May 13, 2007 message by Pastor Fred Goldschmidt.
The church is a safe place to grow!
Today we're going to look at two passages involving the Thessalonian church. Paul's first encounter with the Thessalonians is recorded in Acts 17. Soon after his personal visit there, he wrote a letter to the same people—this letter we know of as 1 Thessalonians.
Paul traveled to a prosperous, culturally rich area of Greece called Thessalonica.
After preaching several leading people became Christians. Shortly thereafter, however, crowds of people formed and beginning making riots and throwing fits and making false accusations.
They even dragged a guy out by the name of Jason and accused him irrationally of aiding and abetting things they did not like. The tantrums became so intense that Paul and his friends had to leave town at night.
They arrive the next morning at Berea and found a wonderful reception. This is what they said about the Thessalonians:
"These were more noble minded than those in Thessalonica, for they examined the Scriptures to see if they were so" Acts 17:11
This doesn't exactly look favorably upon the Thessalonians! They were not "noble minded"! It would sad if this was the end of the Thessalonian church. Take a look at the words Paul uses to describe some of the same people in his later letter:
1Thessalonians1:2-4 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.
1Thessalonians2: 17-20 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you— certainly I, Paul, did, again and again— but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
This sounds a lot like a Mother's Day card...
Flowery as can be—this from a kid who gave you nothing but trouble the week before.
This historical account is one of the most hope filled stories in the Bible—this same group of people who acted so incredibly badly, became the group of people Paul referred to as his glory and joy!
It is another version of Paul's story: having started out as a violent destroyer of the Christian message, only to become the greatest apostle of the Christian Church.
It is the story of the disciples...
- From rough and tumble
- Sons of Thunder
- To pillars of the church
It is the story of so many people in the Bible and in our life time...
- Who went from being addicts and criminals; delinquents and whores;
- To citizens, adults, Sunday School teachers even evangelists, pastors.
This a story of hope because we see the raucous, ignorant behavior in our nation
- Our schools
- Our homes
And we see the same people coming to Christ and being made new creations.
One wonders: What transpired in Paul's time that enables a group like the fighting Thessalonians to become this precious people of God? In reality, what transported had to do with something Paul did, and something the people did
Paul gave them a safe place to grow:
A. A safe place to grow
1Thessalonians2:7-9 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Paul and his friends created a place of safety for reprobate people to find the love they needed to grow and become a crowning achievement. If there is anything our world needs today, it is a church where the Word of God is clearly presented in an atmosphere of tenderness and love.
Take a closer look at what brought about this incredible change:
1. Paul clearly presented the Gospel 2:2-5
Paul knew that the Gospel was the only message that would matter to a lost world.
There were certainly other messages, truths:
- What's wrong with entertainment
- Scientific developments of the day
- Political speeches
- Global warming
But only the Good News that Jesus came and died for our sins...
that we have the opportunity to be new creations;
that what we now know as the Bible can solve the problems of the world, and turn
idol worshiping heathens into trophies of God's grace.
The same is true of today.
Every problem you see; every lost man woman and child...
The answer for them is the Gospel.
Paul did not flatter them with fancy words (v. 5)
Nor was Paul intimidated by their resistance (v 2)
He told them the way it is, yet the way that he spoke invited them to come closer to God!
Many people come through our doors in order to see if they get rejected and condemned here, just like they have in other places. When they find the message of forgiveness and love they can't help but return.
2. Paul tenderly cared for the people
For Paul, this meant more than mere words!
He proved to be tender v. 7
This was not just words—but actions. He proved it; he didn't just say it!
This compares to a mother's love—which cannot give up no matter how badly the child behaves. With this in mind, Paul and his friends tenderly cared for new and not yet believers
He worked day and night
He gave when it was not reasonable.He shared when it was not rational.He spared none of his own expense for their well being. More than that...
We gave you our lives v. 8
This is the kind of place the world out there needs in order to become what the Thessalonians became.
A church should be a safe place
Where there is singing to one another and encouraging words here
Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Where the happy and the suffering gather in the same pew
James 5:13-14 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
Where failures are not fatal and mistakes are forgiven
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Where bad behavior is corrected in a loving manner
1Thessalonians 2:11-12 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
2 Tim 2:25 ... with gentleness correct those who are in opposition
Where the stress of divisiveness is keep outside
2 Tim 2:24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
Phil 3:2—beware of the dogs...
- Pit bulls—People who tear others apart with their mouth
- Show dogs—Prettied up on the outside; good for nothing outside of the lime light.
- Yippie little lap dogs—All mouth, no action- they never stop barking
- Prairie dogs—Seem like they're everywhere—until there's a job to do—then they scoot right back down their hole
- Pointer dogs—All they do is point out everyone else' problem
- Greyhound—Running round in circles never realizing it's an endless rabbit trail
Yet it is not enough just to have this safe place. There also needs to be a response for those who hear.
B. A people who grow
1. They accepted the truth 2:13
The Bible is true whether anyone accepts it or not. The power and relevance to the Gospel remains with or without human acceptance.
But when it is accepted on its own merits, it works wonders no other message can.
Gravity, for instance, is real even if you don't accept it.
Even the traffic laws are laws if we don't accept it! And we suffer consequences if we ignore them.
The Thessalonians became significant because they accepted the Gospel for what God said it is: the truth!
Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Rom 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."
Yes the Bible is old fashioned and hard to understand—and sometimes confusing.
But it is the way to know God. It is the source of what you need to know God!
But if you are to grow in this safe place, you have to do your part:
- Listen to God's word
- Read Gods word
- Memorize God's world
- Let it work in you!
2. They changed their lives 1:9
This may come as some surprise to people who first come to Christ: You must not stay the way you were.
Even though the message comes with tenderness, it is still the truth. Even though this is a place of love and acceptance, your previous ways of life are not acceptable in the new life.
What makes a Christian is not one who believes the Bible, but one who walks the Bible. These people lived the Gospel so well that they became examples to the older believers. (1:6-7)
It's wonderful to see a new believer taking in the Word of God and sharing his faith. But at the same time, it's possible to realize you yourself are not reading the Word.
Are you sharing your faith? The question is valid: Are you walking your faith as you should? Do you worship with the enthusiasm you did when you got saved? Do you read the word daily as you should?
Who is the better example of a believer: you or the youth group?
I say this to point out one other aspect of the safe and caring atmosphere of the Thessalonian church.Paul continually urged them further:
- Grow deeper in your walk (4:1)
- Grow stronger in love (4:9-10)
Let's make this a safe place for beat up, ignoble people to come. Let's continue to grow here. Let's not let moss grow in our walk with God. Let's keep fervent in our love for God and our love for people.