Begin with a Great Example
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This morning I am beginning a series titled “A Great Church.” This series will come from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. Was Thessalonica a great church? I don’t know. I do know they were a good church and that Paul wanted them to be a great church. That is not to say he wanted something special from the Thessalonians; Paul wanted all churches to be great. But it is clear from this letter that he had a special place in his heart for the believers in Thessalonica. He recognized that they were an important church, if for no other reason because of its location.
Thessalonica was a key city in the Roman Empire. It had a large harbor, and was located on a major land trade route that connect the east and west. In the first century pagan religions were prevalent in Thessalonica and the surrounding region. This made it fertile soil for the gospel and the church as a whole.
You will hear me say this a number of times during this series; a great church does not men a big church. We do not know the size of the Thessalonian church in the mid first century. We do know that by the fourth century it was a large church and had significant influence over the Christian community. But no where in scripture are we told that to be great we must be big. No where are we told that only large churches are important or have value.
Adrian Rogers said in a sermon in 1988
Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive Introduction
Bellevue Baptist Church is a great church: not great because she’s big; perhaps big because she’s great; but a great church because she has a Great Commission, she has a great Lord, she has a great love, and she therefore has a great unity. And our church will continue to be great to the degree that we continue to be unified in our Lord, around His Word, and by doing His will, loving one another.
Over the next several weeks we will consider the nature, character, and activity of a great church, using what Paul tells the Thessalonians as a guide. This morning I want to focus on how a great church begins. Just like any sound building, an organization, including a church, must have a great foundation. The foundation of a building is normally concrete and steel. The foundation for a church is Christ and the example His agents.
As Paul begins this letter, we will see that he starts by recalling some examples the church in Thessalonica was built on, and continued to demonstrate.
A great church begins with a great example.
Prayer
Example of ministry
Example of ministry
Example of conduct
Example of conduct
Example of response
Example of response
Conclusion
Conclusion