Sermon Tone Analysis

First-century Roman cities were chalk-full of traveling philosophers, magicians, and religious enthusiasts who gained their livelihood from public teaching.

Ancient literature often associates such teachers with greed and immorality.

They amassed wealth and notoriety because they spoke eloquently and people liked what they had to say.

A lot of these traveling teachers would argue both sides of a debate, it didn’t matter to them.

The truth wasn’t a consideration; their teaching would shift according to the desires of whatever group of people was in front of them.

As long as they could gain a following and make some money, they were good.

They gladly mocked their opponents, they would cajole and convince the weak-willed, engage in untoward behavior with their followers, and mooch off the rich.

Not a lot has changed in the 20 centuries that have passed since that time.

People exactly like the charlatans in the ANE have infiltrated the gathering of Christ’s people today (wolves in sheep’s clothing), teaching falsehood and foolishness, telling people what they want to hear, ignoring and approving of blatant sinfulness.

Paul warns Timothy of the coming reality:

2 Tim 4:3-4 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Paul is careful to distinguish his ministry (and that of Silas and Timothy) from the popular teachers of the day.

The news Paul and his colleagues brought was truly good news—the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They came, not with greed, not seeking a platform, not eager to make money or to schmooze the wealthy; they came to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

They weren’t doing it for themselves, to make their name great.

Paul and Silas and Timothy went on this missionary journey to make God’s name great.

They suffered and struggled and put their lives on the line for the sake of the LORD and His glory; they ministered for the sake of others, that others might come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, repent, and be saved.

That kind of ministry—Gospel Ministry—is always worth it, because the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16-17).

Now, it should be noted that some people think there’s a tone of defensiveness here from Paul, as if his reputation is being sullied.

We all know gossips gossip and people people.

But there’s no evidence in this letter that Paul is writing to rehabilitate his reputation, like he had to do in his second letter to the the church in Corinth.

Some people think Paul is being defensive here.

I am not one of those people.

I fall firmly into the camp of people who believe that Paul is simply reminding the Thessalonians of his ministry among them, in order to show them the truth and beauty of gospel, and how worthy God is of our faithful ministry, even if/when we suffer for it.

If you have your Bible (and I hope you do), please turn to 1 Thessalonians.

If you’re able and willing, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Holy Word:

May the LORD add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!

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If you’re taking notes, you’ll notice the sermon outline appears to have 8 points.

Let’s call the two headings “points” and the actual points “sub-points.”

This way, you can tell your friends it was a nice 2-point sermon instead of having to say, “That mostly bald preacher made us listen to an 8-point sermon!”

But between you and me, it’s an 8-point sermon.

And whether it’s 2-points or 8-points, it’s going to take 25-30 minutes.

Writing to these new Thessalonian believers, Paul describes Gospel Ministry in two categories.

First

Gospel Ministry is for the Glory of God

This is primary for Paul and Silas and Timothy.

What makes their ministry distinct, different from the philosophers of the day, is that they aren’t in it for themselves.

In fact, they’d place themselves at the bottom of the list.

What’s most important for them (and for other faithful ministers of the gospel) is that God be glorified, that many people would hear the preaching/ proclamation/ sharing of the Good News about Jesus and would experience the salvation offered to those whom God has called.

The aim of gospel ministry is that the name of the LORD would be magnified.

Like our good friend, John the Baptist, said: “He must increase, I must decrease.”

If ministry builds a large platform for the one ministering, puts their name up in lights, fills their bank account, puts a private jet or two in their private hangar, spreads their fame, something wrong.

I like what Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf wrote (I also like his name): “Preach the gospel.

Die.

Be forgotten.”

It’s not about us; it can’t be.

Gospel ministry is ultimately, primarily, before-anything-else about giving glory to God.

No one knows this better than Paul who makes clear

Gospel Ministry is Dependent upon Him (vv.

1-2)

Paul trusts the Thessalonians remember their visit and how Paul and Silas and Timothy handled themselves while they were with them.

When Paul & Company arrived in Thessalonica, they had just left Philippi.

More accurately, they had been treated outrageously there and then asked to leave.

In Philippi, Paul and Silas were beaten, arrested, chained in prison.

In prison, Paul and Silas were singing and praying one night and a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the prison doors flew open, all the chains fell off, the jailer was converted to Christ.

And then the city officials learned that Paul was a Roman citizen so they had to let him go and apologize to him.

But they still made these gospel rabblerousers leave the city.

Paul brings up how horribly they were treated in Philippi to let the Thessalonians know that he and Silas, after being kicked out of town for preaching the gospel, just kept on preaching the gospel.

From the city gates of Philippi, they followed the Lord’s prompting and headed on to Thessalonica.

Paul knows (and wants his readers to know) that this gospel ministry is utterly dependent upon the LORD.

His boldness was not self-generated.

He’s not pulling himself up by the bootstraps; he’s depending upon God.

It’s as he writes in verse 2: but with the help of God we dared to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition.

That’s how any of this happens—with the help of God.

Anyone who is involved in gospel ministry knows this to be true: Without God’s help, without His sovereign strength, there is no way to keep on.

There’s no way we can do any of this with any level of effectiveness apart from Him.

We are dependent upon Him—to preach, to teach Sunday School, to lead a Bible study, to share the gospel.

Pastors, preachers, missionaries, teachers, evangelists—all dependent upon Him.

Gospel Ministry is Responsible to Him (vv.

3-5)

Paul, nor Silas, nor Timothy had any devious intention among the Thessalonians.

They weren’t looking for money or food or a place to say; they weren’t making false promises like the false teachers of the day would have done.

These men came to the Thessalonians with the gospel, not with error or impure motives.

This missionary team wasn’t trying to trick the Thessalonians.

Rather, Paul writes, they had been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

Notice how Paul phrases this.

He says they had been approved by God, that God tested/examined [their] hearts, and that God is [their] witness.

This trio of preachers is aware that they are stewards.

They aren’t in charge; they don’t own the message.

They are stewards of the gospel.

The gospel isn’t theirs to change or tweak or modify in any way.

What they did, the message they shared, the way they lived—Paul viewed his entire life as responsible to God.

He is, they are, accountable to God.

Gospel Ministry is Willing to Suffer for Him (vv.

2, 9)

We’ve already talked about their treatment in Philippi (v. 2), but suffering seasons Paul’s life like salt on movie theater popcorn; it’s all over.

In verse 9, Paul recalls the toil and hardship they faced while they were in Thessalonica with them.

Paul was unconcerned about his own comfort.

It’s not that Paul and Silas and Timothy were insane; it’s that they were faithful.

One definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting different results.”

They were beaten in Philippi for preaching the gospel.

They didn’t expect to be treated nicely in 20 miles down the road in Thessalonica; if they did expect a warm welcome, we could call them insane.

What they are is faithful.

Those in gospel ministry are willing to suffer, they know they’re going to suffer, they know it’s going to be hard work, much of it unseen and a great deal of it entirely unappreciated.

But as gospel-workers who labor for the sake of God’s glory, those in gospel ministry are willing to suffer.

It’s what they sign-up for.

Gospel Ministry Desires to Please Him (vv.

4-6)

One sure-fire way to draw a crowd is to tell them what they want to hear, give them “3 Easy Steps to a Better Life,” promise them health and wealth and prosperity, and do all this under the banner of religion and you’ll fill that stadium in no time.

On the flip side, Paul states three times his team’s motivation:

Verse 4: We are not trying to please people but God.

Verse 5: You know we never used flattery.