What has become of the Church

What would it look like a year later if each person in this Church planted some type of ministry?

Look at the relationship Paul had with Thessaloniki (Recount 2nd missionary journey)

So the question remains: What should this Church look like

A husband came down to breakfast and was delighted to hear his wife say;

"Darling you are a model husband'.

Now he was so flattered by the remark;

That latter on that day he decided to look up the meaning of the word in his Oxford dictionary.

He found the page and began reading:

"Model, a small plastic imitation of the real thing".

Tough Question: Too many Churches are: “Small imitations of the real thing?”

The Church will be either a model or duplicate

Duplicate: exactly like something else, especially through having been copied

So when Paul sent Back Timothy what did he find?

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 NKJV

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to 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, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I want us to focus in on the three fold commendation that Paul bestowed upon the Thessalonians .

A. Their work of Faith

B. Their Labor of Love

C. Their Patience of Hope

1 Cor

1 Corinthians 13:11–13 NKJV

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

On the Australian coat of arms is a picture of a emu and a kangaroo. These animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian forefathers.

Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not back. The emu’s three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail.

Those who truly choose to follow Jesus become like the emu and kangaroo, moving only forward, never back

The Thessalonians displayed an amazing grasp of their Faith in such short time. But this is normal.

Luke 9:62 NKJV

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

( (quickview) ).

A. Their work of Faith

James 2:18 NKJV

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

1. One continuous work (Ongoing)

Work is singular not plural… it is upon salvation an ongoing action.

2. One continuous perfection. (Ongoing)

2 Thessalonians 1:11 NKJV

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

2 thess 1:

3. One natural progression. It has got to start with Faith

Do you notice that these three always have FAITH at the beginning.

People want to play the comparison game!

What I’m doing is as good as what you are doing

I may not serve through the Church but I serve my community other ways.

THAT'S NOT WHAT GOD REQUIRES.

B. Their labor of Love.

Paul had preached to them Jesus for three Sabbath days. There wasn’t a lot of foundation laid yet they went to work.

The phrase basically means (To toil in our love)

1. To sacrificially show love.

Look at how Paul describes it in Acts

Acts 20:35 NKJV

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

2. To show Christ Love. (This is Agape Love)

Romans 16:12 NKJV

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

Rom

3. This love is directed towards God.

Hebrews 6:10 NKJV

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

C. Their Patience of Hope.

Several people had most likely died since Paul had been there in Thessalonica

How were they handling the words that Paul had given of Christ return.

1. To persevere during trials.

Romans 15:4 NKJV

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

2. To persevere in waiting.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

a hope that looked forward beyond all present things for the manifestation of Christ.

The reason why we work says a lot about a person:

Some work hard, out of fear (sacked or they are scared of the boss).

Some work hard because of a reward (wages, they are even keen for overtime).

Some work hard out of duty (It has to be done, if don't do it, no one else will).

Some for job satisfaction (ill: Jim: change of vocation)

And some because they care (ill: Voluntary work).

Paul says to the Thessalonians their “Inspiration” for working was "Faith":

Because they were Christians they did good works,

To them it went hand in glove, it was not an optional extra.