Rooted in Love, Unshaken in Faith

Series: Stand Firm

Scripture Focus: 1 Thessalonians 2:13–3:13 (Key Focus Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13)

The Big Idea: Mature, culture-changing communities aren't built on comfortable circumstances, but on sacrificial love and steady faith in the middle of affliction.

TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13"Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

[PRAY]

Intro Illustration

In the 1920s, two women were on their knees praying for a young man. Through a run-in with the police, he ended up in their young people’s meeting. He got involved in scripture memory and later started teaching students. His heart was on fire for the gospel. Being in Southern California, he started discipling military men—a movement that went around the world.

That man's name was Dawson Trotman, and he founded The Navigators. But what’s even more interesting is the ripple effect:

The Navigators was instrumental with many churches in Austin, including GCC and HCBC.

The men who discipled me were Navs, and I longed to be a pastor or missionary.

Austin was saturated with men and women who were disciple-makers, longing to see disciples make disciples and churches being planted.

One of those was PKWY, which has planted 7 churches and is now planting Life Story Bible Church.

Why would I say this? Because mature, culture-changing communities aren't built on comfortable circumstances, but on sacrificial love and steady faith in the middle of affliction.

Those two women on their knees set off a chain reaction that traces all the way into our church today. Culture-changing communities almost always start with a small few who have a passion to see change:

Hal Moore standing before his men: "I will be the first one on the field and I will be the last one off."

William Tyndale in the English Reformation: "If God spare my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost."

Mr. Holland in Mr. Holland's Opus: "Mrs. Jacobs, you tell them that I am teaching music, and that I will use anything from Beethoven to Billie Holiday to rock and roll, if I think it'll help me teach a student to love music."

A young carpenter who said: "Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

Review from Last Week

We are continuing our series called Stand Firm. Over the last two weeks we have looked at Paul writing to these beloved believers in Thessalonica:

Week 1: We looked at the anchor for a believer—being in the family of God. How do you know you're in the family? You are chosen, the Gospel comes with conviction of the Holy Spirit, and your life is transformed as you start to imitate Christ.

Week 2: We looked at living a life worth sharing. Paul gave us four key characteristics: Courageous Resilience, Pure Motives, Two-Handed Ministry (sharing the Word and our very souls), and Eternal Discipleship.

This week we are going to at the idea of being ROOTED IN LOVE, and having UNSHAKEN FAITH see:

Knowing that maturing disciples still need encouragement.

Feeling joy when we see spiritual progress in those we brought the gospel to.

Continuing to cast a vision for our community that aligns with the Lord’s will.

The basic structure for today is:

Remind them of the Gospel

Long to see but we can’t

We sent Timothy to you and you are doing good 

We are happy you pressing in to your call as believers

The Tension Question

I want you to wrestle with this question:

"When trial and trouble hit your life, does your faith drive you into isolated survival mode, or does it press you deeper into community?"

As Charles Spurgeon famously said: "When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head." - Charles Spurgeon

Now Let’s look at three distinct characteristics of a culture-changing community.

Point 1: A Culture-Changing Community Receives the Word as Absolute Truth—Even When It Costs Them (2:13–16)

1 Thessalonians 2:13–16"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 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, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!"

The Word Transforms

Paul continues his heart of thanksgiving, but shifts to what he is thanking God for: they received the Word, accepted it as the Word of God, and that Word was already at work in them.

Accepted as the Word of God: As Paul wrote earlier in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, the gospel came in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction. In verse 1:8, their faith went forth everywhere. If the Bible is the Word of God, we must acknowledge three things: it’s true and timeless, it transforms, and it can be trusted. 

As Psalm 19:7 says: "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

We Receive the Word Intellectually: They received the Word as not just another human message. This is objective acceptance—they connected with it intellectually. It made sense.

We Welcome the Word Internally: The Thessalonians got the message, and then the message got them. They moved from an intellectual grasp to an internal reception, and that's when life radically changes. (Think back to Mr. Holland's Opus—that first student understood music theory on paper, but until she had an internal understanding, she couldn't play with heart.)

When you embrace God’s Word internally, it "works effectively" in you. It alters your direction—just like Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) when he came face-to-face with the Word made flesh (John 1:14). What Paul could not do for himself, God did for him. "But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!"(Romans 5:8).

Illustration: Mr Hollands Opus there was this first student of his that understood music theory, but until she internal understanding she never played well

To be a culture-changing community that receives the Word as absolute truth, we must do two things:

Recognize its origin: Because it is the Word of God, there is no higher court of appeal. We must delight in its authority.

Obey its instruction: Scripture works effectively in those who submit to it. If we believe the Bible is inerrant, we must also believe it is totally sufficient.

Challenge Question (Point 1) “Are you treating God's Word as a helpful suggestion for your life, or as your ultimate authority when things get hard?"

Transition into Point 2 Receiving the Word gives us the solid ground we stand on, but absolute truth was never meant to be lived out alone. When the Word really gets ahold of your heart, it drives you straight into deep, relentless community with other believers.

Point 2: A Culture-Changing Community Fights for Connection Over Isolation (2:17–3:10)

1 Thessalonians 2:17–18"But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us."

Longing to See

Paul’s mind was clearly on the Thessalonians. He feared that the intense persecution in Thessalonica might cause this young church to doubt their faith. (Jokingly, it takes Paul seventeen verses to say one basic thing: I wanted to return to you, but I couldn't, so I sent Timothy.)

Notice verse 17 says they were "torn away"—the Greek word is aporphanisthentes, where we get our word orphan. It carries the anguish of a child losing their family, or parents losing a child.

Illustration: This is very similar to what a service member goes through heading out on deployment. They long to stay with their family, but they are forced to go.

Question: Think about what was going through the Thessalonians' minds in Acts 17:1–9. A violent mob formed, prompting Paul and Silas to leave town in a hurry. What did these new believers feel when their spiritual leaders suddenly disappeared?

Look at how Paul uses family pictures to comfort them:

In 2:7, he was a nursing mom.

In 2:11, he was a father.

Here in 2:17, they are orphaned children and brothers.

They were family! They were torn away in person, but never in heart. They endeavored to see them face-to-face because that is how we were created to connect:

Genesis 3:8: They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

2 John 1:12: "I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete."

Genesis 2:18: "It is not good that the man should be alone..."

Illustration: We all experienced this during COVID in 2020.

Families were ripped apart

people struggled with mental health

while we had technology, it wasn't the same.

We longed to be together face-to-face.

After COVID, news outlets reported on a "new trend"—groups getting together over common interests just to interact. They thought it was a new invention! No—that is how God created us.

The Force Keeping Them Away

Illustration: If you’ve ever watched Star Wars, there's that force field that keeps people physically apart. In the same way, Paul was kept from getting to Thessalonica.

Notice the shift from "we" to "I." Paul wants them to know: "I am not a third wheel. I care about you, and again and again I tried to come."

Satan repeatedly hindered him. We don't know exactly what this was—some suggest an ailment, or the false teachers Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

Paul recognized he was in an active conflict with evil spiritual forces.

Now, be careful not to think everything is from Satan. Sometimes the Lord shuts a door like a loving father.

We need to test the spirits (Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” )

Run with endurance looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.” ).

The Passion and Joy

1 Thessalonians 2:19–20"For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy."

Paul is giving us a glimpse of his heart. While someone else might have walked away, Paul couldn't.

Our HOPE is seeing you grow into the men and women of Jesus you are called to be.

YOU are our JOY and our CROWN.

Illustration: It’s like a mom or dad pulling out their phone today to show off pictures of their kids. They aren't boasting about themselves; they are bragging on their children. Paul is doing the same thing: "YOU are our glory and joy as you walk worthy of your calling!"

Question: What would be your reaction to hearing “you are my glory and joy” from the person who introduced you to Christ and helped guide you in your faith?

We Share a Genuine Concern for One Another

1 Thessalonians 3:1–5"Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain."

Paul knew affliction would come—he had warned them beforehand. So when he couldn't bear it any longer, he sent Timothy ("our brother and God's coworker") to establish and encourage them.

Question: Who is spuring you on? If you do not have anyone start to pray that the Lord would open the door. What does it look like for you to build into others’ spiritual lives? To what extent do you commit to loving and serving them holistically and not just in their service to God but in their personal lives as well?

Paul never promised that being a Christian would be easy:

Mark 8:34: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

John 15:18–20: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."

Acts 14:22: "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

1 Thessalonians 3:6–10"But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?"

Timothy comes back with good news, and Paul says, "Now we really live, because you are standing fast!"

Quote: One of the hardest things we'll ever do as parents is watch our kids struggle. But take heart, God does some of His deepest work in the valleys. - Chip Ingram

This is how we ought to look at our relationship with the missionaries we support—like on our trip to India, hearing how believers stand firm comforts us in our own distress.

Paul ends verse 10 by saying he wants to "supply what is lacking in your faith." Longtime followers of Jesus know that the longer you walk with Him, the more you realize you still have to learn. Our faith is never done growing.

Challenge Questions (Point 2)

"When pressure hits, do you run toward community or do you pull back into isolation?"

"Who are you pointing to Jesus right now—and do you see them as a task to complete, or as your joy and crown?"

"How freely do you give godly friends permission to point out what is lacking in your faith?"

Transition into Point 3 Fighting for connection keeps us standing firm, but Paul doesn't want us to just survive together. He moves from fighting for each other to on our knees praying for each other—asking God to expand our love and anchor our hearts.

Point 3: A Culture-Changing Community Prays for Abounding Love and Unshakeable Holiness (3:11–13)

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13"Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

God is the ultimate orchestrator of our path and community.God’s Direction & Divine Initiative: 

Paul did get to return to the Thessalonians we can see thins on Acts 20:11 all though it was yeas later 

Paul is also setting the stage for the rest of the letter

Multiple times Paul prays (3x)… and we must pray so that is god moving and not us 

Paul closes this section with a short prayer:

Increasing and Abounding Love: Notice that internal peace doesn't come from turning inward or self-preservation; it comes from overflow—loving wider and deeper, even when squeezed by pressure.

Established Hearts in Holiness: The ultimate goal of mutual encouragement is long-haul endurance—hearts anchored and unshakeable until Jesus returns.

He longs that their hearts might be blameless in holiness before God

This is not perfection, but a life transformed by the Gospel

Paul is about to make a transition and move from who the Thessalonians are in Christ, about the ministry ofPaul and those who carried the Gospel, and like a parent Longs to see they child, and in the remainder of the letter cover areas for how these Christian brothers can continue to establish growth and in their hearts that are blameless and holy

Quote: As J.D. Greear says: “The church in the U.S. desperately needs to awaken to the spectacular truth that when we pray, God goes to work. Too many of us hide behind God’s sovereignty... But for the great men and women of faith in Scripture, God’s sovereignty didn’t prevent them from praying; it moved them to pray." - J.D. Greear

Like those two women on their knees who prayed for Dawson Torttman we MUST BE MOVED TO PRAY!!!

Increasing and Abounding Love: Internal peace doesn't come from turning inward or self-preservation; it comes from overflow—loving wider and deeper, even when squeezed by pressure.

Established Hearts in Holiness: The ultimate goal is long-haul endurance—hearts anchored and blameless before God when Jesus returns. This isn't sinless perfection, but a life transformed by the Gospel.

Challenge Question (Point 3) “How can you press forward this week to actively increase and overflow in your love for others—especially those who are hard to love?"

Review to be a culture changing community and be Rooted in Love, Unshaken in Faith we must remember:

A Culture-Changing Community Receives the Word as Absolute Truth—Even When It Costs Them

A Culture-Changing Community Fights for Connection Over Isolation 

A Culture-Changing Community Prays for Abounding Love and Unshakeable Holiness 

So Where do we go From Here…

Conclusion & Call to Action

Culture-changing communities are marked by devotion to one another, a willingness to challenge and be challenged, and a compelling vision for the future. As we step out today:

(Receiving the Word): Commit this week to submitting one specific area of your life to the Bible's authority, moving God's Word from a helpful opinion to the final verdict on how you handle your current trial.

(Fighting for Connection): Intentionally reach out to one person in your spiritual family this week to encourage them in their walk, choosing active community over the temptation to isolate yourself.

(Praying for Love & Holiness): Set a daily prayer reminder to ask God to multiply your love for a person who is difficult to love while strengthening your own heart to walk blamelessly before Him.