1 Thessalonians 1 3-10 2005
Second to Last Sunday
1 Thessalonians 1:3-10
November 13, 2005
“Examples to Follow”
after K. Duncan
Introduction: Many years ago my parents took me to see Arthur Ash play tennis. He was one of the first African Americans to rise to greatness in that sport. While Arthur Ashe was a world-class tennis player, he also was a world-class father. He believed in leading by example. "My wife and I talk about this with our six-year-old daughter," Ashe said in an interview just before his death. "Children are much more impressed by what they see you do than by what you say," he said. "Children at that age certainly keep you honest. If you have been preaching one thing all along and all of a sudden you don't do it, they're going to bring it right up in your face.
"I tell her it's not polite to eat with your elbows on the table. Then after dinner I'm putting my elbows up. She says , "˜Daddy, your elbows are on the table.' You have to be man enough, or woman enough, to say, "˜You're right,' and take your elbows down. In fact, that's an even stronger learning experience than her hearing it," said Ashe. "It means that she did listen in the past. She understands it. And she recognizes it when she sees it. But it takes actions, rather than mere words, to accomplish that."
We all know that, don't we? Actions always speak louder than words. Chuck Swindoll tells about a three-year-old boy who had been learning the game of golf by watching his grandfather play. "The boy was so enthused,' said his Grandpa, "I bought him his own set of clubs." The following week the entire family had a cookout and the little boy who had learned to golf by watching Grandpa announced, "Watch me play golf!" and then he hit the ball, said a swear word and threw his golf club into the tree!
That little boy had learned about more than golf. And he did it by simply observing his granddad.
We all know about good role models, those people that teach by example. As many of you know, I was a manager for Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers. During my training I was sent to Columbus, Ohio to the head quarters of Wendy’s. There I met Dave Thomas, the founder of the Wendy's. When Dave Thomas was just fifteen, he dropped out of school and moved out on his own. He got a full-time job in the restaurant business, and eventually created the great success that is Wendy's. But in spite of all his success, Dave has never gotten over his regret of dropping out of school. And he never felt comfortable when people pointed to him as a successful drop-out. He didn't want to encourage kids today to follow his example.
So Dave decided to get his high school diploma. In 1992, he hired a tutor and began studying for his GED, the equivalency exam that would grant him a high school diploma. It was hard work, but eventually Dave took the test and passed. Now he had a high-school diploma. I believe most of us can admire that in Dave Thomas. He didn't want to encourage young people to follow his example and drop out of school, so when other men were retiring, Dave was going back to high school. He wanted to be a good role model for the young people he came in contact with.
St. Paul praised the Christians at Thessalonica for being "an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia." The people at Thessalonica had been worshipers of idols, but now they were imitators of Christ. And they made this transition in the middle of much tribulation. There was nothing phony in their witness; they were the real thing. And everyone who heard their story was compelled by it. Perhaps, today we too can be compelled by what they did. We can see that their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior from sin motivated them to express their faith in actions.
The apostle Paul speaks some exciting words to the Thessalonica church. He speaks about their motivation, their ability and their example. “We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Did you hear their motivation – faith, love, and hope in their Savior Jesus Christ. Then Paul goes on to talk about how they are able to work, labor and endure, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. The ability for us to live faithful Christian is not found within ourselves. It come from God. He choose them, they heard the good-news that Jesus had died for their sins, God’s Spirit enabled them to believe through the message that Paul preached, and God’s Spirit enabled them to live their faith out in work, labor and endurance through their faith, love and hope. They watched Paul as Paul imitated Christ to them and they followed his example. Paul writes, “You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-- your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
These are indeed wonderful and positive words that Paul speaks to the Thessalonian church. The question is what would he say to us as a congregation? If the Apostle Paul were to visit us what would he observe? It is my belief that the Apostle Paul would encourage us in the same way. Those Christians at the River Church, located in the township of Theresa, look at the work that has been produced by faith, look at their labor, prompted by love, see how they endure through hardship after hardship and endure it all inspired by the hope that they have in their Lord Jesus Christ. Look at their example as they follow Paul, as they follow their Savior Jesus Christ. Their faith is known everywhere, through out the United States even to the remote villages of Alaska, even to the farthest reaches of the world, to Thailand, to the Sudan. As a congregation we are doing well, not that we have achieved perfection and not that we couldn’t do better. This is not to say that we should boast. If we are to boast in anything at all it is in our God who saves us and as we wait for His Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
As a congregation we work to follow the example of Paul and of the Lord Jesus Christ, but as individuals we all to often fail we say one thing and do another. Here in this place we put on a Christian face, when we get home we put on a different one. We must be careful to remember that our actions often speak louder than words. It is like a person that says that they are a Christian but they don’t attend church or don’t act in a Christian way. Their children, family and friends hear one thing but see another. The example that they make makes the real difference.
People come to know Jesus Christ as they encounter Christ in those who follow him. That is why Paul was praising the Christians at Thessalonica. This is how children grow into responsible adults. This is how people come to faith in the living Christ. It is by those who care enough to sacrifice their own selfish desires to live a life that contributes to the greater good. It is by those who care enough to set an example of love, of joy, of hope, of courage.
There is a story in one of the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books told by a mother in Costa Mesa, California. It was a hectic day in their home, she says, but with 10 children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, this mother was having trouble doing even routine chores--all because of one of her little boys.
Len, who was three at the time, was on her heels no matter where she went. Whenever she stopped to do something and turned back around, she would trip over him. Several times, she patiently suggested fun activities to keep Len occupied. "Wouldn't you like to play on the swing set?" she asked again. But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, "Oh, that's all right, Mommy. I'd rather be in here with you." Then he continued to bounce happily along behind her.
After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, Len's Mom began to lose her patience and insisted that he go outside and play with the other children. When she asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at her with sweet green eyes and said, "Well, Mommy, in pre-school my teacher told me to walk in Jesus' footsteps. But I can't see [Jesus], so I'm walking in yours." (6)
And that's what it is all about, isn't it? Role models still count. Worthy examples still make a difference. Perhaps, if the Christians at Thessalonica two thousand years ago had not been faithful under immense hardship--setting examples of sacrificial love for their neighbors--you and I would not be Christians at the end of this millennium.
Today it is our turn to set an example for Christians to follow generations from now. God will do it through you. This is the purpose for which you were chosen. Because of what God has done for us we are willing and we are able through the Spirit of Christ which fills us, and we have the tools, God’s Word and the Sacraments, through these the River of life flows through us out into the world. Amen