The back-story of this book is found in Acts 17. Paul had just left Philippi after the earthquake that occurred while he and Silas were in prison. The jailer and his family were all saved that night and baptized in water.
From Philippi, Paul went to Thessalonica where he was able to reach many people for Christ. Unfortunately, he met some life-threatening opposition and had to leave Thessalonica after only three weeks.
When he left, he left behind a young still spiritually immature church. In fact, some time later, he received a report from Timothy that the Thessalonians were struggling in their faith. That’s when he decided to write this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The purpose of his letter was to encourage these new Christians and to get them grounded in Christ and growing spiritually.
Paul’s thoughts are expanded in the beginning of Chapter 2, so that’s going to be the focus of our study.
First, Paul told the Thessalonians two important things here in verse 4:1-God loves you, and 2-He has chosen you.
Remember, this letter was written to encourage the Thessalonians. How many of you could use some encouragement?
Encouragement doesn’t mean that we’re not challenged. Encouragement is not just a pat on the back and some superficial, flattering comments. Sometimes encouraging means challenging someone; giving them a good swift kick in the rear. How many of you could use some encouraging today?
Look at verse 6: “You became imitators of us and of the Lord.
Paul’s life was worthy of imitation. The Thessalonians figured that out very quickly. People can tell pretty soon after meeting you if your life is worthy of imitation. They’re watching.
Right now, this very day, this very moment—is your life worthy of imitation? Are you able to say to people in your life, “Do as I say and as I do?”
Many people don’t want that responsibility. They don’t want to be a role model for anyone.
Illustration: Former NBA star Charles Barkley, the Round Mound of Rebound, is famous for saying, “I’m not a role model.” In spite of the fact that young kids wanted to imitate him, he didn’t want that responsibility. He ignored the fact that his high visibility made it necessary for him to behave with at least an understanding that millions of people were watching him.
We don’t have millions of people watching us but we do have some very important people watching—our families, our friends, our unsaved neighbors. Is your life worthy of imitation by them?
Paul embraced this responsibility. He told the Corinthians, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” And this is the key for living a life worthy of imitation. Imitate Christ. Follow His example.
Every thing we read about Paul could be easily applied to Jesus, because Paul was just following His example. Paul taught boldly because Jesus taught boldly. Paul faced opposition just as Jesus faced opposition. Paul showed deep concern for people; Jesus had done the same thing.
Here’s the thing—if you want your life to count for something, you must live a life worthy of imitation by imitating Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:1 (NIV)
You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.
Paul’s life counted for something. It was not a failure. What about you? Does your life count for something? Is your life worthy of imitation? A life that is worthy of imitation counts for something. It’s not a failure.
1. A life worthy of imitation is a life of courage.
1 Thessalonians 2:2 (NIV)
We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
Paul was very familiar with opposition. He had faced it at Philippi where they almost killed him for preaching the gospel. But he kept preaching. That took courage.
Paul wasn’t willing to quit because of the message he was preaching. It was a powerful message and a life-changing message. And God had entrusted him with that message.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 (NIV)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.
We have been entrusted with the same message. It takes courage on our behalf to deliver it. It takes courage to bring up Jesus in a conversation but it must be done. It takes courage to invite someone to church to hear about Jesus but it must be done. There’s strong opposition to the message of Christ but it must be done if you want to make your life count for something and if you want to live a life worthy of imitation.
2. A life worthy of imitation is a life of credibility.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 (NIV)
For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
Look at the words Paul used: error, impure motives, trick, flattery, mask. That’s what people in our world are used to encountering in their relationships.
If you’re often on the internet, you know one of the cardinal rules is “don’t click”. If you see a link that looks tempting but you don’t really know where it came from, don’t click! People are trying to trick you.
In our personal relationships, what people want is credibility and authenticity. If I’m going to keep myself from error, I need God’s Word in my life deeply, not just superficially. If I want to keep my heart and my motives pure, I need to allow God to do a spiritual work in me. I can’t live a life worthy of imitation if I try to manipulate people in my circle of influence. Flattery is lying, flat out. Masks are inauthentic.
People are tired of these approaches. They want credibility and authenticity, and you can provide that in the Name of Jesus.
3. A life worthy of imitation is a life of caring.
1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (NIV)
We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.
Paul had credibility with the Thessalonians because they knew he cared deeply for them. No wonder they were willing to follow his example.
Paul said, “We could have been a burden to you.” That’s true of all of us. We can be a burden or a blessing.
Paul chose to be a blessing. How was he a blessing? By caring for them.
Authentic care is about gentleness, as a mother cares for her little children. All mothers in the room understand clearly this kind of care, don’t you?
Moms, was there ever a time you had to get up in the middle of the night to feed your baby that you really didn’t feel like it? Of course! But you did it anyway. Sometimes the greatest expression of gentle care is when you do the right thing and love someone even though you don’t feel like it; even though you might think they don’t deserve it.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV)
We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
Authentic care is about sharing your life with those in need, not just throwing money their way.
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (NIV)
Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
Authentic care is hard work. Ministry is hard work.Show care and love for people. Be gentle. Even when it’s hard.
4. A life worth imitating is a life of consecration.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 (NIV)
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Holy means “intended for a single purpose”. In other words, a focused life for God. The focus of our lives is to please God, to bring Him glory. This word speaks of devotion and unworldliness. We can’t be like the world and be devoted to God.
Righteous means to live in a right relationship with God and other people. Think honesty. Doing the right thing.
Blameless doesn’t mean sinless. It merely speaks of an innocence in the matter. It literally means “no cause for censure; no reason for disapproval or reprimand.
Two more words from verse 10: among you. We make an impact as we live and work in holiness among other people. People are watching us. We can’t go and hide out and make an impact.
5. A life worth imitating is a life of conviction.
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NIV)
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. (Conviction is a fixed and firm belief.) For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
Last week, I said that life-change begins with the belief that God speaks to us through the Bible.
If I believe God’s Word, I’ll practice it. I’ll do it. If I hear a teaching and I don’t put it into practice, I don’t really believe it.
If I believe God’s Word, I’ll teach it to others. I’ll speak of it. I’ll show people how it works in everyday life.
Conclusion: The Thessalonians imitated Paul and they became a model for other believers to imitate. What about you? Is your life worthy of imitation? We make the biggest impact when we follow Christ passionately and leave an example for others to follow.
