Becoming A Solid Disciple Of Jesus

(1 Thessalonians 1:1–3, ESV) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. The Church in Thessalonica was begun by Paul and Silas during Paul’s 2nd missionary journey. (Acts 17:1-9)

2. Thessalonica was the largest and most important city in Macedonia; as a port city it was especially strategic for trade.

3. From the very beginning the Thessalonian Church was hit with great persecution, but it was a Church full of solid disciples!

4. Just like Paul, Silas, and Timothy the Thessalonian Christians began to reveal Jesus in virtue and action.

I. The Thessalonians Had A Great Beginning

A. From The Very Beginning Jesus Was Revealed To The Thessalonians With Great Power And Conviction

1. (1 Thess. 1:5) ...our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

2. (Acts 17:2–3, ESV) ... he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

3. Revelation leads to transformation! Jesus needs to be revealed if we want to see people become solid disciples.

B. The Thessalonians Were Willing To Pay The Price To Serve Christ

1. They left their idolatry.

a. (1 Thessalonians 1:9, ESV) ... you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

b. Cutting all ties with idolatry would have set them at great odds with the cultural mindset of Thessalonica.

2. They became followers of Jesus even though it meant that they would be persecuted.

a. (1 Thessalonians 1:6, ESV) ... you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

C. The Thessalonians Were Taught The Importance Of The Church

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:1, ESV) ... To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: ...

2. Paul addressed his letter to the whole Church, not to individuals.

3. No one is called to follow Jesus alone; we are part of the Body of Christ, the Church of the Living God.

D. From The Very Beginning The Thessalonian Christians Had Their Eyes On Heaven And Not On Earth

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, ESV) ... you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

2. When the Thessalonians got saved they were expecting Jesus to return again soon!

a. This gives greater understanding on why they were so steadfast; their hope was in Jesus and His soon 2nd coming.

b. (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV) ... steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Imagine how different the Church would be if all Christians really expected Jesus to return soon!

a. Expectant / Watchful / Careful

II. The Thessalonians Had Great Leadership

A. Jesus Was Revealed Through The Godly Leadership Of Paul, Silas, and Timothy

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:5–6, ESV) ... You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, ...

B. Paul, Silas, And Timothy Were Prayer Warriors

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:2, ESV) We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

a. The fact that the Thessalonians were doing so well was due in part to the prayers of the Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

b. Their prayers on behalf of the Thessalonians were constant: “constantly mentioning you in our prayers”

2. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were following in the footsteps of Jesus: (Romans 8:34) ... who indeed is interceding for us.

3. Jesus didn’t teach His disciples how to preach, but He did teach them how to pray!

a. Jesus gave them the Word: (Matthew 6:9, ESV) Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

b. Jesus gave them His example: (Luke 5:16, NIV) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

4. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were doing the same with the Thessalonians.

a. They were teaching them the importance of prayer: (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV) pray without ceasing,

b. They lived a life of prayer before the Thessalonians.

5. The Church must become a House of Prayer if it is to be the birthing place of solid disciples!

C. They Ministered The Gospel With Kingdom Power!

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:5, NIV) because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. ...

2. When the gospel was proclaimed to the Thessalonians it was evangelism as it should be!

a. The Word was proclaimed with power and the Spirit which brought full conviction!

b. But excellent and effective evangelism is never enough if people are to be grounded and grow in Christ.

c. People need Christ-like leaders that they can see and pattern themselves after.

III. The Thessalonians Became Solid Disciples For Jesus

A. The Thessalonians Were Commended For Exemplifying The Three Great Christian Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV) remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Faith: πίστις (pistis) ... faith, faithfulness, assurance, confidence

a. Paul defines πίστις (pistis) as a full conviction of God’s ability to do what he has promised.

(1) (Romans 4:20–21, ESV) No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

b. The noun πίστις (faith) is related to the adjective πιστός (faithful); your faith will cause you to be faithful.

3. Love: ἀγάπη (agapē) ... love

a. This is the highest of all Christian virtues. (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

b. Agape love is not deserved and is totally selfless.

c. Love isn’t just something that God does, it describes who He is: (1 John 4:8, ESV) … God is love.

4. Hope: ἐλπίς (elpis) ... hope, expectation

a. In the New Testament “hope” has to do with the unseen and the future.

(1) (Romans 8:24–25, ESV) For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

b. Hope involves both the expectation of a future event as well as the confidence and patience one has while waiting.

B. However, Paul’s Emphasis In This Verse Wasn’t On The Three Virtues But On The Actions The Three Virtues Produced

1. (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV) remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

a. In each pair of nouns the first item is regarded as the result of the second.

b. i.e. work is the result of faith / labor is the result of love / steadfastness is the result of hope

2. Work: ἔργον (ergon): that which you are responsible to do (a job, a task); emphasis is on the work performed.

a. In the Greek work expresses the idea of producing something, whereas labor expresses toil with hardship.

b. Paul used these two words together in his letter to the Church in Corinth: (I Corinthians 15:58, NIV) ... Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

3. Labor: κόπος (kopos) is usually used in reference to “a beating” but it is also used to describe “toil resulting in weariness, laborious toil, and trouble” and in this sense it is translated “labor”; It speaks of hard work with difficulties and trouble.

4. Steadfastness: ὑπομονή (hypomonē) speaks of the ability to bear up under difficult circumstances.

a. It expresses more than mere endurance, it is the ability to endure difficult circumstances with courage and patience!

b. Steadfastness of hope refers to resisting and taking a stand against an enemy for an extended period of time.

Solid disciples are disciples who are becoming like Jesus in virtue and action. So, whether it was glorious work, or labor met with resistance, or outright persecution the Thessalonians pressed on because they were filled with the faith, love, and hope they received from their relationship with Jesus.