Sermon Tone Analysis

Paul’s heart for believers

The phrase, “destined for greatness” has sometimes been used of people, especially young people who have notable talent.

I recently had a middle school student stand out to me, not particularly because his grades were immaculate.

He normally makes A’s, but he’s not the top in the class.

The top student’s in terms of grade in his class make 100’s on every assignment.

But what really stuck out to me was one day I was walking by a group of his classmates in the locker hall.

All the students were complaining about something.

Some well-mannered students just kept quiet as others joined the bandwagon of complaint.

This student however, did something quite different.

He stood up for what is right.

Essentially, he said, if they had done what was right all along they would have no reason to complain.

I commended this student not only for not joining in the complaint train, but also for having the courage to stand up for what is right.

A lot of our young men have courage to do what is wrong, but many lack courage to do what is right.

What comes to your mind when I say that someone is destined for greatness?

That they are inventive?

Successful?

Talented?

Well-respected?

I found a blog on a website called Goalcast in which author Matt Valentine writes 7 signs that you’re destined for greatness: you’re resourceful, a natural problem solver, nothing stops you from accomplishing your goals, relentlessly persistent, not afraid of asking questions, you never fail, and you understand that change is in your hands.

What do you think “greatness” would be defined as for this author who see these qualities as signs that you’re destined for greatness?

Probably success, right?

In fact he writes, “I don’t pretend to be a success expert of a seer of any kind.

However, there are certain signals someone is destined for greatness, factors I’ve identified over years of studying success principles.

So if you meet these qualities, perhaps you would end up being a CEO of a large company.

How do we define greatness in the kingdom of God?

If you had to define what makes someone great in God’s kingdom what would you say?

The modern American church looks a lot a numbers.

How many people attend your services on a regular basis?

How much money do you make as a preacher?

Or maybe the number of salvations.

500 people raise their hand after someone preached?

Then they must be great in the kingdom of God.

Maybe it’s their intelligence.

How many seminary degrees do you have?

How many Greek verbs can you parse?

How much theology do you know?

Is that what makes you great in the kingdom of God?

Maybe it’s how many acts of service you perform, how much money you give away.

How much time do you volunteer?

Does this make you great in the kingdom of God?

Many versions of success even inside some churches merely see people as a means to an end.

Let me be more clear with what I mean.

Success just means accomplishing a goal.

A goal (or “end”) is the aim of our efforts.

We can set all sorts of goals, even within church.

“Our goal is 500 salvations” “our goal is 200 people in attendance on Sunday nights.”

When this is our goal, oftentimes (not all the time) we end up caring more about the number than the people.

What are some results that will happen if we care more about the number than the people?

We will cater our services, our preaching, our music, our interactions, our programs, everything to draw a crowd rather than make people more like Jesus.

Pastors that only preach things that make people feel good, and never preach the Bible care more about results than people.

Why am I even bringing all of this up?

Because I want you to notice Paul’s heart in this verse.

Look at

1 Thess.

2:17-20 “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

Is it not you?

For you are our glory and joy.”

Paul speaks about his having to leave early because of the persecution that broke out (we read this before, but you can look it up in Acts 17).

The phrase, “torn away” is literally “orphaned.”

Paul feels a strong tie to these believers and is emotional at having to depart.

He emphasizes the fact that their being torn away is only face to face, not in their hearts.

Paul is saying he still cares about these people even though he had to leave.

In verse 18, he speaks of his great desire to see them, and even personalizes it by saying “I Paul, again and again.”

Paul recognizes the reason why he could not return was not his own fault but, “Satan hindered” them.

For Paul (and by extension, for us as well), Satan is a real personal being who acts to hinder God’s operation on earth.

Paul, as an apostle of Christ, is able to recognize that Satan is in operation here.

Something we can do as well, but oftentimes it is misused.

Have you heard the old phrase “the devil made me do it?”

A lot of times we like to excuse our mistakes or sins by blaming Satan.

And if we don’t recognize the seriousness of our sin, or that our sin is our own fault (by blaming Satan) then we are falling right into the devil’s hands.

Paul is not blaming Satan here for something that is Paul’s fault.

Rather he is recognizing Satan’s work contrary to God’s operation on the earth.

In verse 19, Paul asks a question with an implied answer.

He asks, what his hope, joy and crown of boasting is at Christ’s return.

A term that I just taught my 7th grade students as we talked about the end times was Parousia.

This term is the Greek term meaning “coming” or “advent.”

Paul uses it here in this verse when he says “before our Lord Jesus at his coming.”

The Parousia is the obvious, bodily return of Jesus.

Jesus does not return in secret.

He does not return only in our hearts.

He does not return as we live out his example.

Rather Jesus Christ himself in human form with all divine splendor will return to this earth and we will always be with him.

Paul will develop this more in this letter later, but let’s focus in on what Paul says about the Thessalonians.

In verse 20, Paul tells them plainly that the Thessalonians themselves are his glory and joy.

He is proud of the fact the word of the Lord is working in them, and they are continuing to endure through persecution, thus, they are his glory.

He rejoices and is glad that they have not fallen away in the persecution, thus they are his joy.

What results bring Paul pride, glory, and joy?

Is it the numbers or the individuals?

What is Paul’s focus?

If 100 Thessalonians made a profession of faith would that be Paul’s joy?

If 1,000 Thessalonians made a profession of faith, would that be Paul’s joy? I’ve heard preachers go around and go from each church boasting about how many people made a profession of faith under their preaching.

Great, good for you, here’s your gold star.

Now, do you know any of their names?

Are they still faithful to the Lord?

You see, a lot of churches and church leadership find the joy, glory, and crown of boasting in how many people show up to their services.

So many Christians find their joy in how many hours the volunteered their time serving people.

But I hope you see this major point from the text:

People are not just a way to achieve some greater goal, people are the goal.

Paul’s ministry report does not contain how many people made professions of faith.