Sermon Tone Analysis

I. Introduction

A. Reiterate last week’s sermon

1. Authors: Paul and his two traveling companions

2. Date: AD 50 from Corinth (earliest Pauline letter)

3. Recipients: an assembly of new believers in Thessalonica, important Macedonian city

4. Purpose: Paul wrote for three reasons:

a. Encourage: to persevere in godly behavior in the midst of persecution by the Jews and pagans.

b.

Assure: of Paul’s integrity and his love for his disciples.

c.

Inform: regarding the Second Coming and the fate of dead saints at that time.

B. This week, we are going to begin to study the body of the epistle [Read vv.

1-10].

1. I’ve entitled this section, “Thank God for Faithful Disciples” because that is what we see Paul doing.

2. This portion of the letter breaks into two natural sections:

a. Paul Mentions His Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (v.

2a)

b.

Paul Explains His Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (vv.

2b-10)

3. Remember, Paul had what he thought was four consecutive flops in ministry (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens – Acts 16-17)

4. When Timothy returned with good news (3:5-8), the Apostle could hardly contain himself.

C. Proposition: From Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the Thessalonians, we are going to focus upon three virtues seen in these young believers, which should characterize every Christian, so that we may examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith [Restate].

II.

Paul Mentions His Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians

A. Point: It’s Proper to Give Thanks to God for Others (how do we know this?):

B. Proof: Verse 2a

1.

His thanksgiving is typical

a. Wrote nine letters to churches (and four to individuals)

b.

Eight times he begins or mentions thanks for the reader(s)

c.

Rom 1:8; 1 Cor 1:4; Eph 1:15-16; Phil 1:3; Col 1:3; 1 Th 1:2; 2 Th 1:3; Phil 4

2. His thanksgiving is habitual (We give thanks)

a. Present tense indicates that this is a habit (not a one-time occurrence)

b.

He emphasizes the habitual nature by the term “always”

(1) Not like we understand the word – every moment

(2) Tells in the next clause what he means: whenever we pray (see Philemon 4)

(3) Illustration: We use the term always to mean often.

c.

Not only Paul’s habit, but the others with him also.

(1) “We” in this case includes Silvanus and Timothy

(2) Sometimes, Paul means “Me” when he says, “We” (3:1-2), but not here.

3. His thanksgiving is inclusive

a. Paul has a fond memory of every saint in Thessalonica

b.

No one is excluded

c.

There is something worthy of thanks in each saint

4. His thanksgiving is proper

a. Thanksgiving is a form of prayer

b.

Prayer should only be directed toward God

c.

This is the proper response to any good work

(1) He doesn’t thank the Thessalonians

(2) Only once thanks someone other than God (Rom 16:4).

d.

God is sovereign

(1) According to Scriptures, we are depraved and dependent creatures

(2) Paul says “there is nothing good in me” (Rom 7:18)

(3) If we do anything good, it is due to His grace at work in us

C. Application:

1.

So you see, it is proper to give thanks to God.

2. There is no circumstance that we cannot find something for which to thank Him.

3.

Even in the midst of the most difficult trial, there is something for which to be thankful.

III.

Paul Explains His Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians (vv.

2b-10)

A. After mentioning that he and the others give thanks, the Apostle then explains his thanksgiving to his readers.

1.

He reports the manner of his thanksgiving, the timing of his thanksgiving, and the cause of their thanksgiving.

2. Or, we could say he gives them the How, When, and Why of his thanksgiving.

B. The “How” (v.

2b)

1.

How do they thank God?

2. By mentioning them in their prayers.

a.

This again is habitual action.

b.

They continually make mention of the readers, continually giving thanks whenever they come together to pray.

c.

This may seem obvious, but it was important for Paul to point it out.

d.

It is possible that they had a prayer list.

C. The “When” (v. 3)

1.

This is where I want to camp for the rest of our time today.

2. Just as they always give thanks, they are also “constantly bearing in mind” these three virtues that Paul mentions.

a.

This could be translated, “While constantly bearing in mind . .

.”

b.

Their remembrance of the Thessalonians is contemporaneous with their thanksgiving

c.

Like “always” above, the term constantly has the idea of repetition, frequency.

It is used to describe:

(1) The uninterrupted necessary payment of hard taxes

(2) The continual ministry of an official

(3) The constant pounding of a battering ram against a city wall (Rogers and Rogers, 471)

3. “In the presence of our God and Father”

a.

This phrase should be linked, not with hope in Jesus, but with the bearing in mind