2 Thess 1:1-4 Never Stagnant, Always Growing
A few months after writing his first letter, Paul (together with Silas and Timothy) had to write a second one to the Thessalonians.
• The persecution has gotten worse. Some believers believed that Jesus would return soon and quit everything they were doing.
• And there was fake news that Paul had written a letter to them that said the “day of the Lord has come” (2:2), and it caused confusion.
Hence, Paul wrote this second letter to clarify. In brief, we can outline it this way:
Chapter 1 – Paul says to stay strong even though there are persecutions and afflictions. God is righteous and He will judge evildoers ultimately.
Chapter 2 – Do not be deceived by the false teachers who said that “the day of the Lord has come” (2:2).
• Some had decided to abandon their daily routines and stopped work completely.
• Paul explains that there would be some signs before Christ’s return. Be prepared but do not stop everything you are doing.
Chapter 3 – Addressing those who think the end has come, Paul urged them not to be idle but to work hard for a living while waiting for His return.
• Don’t become a burden to others (3:8) and do not grow weary in doing good. (3:13)
That’s a general outline of this letter.
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We read Paul’s opening words today – 2 Thess 1:1-4. It’s a thanksgiving to God.
• Amazingly, despite the difficult circumstances, Paul was grateful that the young church stood firm and remained faithful to God.
• He recalled again the few qualities he saw in them (mentioned in the first letter) - their works of faith, labours of love and enduring hope in God. (cf. 1 Thess 1:2-3)
• But this time around, he mentioned something about their faith, love and hope.
2 Thess 1:3-4 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
Paul said, “Your faith is growing abundantly”, and “Your love for one another is increasing” and despite the growing persecution, he saw greater perseverance.
• The church was commendable and has become exemplary to the other churches.
These are the aspects we want to think through and learn today:
A GROWING FAITH in God
Not only did Paul see works of faith; he saw that their “faith is growing abundantly.” (v.3a). It is growing, and it is growing abundantly.
• Faith is not static. We tend to see faith as a commodity – something you have or do not have. Or that it’s there only when we first accepted Christ.
• But faith is not static or stagnant; it can grow.
The Christian life is a relationship with God and like all relationships, it can grow.
• Our faith in God grows when we know God more and trust His Word.
• Faith is like a muscle. It is proven genuine when tested. It grows when stretched.
• It is strengthened over time when we come to understand God’s Word and His ways.
The affliction did not weaken the Thessalonians’ faith. Instead, it strengthened it.
• They learnt to trust God more amid the persecution. The hardships did not drive them away from God but closer to Him. And it was obvious to Paul.
• In the changing circumstances, they placed their faith in the unchanging God who is dependable and trustworthy.
Paul mentioned a SECOND quality:
AN INCREASING LOVE for One Another
Paul knows of their labours of love but this time, he said “the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” (v.3b)
• Not just some but EVERY ONE OF YOU and not just loving but their LOVE for one another is INCREASING. Isn’t that beautiful?
And it was obvious to Paul. Both their growing faith and increasing love were noticeable to Paul and he was grateful.
They were answers to his prayers! How do we know? He said in his first letter:
• 1 Thess 3:10 - Paul said they have been praying most earnestly for them night and day that they can see them and “supply what is lacking in their faith” (v.10).
• 1 Thess 3:12 – “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all…” And urged them in 4:10 to do this more.
So Paul is seeing the FRUITS of his prayer. God gave them stronger faith and greater love.
• This is a prayer we can make today. Amid so many challenges in life, we pray for a growing faith in God and a deeper love for one another in Christ.
• I think we are doing this well here at Kim Tian. I see many very loving brothers and sisters in Christ who care for and support one another. We thank God for this.
• We will keep at it and do better. We are never stagnant but always growing, in faith and love and endurance, because we honour God.
The THIRD quality that Paul mentioned is:
GREATER PERSEVERANCE in Affliction
1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
Paul already told us in his first letter that they were facing persecution. (1 Thess 1:6, 2:14, 3:3)
• His boast about them to the other churches indicates that they were persevering well despite the growing opposition.
• Paul saw their steadfastness (perseverance, endurance, patience) and faith amid their sufferings.
• The affliction did not defeat them. It fueled their growth in trusting God more.
Someone said, “God never wastes suffering.” Trials work FOR us, not AGAINST us.
• James 1:2-4 “2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
• The trials mature us and make us perfect and complete. We become a better and stronger person today because of them.
• When tested, we see God provide and sustain us in ways we could not imagine.
Paul says, “…we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God…” (v.4)
• This means they have become an example and encouragement to the rest of the churches. No wonder Paul has to praise God and give thanks.
• The church may be young but their growing faith, increasing love and faithful perseverance have become exemplary and a great testimony for God.
CONCLUSION So let’s learn from them today.
(1) Nurture a growing faith in God.
• Ask yourself: “Is my faith stronger today than when I first knew Christ?”
• Rom 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
• We want to hear and know God’s Word. We read the Scriptures and understand His ways. The Word of God reveals His character, His promises and His works.
• The more we know Him, the more reasons we have to trust Him.
(2) Cultivate a growing love for others.
• Ask yourself this, “Is my love for others growing? Do I love people more today?”
• Or do I love myself more? Always thinking only for myself, to benefit myself.
• Paul said in Phil 2:3-4 “3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
• True faith leads to a greater love for God and others. Pray for a bigger heart for others, especially those in need.
• A good church is not just measured by numbers but by how well we love one another.
(3) Persevere and Be Faithful to God
The Bamboo Tree
There’s a Chinese bamboo tree, also known as Moso Bamboo, that offers a lesson on growth. After planting the seed, farmers water and fertilize the ground every day.
But for the first year, there’s no visible growth. Not even a sprout. The same happens in the second, third, and fourth years—nothing breaks through the ground.
To the outside world, it looks like a waste of time. But in the fifth year, something amazing happens. The bamboo suddenly sprouts and begins to grow up at a rate of 90cm per day under optimal conditions, and can reach almost 30m in just six weeks.
The question is: Did the bamboo grow 30m in six weeks—or five years?
The answer: It was growing all along. Deep beneath the soil, it was developing a massive root system strong enough to support its future height.
Moso bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world once it starts sprouting, but before it appears, it spends many years developing its roots.
In this short introduction, we have a model of what a healthy Christian life looks like: growing faith, deepening love, and endurance through hardships, by the grace of God.
• Growing faith + increasing love + endurance in hardship = thus giving testimony to God’s work in our lives.
The Christian life is one of growth.
• 2 Cor 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
• We may experience seasons of life when we feel nothing is working and our efforts are fruitless.
• But remember, God is still working in ways we cannot see. Trust Him and persevere. Obey Him and walk in His ways.
The Christian life is not one of instant success or gratification. We keep growing to be like Christ.
