1 Thessalonians 1 They Got It! Model Disciples

:11-21:8

We examined how Paul was a model for discipleship last week.

With an intentional strategy he sought to reach people for Christ

Traveling along major routes into key cities, beginning with people who had some cultural understanding of the message Paul went.

However, even though he had a strategy, he always was driven and led by the Spirit of God

Forbidden to go into Asia / Bythinia (at least for the time being), The Spirit led him to Europe

A difficult transition, further from his roots, but essential in God’s plan to reach the uttermost parts of the earth

Here he came to Philippi and after being arrested there he came to Thessolica

Thessalonica – largest city in Macedonia // Map

A free city – self rule / Roman colony / no Roman garrison with the city walls /own coins / Major harbor

Major road heading from the East to Adrianic crossing into Italy

Major trade route leading north to the Danube / major commercial and military center

Paul had a short stay less than a month vs 2

But here he found a hearing. Many came to Christ.

In the words of the persecutors “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also”

However, here he again faced persecution – and forced to leave town by night.

But here the church continued to thrive. Here Paul’s work of discipleship bore fruit.

We will look at the letters to the Thessalonians through these eyes.

We will examine what discipleship looked like in Thessalonica, Today we will see that they got it: They were model disciples.

(ESV) Acts 17 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 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.

5 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. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

(ESV) Acts 17 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue, 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

I. They Got It! Based in Christ’s activity

A. Founded in grace and peace  1 Thes 1:1a

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

1. Undeserved favor of God

2. Produced by relationship with Christ – separate from any external circumstances

3. With God

4. In life

B. Lovingly pursued by God       1 Thes 1:4

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

1. Driven by God’s love for yo

2. He has specifically reached out to you to make it happen

C. Accomplished by the gospel   1 Thes 1:5

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in powerand in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1. The word of the gospel

2. The power of the gospel

3. The faith in the gospel

4. The lives that confirm the gospel

II. They Got It! Lives turned around

A. Left the old way           1 Thes 1:9a

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turnedto God from idols to serve the living and true God,

1. old way is anti God – made myself the idol --- I determined my way – replaced God with my own stuff

2. The old way was what separated me from God

3. The old way cost Jesus the cross

4. Not a ‘lets add something to our already enjoyable life’

5. Realize that their current life worshipped things other than God

6. Repentance – changed their minds

7. Christian conversion is not adding to what I have – its turning from what I was and what I pursued

B. To serve the living God          1 Thes 1:9b

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 9 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,

1. And turning to the living and true God

2. The only true one --- all others are false – Isalms God – Hindoo gods – The false gods that use Jesus name and Christianlike words ---- but the do not believe in the God described in the Bible

3. Also not the religious gods of some denominations

4. Or even the not personal god of some in Baptist circles.

5. They turned to the one involved in lives  ---- The personal God --- The one who actively did something to save us from our sin --- Jesus went to the cross

C. Waiting expectantly for His Son        1 Thes 1:10

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 10 and to wait for his Son fromheaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1. Now, trusting in  the living God – the live expecting this Living God to act / to intervene / to come again

2. Awaiting the final transformation / reward / relationship with the living God

3. And will now avoid God’s wrath

a. On earth during God’s wrath in the tribulation

b. In hell for eternity

c. Has been delivered, because Jesus took that wrath for us --- no more wrath for us to receive

d. So we wait for the living Jesus to return and deliver us from God’s wrath

III. They Got It! External evidence of inner transformation

Their true faith produces concrete results

A. Faith àWork 1 Thes 1:2-3a; 2 Thes 1:3a

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith …

1. Their faith has shown up in their lives / work / dedication / perseverance

2. If not it would not have been true faith

(ESV) 2 Thessalonians 1 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, …

3. And it continues to grow --- the natural expectation

4. Faith grows faith

B. Love àLabor 1 Thes 1:3b; 2 Thes 1:3b

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. They work and labor ---- but it is not a burden

2. Labor is the way they show their love ---- for Him ---- for others

3. Love causes one to work --- not from obligation or requirement --- but because of a heart’s desire to respond to the love that they received

(ESV) 2 Thessalonians 1 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because …  the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

4. And it continues to grow

5. Love grows as it is fostered

C. Hope àEndurance     1 Thes 1:3c; 2 Thes 1:4

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. And the persevere because of the expectation they have in Christ

2. Knowing Jesus, they know it will be okay --- so they keep at it

3. Perseverance is the true measure of faith and love

(ESV) 2 Thessalonians 1 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastnessand faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

4. And it grows in the midst of afflictions --- because of afflictions

IV. They Got It! In the face of difficulty

A. In spite of opposing pressure

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 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, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1. Responds to affliction with joy

2. Produces Christlikeness

(ESV) 1 Peter 1 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

B. Became living examples

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 6 And you became imitatorsof us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

1. Imitated the Lord in lifestyle – Imitated Paul --- others imitate them

2. Even in reputation --- Christ impacts lives – means to show He is true

C. Sharing God’s truth in word and faith

(ESV) 1 Thessalonians 1 8 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.

1. Word of the Lord goes out spoken by you to those around you

2. Your faith goes out everywhere through your reputation among others