2023 Autumn Sermon Series

As we begin our journey through 1 Thessalonians we’re immediately presented with the foundation for all this, the location of believers ‘in Christ,’ bringing security, identity, privilege, inheritance and so on. If we want to emulate the Thessalonians in their exemplary faith, we must first focus on their rootedness, that by Spirit worked conviction of the same gospel we might bear much fruit.

This week we discover more of what made the Thessalonians a model church. Through the Spirit’s empowering, they received the gospel word with joy, abandoning the false faith of idols to serve the true and living God, regardless of the cost. Secondly, the responded to the gospel in following after the pattern of the Apostle’s life and faith, living out present faith with future hope. Thirdly, they took responsibility for the gospel, its message ringing out from their doorstep and beyond, their faith became ‘known everywhere’. As a church family serving the same ‘true and living God,’ sharing the same faith and hope, the church in Thessalonica provides a pattern for our life and ministry, under God we have received the gospel, may we likewise respond to it and resound with it.

The Thessalonian church became a model church as they imitated the apostle’s response to the gospel. This week we learn that Paul and Silas’ ministry amongst them was marked by integrity, intimacy, industry and intent. The church planting team were not driven by personal progress nor people pleasing, but spoke with integrity as those entrusted with the gospel. In their approach they shared not only the gospel but their lives, loving and serving the church in the intimacy of relational bonds. Paul notes how hard they worked in order not to be a burden as they taught them, they came with great gospel driven industry. Finally, Paul had a purpose, intention, he was like a father among them to nurture them towards maturity. This model ministry, the example to the model church, provides the pattern for our own gospel response.

We considered the pattern of model ministry the apostle Paul had demonstrated among the Thessalonians, now we reflect on how they received it. What enabled them, like the churches in Judea, to withstand fierce opposition from their own people? It was because when they received the gospel, the good news of Jesus, from appointed human messengers, they accepted it not as the invention of men but as revelation from God, with all due authority and trustworthiness. It was this conviction that saw them exchange their idols for the true and living God, that saw their lives impacted as they paid heed to His voice, that saw them hold fast to it even in the face of pressure. If the word of Christ has its origin in God, the unchanging Alpha and Omega, then it is certain, worthy to be received, and more precious than any cost to earthly comfort.

Acts 17 records the success of mission Thessalonica as both Jews and Gentiles came to faith in Christ, however, as much as the gospel was embraced, it was also rejected with great hostility. The apostle Paul and his team were forced to retreat. Being separated from the fledgling church was the cause of great distress for Paul, such was the depth of bond he had for them as one who cared for them as a mother and nurtured them as a father. United together in Jesus, the apostle longed for them and their thriving. We can imagine his relief as Timothy reported back to him the progress of the church and their enduring fondness for the team. Here is a model affection, a devotion patterned after Jesus, that is not only exemplary for leaders in the church today, but also the members. Paul prays that their love might ‘increase and overflow for each other,’ in the same way his does for them. Here is a model affection for the whole Church ‘in Christ’ to imitate.

The apostle Paul had great ambition for the church in Thessalonica, that they be the alternate city that Jesus calls his church to be, distinct from the world, advertising the gospel to the world. He wants this young church to live out the reality of their bonds by remembering their boundaries. Paul is a wise pastor, he knows that it is all too easy to sabotage progress, so in chapter 4, he urges them to keep on doing what they’re already doing, heeding his instruction for godly living. He reminds the believers of the importance of the distinctive ‘holy’ life, not least in sexual morality. If ever there was a force destructive to the distinctive witness of the church and to her bonds in the gospel, it is in this area. The good news is that God has graciously given his Spirit, to point the church to Jesus, the better story of love and faithfulness. As he has our hearts, so we’re moved to heed his loving command and live the bonded ‘holy’ life that demonstrates the power of the gospel word.

One of the significant issues dealt with in Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians is Jesus’ return, leading to speculation among his readers about the possibility of Jesus’ return being imminent. This raises an important question – if the world is going to end, how does that affect the way we live and behave in the meantime?

In 1 Thess. 4:9-12, Paul gives some practical advice about how to live until the Lord returns. He says that we should work at loving one another more and more -as brotherly love is the mark of the “model church”. He also says that we should be showing God’s love by our behaviour in our daily life and work. We are to have a tranquil temperament; mind our own business and get on with our daily work in order to win the respect of outsiders and not be a burden on anyone.

The believers in Thessalonica were a church of present faith and future hope. Throughout the letter Paul has referred to the expected return of the Lord Jesus, however, as eagerly anticipated as it was in the church, they were concerned, what of those who had died before the event? Had they missed out? Paul writes to put their anxious minds at ease and in so doing, reveals the glorious truth of resurrection hope. As God did not abandon Jesus to the grave, neither he will not abandon those ‘in him,’ those united to Christ by faith either, indeed his coming will be nothing short of a great day of reunion, past and present saints gathered to their Lord, to be with him forever. This is the gospel reality, this is comfort to our souls as we grieve those who have gone before, we are not without hope. Pauls urges the church to encourage one another in this truth, that it build in us a sense of expectation, renewed anticipation, and determination to live the now in light of the not yet.

In chapter 4 of Thessalonians we reflected on the good news of resurrection and reunion at the advent of Jesus. We grieve but not without hope, we grieve differently. In chapter 5 the Apostle Paul continues the subject of the expected return of Jesus, turning his attention to how believers are to live in light of the coming day. We live differently. Anticipating the unpredictable (like a ‘thief in the night’) and unavoidable (like ‘labour pains’) breaking in of the new order of Jesus’ reign, we bear up under the groaning of this age in faith that the brighter day is coming, all will be made right. As children of light our heads don’t drop in despair nor distraction, but our eyes look forward in the hope of salvation and our hearts look outward in Christ-echoing love. Awake and alert we encourage one another in the now until the dawn of the not yet.

We bring our series in 1 Thessalonians to a conclusion with the rapid-fire instructions the Apostle Paul has for the church. Perhaps they seem a bit random or hurried on first reading, however, further reflection reveals that Paul is providing a blue-print for life for the believers, how they live together in Christ until they are gathered together with Christ. Throughout Paul refers to the church as ‘brothers and sisters’, remarkable in itself, their background couldn’t be more different, yet in Christ they are family. As such, they’re called to live out their bonds in the everyday, in robust relationships, pursuing peace, patience and prayer, striving for one anther’s good in lives marked by grace. As we shape our lives by these gospel distinctives, so we become an alternate, attractive community shining out with the character of Christ. We become a compelling people, advertising to all the goodness of Jesus. We become less a place to attend, more a hope filled family to be a part of.