Sermon Tone Analysis

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 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 1996

 

Do you want to have an approved ministry?

*Today the Church has lost much of its credibility in the eyes of the world because of religious hucksters.

*People who merchandise the Word of God and twist its message for their own ends*.*

Many televangelists and well known Church leaders have fallen into gross sin/.

What does it take to have an Approved Ministry?

/Today we will look at the apostle Paul and his ministry at Thessalonica.

/Why was his ministry approved by God?/

No Pain , No Gain! /                A Mother Gives Birth./

About eight and a half ago my wife gave birth to our first child Lauren.

I remember being there that day and observing the pain that she went through.

Although in the hospital today they don't like using the word *pain* they prefer to say discomfort because it sounds better.

But she went through quite a few problems during the birth.

For one the epijural tube had come out so when they went to top it up, the fluid went to the wrong place.

The doctor applied the knife to begin the caesar, only to find that my wife felt it.

At the time you think how on earth would she want to go through all that again.

But once Lauren was born Sandy soon forgot all about the discomfort, *the pain,* because she now had a precious little girl.

And about two years later David was born.

But if Sandy had focussed on the pain and suffering involved we would never have had our second child.

And now she is having number three.

The old saying applies here/ no pain!

no gain!/

Background  

 

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul recalls the response that the Thessalonians had to his ministry amongst them.

They had received the gospel and turned from serving idols to the living God.

Now in chapter 2 Paul reminds them of the sort of ministry that he and his coleagues exercised amongst them.

There were false teachers in town claiming that Paul had selfish motives when he was there.

So Paul reviews the history of his ministry there.

They were well aware of the kind of ministry he had amongst them and this is why he often says, /As you know./

/The first 2 verses tell us that Paul had a/ 1. Resilient Ministry.

Paul at Philippi.

Paul recalls his ministry starting at Philippi where he had been flogged and put in jail for preaching the gospel.

But as a result of this and God's intervention the jailer came to faith in Christ.

Then he went to Thessalonica and started preaching there.

/Why?/ Wouldn't you think he would quit, or at least lay low for a while.

But no Paul bounced right back and preached just as boldly as ever.

Even though there was persecution once more, he was not deterred.

And in *2 Thessalonians 2:2 he says: */But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

/Paul had been entrusted to preach the gospel by the Lord and he was faithful to that task.

He was told that he would suffer many things for the sake of Christ when he was commissioned in Damascus .

(Acts 9:15-16)

But Paul was never one to try and avoid suffering when it was within God's will.

Paul had a */Resilient Ministry/*.

He knew that to advance the kingdom of God would involve a measure of pain on his part.

But each time he suffered he bounced back.

He was not perturbed by suffering, but continued to be faithful and encouraged the saints to do the same.

In *Acts 14:21-22* we read:/ And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." / And as a result his ministry at Thessalonica /was not in vain./

*1 Thess 2:1* It bore much fruit because he persisted.

He didn't quit when the going got tough.

He was prepared to pay the price so that souls could be saved.

*Philippians 1:29 says:*/ For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,/

 

Application

 

*/But what about you and me?/*/ Are we willing to suffer for our faith?

Do you think that suffering for Christ is an optional extra that only super Christians are expected to endure?

In Australia we don't have to suffer physically for our faith.

But are you prepared to endure unfair criticism directed toward your ministry?

When you get sick and one thing after another goes wrong do you want to quit or lay low for a while?

Or do you stick it out like Paul did?  /

 

/Not only did Paul have a *Resilient Ministry* he also had a  /2.

Recommended Ministry.

My First Job.

I remember going for an interview at the place where I got my first job.

I was only 15 and just out of high school.

There were lots of other young people looking for work and the man who interviewed me had to choose between all of us.

Well my grades were average, and my chance of getting the job were about the same as everyone else.

But in my resume I had some references.

One of these was from the Queensland Director of James Hardy Trading who was a deacon at our church.

The boss knew this man and his father and that gave me the edge I needed to secure the job.

You see it was the recommendation of someone else, someone in a place of authority that secured the job for me, and I worked for that firm for some 19 years.

Paul's Recommendation.

Paul was able to say with absolute truth that God had approved his ministry.

He had God's recommendation and you cannot have a better one than that.

Paul could say in verse 4 :/But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

/Paul could say that God had approved him to be entrusted with the gospel.

That God had tested his heart and found him faithful and truthful.

But not only does Paul say that he has God's recommendation.

He also answers the false teachers accusations regarding his ministry.

He uses the phrase /you know/ 4 times, and says /you are witnesses/ and /you remember./

Paul is certain that they know he has lived uprightly before them.

Paul gives three qualities of his ministry.

/a.

The Message of His Ministry/./

3a.

" For our exhortation did not come from error "   /

 

Paul preached the truth and in these 12 verses he refers to it 3 times as the /" Gospel of God."/

He was sure of his message: Galatians 1:11-12 " Received from revelation of Jesus Christ."

He proclaimed it accurately: 2 Timothy 2:15 " Handling accurately the word of truth.

"

He proclaimed it fully: Acts 20:27  " He proclaimed the whole counsel of God." 

 

/b.

The Motive of His Ministry./

/3b/.

/" Or uncleaness "/

 

His motives were pure, not like some at Philippi who preached Christ out of envy and strife.

*Philippians 1:15-17.*

Paul preached out of obedience to God and his motive was love.

/For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; / 

 

/c.

The Method of His Ministry.

3c    " Nor was it in deceit."/