Sermon Category: English

Our growth in Christ will not go unnoticed by Satan and the world. Because we are in a spiritual battle, every time we affirm our hearts to follow Christ there will be pushback from the enemy seeking to discourage us. When we face pushback, we have a choice to make. We can either pull away from God or we can draw closer to him. The testing of our faith will show the reality or lack thereof of what we truly believe. In this passage, Paul reveals the attitudes of a victorious church in the midst of trials.

Trust is the currency of leadership. Easy to lose and difficult to keep. What makes for a good leader in the local church? In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul describes the nature of Christian catalytic servant-leadership highlighting three main components. 1. Courageous integrity (our motivations0, 2. Tender instruction (the quality of our relationships), 3. Bible-centeredness (the source of our authority).

There are no perfect churches but there are healthy ones. What are the marks of a healthy church? In 1 Thess. 1, Paul paints a picture of the transformation the gospel had produced in the lives of Thessalonian believers. They went from a lifestyle of idolatry and immorality to a faithful, hopeful, and loving lifestyle grounded in the very life of the Triune God.

According to Paul, the gospel is the message of God’s power for salvation. There is new life wherever and whenever the gospel is understood, believed, and lived. This new life, however, sometimes bring pushback from the world. Acts 17 is the context and background of Paul’s ministry to the church in Thessalonica. God brought the gospel of Christ with power to that city and produced a radical life change in those who believed in it. The unbelieving world, on the other hand, responded by persecuting the church and accusing them of “turning the world upside down” Acts 17:6. What the world meant as an offensive statement turns out to be a compliment. When the church is doing its work and joining the Lord in mission. This world will be turned upside down because upside down is what the world needs to be made right with God.