Sermon: 1 Thes. 1:1-10 A Church centered upon God.

Man can build a booming church, but only God can build a biblical church.

Contrary to popular belief, a dichotomy often exists between the two.

A man-built church, seeks to accomplish man’s goals,

using man’s means, and

strives,

whether consciously or not,

for man’s glory.

A God-built church, has

the Spirit of God as its energy,

the Word of God as its most precious jewel, and

the glory of God as its supreme goal.

We see the effects of the man-built ministry all around us.

Many churches have become nothing more than

entertainment centers,

giving slick performances to growing numbers of mesmerized,

but unproductive churchgoers.

Such devices may bring people into the church, but they do not transform them once they arrive.

Sad to say, many today are seeking to “redefine” church as though this is an option.

By looking to the world for its signals, much of the modern day church is suffering from an identity crisis of monumental proportions.

Some see the effective church as being consumer driven. They say we should survey our “target market,” discover what they want, and then give it to them.

Others see the church as culture driven. A slight variation of the previously mentioned model, this approach seeks to bring the world’s forms of entertainment into the church in order to stimulate outreach and growth.

Still others envision the church as being driven by felt needs. In other words, address the apparent, surface needs of people.

Tell them how to find

self-esteem,

psychological significance, and

personal success.

Don’t bore them with long discourses on the Bible.

And, whatever you do, never mention the “s” word (sin) or the “h” word (hell).

After all, who wants to hear what is negative?

And others, with good intentions, want to be purpose driven.

Draft your church’s vision statement,

determine your objectives,

define your long-term strategies,

target a consumer group,

develop a marketing plan, and

you are in business.

Such radical shifts in the direction of the church are,

I believe, the result of an identity crisis that is shaking the very foundation of the church.

Rather than seeking to become as much like heaven as we can be, we are, instead, striving to become like the world.

Rather than pursuing spirituality and substance, many churches have become enamored with style and size.

What sets the church apart is that she is not doing the business of man but of Christ.

Therefore, she is to be focused on a different bottom line that can only be reached through different means.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 67.

By His Word, God Himself must

equip,

enable,

energize, and

empower the church

if she is to be what He desires her to be.

Ultimately, God must be the driving force of the church,

bringing His glorious presence and

all-sufficient power to bear upon the life of His people

if she is to be what He desires her to be.

Her success belongs, as Solomon says, not in more horses or better chariots, but with the Lord Himself ().

The God-driven church is one built by God Himself and, thus, is

not a corporation,

but a congregation,

not a business,

but a body,

not a factory,

but a family.

In such a church, God is working primarily,

not through hyped events,

programs,

entertainment, or

even strategically designed plans per se,

but through His Word and by His Spirit in

the converted,

changed lives of His people.

Let us never forget,

God anoints people,

not plans.

He indwells believers,

not buildings.

He fills preachers,

not performances.

Not that plans, buildings, or some performances are intrinsically wrong, because they are not.

But when they become the church’s chief pursuit and confidence,

they are spiritual culde-sacs leading nowhere,

a cheap substitute for the real presence and supernatural power of God among His people.

So, what does a God-centered church look like?

What are the hallmarks of a God-glorifying church?

What are the characteristics of a God-built church?

We need to look no further than the opening chapter of First Thessalonians

in which Paul gives an overview of

the commendable qualities of this vibrant congregation.

Making no mention of their

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 67–68.

numerical size,

ministry style, or

long-term strategies,

the apostle instead focuses upon their

internal substance and

genuine spirituality.

Paul’s description of these people give to us the marks of a

God-pleasing,

God-built,

God-driven church.

As we consider this first chapter, I want to identify a few marks, which are necessary components of the church in which God is powerfully at work.

So we ask the question, are we a God-centered Church?

Are there CONVERTED HEARTS in our gatherings?

The first mark of any church that honors Christ is the conversion of its members.

If the members are not born from above, a church will be nothing more than a glorified religious country club.

The miracle of the new birth places all believers into union with God,

causing them to be a true spiritual entity

that is alive unto God.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 68.

Such was the case with the church in Thessalonica. Paul says in

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.

Possessing a vital spiritual union with the Godhead, this church was identified as being “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This small preposition “in” is of paramount importance.

To be “in” God means they have entered into a personal relationship with God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 68.

Through the sovereign work of regeneration by the Holy Spirit,

every redeemed sinner

instantly becomes united with God,

being baptized into Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection ().

This oneness results in a dynamic fusion between each believer and the living God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus, the church is more than a mere organization,

but a living organism through which the life of God flows.

This infusion of divine life into regenerated hearts is precisely what occurred in Thessalonica when Paul preached the gospel there ().

Upon entering this city, the apostle went into the synagogue and

2–3 — “ ... reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and rise from the dead...

After this powerful presentation of the gospel, a great number were “persuaded” and believed upon Christ (v. 4).

Because of the purity of the truth preached by Paul and the blowing of the Spirit like the wind,

this church was truly built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (),

placing them “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Unfortunately, this reality is far from true in vast numbers of our congregations today.

Many, if not most, churches are filled with fine, upstanding, “religious” people who have never been born again.

They profess to know Christ,

but do not possess Him.

They have facts about the gospel, but not faith in it.

They have facts about the gospel,

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 68.

but not faith in it.

They know the plan of salvation,

They know the plan of salvation, but not the Man of salvation. They have walked an aisle, raised a hand, been baptized, joined the church, and even become involved in ministry, but the sad reality is, they have never been regenerated. They may have outwardly reformed, but have never been inwardly reborn. They have turned over a new leaf, but have never received a new life. They may know the Word of God, but not the God of the Word. And, as a result, they attend church in an unconverted state, selfdeceived into thinking they are saved when, in reality, they are not.

but not the Man of salvation.

They have

walked an aisle,

raised a hand,

been baptized,

joined the church, and

even become involved in ministry,

but the sad reality is, they have never been regenerated.

They may have outwardly reformed, but have never been inwardly reborn.

They have turned over a new leaf,

but have never received a new life.

They may know the Word of God,

but not the God of the Word.

And, as a result, they attend church in an unconverted state,

selfdeceived into thinking they are saved when, in reality, they are not.

Blinded to their sinful bankruptcy, they have never come to Christ in brokenness, humility, repentance, and faith ().

Selfdeceived, countless numbers of false professors are lulled to sleep in their unconverted state,

all the while comfortable with their easy-believism,

assuming they are going to heaven when, in reality, they are not (, , ).

In summary, we see that, first and foremost,

the God-driven church is comprised, primarily, of converted hearts.

Admittedly, tares will always be sown among the wheat.

But God will work most powerfully through the congregation

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 69.

in which the great majority of its members are truly regenerated.

It matters not

how strategic the church’s plans are,

nor how well organized its people are,

if its membership does not know Christ personally.

Are there CONVERTED HEARTS in our gatherings?

Are there CHANGED LIVES in our gatherings?

Truly converted hearts will inevitably lead to changed lives. The two are inseparably bound together. Salvation is the root, sanctification the fruit.

2–3 — We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

With an overflowing heart of gratitude, the apostle offers thanks to God, not for

their buildings and facilities, or

for their well-structured programs and

elaborate productions,

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 69.

but for what really matters most—the reality of their spirituality in the Lord.

Paul offers thanksgiving for their faith, love, and hope.

These three spiritual virtues provide clear evidence of their genuine, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

An authentic commitment to Christ will always manifest itself in

a changed life that bears, to one degree or another,

this cluster of fruit.

While the Bible does not teach a works-salvation, it does affirm

a salvation that works

Let’s consider these three virtues—faith, love, and hope.

First, Paul commends their “work of faith,” — We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith...

meaning he recognizes that it was their personal faith in Jesus Christ which was activating their service for God.

That is to say, their work for Christ was empowered by their faith in Him.

True faith always produces good works. “Faith without works is dead” ().

Because they were genuinely converted,

God’s all-sufficient grace pulsated through their regenerated soul,

energizing them in their service for Christ and one another.

In addition, the apostle affirms their “labor of love,” . “your labor motivated by love”. Meaning their labor in the gospel was prompted by their love for the Lord.

This word “labor” (kopos) means “wearisome toil,” “extraordinary effort,” or “expending oneself to the point of fatigue and exhaustion.”

This is how they served one another in the Lord, laboring hard

in reaching out to one another,

sacrificially giving of themselves until they were ready to collapse.

Make no mistake about it, their love for Jesus Christ is what generated their love for one another, and, in turn,

in turn,

it was their love for one another

which produced their labor for others.

The more they loved Christ, the more they served Him. So it is with us.

Furthermore, Paul praises their “steadfastness of hope.”. He says “your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”.

It was their hope in Christ that inspired their steadfastness in the Christian life.

The word “hope” means “confidence,” or “unwavering certainty in something or someone.”

Because they were sure about the unchanging promises of God

regarding Christ and their future,

their lives were anchored with a resilient spirit of steadfastness.

So gripped were they with a positive hope in Christ

that they were compelled to be ever pressing ahead

to overcome all obstacles and endure all opposition.

Their strong hope in the Lord’s ability to perform His promises

generated an undaunted determination in their lives to serve Christ.

His promises generated an undaunted determination in their lives to serve Christ.

Suffice to say, these three powerful forces—faith, love, and hope—were the dynamic results of their personal relationship with God.

It was their position in God and Christ (verse 1) that empowered their work, love, and steadfastness (v. 3).

Clearly, God was real in their lives, both working and willing for His good pleasure ().

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 69–70.

Like an electrical current surging through their souls,

the Holy Spirit was releasing His abundant power in them,

enabling them to do God’s work.

So here’s the church at Thessalonica, laboring fervently in God’s work, all the while relying only upon God’s grace ().

So it is in the God-driven church.

Rather than resorting to

fleshly recruiting gimmicks and

base human motivations

to mobilize its membership,

the Spirit-wrought virtues of faith, love, and hope

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 70.

will be filling their lives, producing their

work,

labor, and

steadfastness

as they serve God.

Are there CONVERTED HEARTS in our gatherings?

Are there CHANGED LIVES in our gatherings?

Are there CLEAR CONVICTIONS in our gatherings?

This work of God’s saving grace, so powerfully active in the Thessalonians’ lives,

can be traced back to eternity past when God first chose them to be His own.

Long before the Thessalonians ever believed in God, He had already sovereignly selected them to be His people.

So the apostle writes: — For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

In this short verse Paul expresses three important truths.

Each of these ideas is critically important if we are to grasp the sheer magnitude of divine sovereignty in salvation.

Like Paul, we too must have clear convictions about this foundational truth that gives immeasurable glory to God and is the means of unending blessing to our lives.

The first truth is indicated by the word “knowing.” “For we know brothers and sisters...”

Paul was certain of the divine election of the Thessalonian Christians and was not ashamed to declare it outright.

He knew this because of their personal faith in Christ (v. 3),

which was accompanied by their changed lives and repentance toward God (v. 9).

— for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

The second key truth is expressed in the word “loved”.

The Thessalonians, as the elect of God, are also “loved by God.”

The connection between election and God’s love is repeated by Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians when he says:

— But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

Let us never forget that election is a doctrine of unfathomable love.

How can it be that God would choose to set his heart upon lowly rebels like us?

Long before we ever sought Him, He loved us and sought us to be His own.

This is the greatest love story ever told.

Beloved, before time began, God chose to love us with an everlasting love.

This brings us to the third truth, and it is made clear in our translation.

The concept of election, together with the expression of God’s love for the Thessalonians, necessarily implies that God did the choosing.

And isn’t this precisely what Paul says in ?

From the beginning, the beloved of God were chosen by God to be saved.

Salvation originates with His choice of us, not our choice of Him.

Our choice of Him is, quite simply, the result of His choice of us, not vice versa.

Jesus Himself said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” ().

The reason that we have chosen Him within time is simply because He first chose us before time.

With unmistakable language, Paul states, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him” ().

Not based upon any foreseen human faith, nor good works, God’s choice is the exercise of His own sovereign will, selecting those whom He would save.

Because there are none who seek after God (),

God Himself must take the initiative in salvation and choose us,

His beloved, because in our fallen state,

we would never choose Him.

Only God’s choice of us makes possible, as well as certain, our choice of Him.

As the psalmist notes, “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases” ().

And as we hear and study and believe these divine truths, God begins to develop (in us) a high view of Himself!

The God-driven church has a very high view of God.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 71.

It understands that God is working out His eternal purpose within time through the lives of His chosen ones who are being called out of the world by the Holy Spirit.

No truth so elevates God and humbles man than “we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you.”

And no truth so inspires confidence in God to build His church

through the God-ordained means

in the power of God’s Spirit

than this grand doctrine.

But where this truth is missing,

a man-centered,

man-driven ministry

will eventually result,

using man-designed means,

often manipulating people into the church,

but failing to bring them to Christ.

So we ask ourselves this morning:

Are there CONVERTED HEARTS in our gatherings?

Are there CHANGED LIVES in our gatherings?

Are there CLEAR CONVICTIONS (doctrinally) in our gatherings?

May God, and His unchanging grace, continue to be the driving force in our church.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 67.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 64.

Lawson, S. J. (1999). Sermon: The God-Driven Church . Southern Baptist Journal of Theology Volume 3, 3(3), 64.