Sermon Tone Analysis

! LIVING IN THE HOPE OF CHRIST’S RETURN

!! Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-10

!! Subject: Ministry

!! Title: Authentic Ministry, Part 2

!

INTRODUCTION

!! Biblical Orientation:

!!! Let us review where we are in chapter two before we discuss verses 7-10

!!!  Acts 17 tells us that Paul, Silas, and Timothy went into Thessalonica and they preached the gospel and the city quaked.

Many believed the gospel; many did not.

The unbelieving Jews stirred up the city against the missionaries until their very lives were in danger, and so at the insistence of the brethren, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica at night and went to Berea, eventually Paul went to Athens

!!!

After their departure, Satan went to work on the young and struggling church by telling the believers that Paul did not care for them; that he was just another preaching mercenary, a charlatan, and a money-grabbing preacher~/philosopher using folks for selfish reasons.

At least, that was the accusation

!!!

Last week we preached in verses 1-6 and Paul said “No way!”

He reminds the people of their “entry” into Thessalonica that it was (V1) “not in vain.”

Then he undertakes the unpleasant task of defending their integrity against efforts to destroy his~/their reputation.

The further spread of the gospel in Greece depended on this being understood and set straight.

We learned in the first six verses two marks of authentic ministry:* *

!!!! ü Boldness - in the face of physical danger and in proclaiming the true gospel

!!!! ü Pure motives - not pleasing men but God; not being deceitful or seeking personal glory

!! Sermon Orientation:

!!! Now, in verses 7-10, we see three more characteristics of “for real” (authentic) ministry:

!!!! ü Motherly love – V 7-8

!!!! ü Manual labor – V 9

!!!! ü Manner of life – V 10

!

EXPOSITION~/MAIN TEXT

!

I. MOTHERLY LOVE –AUTHENTIC MINISTRY MANIFESTS LOVE AS A MOTHER LOVES CHILDREN V 7-8

!! A. An Honest Acknowledgment Regarding Some Fundamental Preachers

!!! 1.

In our day and age, unfortunately, many do not have a pastor that loves them nor have they ever had a pastor that loves them

!!! 2. It is not the call of a pastor to whip people into line

!!!! a.

That would be futile and an abuse of the office

!!!! b.

Paul says about ministers 2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand

!!! 3.

One thing should be acknowledged however:

!!!! a.

The pastor who lays down no parameters and who is willing to concede to anything with broadmindedness will be perceived as loving, but may be delinquent in his duty

!!!! b.

The pastor who preaches with fervor, dogmatism, and boldness will often be accused of lacking love

!!!! c.

The authentic minister will seek God to be diligent and true with love; “speaking the truth in love” Ephesians 4:15

!! B. Paul Describes His Love For The Thessalonians

!!! 1.* *Gentle as a nursing mother to her children

!!!! a. Do you know of a more tender scene that a mother clutching her baby and holding it tight?

!!!!! i.

The baby cannot provide for itself

!!!!! ii.

It is important that it is properly nourished

!!!!! iii.

Their abrupt departure precluded this from happening

!!!! b.

Here is how it could have been when Paul went to Thessalonica (sarcasm):

!!!!! ü “As an apostle of Christ the Anointed King, I, His apostle, preach and people get saved and assemble.

Okay, it is time you know who I am.

I am Paul, the apostle, abundant in revelation, more zealous that any, a master builder of the church.

Now just do as I say, believe what I teach, pay me, and we will get along fine and you will be a good church”

!!!! c.

However, Paul was gentle

!!!!! i.

He did not demand apostolic rights

!!!!!! ü 1 Timothy 5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.

And, The labourer/ is/ worthy of his reward

!!!!! ii.

Again, watch a loving mother with a young and tender child; gentle, caring, and kind

!!!! d. 2 Timothy 2:24 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all /men/, apt to teach…”

!!!! e.

In the next sermon, Lord willing, we shall see this does not mean a compromising tolerance, but a Christ-like grace and gentleness

!!! 2.* *Genuine affection gives and gives

!!!! a.

We have pointed out that love is a verb and that “Love gives”

!!!! b.

The accusation against Paul was that he was a taker; that he would use the people to minister to his needs and wants

!!!! c.

According to verse 8, he gladly gave (imparted) the gospel of God

!!!!! i.

That was the easy part

!!!!! ii.

Paul loved to share the good news

!!!! d.

He also says, they were dear to them

!!!!! i.

This means he could not stop at preaching the gospel

!!!!! ii.

They were willing to impart “our own souls”

!!!! e.

Some immediately think of Paul’s words of Israel in Romans 9

!!!!! i, That he could count himself accursed for their salvation

!!!!! ii.

In other words, to see the Jews saved, he would go to hell if he could

!!!!! iii.

However, that is not the meaning of verse 8

!!! 3. Soul = life; the innermost part

!!!! a. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of what they knew already – and you, listening today, know too

!!!! b.

You know there is a difference in one who gives out the Word as a matter of duty and another who casts his innermost self into it

!!!!! ü No momma called preachers

!!!!! i.

One holds a job

!!!!! ii.

The other puts his life into the work

!!!! c. *Authentic ministry does not preserve self, but spends itself to impart the gospel*