Churches don‟t just grow & prosper by themselves.

Churches don‟t just grow & prosper by themselves.

This evening, we want to think about a congregation that grew

& prospered—the Thessalonian church.

Churches don‟t just grow & prosper by themselves.

This evening, we want to think about a congregation that grew

& prospered—the Thessalonian church.

Paul, Silas, & those with them had been able to proclaim the gospel

in Thessalonica and begin a church there.

Churches don‟t just grow & prosper by themselves.

This evening, we want to think about a congregation that grew

& prospered—the Thessalonian church.

Paul, Silas, & those with them had been able to proclaim the gospel

in Thessalonica and begin a church there.

In tonight‟s text, Paul informs us what kind of words he used in

building the Thessalonian church.

1 THESSALONIANS 2:1-8

BOLD WORDS

vv 1-2

“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” (vv 1-2, ESV).

Paul‟s visit to Thessalonica had not been in vain.

Paul‟s visit to Thessalonica had not been in vain.

He had been able to convert many people in Thessalonica.

Even though Paul & his companions had been shamefully

treated in Philippi, they had courage to preach the gospel in

spite of great opposition.

Even though Paul & his companions had been shamefully

treated in Philippi, they had courage to preach the gospel in

spite of great opposition.

The shameful treatment in Philippi certainly refers to Paul & Silas‟

being stripped & beaten in public, even though they were Roman

citizens.

Even though Paul & his companions had been shamefully

treated in Philippi, they had courage to preach the gospel in

spite of great opposition.

The shameful treatment in Philippi certainly refers to Paul & Silas‟

being stripped & beaten in public, even though they were Roman

citizens.

Even though Paul & Silas had been “burned,” they had boldness to

preach the gospel.

Great opposition in Thessalonica came from the Jews.

Great opposition in Thessalonica came from the Jews.

“The Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble,

they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house

of Jason, seeking to bring them [Paul & Silas] out to the crowd” (Acts

17:5, ESV).

Great opposition in Thessalonica came from the Jews.

“The Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble,

they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house

of Jason, seeking to bring them [Paul & Silas] out to the crowd” (Acts

17:5, ESV).

The violence in Thessalonica became so severe that “the brothers

immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea” (Acts

17:10, ESV).

Great opposition in Thessalonica came from the Jews.

“The Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble,

they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house

of Jason, seeking to bring them [Paul & Silas] out to the crowd” (Acts

17:5, ESV).

The violence in Thessalonica became so severe that “the brothers

immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea” (Acts

17:10, ESV).

Even in the face of such opposition, Paul spoke boldly.

Paul often spoke the word with boldness.

Paul often spoke the word with boldness.

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas “remained for a long time, speaking

boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace,

granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3,

ESV).

Paul often spoke the word with boldness.

At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas “remained for a long time, speaking

boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace,

granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3,

ESV).

In Ephesus, Paul “entered the synagogue and for three months

spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of

God” (Acts 19:8, ESV).

WILL WE SPEAK THE WORD OF GOD

BOLDLY?

GODLY WORDS

vv 3-6

“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” (1 Thess 2:3-6, ESV).

Paul spoke the word in Thessalonica with pure motives.

Because Paul had been entrusted with the gospel from God,

he sought to please God, not man.

Because Paul had been entrusted with the gospel from God,

he sought to please God, not man.

Paul‟s goal in life was to please God, not man.

Because Paul had been entrusted with the gospel from God,

he sought to please God, not man.

Paul‟s goal in life was to please God, not man.

“Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please

man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ”

(Gal 1:10, ESV).

Because Paul had been entrusted with the gospel from God,

he sought to please God, not man.

Paul‟s goal in life was to please God, not man.

Gal 1:10.

“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—

with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and

often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty

lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.

Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on

frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from

my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the

wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship,

through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in

cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure

on me of my anxiety for all the churches” (2 Cor 11:23-28, ESV).

Because Paul had been entrusted with the gospel from God,

he sought to please God, not man.

Paul‟s goal in life was to please God, not man.

Gal 1:10.

2 Cor 11:23-28.

Paul was beheaded about AD 64.

WILL WE SPEAK GODLY WORDS?

GENTLE WORDS

v 7

“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care

of her own children” (1 Thess 2:7, ESV).

“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care

of her own children” (1 Thess 2:7, ESV).

In the Roman world, wealthy couples employed wet nurses to feed

their infants.

“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care

of her own children” (1 Thess 2:7, ESV).

In the Roman world, wealthy couples employed wet nurses to feed

their infants.

The most important quality in these nurses was their tenderness.

“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care

of her own children” (1 Thess 2:7, ESV).

In the Roman world, wealthy couples employed wet nurses to feed

their infants.

The most important quality in these nurses was their tenderness.

The nurses often endeared themselves to the children for whom they cared.

“We were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care

of her own children” (1 Thess 2:7, ESV).

In the Roman world, wealthy couples employed wet nurses to feed

their infants.

The most important quality in these nurses was their tenderness.

The nurses often endeared themselves to the children for whom they cared.

There was often a life-long relationship between nurse & child.

Paul valued gentleness.

Paul valued gentleness.

“The Lord‟s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone,

able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with

gentleness” (2 Tm 2:24-25, ESV).

Paul valued gentleness.

“The Lord‟s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone,

able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with

gentleness” (2 Tm 2:24-25, ESV).

Titus was to remind brethren “to speak evil of no one, to avoid

quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all

people” (Tit 3:2, ESV).

WILL WE SPEAK GENTLE WORDS?

SHARING WORDS

v 8

“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” (v 8, ESV).

Paul & his companions shared themselves with those in

Thessalonica.

Paul & his companions shared themselves with those in

Thessalonica.

We know that Paul shared himself with those to whom he

preached.

Paul & his companions shared themselves with those in

Thessalonica.

We know that Paul shared himself with those to whom he

preached.

“Brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you

received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as

you are doing, that you do so more and more” (1 Thess 4:1, ESV).

Paul & his companions shared themselves with those in

Thessalonica.

We know that Paul shared himself with those to whom he

preached.

“Brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you

received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as

you are doing, that you do so more and more” (1 Thess 4:1, ESV).

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we

must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how

he himself said, „It is more blessed to give than to receive‟” (Acts

20:35, ESV).

We can teach much through our example.

We can teach much through our example.

“I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have

done to you” (Jn 13:15, ESV).

We can teach much through our example.

“I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have

done to you” (Jn 13:15, ESV).

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do

not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct

of their wives” (1 Pet 3:1, ESV).

It‟s imperative that we build our lives with words.

It‟s imperative that we build our lives with words.

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63,

ESV).

It‟s imperative that we build our lives with words.

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63,

ESV).

The words of Jesus are able to build us up & give us life.

HAVE YOU OBEYED THOSE WORDS?