This is a part of a sermon series in the book of 1 Thessalonians. You can watch more here.
This morning we are going to continue in 1 Thessalonians in the New
Testament. 1 Thessalonians is written by the Apostle Paul, and sometimes the
Apostle Paul is described as this pioneer at starting new churches. But, really
the Apostle Paul is committed to building strong and healthy churches.
This is really the secret of the North Village Church. It isn’t enough to have a
few really committed followers of Jesus. The ownership of the church must be
carried by the whole of the people.
This is difficult for us in the United States, because we tend to see this central
figure as the spiritual leader of the church, and the rest of us as observers but
that isn’t the pattern we see in God’s Word.
The pattern we see in God’s Word is that the whole of the church is
encouraged to take personal ownership through their giving, serving, praying,
and caring for the whole of the church, and we will see that in our passage this
morning. Let’s look at verse 13:
1 Thessalonians 2:13, “13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God
which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which
also performs its work in you who believe.”
The phrase “for this reason” is a literary reminder to throw our attention back
to verses 1-11. What happened in verses 1-11? The Apostle Paul was
focusing on specific characteristics of the people in the Thessalonian church.
This is what we talked about last Sunday.
These people weren’t trying to trick people into faith in Jesus, they didn’t use
words of flattery to manipulate, they lived authentic and open lives with one
another, they wanted to grow in their faith in Jesus, and they wanted to help
others grow in their faith in Jesus.
So, the Apostle Paul writes, “For this reason we constantly thank God that you
heard the Word of God, you accepted the Word of God, and you obeyed the
Word of God.” Do you see that progression in verse 13?
Where’s the emphasis of verse 13? It isn’t on the Apostle Paul? It isn’t on the
amazing people? No! The emphasis is on the “Word of God!” Do you see it?
“You received the Word of God, not as the word of mere men, but as the Word
of God!”
This is so important for our non-denominational church in Austin. What we
are holding in our hand is not just pieces of paper bound into a book, or lit up
on our phone, but we are holding the very Words of God! This is so important!
The marks of a church family that are healthy and strong is a church family
that loves God’s Word. This is why we try to go verse by verse in a sermon on
Sunday morning. I don’t want you to leave impressed with me, I want you to
leave impressed with God’s Word!
This is why our groups get together and learn how to study God’s Word.
Someone came up to me a few weeks ago and said, “Thank you for teaching
me how to study God’s Word. Now, I can read God’s Word on my own anytime
I want!” Isn’t that the goal?
Listen to me, if we have a thousand people in the room who have a great
experience on Sunday morning, but we aren’t equipping one another to go
beyond Sunday morning then we aren’t building a strong and healthy local
church, because we want to be a people who are committed to God’s Word.
Consider these passages:
Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. This is focusing
our eyes, heart, and mind on God’s Word.
Psalm 119:36, “Incline my heart to your testimonies.” This is leaning and depending on God’s Word.
Ephesians 6:17–18, “Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the
Spirit.” Which means as we go throughout the day we want to pray God’s Word over our emotions
and thoughts each day.
2 Thessalonians 3:1, “Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored.”
Praying that God’s Word is what is most important. Yes, people need food and water, but our souls
need God’s Word.
Acts 6:4, “Devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” Again, God’s Word what is
most important.
Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” We don’t
want our thoughts bouncing from headline to headline, but dwelling on the truth of God revealed in
His Word.
2 Corinthians 10:5, “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” We are asking,
“Is it consistent with God’s Word? No? Throw it out!
God’s Word shapes how we see our past. God’s Word shapes how we walk
through decisions today. God’s Word shapes how we plan for the future.
Without God’s Word we tend to see life through a very limited perspective.
We become reactive instead of prepared. We become overwhelmed instead of
settled, but God’s Word gives us the scope of eternity so that we might walk in
His wisdom.
Please don’t underestimate the power of God’s Word.
Every other word of this earth will disappear, but the Word of the Lord is
everlasting.
We will forget my words by the time we get to lunch. At best you will sit
around the table and say, “I like when Michael said something about that thing
that was really interesting.” But the Word of the Lord is eternal!
There are people who call themselves Christians that will say, “Let’s not take
God’s Word too serious.” There are people who will say, “We should ignore
the teachings of the Apostle Paul.” There are people who will say, “The Jesus I
know wouldn’t do this or that, so as to dismiss God’s Word.” What?
This is the exact opposite of what Paul is teaching in verse 13. Paul’s
affirmation to the Thessalonians is that they weren’t filtering God’s Word
through the wisdom of the day, but instead they were bringing themselves
under the authority of God’s Word.
That’s why our church in Austin is challenging one another to get into God’s
Word every day. We send out a text reminding one another to get into God’s
Word every day, so that hear God’s Word, receive God’s Word, and obey God’s
Word. Let’s look at verses 14:
1 Thessalonians 2:14, “14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in
Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the
Jews.”
In verse 14 we see the word “for” and the word “for” is a word of explanation,
so that in verse 14 the Apostle Paul is going to say of the Thessalonians, “God’s
Word is performing a work in you, for you are imitators of the churches in
Judea.”
This is the second time the Apostle Paul has mentioned the Thessalonians
imitating or reflecting others, because they experiencing the same persecution
as the church in Judea.
Judea is a reference to Jerusalem, and in Jerusalem there were Jewish men and
women coming to faith in Jesus and it was the Jewish community who made it
more difficult for them.
Therefore, the Apostle Paul writes in verse 14, “In the same way, Gentile
people are coming to faith in Jesus, and the Gentile community is making it
more difficult for the Thessalonian church.”
You can read about the persecution in Acts 17, but literally there were
neighbors turning on one another, mobs breaking out, people being dragged
out of their homes, and Paul encourages the Thessalonians by saying, “You are
enduring the same sufferings like the church in Jerusalem / Judea.”
This might sound like a weird compliment, but it’s a big deal. Paul is making
the connection that the same gospel that was proclaimed and bearing fruit in
Judea is also the same gospel proclaimed and bearing fruit in Thessalonica.
It’s the fruit of the gospel!
Just as there were Jewish men and women who were persevering in hardship
in Judea, there are Gentile men and women who are persevering in hardship
in Thessalonica. Isn’t that awesome? It’s the same gospel! It’s the fruit of the
gospel!
Therefore, in the same way, 2,000 years later in Austin, TX, let us not be
surprised by any persecution we might experience as followers of Jesus. Let
us not be surprised by any hardship we might experience as followers of
Jesus. It’s the fruit of the gospel!
This is passionate area for me, because when my wife and I moved to Austin
20-years ago there were Christians who would make jokes like, “Someone
needs to bring the gospel to Austin!” As if their geographical location that was
a little closer???
Still today people will say things like, “I couldn’t possibly send my child to the
University of Texas!” As if Texas A and M was a little more holy? As if
students at Texas A and M wouldn’t have to persevere through any
persecution?
I hope so! It is the mark of the gospel! There’s no point in history and no
point on this planet where the follower of Jesus won’t have to persevere
through persecution at some level. Does that make sense? It’s the fruit of the
gospel!
If you move somewhere and you don’t see persecution and perseverance in
the local church, then be careful. You might have wandered from the gospel!
The size of the church doesn’t matter. The giftings of the church doesn’t
matter.
The whole purpose of God’s Word is to reflect His holiness, like a mirror to
our soul to expose our need for Jesus, so that persecution and perseverance is
constant mark we want to see in the local church, so the Apostle Paul says,
“You became imitators!” Look at verses 15-16:
1 Thessalonians 2:15-16, “15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not
pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved;
with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.”
There are some who would look at these verses and say, “Paul was anti-
sematic” but that would be taking Scripture out of context. The Apostle Paul
continually talks about Jew and Gentile coming to faith in Jesus. The
description of verses 15-16 is just a point of fact.
It is Jewish religious leaders that were seeking the death of Jesus. It is Jewish
Christians, like the Apostle Peter, who struggled with Paul inviting Gentiles to
come to faith in Jesus, because those Jewish people were darkened in their
understanding. Those Jewish people were dead in their sin. Those Jewish
people are in need of the gospel, and growing in the gospel, just like every
other human being on earth!
The Apostle Paul isn’t writing to discourage Jewish people from coming to
faith in Jesus, but instead to encourage new followers of Jesus in Thessalonica,
“Don’t be surprised by the hostility of others toward Jesus? It’s how all of
humanity responds to Jesus!” Amen?
Therefore, in the same way, let us not be surprised when we are mocked for
our faith in Jesus. Let us not be surprised if our politicians manipulate the
name of Jesus for their gain. Let us not be surprised if our children are
tempted with the idols of this world. It’s been the same experience for every
follower of Jesus since the local church was started.
Let us not be surprised if we get discouraged in our faith in Jesus. Let us not
be surprised if we struggle to read God’s Word every day. Let us not be
surprised when we get distracted from seeking first His Kingdom! It’s been
the same experience for every follower of Jesus since the local church was
started. Praise God!
It is only the grace of God that moves us to turn from the idols of this world
and turn to the living and true God, and this has been the same experience for
every follower of Jesus since the local church was started. Let’s look at verses
17-20:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, “17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person,
not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 For we wanted to come to you—I,
Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not
even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.”
Do you see the heart the Apostle Paul had for the Thessalonians? This word
“orphaned” is strong language in verse 17.
It’s language that is used of a family member losing a loved one, and this is
how the Apostle Paul is describing his relationship to the Thessalonians.
Even more so, the word “desire” in verse 17 is typically used for “lust” in the
original language, and yet here Paul is describing a godly craving for their
friendship and well-being, so that his heart ached for their good.
Then, in verses 19-20 we see the phrase “for who is our hope, our joy, our
crown of exaltation in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not
indeed you? For you are our glory and joy.”
These are strong words, because the Apostle Paul is deeply connected and
invested to building up the faith of the Thessalonians. Isn’t that amazing?
I remember when we first started North Village Church I was excited to reach
people for Jesus, share the gospel, grab some lunches here and there to be
helpful to people, but somewhere along the way the Lord completely knit my
heart to the people of North Village Church.
This might sound weird, but somewhere along the way the Lord developed in
me a father’s heart for our church family that’s difficult to describe, so that I
long for the joy of our church family.
Yes, I want to keep us focused on vision, mission, reaching goals, but also on
the personal level I long for you to reach your fullest expression of His grace in
your life the way I long for my children.
I get excited about your steps of faith. I get nervous for you when you change
jobs. I want things to go well for you. I see challenges in your life that hinder
you from reaching those goals, and it moves me to pray for you, dream with
you, think of ways to better serve you, because the Lord has knit my heart to
your heart.
And that’s not just true in my life, that’s a common theme in our church family.
Our elders have a father’s heart for our church family. They pray for you.
They ask about you. They reach out to you. Sometimes I know about those
things, sometimes I don’t know about those things, because their desire for
you doesn’t come from their titles but from the Lord.
We have a volunteer staff team with James and Ruthie Zimmerman, Amanda
Greene, Mindy Honcoop, and these are men and women who have a father and
mother’s heart for our church family. They ache for her well-being. They
dream of what could be in our church family. Praise God!
Listen to me, our church family is at our best when this type of commitment in
our church family is spread throughout our church family as a whole. When
the whole of our church family is spiritually caring for one another by greeting
one another, learning names, getting phone numbers, sharing meals with one
another, and praying for one another.
I know that type of expectation can be nervous for some of us, but this isn’t a
place where we sing some songs and get an encouraging word, and go home.
You’ll be frustrated if that is your focus.
But this is a place where everyone is invited to spiritually care for one
another, and I want to make this as practical and helpful as possible, so here
are three questions we can ask ourselves to help us grow in our personal
ownership of the local church.
4. What are their names?
5. Where are they spiritually?
6. Is there anything I can do to be helpful?
We want to learn one another’s names. Write it down. Make a note to help
you remember. If we forget, we can ask someone else, “What’s their name
again?” Sometimes we can use the Realm to help us remember. But we can’t
settle for just knowing 1-2 people. We want everyone to be able to know
everyone!
Second, we want to try to identify where someone is spiritually. Are they new
to Jesus? Are they committed to this church? Are they involved in a group?
Are they involved in a ministry team? We’re not judging, but we’re wanting to
assess where someone is, so that we can be helpful. That’s our last question.
Lastly, is there anything I can do to be helpful? If someone is visiting, maybe
we can answer some questions. If someone is hurting, maybe we can pray for
them. Maybe we can just listen to someone’s pain, maybe we can help them
network in their career, maybe we can help them meet someone else in the
church.
Attending a church can be a little confusing. I didn’t grow up going to church.
Sometimes we can point people in the right direction and make it a little
easier for them. Sometimes, we can even ask about those things the next time
we see them.
It’s possible there might be some of us who are thinking, “I don’t have time for
this. I am too busy.” I say this in the most loving way, “Busy doing what?”
What’s more important than learning someone’s name, asking about their life,
and maybe praying for them throughout the week. We’re not talking about
someone coming to live with you! We’re talking about 3-5 minutes a week!
Some of us might still push back and say, “Michael’, that can be hard
sometimes!” It can be! People are messy! It’s supposed to be hard!
It’s been hard for the local church from the very beginning. Praise God! It’s
the mark of the gospel bearing fruit in our lives.
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
NVC Online
Unable to attend this Christian Church in Austin? Don’t worry, because, through God’s provision, we have created NVC online, an Online Church streaming a worship service every Sunday from 10:30am Central Time. You can also watch our short, powerful sermons on demand and follow us on Instagram for daily Christ centered content.