Growing Pains In Ministry
Lessons From First Thessalonians (series) • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Title: Growing Pains In Ministry
Text:
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.
Church planting was not the easiest thing to do, especially in the days of the apostles.
it initiates a spiritual conflict, a war in the heavenlies, in a given place, as soon as the gospel is preached;
the enemies of the gospel and the ministry are not flesh and blood;
as soon as the gospel is proclaimed, a host of demonic spirits are stirred up and alarmed, it is like stirring up a hornet’s nest;
there is always the risk of failure;
Paul and his team went through it all. But they persevered and they were rewarded.
Although the physical dynamics of church planting in the present time have improved much, the spiritual dynamics are very much the same.
there are persecutions still;
there are risks of failure still;
the battle is still not flesh and blood;
Main Points
Main Points
What the saints endured
What the saints endured
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,
who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.
1 Thessalonians 2.14-
Paul recounts:
how the saints were persecuted by they own countrymen;
how the same people hindered the apostles from speaking; and
how the apostles were hindered from coming back to the saints.
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,
who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.
The saints have become “imitators” by enduring the “same persecution
the churches of God in Judea were persecuted by their fellow Jews
The persecution is in direct relation to their reception of the word of God
For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
1 Thessalonians 1.
The saints have become the apostle’s “hope”, “joy” and “crown of rejoicing”
the true reward of gospel preaching are the souls converted to the true faith.
How the ministry responded
How the ministry responded
Paul sends Timothy
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,
and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
1 Thessalonians 3.1-
his personal coming may been too risky for his own life as well for the saints’
Why Timothy?
he was a brother - Timothy was there when the gospel was first preached in Thessalonica
he was a “fellow worker” - he was a good team man; he worked with the apostle Paul and ministered to his needs
Philippians 2.20
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.
Timothy’s jobs
to strengthen and encourage the saints in their faith;
to make sure the work was not wasted
How they were rewarded
How they were rewarded
Paul was comforted by Timothy’s reports
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,
for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;
for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3.6-
the saints are still in the faith and growing in love
the saints think kindly of the apostles;
the saints missed them too!
Paul rejoices!
in his distress and affliction he was comforted by the news from Thessalonica
he felt “alive”!
he was very grateful
For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account,
as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 3.9-
Paul rejoiced in the fruit of their labors in Thessalonica
Paul rejoiced in the fact that the work continued despite his not being able to visit them!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Lessons to learn here:
There are pains to endure as we take care of the ministry.
Because of the gospel engages our lives in spiritual conflict against demonic spirits
Because genuine gospel preaching involves our very souls
Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
The people’s first impression on the word of God plays an important role in whether the work will continue or not
the Thessalonians received the Word of God as it really is
What can we do to impart the word of God in people’s lives:
for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
1Thessalonians 1.5
take the gospel to them in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction
1 Corinthians 2.1-
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.