TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
TITLE: WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE
No doubt you have heard people say, “If you ever find the perfect church, please don’t join it. If you do, it won’t be perfect any more!”
Since local churches are made up of human beings, saved by God’s grace, no church is perfect. But some churches are closer to the NT ideal than others. The church at Thessalonica was in that category. At least four times in this letter, Paul gave thanks for the church and the way it responded to his ministry (1:2; 2:13: 3:9; 5:18).
Characteristics of The Ideal Church
First we notice verse 3. “Your work of faith.” The meaning of this is “Your work which springs form faith.” Paul is very emphatic that salvation is a matter of faith, not works, and he uses the very strongest of expressions to make it clear that man is not saved by works at all. But he also speaks of good works that characterize the life of faith. Faith, for Paul, is a warm personal trust in a living Savior, and such a faith cannot but transform the whole of life, and issue in “work” of many kinds. Read James 2:14-18. It has been said, “We are not saved by faith plus works, but by a faith that works.”
Second, we see the words, “labor of love.” Paul is saying that out of love they have labored to the point of weariness. The word expresses the cost of their love, not its result. With or without visible success, love gives itself unstintingly.
Third, we see the words, “patience of hope.” “Patience” is better rendered “steadfastness”. What is meant is not a quiet, passive resignation, but an active constancy in the face of difficulties. As William Barclay says: “It is the spirit which can bear things, not simply with resignation, but with blazing hope.” This springs from hope, that hope which is more than pious optimism. It is a solid certainty. In the NT hope is always something which is as yet future, but which is completely certain.
Fourth, let’s look at verse 5. They received the Word. The Gospel came to them through the ministry of Paul and his associates. The Holy Spirit used the Word in great power, and the Thessalonians responded by receiving both the message and the messengers. In spite of the persecution in Philippi, Paul and Silas had been “bold...to speak…the Gospel” (2:2); and the people believed and were saved. They never lost that eagerness for the Word of God. Chapter 2:13 says, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
The gospel “came…in power.” In many places we see evidence that the gospel is power, for God is in it. Romans 1:16 says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” It is not simply that the gospel tells of power, though this, too, is true. But when the gospel is preached God is there and God is working. The gospel is power. Whenever the gospel is faithfully proclaimed, there is power.
Fifth, look at 6a. They followed their spiritual leaders. The word “followers” is actually “imitators.” These new believers not only accepted the message and the messengers, but they also imitated their lives. This led to severe persecution. It is important that young Christians respect spiritual leadership and learn from mature believers. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the [spiritual] rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls.”
Sixth, 6b – “having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.” The word “received” is that used for the reception of a guest, and it includes the thought of giving a welcome.
From the beginning there had been opposition to the word in Thessalonica. Thus Paul refers to the welcome the converts had given to it “in much affliction.” The word for “affliction” outside the Bible usually denotes literal pressure, and that of a severe kind. The corresponding verb, for example, was used of pressing the grapes in wine-making till they burst asunder, and so metaphorically came to mean very great trouble. It is not mild discomfort, but great and sore difficulty.
But their affliction was “with joy of the Holy Spirit.” It is certain that the believer will experience tribulation (John 16:33), but it is equally certain that he will have an inner serenity, even a joy, which nothing in the world can give and nothing in the world can take away (John 16:22). Suffering is always unpleasant, but for those who have been saved through the sufferings of their Lord it has been transformed. Paul and Silas knew something of this joy (cf. Acts 16:25), and so did those who, in an earlier day, went out from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name” (Acts 5:41).
This transformation of suffering does not come about by autosuggestion, or any other human device. It is specifically said to be “of the Holy Spirit.” Remember that joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Seventh, they encouraged other churches – verse 7. Christians either encourage or discourage each other. This principle applies also to churches. Even though they were new believers, the Thessalonians set a good example that encouraged the surrounding assemblies. Churches must never compete with one another in a worldly manner, but they can “provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
Eighth, They were witnesses (read verse 8). They were both “receivers” (the Word came to them, 1:5) and “transmitters” (the Word went out from them, 1:8). Each believer and each local church must receive and transmit God’s Word.
The verb “sounded forth” actually means “to sound as a trumpet.” But the Thessalonians were not “tooting their own horns” as did the Pharisees (Matthew 6:1-4). They were trumpeting forth the Good News of salvation, and their message had a clear and certain sound to it (1 Corinthians 14:8). Wherever Paul went, the people told him about the faith of the Thessalonian believers.
It is the responsibility and privilege of each local church to share the message of salvation with the lost world. At the end of each of the four Gospels and at the beginning of the Book of Acts, there are commissions for the churches to obey. Many congregations are content to pay a staff to do the witnessing and soul-winning. But in NT churches, the entire congregation was involved in sharing the Good News (Acts 2:44-47 & 5:42).
Surveys still show that 70 – 80% of a church’s growth is the result of friends witnessing to friends and relatives to relatives.
We need more churches today where the people are enthusiastic to share the message of salvation with others.
Ninth, they were an expectant people (verses 9,10). In these verses, Paul related the Second Coming of Christ to their salvation. Because they had trusted Christ, they looked for His return with joyful expectancy and knew that they would be delivered “from the wrath to come” (1:10).
When they worshiped idols, the Thessalonians had no hope. But when they trusted “the living God,” they had a living hope.
The word translated “wait” means “to await someone with patience and confidence, expectantly.” Waiting involves activity and endurance. Some of the Thessalonian believers quit there work and become idle busybodies, arguing that the Lord was coming soon. But if we really believe the Lord is coming, we will prove our faith by keeping busy and obeying His Word. Our Lord’s parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) teaches that we must “occupy” (be busy; in this case, invest the money) till He returns.
Christians are waiting for Jesus Christ, and He may return at any time.
A local church that truly lives in the expectation of seeing Jesus Christ at any time will be a vibrant and victorious group of people. Expecting the Lord’s return is a great motivation for soul-winning (2:19,20) and Christian stability (3:11-13). It is a wonderful comfort in sorrow (4:13-18) and a great encouragement for godly living (5:23-24). It is tragic when churches forget this wonderful doctrine. It is even more tragic when churches believe it and preach it – but do not practice it.
Churches are made up of individuals. When you and I speak of the church, we must never say “they.” We should say “we.” We are the church! This means that if you and I have these spiritual characteristics, our churches will become what God wants them to become. The result will be the winning of the lost and the glorifying of the Lord.
What every church should be is what every Christian should be.
Perhaps it is time for an inventory.
