WALK WITH GOD. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-7)
II- A CONSISTENT WALK WITH GOD. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-7)
1 Thessalonians 1:3–7 (NLT)
3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
A- A Praiseworthy walk. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-4)
A- A Praiseworthy walk. (1 Thessalonians 1:3-4)
1 Thessalonians 1:3–4 (NLT)
3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
3 μνημονεύοντες ὑμῶν τοῦ ἔργου τῆς πίστεως καὶ τοῦ κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ πατρὸς ἡμῶν,
4 εἰδότες, ἀδελφοὶ ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ θεοῦ, τὴν ἐκλογὴν ὑμῶν,
1- The Thessalonians were living out a praiseworthy lifestyle.
a. They were faithful in their service. (ἔργου τῆς πίστεως = that which one normally does—‘work, task.) [2]
b. They were serving out of a loving heart. (κόπου τῆς ἀγάπης = Labor of love)
c. They were enduring hardship with their hope fixed on the eternal. (ὑπομονῆς τῆς ἐλπίδος = an endurance [ὑπομονῆς] that bears up under difficulties because its hope is focused on the eternal future [ἐλπίδος ]).
(1) This hope is anchored in Christ.
(2) This hope is anchored in God’s love for His children.
(1 John 3:1)
1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.
2- The greatest motivation for living a praiseworthy life is a hope that is anchored in the Lord and His love for us!
B- A Powerful walk. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
B- A Powerful walk. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.
ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑμᾶς ἐν λόγῳ μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν δυνάμει καὶ ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ καὶ πληροφορίᾳ πολλῇ, καθὼς οἴδατε οἷοι ἐγενήθημεν ἐν ὑμῖν διʼ ὑμᾶς·
1- The Holy Spirit empowers God’s word in our lives. (δυνάμει καὶ ἐν πνεύματι )
a. It was the Holy Spirit who confirmed the gospel message to our hearts and convicted us of our need to trust in Christ. (John 16:8-11)
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.
10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.
11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
b. It is the Holy Spirit who enables the fellowship with genuine followers of Christ. (Ephesians 2:18-19)
18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
C- A walk worthy of imitation (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
C- A walk worthy of imitation (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord.
7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.
6 καὶ ὑμεῖς μιμηταὶ ἡμῶν ἐγενήθητε καὶ τοῦ κυρίου, δεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον ἐν θλίψει πολλῇ μετὰ χαρᾶς πνεύματος ἁγίου,
7 ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ.
1- The Thessalonians became examples (τύπον ) of what believers are to be.
(ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑμᾶς τύπον πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν)
a. They were model believers (τύπον = a model of behavior as an example to be imitated or to be avoided—‘model, example.) [3]
In their reception of God’s Word.
In their willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel.
In their choice to follow Christ’s and Paul’s examples.
b. Their testimony extended far beyond Thessalonica.
a. Their testimony was known in regions around them.
(ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀχαΐᾳ)
2- How is your testimony?
a. How readily do you receive the Word of God and its instruction for your life?
b. Are you willing to stand and follow Christ even when it is costly?
(Matthew 5:14-16)
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
III- A CONTINUOUS LABOR FOR GOD (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
III- A CONTINUOUS LABOR FOR GOD (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10)
1 Thessalonians 1:8–10 (NLT)
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,
9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.
10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
8 ἀφʼ ὑμῶν γὰρ ἐξήχηται ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ Ἀχαΐᾳ, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν, ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι·
9 αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ,
10 καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ῥυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης.
A- A bold witness for Christ proclaimed. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
A- A bold witness for Christ proclaimed. (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,
ἀφʼ ὑμῶν γὰρ ἐξήχηται ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ Ἀχαΐᾳ, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν, ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι·
1- The Thessalonians were on-mission Christians.
a. They were heralds of the Word of the Lord (the good news).
(1) ἐξήχηται = “to sound forth as a trumpet” or “thunder”)
2- The Thessalonians were extending Christ’s mission everywhere they could.
3- We are to be on mission here and around the world.
(Acts 1:8)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
B- A strong public testimony for Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
B- A strong public testimony for Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9)
8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it,
9 for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.
8 ἀφʼ ὑμῶν γὰρ ἐξήχηται ὁ λόγος τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μόνον ἐν τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ καὶ Ἀχαΐᾳ, ἀλλʼ ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἐξελήλυθεν, ὥστε μὴ χρείαν ἔχειν ἡμᾶς λαλεῖν τι·
9 αὐτοὶ γὰρ περὶ ἡμῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσιν ὁποίαν εἴσοδον ἔσχομεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐπεστρέψατε πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπὸ τῶν εἰδώλων δουλεύειν θεῷ ζῶντι καὶ ἀληθινῷ,
1- The Thessalonians had a dynamic public testimony that was known far and wide.
a. They lived-out a complete commitment to Christ.
(1) They turned from following the gods of the world around them.
(2) They served the true and Living God openly and with abandon.
2- We are to reject the ways of this world and serve Christ!
(Romans 12:1-2)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
C- A clear message of Christ preached. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
C- A clear message of Christ preached. (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT)
10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
10 καὶ ἀναμένειν τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν, ὃν ἤγειρεν ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, Ἰησοῦν τὸν ῥυόμενον ἡμᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀργῆς τῆς ἐρχομένης.
1- The Thessalonians were openly committed to the risen Christ and his message.
a. Jesus is the eternal Son of God.
b. Jesus is the risen Lord.
c. Jesus has rescued them from certain judgment.
d. Jesus is coming again for them.
2- We must be openly committed to proclaiming the clear message of the Gospel.
a. Jesus is the eternal Son of God who died for our sins.
b. Christ was raised from the dead on the third day.
c. Christ is coming again.
(1 Cor. 15:3-4)
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
(Acts 2:22-24, 36-38)
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.
23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.
24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
CONCLUSION:
A Model church is not a perfect church. It is a group of believers who have been called by God to salvation and a life committed to Him. It is a group of believers that have:
I- A CORRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
II- A CONSISTENT WALK WITH GOD.
III- A CONTINUOUS LABOR FOR GOD.
How does your life measure up to these standards?
[1} Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 660.
[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 514.B- A Powerful walk. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
[3] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 591.
