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“Worthy Goals for a Worthy Church”
Text: 1 Thes.1: 1-10 Intro.: I want to look at some worthy goals that would help us to be a worthy church, just like the Thessalonian church. This was a model church and Paul was not afraid to point out to them that they were setting an example that was worth following. They were busy carrying out the Great Commission, just as Paul had instructed them, and they were suffering for it, just like we will, if we get busy doing it as well. The devil hates it when a church makes up its mind that it is going to storm the gates of hell and rescue the perishing. But if we are going to hear, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant,” then we must be willing to suffer the persecution and depend on God’s grace to get us through. I believe that God will meet the needs of His church in proportion to how well they carry out the demands of the Great Commission. If we aren’t actively seeking to win the lost, baptize them and disciple them, then God will withhold His blessings from us. On the other hand, if we, like the Thessalonians, have some worthy goals, then we can expect to receive great things from the hand of God. Let’s take a look at some of the worthy goals that the Thessalonians had and seek to implement them here at First Baptist Church!
A) A Working Church! (Vs.2-3) 1) Work of faith - A) Refers to the initial act of faith which brought salvation and to the work which follows that act of saving faith. B) Their faith was exhibited in good works! C) Does your faith work? D) Faith is dead, if it doesn’t have works! (Jas.2: 17-20) 2) Labour of love - A) Love is that which seeks the highest good in the one loved. B) Since the greatest good one can do for the unsaved is to bring them the gospel, a labour of love would mean “sounding out” the word of the Lord. C) Are you “sounding out” the word of the Lord? 3) Patience of hope - A) Refers to the fact that they were patiently waiting for the Lord to return. B) But while they were waiting, they were working! C) Labouring in the fields while listening for the shout. D) ILL. - Neh.4: 17-20 - The people were patiently building and battling at the same time. While they worked they kept their ears open for the sound of the trumpet. We should do the same!
B) A Witnessing Church! (Vs.7-8) 1) They sounded out the word of the Lord to the area all around them as well as in every place (worldwide!). 2) Ro.1: 8 3) Are you busy witnessing for the Lord? Do people hear of First Baptist Church because we are sounding out the word of the Lord?
(2) 4) Do people know of your faith?
C) A Worshiping Church! (V.9) 1) They had turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God. 2) They once worshiped idols - Now they worshiped and served the living and true God. 3) Are you worshiping God in your giving? (2Cor.8: 5; 2 Chr.31: 10, “. . . Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.” God always blesses His people when they give as He has commanded!). 4) Are you worshiping God in your praise? (Heb.13: 15). 5) Are you worshiping God in your praying? 6) Are you worshiping God in your fasting? 7) Are you worshiping God by giving yourself to Him? (Ro.12: 1-2)
D) A Warring Church! (3: 1-8) 1) They were suffering persecution for preaching the gospel. 2) We also are to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 3; Eph.6: 12 - We are engaged in a spiritual warfare!). 3) Trials - We are appointed thereunto (v.3). The reasons for trials: A) They prove the reality of our faith (1 Pet.1: 7). B) They enable us to comfort and encourage others going through trials (2 Cor.1: 4). C) They develop certain graces - patience, experience, and hope (Ro.5: 3). D) They make us more zealous in spreading the gospel (Ac.5: 27-29; 8: 3-4). E) They remove the dross from our lives (Job 23: 10).
E) A Waiting Church! (1: 10) 1) They were anxiously awaiting the Son from heaven! 2) Note the three tenses - past - “ye turned” present - “to serve” future - “to wait” 3) This is all tied in with v.3 A) In the past - Turning and looking to the Father - Their work of faith (Jn.6: 28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”) B) In the present - Serving and looking on the fields - Their labour of love (Jn.4: 35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”) C) In the future - Waiting and looking for the Son - Their patience of hope (2 Ti.4: 8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”)
(3) Conclusion: Do we have these same worthy goals that the Thessalonian church had? Are we . . . A Working Church? A Witnessing Church? A Worshiping Church? A Warring Church? A Waiting Church?
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