Sermon Tone Analysis

*“Confidence in the Gospel”*

*1 Thessalonians 1:5*

* *

*Introduction:  *How much confidence do you place in the gospel?

Would you say that the gospel is powerful?

The way we answer those two questions might very well determine weather or not we share Christ’s love with a dying world.

Tonight I want you to see what Paul says about having confidence in the gospel.

*I.

**The Gospel is not Simply Words to Share*

 

Notice what Paul says; “not in words only”!

What did he mean?

Yes the gospel is a message to be spoken with words according to Romans 10:14

 

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

But the words that we share are useless unless they are met with the power of God.

We cannot rely on…..

 

1.

Simply on speaking a clear message

2.       Simply on our own cleaver delivery

3.       Simply of the our charisma

 

This takes the pressure off of me and you doesn’t it?

*II.

**The Gospel is Reliant on the Power of the Spirit*

 

Paul tells the believers that their words were empowered.

First he tells us who empowered those words – the Holy Spirit!

Without the Holy Spirit power our words would just fall to the ground and produce nothing.

Jesus told us of the Spirit’s power in evangelism in *John 16:8-12** (NKJV)*

 

 

 

/“And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”/

Paul also spoke of the Spirit’s power giving him the confidence to preach the truth of the gospel.

So the power of the gospel is not from me but the Holy Spirit.

As *Johnny Hunt says*;

 

“I don’t have any more power to change a life that I do to create a star”

 

This takes the pressure off of me and you doesn’t it?

*III.

**The Gospel Should be Complimented by Our Lifestyle*

 

Notice Paul reminded the believers in Thessalonica that they knew very well how he lived among them.

The power of the gospel is hindered when you and I don’t live changed lives.

Sometimes we shrink back in sharing because we know that our life is not one that demonstrates a good example.

*IV.

**The Gospel is the Sake of the Lost*

 

Paul’s last reminder was also a motivation for the believers to share with others the gospel.

We share the gospel simply because we care enough about people not to let them die with Christ and descend into hell.