Real World Proofs of Fruitful Preaching

Introduction:

Paul, the pastor, and concern over vain or futile preaching.

He often expressed worry about having preached in vain.

Galatians 2:2 NA28

ἀνέβην δὲ κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν· καὶ ἀνεθέμην αὐτοῖς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ κηρύσσω ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, κατʼ ἰδίαν δὲ τοῖς δοκοῦσιν, μή πως εἰς κενὸν τρέχω ἢ ἔδραμον.

1 Cor. 15:1-2 “Γνωρίζω δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ὃ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν, ὃ καὶ παρελάβετε, ἐν ᾧ καὶ ἑστήκατε, διʼ οὗ καὶ σῴζεσθε, τίνι λόγῳ εὐηγγελισάμην ὑμῖν εἰ κατέχετε, ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ εἰκῇ ἐπιστεύσατε.”

1 Thess. 2:1 “Αὐτοὶ γὰρ οἴδατε, ἀδελφοί, τὴν εἴσοδον ἡμῶν τὴν πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὅτι οὐ κενὴ γέγονεν,”

We know the hostile, volatile conditions under which the Thessalonian church came into existence.

One concern Paul had was that his time in Thessalonica had not been well-spent.

1 Thess. 3:1-5.

Paul “toggles” between memories he has about them, and he calls upon them to recall what they know to be true about him.

Genuine belief leads to real world evidence of its presence.

Thanksgiving to God

Paul’s expressions of thanksgiving to mark the opening of his letters becomes a convention.

Here we will see that it is not merely gratuitous.

As Paul reflects on the Thessalonian church, and their conduct, it becomes a source of thanksgiving.

While thanksgiving forms the main thought of the sentence, which does not change until, at the earliest, 1 Thess. 1:6, Paul places important details around it.

We should note his consistency.

“Always”

“Incessantly” (think about “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thess. 5:17 “ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε,” .

His thanksgiving took place during his habit of making mention of them in “our prayers.”

Two remaining participles (1 Thess. 1:3) and (1 Thess. 1:4) express the foundations of that thanksgiving.

“While remembering”

The content of that participle has led to the confidence expressed in 1 Thess. 1:4 and thus the second reason for thanksgiving.

Evidence of Fruitful Preaching

The triad of 1 Thess. 1:3 becomes important in later writings, echoed in Revelation.

Rev. 2:2 “οἶδα τὰ ἔργα σου καὶ τὸν κόπον καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου καὶ ὅτι οὐ δύνῃ βαστάσαι κακούς, καὶ ἐπείρασας τοὺς λέγοντας ἑαυτοὺς ἀποστόλους καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν καὶ εὗρες αὐτοὺς ψευδεῖς,”

Rev. 2:19 “οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην καὶ τὴν πίστιν καὶ τὴν διακονίαν καὶ τὴν ὑπομονήν σου, καὶ τὰ ἔργα σου τὰ ἔσχατα πλείονα τῶν πρώτων.”

How are we to understand what Paul has in mind?

Faith, hope, and love are present.

Work, labor, and endurance have consistent New Testament usage generally in the context of suffering tribulation.

Each item, more than likely, is not designed to stand on its own, per se.

This seems much more holistic applied to the Thessalonian situation.

Obedient behavior, presented as difficult, exhausting toil, taking the form of endurance of tribulation is what Paul has in mind.

All of this confirms for him their choice to remain faithful to the gospel and of their relationship with God.

He also gives them assurance that God loves them.

Conclusion:

Meaningful preaching should lead to the evidence of obedient behavior even under worst of extreme conditions.

An obedient congregation should be the cause of thanksgiving to God.