Engaging with the Gospel
Notes
Transcript
Remember that letter we looked at last week? The one to the Thessalonians… I want to continue looking at this letter Paul sent to a people he cared a great deal for.
This letter has a very personal feel to it. In fact, the first three chapters are very personal, while the last two begin to be more practical with theological teaching.
Paul is writing to a hurting people, going through some difficult times in their christian walk and personal lives.
Paul throughout this letter is writing to present an eternal hope… each chapter concludes with a focus on the return of Christ!
As we look through both this letter and our passage today I want to Consider what Paul intended for His readers, and looking at that intended meaning bring some modern day application to our lives that will offer the same comfort and instruction to us.
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 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. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 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. 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. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
Open in Prayer
Paul’s Intentional Leading
Paul’s Intentional Leading
He brings to mind things they know...
The boldness to preach the gospel (regardless of circumstances) verse 2
It came in truth and accuracy (not always the most popular) verse 3
There was no flattery, deceit, or seeking to please people (even though they had authority & power) verses 5-6
Paul, Silas, and Timothy… LEADERS, men who had authority in the church, in preaching the gospel… exhibited these qualities. Paul states you know this...
Remember Paul in chapter 1 stated they were being contagious examples to the WORLD around them!
Paul was stating what they knew of them as leaders expecting them to demonstrate this as well.
Paul assertive in the gospel, his teaching, not one to back down… BOLD now describes themselves as leaders...
Gentle, like a nursing mother
Affection for the people…
Gave not only the gospel, but of their own lives for them
There is a genuine care for people here!!!
(The Making of a Christian Leader by Ted Engstrom) The great American entrepreneur John D. Rockefeller stated, “I will pay more for the ability to deal with people than any other ability under the sun.” According to a report by the American Management Association and overwhelming majority of the two hundred managers who participated in a survey agree that the most important single skill of an executive is the ability to get along with people. In the survey, management rated the ability more vital than intelligence, decisiveness, knowledge, or job skills.
Look at the passion Paul had for these people… Paul wants them to RECALL:
How hard they worked at ministering (Night and Day) parents do this don't they...
Exhorting, encouraging, imploring as a father (who wants the very best for his children)
Look at the why here verse
so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Commending Followers
Commending Followers
Paul praises these believers, they are examples of good follower-ship!!!
They discern and receive this as God’s truth not mans ideas (be careful what you believe!!!)
They allowed God’s Word to “work in them”…
To listen to God’s word without following it and applying it to your life is as beneficial as smelling a good grilled steak, mashed potatoes and steaming broccoli, and a side of garlic toast and hoping it will nourish your body! It’s not how it works!!!
It requires one to listen, chew on it, allow it to sink and and nourish you spiritually.
Paul commends them for how they followed God’s Truth.
Not only did they follow in the good times and with the newfound joy of salvation… they followed in persecution as well
They did not run thinking God had abandoned them --Thomas Constable states this:
Frequently when Christians suffer persecution they are tempted to think God’s blessing has departed. Paul countered this lie of Satan by reminding his readers that their experience duplicated that of their elder brothers and sisters in the faith who had become Christians in Judea.
God allows His people to go through hard and difficult times… and goes through it with them!
There will always be those who will oppose the word of God and the progress of the gospel
Practical Application
Practical Application
Through these times each of us are leading to some extent
Let’s lead well
Parents our kids are watching us, our faith, our hope
People around us are watching to see if this God we believe in is real in our lives
As we lead let’s demonstrate
The boldness to preach the gospel
Truth and accuracy in what we say and do
No flattery, deceit, or seeking to please people , rather pleasing God
Let’s follow well… it is amazing how a good leader is a good follower...
Discern the truth and follow it
Allow God’s word to work in your life
Understand there is opposition…
Satan may want to use this time to discourage, dishearten, and cripple BUT GOD!!!
When people can no longer look to themselves, to things, to safety nets… they look outside themselves!
Let’s point them to Christ… the Gospel!
A Closing Reminder
A Closing Reminder
Paul closes this section with another reminder of eternal glory, Christ return!
You can hear the pastor’s heart here with Paul, as I read these words over and over this week my heart resonated with his…
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. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.