Sermon Tone Analysis

Pre intro:

Present yourself.

Name.

RTS.

Family.

Visiting Family.

Thank the Congregation for having you, and Matt for inviting you.

(In a way, this sermon is going to honor him as a minister of Christ)

Acknowledge Mother’s Day.

The Sermon is entitled A Mother-like Ministry.

Although it will have a special emphasis on motherhood, it is an exposition of an Apostolic Defense.

In that sense, it is an expository sermon.

And insofar as it is that, it is, therefore, applicable to all of us here.

Furthermore, 1 Thess 1:6 says:

Intro: A couple of things to know about today’s text:

For the Thessalonian Church

Founded in Paul’s 2nd missionary journey as narrated in Acts 17.

Paul spent at least a month there, some commentator speculate that he could have spent more than a month there before moving elsewhere.

However, as we will see, the relationship and love he develop with the Thessalonian church was deep.

Paul was made to flee that place because of the hard opposition to the Gospel that some Jews still had.

As I said before, the text we are going to read today is an apostolic defense.

Hence, by the time Paul is writing this, there are still some people that are trying to convince the church there that Paul does not have a real authority, nor a real ministry.

His defense argument consist in a series of contrast between what his ministry is not, and what his ministry is.

At the discourse-level the center of the argument comes in verse 7 when he compares his ministry to a nursing mother.

Hence, at many points in this sermon, I will speak about both appreciation for motherhood and mothers, as well as about appreciation for ministry and ministers.

So, too things to be attentive to while I read the text for us this morning:

Look for the not this but that…

See how verse 7 is a culmination of all what precedes concerning the argument.

My purpose this morning is simple:

To convince you that, because the ministry of motherhood is a vivid image of the gospel, we ought live appreciating it.

We appreciate it by valuing its calling

We appreciate it by imitating it’s character

We appreciate it by considering it’s content

With this in mind, let us read from 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 (ESV)

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Prayer:

Father, God.

As we come to the text this morning, we ask that your Spirit may visit us.

Give me strength to preach, give me wisdom to discern your text.

As I place some special emphasis on honoring mothers this morning, make it so, nonetheless, a sermon that is deeply rooted in Scripture, and not in my own imaginations.

Be glorified, Lord, and nurture your church through your word, for they are yours, and you are theirs, and they look to you.

Bless me, Oh Lord, for I need your blessing.

In Christ Jesus we pray, Amen.

We Appreciate Motherhood by Valuing its Calling

2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

Paul begins his apostolic defense by explaining that having come to the church in Thessalonica was not in vain.

He reminds the church in Thessalonica of two important things.

First, that the purpose of him being there, the message he carried with him was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hence, reminding the Thessalonian church, and us, that the Gospel bring an intrinsic value to everything we do, especially ministry-wise.

Sometimes we might be tempted to ask ourselves if praying for such and such is worth it.

If sharing the gospel is still needed if someone is not likely to repent.

If coming to church is still “a thing” especially after surviving without it for so long.

Here’s Paul’s response: The gospel makes ministry valuable.

As long as the gospel is present, the work is not in vain.

Second, that sharing the gospel came at a price.

Paul reminds them that their visit to share the gospel of Jesus took place after they had suffered and been mistreated in Philippi.

Later, in Thessalonica, they also encountered much opposition.

Mom, as your ministry to your children focuses on sharing the gospel, remember that everything you have done, do, and will do will not be in vain!

Certainly, there will be opposition.

There will be difficult seasons; some more than others.

There will be pressure from the world not to raise your children as the Word commands.

But God can provide to you with the courage to continue sharing the gospel with your children, in word and with your way of life.

For the rest of Us:

How does this challenges our view of both ministry and motherhood?

Many of us think of other vocations as worthy to pursue, and that’s fine!

We need all kinds of people in the church, but…what about being a mom? what about being a minister?

How highly do we think of these vocations?

How often do we thank the Lord for raising people that delight in doing these things!

So, how do we show appreciation for both motherhood and ministry?

Let me share some ideas:

In addition to setting apart a day like today to celebrate mom,

Pray for her, thank her, help her.

Husbands, ask her how her day was, and listen to them.

Children, obey.

Let’s start there.

Adult children, ask for counsel.

Many of these are also things you can do for your minister.

Pray for him, thank him, ask him about his needs.

So, as long as the gospel is present, two things are to be expected: motherhood and the ministry are valuable and opposition will come.

So, how did Paul have the courage to continue sharing the gospel in the midst of such difficult circumstances?

We appreciate Motherhood by imitating it’s character

From God

3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,

4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,

One reason Paul can stand firm in the ministry the Lord has given him to the church is precisely because he considers the origin or source of his ministry.

Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica that his ministry does not proceed from error, from impurity, nor is it from deception.

Rather, the Lord has approved of his ministry to care for his children in the faith.

God has entrusted Paul with the gospel to share it with the members of that congregation.

In other words, Paul's assurance and encouragement is not found in himself, nor in the congregation he loves; but in the God who is the source of the gospel.

Mom, in difficult seasons, when you don't want the burden that comes with the blessing, remember this:

your ministry comes from God.

The Lord has entrusted you with the gospel to share with your children, regardless of their age.