1 THESSALONIANS (5)

RENEW YOUR PRAYER CHALLENGE: (1) Choose one person in the UCSC to pray for every day this week. (2) Ask them how you can prayer for them specifically.

Let’s renew this challenge for this week. Look round and pick a different person to pray for than last time. Tell them in person or by message that you are praying for them this week. (And if you are really bold tell them why you are thankful for them.) (Got it?)

Let’s renew this challenge for this week. Look round and pick a different person to pray for than last time. Tell them in person or by message that you are praying for them this week. (And if you are really bold tell them why you are thankful for them.) (Got it?)

RENEW THE CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: Let’s renew this challenge for this week. Look round and pick a different person to pray for than last time. Tell them in person or by message that you are praying for them this week. (And if you are really bold tell them why you are thankful for them.) (Got it?)

Trans: We ended last time on verse 5 so we are going to start at verse 6 tonight.

THE FAR REACHING IMPACT OF ONE FAITHFUL GROUP OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS

The Thessalonian church was different and it showed and they were making a huge impact. What I love so much about 1 THESSALONIANS is that is shows what a far reaching impact one group of Christ followers can make when they are living as God’s chosen.

Trans: if we do we can do what the Christ followers in Thessolonica did which is shown in the next few verses: Let’s read verse 6-8. As we read seek to answer this question:

1 Thessalonians 1:6–8 ESV

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, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 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.

Q: WHAT STANDS OUT TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE DOING RIGHT THAT WE ALSO NEED TO BE STRIVING TO DO?

(If we are deeply convicted, living for God’s purposes!) (*GET A VOLUNTEER TO WRITE) AS YOU ANSWER WE WILL WRITE THEM ON THE BOARD: (1) They recieved the word, (with joy in the Holy Spirit) and they were willing to suffer for it (2) they were imitators of Christ following His example of suffering, (3) they became examples themselves to a lot of people including the churches and (4) THEY SHARED THE TRUTH WITH OTHERS....God’s message rang out from them…everywhere!

Q:WHICH ONE OF THESE THINGS STANDS OUT OT YOU THE MOST AND WHY?

A: Each one of these things is connected and they all go together. Actually as you read through the passage you see a flow from one to the other. Let’s start at the end.

Q: SO HOW DID THE SUCCESSION GO? DO YOU SEE IT?

A: (2) They became “imitators of the Lord” for (1) “you received the word with the Joy of the Holy Spirit” so that (3) “you became an example” to all the believers!

SO THE GREATER MESSAGE HERE IS THAT IF WE WANT TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR CHRIST AND BE AN EXAMPLE FOR GOOD WE HAVE TO IMITATE CHRIST…

BUT TO IMITATE CHRIST WE HAVE TO BE IN AND ACCEPT HIS WORD AND BECOME LIKE CHRIST. As they were being all these things their IMPACT AND FAITH WAS KNOW ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD WANT FOR THE UCSC TO BE ON CAMPUS, THAT WE ARE EXAMPLES TO OTHERS AS WE IMITATE CHRIST AND THAT THE WORD OF GOD WOULD SOUND FORTH FROM US ALL OVER CAMPUS!!

IF WE ARE DOING ALL THESE THINGS WE WILL (LIKE THE THESSALONIANS) BE THE LIGHTS GOD HAS INTENDED FOR US TO BE.

TRANS: If we do think of how far reaching our impact could go. There example and message was reaching all over the region and beyond...

Q: where did it all start? Where did the example begin?

THE POWER OF POSITIVE EXAMPLE:

Do you see the ripple of effect of example in these verses? Who was an example first? Paul and his companions! Then as the Thessalonians followed their example and Christ’s they became and example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Verse 5 says, “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” Their lives backed up their message but not for their own personal glory but so those they shared the gospel with would benefit.

Q: SO WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THAT?

A: That if your life does not match up with your message then neither will make an impact! But if your example is like Christ then...Your example may go further than you may think

Q: IN WHAT WAYS CAN OUR EXAMPLE GO FURTHER THAN WE EXPECT? To those who we know and live with to those we have never met . To our children, spouse, grandchildren…etc…our examples can outlive us. (Not that we should want to do it for that but just so that people will come to know Christ…)

We should not underestimate how far reaching our example can go. If you are being an example do not give up or give in, keep up the good work! Even if it is causing you to suffer. God was telling them about the difference they were making because they were suffering and it can be easy when we are suffering to tone down our efforts. Your example is powerful and needed in the world and especially in the church!

Notice that one main group that benefited from their example were Christians! (Verses 7 and 8) they became “a model to all the the believers in Macedonia and Achaia” then verse 8 “your faith in God has become known everywhere”

THERE EXAMPLE INCLUDED REPENTANCE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRIST RETURN.

TO LIVE FOR CHRIST THE WAY THEY DID THEY HAD TO HAVE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A DEEP TRUE, REAL MOTIVATION OF LOVE FOR CHRIST AND DESIRE FOR HIS RETURN.

​ ESVFor 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, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

THERE EXAMPLE INCLUDED REPENTANCE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO CHRIST RETURN.

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 ESV

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, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

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,

​ ESVFor 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, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

So people heard of their life change and what they turned from. This is hard because it is much easier to fit in and do what everyone else is doing (especially in college) but now is also especially a time where you can be a light by have a life that is different.

Q;WHAT HAVE YOU TURNED FROM, WHAT IDOLS HAVE YOU LEFT BEHIND?

Q: OR WHAT IDOLS DO YOU NEED TO TURN FROM?

ANYTHING THAT YOU ARE PUTTING IN FRONT OF GOD WHETHER SINFUL OR SOMETHING YOU JUST TRUST IN MORE.

TRANS:ONE MORE THING that the Thessalonians were known for is might seem a little out of place but it really isn’t; it was how they “wait for his Son from heaven.”

Q: HOW DO YOU THINK WAITING FOR CHRIST FACTORED INTO TO EVERYTHING ELSE THEY WERE KNOWN FOR?

IF CHRIST IS THE ONE WE LOVE THE MOST.

“IF WE LOVE CHRIST MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD THEN WE WILL WANT TO BE WITH HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD.”

(IF THAT IS TRUE THEN WE WILL BE WAITING FOR HIM TO RETURN) WHEN THAT IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL EVERYTHING ELSE IN OUR LIVES IS INFLUENCED BY THAT. HEAVEN IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL.

Q: ARE YOU KNOWN FOR WANTING CHRIST TO RETURN? WHY ARE WE NOT AT TIMES?