The Real Deal

I am somewhat infatuated with good watches

Rolex watches, you have to know what to look for

Some are pretty high-quality (looking) fakes

Insurance agent with a Rolex; gave me a couple tips on spotting real ones among the phonies

Continues the thought from last week

1 Thessalonians 2:8 ESV

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Relates to that genuine nature of Paul and Co in their relationship to the Thessalonians

Their love is the Real Thing

They’ve been (collectively) a good example

They were nothing but what they said they were going to be

…did nothing but what they said they were going to do

All for the Glory of God

There was nothing of separating secular work and sacred work—it was all in one process

Process

…labor and toil..

There was a rhyme to that: kopon kai mochthon

…toil and moil (hard work/drudgery)

Night and day—the sun never set on their labor

They were in it to win it; not anything for themselves

...because of that affectionate desire for the people of Thessalonica

The joys of being a self-supported minister of the Gospel

Not putting a burden on the locals to support them—though it was their right

Paul made statements about that in 1 Cor. 9

Paul explained his rights; willingly set aside those rights for the benefit of that church

He does the same here

A couple observations

Paul was a tentmaker (Acts)

Imagery is that he worked from before sunup until well into the night

At some points maybe dedicating time to earning his living

...at other times to the preaching/teaching ministry

Maybe combining the two at some points

…one-on-one teaching as he worked (good illustration of mentoring—doing life with another)

All for that singular purpose PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL

Proclamation

Proclaim—underlying word often used of preaching, also of heralding a message not one’s own

Not Paul’s message

Paul proclaiming God’s message

The Gospel of God

Returns to the good news

Romans 1:16 ESV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Into a culture of either Jewish legalism or pagan debauchery, the message of Jesus Christ is a relief

Paul’s pattern of proclamation

1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Giving the Gospel by simply proclaiming the truth of Christ, His being, His works

…as found in the Scripture

Program

Credible Proclamation

Calls both them and God as witnesses to their behavior

Holy behavior

Righteous behavior

Blameless behavior

Interesting thoughts...

For those who, after the fact, begin to recall things differently, God’s memory is perfect

Reminding them for the eventuality of the time some would cast doubts on their ministry

Parental Roles

With a father-like love and concern

Subtle differences between the expression of love by fathers and by mothers

…sometimes not-so subtle

Mothers’ role is dominantly to nurture with affection (v.7, one word in Greek)

…image is of a woman nursing an infant

>>nothing more tender and gentle than that

Paul applies both tendencies toward himself and his team

Fathers’ role given here is to

Exhort—to call alongside

Encourage—soothe and reassure

Charge—make a solemn appeal

There is a process here of milk to meat

…not the only place we see the comparison

1 Corinthians 3:2 ESV

I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,

They were not ready because the were “still of the flesh” lacked spiritual maturity

Not only from Paul...

Hebrews 5:12 ESV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Note the touch with each individual…not just collectively!

Purpose

To produce believers walking in a manner worthy of God

Following His divine decree

Making Him their priority

Working on their personal holiness (sanctification)

…more on that will be coming in a couple weeks

To show themselves as citizens of His Kingdom and Glory

Earlier passages show that this church in Thessalonica was chewing on some meat…not perfect; but working on it

WITFM

Following the example of Paul, remember that your work is sacred work

Secular work is a sacred responsibility

I was called to be a police officer—many opportunities to share the Gospel, exhort, encourage, charge or challenge....

…sometimes with fellow officers, sometimes their families, sometimes others I dealt with

>>even a prisoner or two

Terry Hart and prisoner turned pastor