Sermon Tone Analysis

What Do Healthy Church Members Look Like?

Paul says that He uses the church of Thessalonica as an example to other churches of a church worthy of emulating (v.

4).

In noting what Paul praises about this church we can see what a healthy church members looks like.

“What Does A Healthy Church Look Like?”

2 Thessalonians.

1:1-4

It is hard to know what it takes to be healthy these days.

Almost every week we hear how some-thing is either good or bad for us.

I don’t know either good or bad for us.

I don’t know whether to eat gluten or not eat gluten.

In fact, I am not sure what gluten is.

Do I go low carbs or should I load up on carbs?

Should I be a vegetarian and give up all meats or go even further and be a vegan and even give up all animal products such as milk and eggs?

And after all what is a healthy weight?

I look-ed on the charts for what it says I should weigh and the last time I weighed that I was 17!

The same can be said of a healthy church members .

Before we turn to the text and since this is the beginning of a new study we need a little back-ground to this letter.

This letter is addressed to believers living in the city of Thessalonica, Thessalonica is in the northern part of Greece.

In Paul’s day it was the capital of Macedonia.

In our day the city is called Thessaloniki and it is the second most important city of Greece.

It was a major city located on a chief highway between Rome and Constantinople.

Paul’s first letter sent by Timothy was written to encourage these new believers to remain faithful and give them practical encouragements for Christian living in the light of Christ’s return.

After delivering the letter Timothy returned to Paul with a report that these believers have additional questions concerning the Lord’s return and the second letter was written to answer these questions.

look at vs 4

What Do Healthy Church Members Look Like?

I Keep On Gathering with the Church.

(1:1-2)

The letter is addressed “to the church of the Thessalonians.”

The word “church” is one of the most common words in the New Testament occur-ring over 100 times.

It appears first in Matthew 16 where Jesus says, “upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt.

16:18).

The last time the word “church” appears on the last page of the New Testament in the book of Revelation where Jesus says, “send this message to the churches, ‘I AM the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star.” (Rev.

22:16).

The Greek word for church is (ecclesia) and means “the called out ones.”

Believers are called out to live a different kind of life.

God is of course everywhere but there is a special sense of His presence when His Church gathers together.

The healthy Chris-tians are the ones who stand fast in hard times.

If they have a problem with the leadership of the church or a member in the church, they work it out rather than run away or bad-mouth the church or people in it.

Lloyd John Ogilvie , in his commentary on the book of Mark says something very significant.

"The Church is not a channel of inspiration for uninvolved observers, but a communion of involved participants.

Our language betrays us.

We say we go to church, give to the church, support the cause of the church, attend the church.

Not so!

We are the Church.

But a strange thing has happened over the years of history.

The Church is now a programmed presentation which can be attended.

Today, we have become sermon-evalua-tors, music appreciators, Bible students, (followers of certain Christian leaders), without commitment to a family.

This letter begins with by identifying the two blessings that Paul almost always mentions in the opening of his letters, “grace” and “peace” (v.

2).

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

But this is more than just a greeting it is a statement that sums up the Gospel that Paul preached.

What Do Healthy Church Members Look Like?

II Keep on Growing in Faith.

(1:3a)

Paul describes their faith with a complex verb (hyperauxanei) which means “superabundant.”

When we first begin our walk of faith we are spiritual infants but we can’t stay there we must grow.

Charles Spurgeon noted three inconveniences of a little faith, which supply us with reasons for us to grow our faith.

1.

Little assurance of salvation.

This doesn’t mean they are not right with God (we are saved by grace not by our confidence).

They don’t see God working in their lives, so they have no confidence.

A lack of confidence inhibits joy and increases fear.

2. Seldom attempt to do things for God.

Believer’s with little faith do not see the importance and cannot hear the prompting of God’s Spirit.

They also tend to be tentative in their commitment to the work of the Lord in the local church.

3. Apt to stumble when tempted to sin.

Believer’s with little faith have trouble distinguishing the difference between the voice of God and the voice of the tempter.

They do not have good handle on the Word of God, so they are much more susceptible to error.

No one wants to stay in a state of “little faith” so the question becomes, “How does one grow a “little faith” into a great faith?”

Of course it is God who is the cause of spiritual growth but there are things we can do to facilitate growth.

1.

In order for faith to grow it must have

a steady diet of God’s Word.

It has been noted that “Most Christians feed their body three hot meals a day and their spirit one cold snack a week.

And they wonder why their faith is weak”

Most products we buy this days comes with instruction manual usually at the front of that document is found the word, “Read This First!”

If we want to grow it is essential that we consult the manual.

But unfortunately we treat the Bible the same way we do instruction manuals we only consult it when something goes wrong.

2. Faith grows through Prayer.

We accept the value of prayer and yet we seldom pray.

We have made prayer into a stuffy formal conversa-tion instead of an ongoing conversation with a friend.

3. Faith grows through association with other believers.

Scripture says that as Believers we have a responsibility to be a positive influence to other Believers.

Keep on growing your faith….

What Do Healthy Church Members Look Like?

III Keep On Showing Love.

(1:3b)

“…and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.”

Another way for faith to grow is in being exercised in loving ministry to other people.

“Behold how they love one another’ was the confession of pagan world as it beheld the miracle of Christian fellowship.

An important principle was that their suffering persecution did not prevent them from sharing love with others who were suffering.

“The importance of love was highlighted by a life philosophy that has made the rounds on the Internet in recent years.

First, readers are asked to name the five wealthiest people in the world, the last five winners of the Heisman Trophy, the last five Miss Americas, ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize, the last half-dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress, and the teams that won baseball’s World Series over the last ten years.

The point of these questions is to show that we remember few of these famous achievers because they are not important to our lives.

Then readers are asked to name a different class of people: a few teachers who aided your journey through school, three friends who helped you in a difficult time, five people who have taught you something worth-while, a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special, and five people you enjoy spending time with.

These are questions for which we have answers!

Why?

Because the people who truly make a difference in our lives are not those with the most impressive credentials, the most money, or the most notoriety, but the ones who most express their care through acts of love.”

[Phillips.

Reformed Expository Commentary.

pp.

277)

What Do Healthy Church Members Look Like?

IV Keep On Standing Firm.

“so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.”

Remember that Paul is writing to young church that is undergoing persecution.

The encouragement to “endure” means to “stand up under”- would have special meaning to them.

So, How is it possible to stand in the times of trial?