1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Faith: It's worth getting excited about.

Theological Proposition/Focus: God in his infinite wisdom has chosen to bring some believers to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and his offer of redemption.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: We need to be excited about faith, it is the single most important thing we are given.

Introduction: (Memory Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:2)

Setting the Stage:

The city of Thessalonica was known as a free city. That is, the city enjoyed a great deal of local autonomy from the Roman government. Within the city were Jews and Greeks. Mt Olympus is visible from the city and so there was a strong tendency toward idolatry.

Paul and Silas had a most interesting visit to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10)

Imagine the situation, Paul and Silas arrived in Thessalonica and as was his custom, Paul entered the synagogue and began reasoning that Jesus was the Messiah. Paul's arguments convinced several Jews and many Greeks. A new church was begun! However, some Jews enraged by jealousy began to oppose Paul and Silas. A riot was started and by evening it was decided that Paul and Silas should relocate 190 miles away into the city of Berea. But what about the new church? How would Paul encourage the new church to remain faithful to Christ?

The solution was simple. a young pastor, Timothy, was commissioned to travel between Paul and this new church in Thessalonica. After his first trip Timothy returned with good news. The church in the city of Thessalonica was thriving. In response Paul wrote a beautiful letter of Thanksgiving. In Greek the letter pops with devices like alliteration and the use of triads.

The Church in Thessalonica was an example of faith in the midst of opposition (1:1).

As we read through 1 Thessalonians we need to recognize that this letter would not have originally been a text stored in a library for deep exegesis but rather a script that Timothy was to read to a largely illiterate group of individuals. Yes, we will exegete the text, but while we do so we must always remember that there is an element of the text that is special when we read it as Timothy probably read it to the church in Thessalonica.

Consider the following excerpt from P65.

Papyrus 65 is (I believe) the oldest (3rd century) extant Manuscript of 1 Thessalonians 1. The manuscript is store in Florence Papyrological Institute. The Greek handwriting is well beyond my ability to distinguish but apparently others can read it enough to tell it is 1 Thessalonians 1.

Body

Faith, love, and hope are worth our time in prayer and thanksgiving (1:2-3).

The Christian life should be marked by regular, extended, strenuous times of prayer and Thanksgiving (2).

Verse 2 emphasizes more than just a loose "I'll pray for you"

Verse two begins with more than just a a loose Christian greeting that might be offered in passing "I'll pray for you." No, verse two is much more than that.

Continual prayer is not constant prayer but habitual prayer.

Almost immediately a question worth our consideration. What does the NIV mean by stating that "[we] continually mention you in our prayers?" Does this means that all Paul's time in prayer is spent mentioning Thessalonians? Clearly no, the idea here is that Paul takes time to regularly mention the Thessalonians. Paul is in the habit of praying for these people. Immediately I am struck by the need to make prayer habitual and to make the objects of our prayer regular.

Post Apostolic Christians provide us a valuable model.

In fact, Polycarp, on his arrest before his Martyrdom, asked if he could have some time to pray before being carried off and prayed for two hours!

His pursuers then, along with horsemen, and taking the youth with them, went forth at supper-time on the day of the preparation with their usual weapons, as if going out against a robber. Matthew 26:55 And having come about evening [to the place where he was], they found him lying down in the upper room of a certain little house, from which he might have escaped into another place; but he refused, saying, The will of God be done. Matthew 6:10; Acts 21:14 So when he heard that they had come, he went down and spoke with them. And as those that were present marvelled at his age and constancy, some of them said. Was so much effort made to capture such a venerable man? Immediately then, in that very hour, he ordered that something to eat and drink should be set before them, as much indeed as they cared for, while he besought them to allow him an hour to pray without disturbance. And on their giving him leave, he stood and prayed, being full of the grace of God, so that he could not cease for two full hours, to the astonishment of those who heard him, insomuch that many began to repent that they had come forth against so godly and venerable an old man.

When we offer prayer and thanksgiving, three items are worth our time (3).

Here Paul begins his first triad. In the triad Paul argues that Faith, Hope, and Love are not some abstract ideas with no bearing on the real world. No, instead, Faith, Hope, and Love drastically change the way we live. As such, Faith, Hope, and Love are vitally important.

The first element in the triad is faith. Faith, you see, will produce works. (Not the other way around!)

Faith naturally produces works.

The Christians in Thessalonica had been through terrible circumstances. Acts 17:5-9 describes physical and financial trials.

We see that the commitment to Christ, the faith, of Jason and his fellow believers resulted in the possible forfeiture of income.

Love naturally leads to labor.

As I read through Acts 17:5-9 I am struck by the love that Jason showed to Paul and Silas in protecting them. Love produces labor. We are willing to do things for those we love!

We must recognize that faith is in the Lord Jesus, love is in the Lord Jesus, and hope is in the Lord Jesus.

I want to make a point here! We don't have just some abstract notions or a general faith, love, or hope. No we have faith in something, we have love in something, we have hope in something.

If you leave here thinking all we need is love then I have missed my opportunity.

We need love in Christ, we need hope in Christ!

MTR: Shore up your foundation, pray and ask for prayer!

I don't want to disparage the question"How can I pray for you?"

It is a good question, but I do want you to realize that you already know 3 ways to pray for each person here. Pray that their faith grow, pray that their love would grow, and pray that their hope would grow.

The Gospel demands a response from each and every person (1:4-6).

Here Paul switches gears a little, but not really as much as you might think. You see our Faith, Love, and Hope are in Christ, what this boils down to is the Gospel and the Gospel demands a response.

The preaching of the Gospel is evidence of God's choice to save (4).

The phrase "For we know" might be translated as "We Acknowledge."

That is, Paul is saying that they acknowledge God's choice.

Two important truths emerge, the church in Thessalonica is like Israel and that they are both beloved and chosen.

In light of the opposition that Paul had faced in Thessalonica this is significant. The Jews held that they were loved and chosen by God but in fact, God has also loved and chosen each of us who place our faith in Christ Jesus.

The message of the Gospel is more than just words (5).

Okay, what I am about to say might be a little uncomfortable but I believe it is warranted.

Verse five reminds us that accepting Christ is not some magical incantation that once spoken magically moves someone from darkness to light.

No, the Gospel is more than just words.

The Gospel should also come with conviction, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The conviction is something like a deep confidence that can only be explained through the working of the Holy Spirit.

The minister of the Gospel is a model for those who are called (6).

Here Paul emphasizes that the Thessalonians received the message and imitated the apostles and ultimately Christ despite difficult circumstances. Paul then further argues that the joy expressed by the Thessalonians in the midst of difficult circumstances is evidence of their calling.

The recipient of the Gospel is forever changed (1:7-10)

The change brought about by the Gospel involves a change in loyalty (9).

Here we see what conversion looks like.

Conversion involves key steps.

Turn to the new object of faith.

More details on this new object are given in verse 10.