Sent and Empowered by God to share the Gospel: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Bonhoeffer

Many of you will know something of the German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, famously killed by the Nazi’s after trying unsuccesfully to assasinate Hitler!

Bonhoeffer was a wonderful ambassador for the gospel, at a time when many in the church were putting loyalty to the state, to Hitler, before God.

Things got so bad, that eventually Bonhoeffer found himself principal of an underground theolgical college in Germenay where he trained faithful Christian pastors to be loyal to Jesus first, not the state. Eventually the college was disbanded due to pressure from the Government, but Bonhoeffer continued to write letters to his pastors. Encouraging them in their faith.

Bonhoffer found himself studying in the USA hwne he wrote these words to a friend:

“I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people ... Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying civilization. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from security.”

He was a pastor who deeply loved the people God had called him to serve. And was willing to endure great hardship for the sake of the gospel, and the sake of the Christians he led.

Bonhoeffer was a pastor not unlike Paul as we’ll see in our reading today:

Paul has written to the church he planted in Thessalonica, but had to escape from due to persecution to encourage their faith. We know that Timothy has brought a report to Paul telling him thigns are going well but there are some issues. And one of the issues is that not only are people persecuting the Christians, but they are also challenging and questioning Paul’s motivations for coming to Thessonlica and preaching to them. Paul confronts these misconceptions and in doing shows us his love for the people God had called him to serve, and gives us a model for serving the people God is calling us to.

Why Paul went to Thessalonica (1 Thes 2:1-4)

1 Thessalonians 2:1 NIV

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

Our visit to you was not ‘kenos’ lit. empty.

I’m convinced a better reading of this would be something like empty of purpose (John Stott).

That is the Thessalonians know that Paul and his companions came to town with a purpose. To preach the gospel without fear or favour.

And so inspite of fiece opposition that Paul talks about in v2, Paul came and achieved his purpose of preaching the gospel to them.

But why go somewhere you’re not from and preach the gospel to a city that really in the main doesn’t want to hear about it?

1 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NIV

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

They go because they have been sent by God with his message of good news.

And they go because they want people to respond to God. Nothing else motivates them. Their motives are pure.

This is clearly Paul’s response to the “strong oppostion” (v2) he has faced in Thessalonica. They are attacking his reasons for preaching, his motivations.

He is saying not so. He is God’s man with God’s message. He’s so certain of his motivations he’s even happy to invite God to test his heart over this matter.

What he did in Thessalonica (1 Thes 2:5-12)

Paul has gone to Thessalonica to preach the gospel. To tell people about Jesus. And disciple those who respond.

There are a million ways to go about that.

You can be a street preacher on a milk creat in Elizabeth St mall, or a social media advocate, or lover of your friends.

So how did Paul go about his ministry of proclaiming Jesus, whilst he was there in Thessalonica?

1 Thessalonians 2:5 NIV

5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

They were honest.

They were humble

1 Thessalonians 2:6 NIV

6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

In fact though they could’ve chosen to stand on their positional authority, they chose to be humble like children

(only read first half of v7.)

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NIV

7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,

Honest, Humble, But also full of love.

(only read second 7b-8)

1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 NIV

7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

They met the needs of the Thessalonains

They were open with the Thessalonians

The sharing of the gospel was a whole of life thing for Paul.

Honest, humble, love filled, and next we see full of hard work!

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV

9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

When they sought to share the gospel with people they didn’t burden those whom they were sharing with.

It’s like how when we as a church seek to share the gospel explicitly at something like Alpha. The whole thing is free, dinner and all. We fund that as a church so that those who are hearing the gospel are not burdened by us.

And for Paul, it wasn’t just their attitude that mattered as they sought to share the gospel. They lived out the gospel by being holy.

1 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

Their whole life mattered. Their lives spoke to the power and truth of the gospel to transform.

They were like spiritual parents

(already had the mother refernece back in v7. Now)

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 NIV

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

The loved the people they shared with. And, i think in these vereses we see their attititude to disciple making. As the Thessalonians responded with fatih Paul both encouraged and urged them to live their lives in line with God’s way of living.

How the Thessalonians responded to Paul (1 Thes 2:13-16)

What was their response to this honest, humble, loving, caring, open, holy, parental care and concern by Paul?

Two reponses weren’t there?

Acceptance

stop at “which are in Christ Jesus”.

1 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NIV

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews

As the word of God came with power

1 Thessalonians 1:5 NIV

5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

As the responded to Paul and his God ordained message, the Thessalonians realised. No this news about Jesus loving them, dieing for them, rising from the dead. This is not just some story Paul is spinning for his own benefit and personal gain. This is not some story he’s spinning because he needs a crutch to make his life meaningful. This is the truth of God which has changed Paul and now has changed them.

Rejection

But it wasn’t all good. For a whole bunch of people rejected the message and activitely persecuted Paul and the church

start with last part of v14 above.

1 Thessalonians 2:15–16 NIV

15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

As we heard last week, and if you read the book of Acts (particularly around Ch 17 where Paul’s trip to Thessalonica is recorded) you see how many in the Jewish people make life hard for Paul to preach the gospel. They ran him out of Thessalonica nad persecuted the new Christian converts. In doing so they are carrying on a long traddition. Tied up in their own works based religiosity, they’ve missed the grace of God and don’t want anyone else to get it either. This is a terrible thing indeed. To actively work against the proclamation of the gospel to as many people as possible.

People do this today.

So what are we to make of Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica today?

Well we too have a purposeful reason for being here in Lindisfarne. Not to enjoy the view. But to share the gospel without fear or favour with those in our suburbs.

And if Jesus has called us to do that. To make disicples by sharing the gospel then Paul provides a good model for how to go about it doesn’t he?

Honest, Humble, love filled, burdenless and holy in the way we go about our lives in our community.

And when people accept our message we love them like a parent. Helping them to live lives worthy of the calling they have recieved.

In fact I think this kind of devotion to the people you’re seeking to share the gospel with is what we’re on about as a church isn’t it?

A church for Lindisfarne...

A church that is honest, humble, love filled, brings blessing not burdens and refelcts the values of Jesus in our ethical living. That is a good working out of what it means to be for Lindisfarne. Paul was an apostle for Thessalonica. He wanted them to flourish ultimately by hearing the gospel.

A church for Lindisfarne, making disciples of Jesus

A church that shares the gospel and helps people and instructs them on how to grow as Christians.

All of us have a role as individuals to play in achiving this vision.

And as we reflect on Paul’s ministry today as a good worked exmaple of our vision. Let me finish by encouraging you to put Paul’s example into practice:

I want you to think of one or two people in our community whom God has put on your heart to share the gospel with. The good news about Jesus. And then to think about how you can be a blessing to them this week.

Call them for a coffee? Cook them a meal? Ask how they’re going? Mow their lawn.

Then start praying that God would open their hearts and that his word would come through you with power and seek opportunities to share.

Talk about what God’s been up to in your life lately, You could talk about something you’ve read in the Bible recently, you could offer to pray for them, you could ask if they’re interested in reading the bible with you...

And let’s see what God does as we follow Paul’s example and take the vision he’s given our church seriously.