An Exemplary Servant of Christ
1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 Thessalonians 2: 1-12
1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 (NLT)
1 You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!
6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.
10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.
11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
Topic: An Exemplary Servant of Christ.
Introduction:
I- The model servant will continue to be a bold witness even when trials come. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) ).
I- The model servant will continue to be a bold witness even when trials come. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2) ).
1 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (NLT)
1 You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.
2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
A. Past trials do not negate the call and commands of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:2 A ).
A. Past trials do not negate the call and commands of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:2 A ).
1 Thessalonians 2:2 (NLT)
2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
1. God's will for you does not change because of what you have been through.
2. Past experiences do not change the commands of God.
3. Past trials do not negate God's word.
a- Paul remained consistent in his message and true to his calling, even though his trials were severe.
B. Present trials do not negate the call and command of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:2b)
B. Present trials do not negate the call and command of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:2b)
1 Thessalonians 2:2b (NLT)
2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
1. Never compromise what you know. God's will to be because of your present circumstances.
2. Never conform to this world. Because the going gets rough. (Romans 12: 1-2 ).
Romans 12:1–2 (NLT)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
II- The model servant will communicate the gospel in a way that is consistent with his call. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 ).
II- The model servant will communicate the gospel in a way that is consistent with his call. (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:3–6 (NLT)
3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!
6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
A. He will be careful in handling the message. (1 Thessalonians 2:3 ). (2 Timothy 2: 15 ).
A. He will be careful in handling the message. (1 Thessalonians 2:3 ). (2 Timothy 2: 15 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:3 (NLT)
3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
1. Modifying God's message is a dangerous act. (Revelation 22: 18.; Deuteronomy 4: 2.; Deuteronomy 12: 32; Proverbs 30: 6 ).
Revelation 22:18 (NLT)
18 And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.
Deuteronomy 4:2 (NLT)
2 Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 (NLT)
32 “So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to them or subtract anything from them.
Proverbs 30:6 (NLT)
6 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.
a. It is dangerous to the one who does the modifying.
b. It is dangerous to those who hear the message that has been modified.
1) It can make the difference between eternity in heaven and eternity in hell.
2. Modifying God's Word can be done unintentionally.
a. The Bible warns us to study diligently. ( 2 Timothy 2: 15 ).
2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)
15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
3. Be careful when listening to someone teach the Bible.
a. Always compare their teachings against scripture.
b. Always compare other scriptures having to do with the same subject.
1) Example of the Bereans. (Acts 17: 11 ).
Acts 17:11 (NLT)
11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.
B. He will be committed to pleasing the one who called him. (1 Thessalonians 2:4 ).
B. He will be committed to pleasing the one who called him. (1 Thessalonians 2:4 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)
4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.
1. Every servant must make a choice concerning who he will please.
a. He can seek to please men, or he can seek to please God. (2 Timothy 2: 4 ). (2 Timothy 4: 2- 5 ).
2 Timothy 2:4 (NLT)
4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.
2 Timothy 4:2–5 (NLT)
2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
b. He will be judged for his decision. ( 2 Corinthians 5:10.; James 3: 1 ).
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT)
10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
James 3:1 (NLT)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2. Pleasing the master involves a number of factors.
a. The first factor is his personal walk with Christ.
b. The second factor is his relationship with other believers.
c. The third factor is his testimony outside the church.
d. The 4th factor is his handling of God's word.
C. He will not modify his convictions for worldly gain. (1 Thessalonians 2:5 ).
C. He will not modify his convictions for worldly gain. (1 Thessalonians 2:5 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:5 (NLT)
5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!
1. He must keep his view on eternity.
a. Like Moses. (Hebrews 11: 27 ).
Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)
27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
2. He must realize that everything in this world will pass away.
D. He will not seek personal glory. (1 Thessalonians 2: 6 ).
D. He will not seek personal glory. (1 Thessalonians 2: 6 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:6 (NLT)
6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
1. There is only one who deserves to receive glory.
2. It can be costly to rob God of his glory.
a. Remember what it cost Moses.
III- The model servant will care for those to whom. Administers God's Word. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 ).
III- The model servant will care for those to whom. Administers God's Word. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:7–12 (NLT)
7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.
10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.
11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
A. He will cherish them the way a mother does her children. (1 Thessalonians 2:7 ).
A. He will cherish them the way a mother does her children. (1 Thessalonians 2:7 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NLT)
7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
1. The Lord will create a love in his servant's heart for those he serves. ( 1 John 3: 11 ).
1 John 3:11 (NLT)
11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
2. He will love them, even when they are bad.
a. Like Jesus in the song. “Jesus loves me”
“Jesus loves me when I'm bad,
Though it makes him very sad;
He will wash away my sin;
Let his little child come in.”
B. He will invest his life in theirs. (1 Thessalonians 2:8 -9 ).
B. He will invest his life in theirs. (1 Thessalonians 2:8 -9 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:8–9 (NLT)
8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.
9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.
1. The motivation for the investment is pure.
2. The attitude for making the investment is contagious.
3. The investment is personal.
4. The relationships formed in the investment make it all worth the while.
5. The investment is done for the benefit of the recipients. (1 Thessalonians 2:9 ).
C. He will uphold the standards he preaches. (1 Thessalonians 2:10 ).
C. He will uphold the standards he preaches. (1 Thessalonians 2:10 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:10 (NLT)
10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.
(ὑμεῖς μάρτυρες καὶ ὁ θεός, ὡς ὁσίως καὶ δικαίως καὶ ἀμέμπτως ὑμῖν τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἐγενήθημεν,)
1. It is important that the servant of God lives what he teaches.
a. Notice the adjectives used.
1) devout (ὁσίως = pertaining to being holy in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essentially divine qualities in contrast with what is human—‘holy, pure, divine.)
2) honest. (δικαίως = pertaining to being right as the result of being justified and deserved—‘right, just)
3) faultless. (ἀμέμπτως = pertaining to being without fault or blame—‘blameless, without blame, innocent, guiltless)
D. He will seek to help them grow in Christ. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ).
D. He will seek to help them grow in Christ. (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 ).
1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NLT)
11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
(11 καθάπερ οἴδατε ὡς ἕνα ἕκαστον ὑμῶν ὡς πατὴρ τέκνα ἑαυτοῦ
12 παρακαλοῦντες ὑμᾶς καὶ παραμυθούμενοι καὶ μαρτυρόμενοι, εἰς τὸ περιπατεῖν ὑμᾶς ἀξίως τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ καλοῦντος ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ βασιλείαν καὶ δόξαν.)
1. The methods used to help them grow:
a. Plead (παρακαλοῦντες = to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means—‘to encourage, to console, encouragement)
b. encouraged (παραμυθούμενοι = to cause someone to become consoled—‘to console, to comfort, to encourage.)
c. Urged. (μαρτυρόμενοι = to be emphatic in stating an opinion or desire—‘to insist)
2. The motivation used to help them grow.
a. Loving care, like a father for his children.
3. The message used to help them grow.
you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy
a. The call of God.
1) The call to salvation.
b. The walk of the believer. (Ephesians 4: 1 ).
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
1) Needs to be consistent with profession to be a Christian.
Conclusion: