Sermon Tone Analysis

A Biblical Understanding of Missions

/Text:I Thessalonians 1:5-8/

 

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03~/30~/03)

 

Introduction:   

 

ILLUS: Men and Women have surrendered fame and fortune; sacrificed their very lives in the great missionary efforts of the last 150 years.

EXAMPLES .....

 

*William Borden*

 

*No Post Equal To It*

Matthew Culbertson gave up his commission in the United States Army to become a missionary.

At Shanghai he did valiant service during the Taiping riots.

A minister said to him, “Culbertson, if you were at home, you might be a major general.”

The missionary replied: “Doubtless I might; men whom I taught at West Point are major generals today.”

*C.

T. Studd’s Dedication*

At the age of 16 C. T. Studd was already an expert cricket player and at 19 was made captain of his team at Eton, England.

Soon he became a world-famous sports personality.

But while attending Cambridge University he heard Moody preach and was wondrously converted.

He soon dedicated his life and his inherited wealth to Christ and spent hours seeking to convert his teammates.

Sensing God’s leading to full-time service, he offered himself to Hudson Taylor for missionary work in China.

While in that foreign country, he inherited a sum of money equivalent today to half a million dollars.

In 24 hours he gave the entire inheritance away, investing it in the things of the Lord.

Later he was forced to go back to England, for his health was failing and his wife was an invalid.

But God called him again—this time to the heart of Africa.

He was informed that if he went, he would not live long.

His only answer was that he had been looking for a chance to die for Jesus.

“Faithful unto death,” he accepted God’s call and labored until the Savior took him Home.

What is MISSIONS?

Is it worth the COST?

Once we understand Biblically what missions is and what is at stake, I believe we will say every time... “/It is worth the COST!!/”

 

/There are several places in the New Testament where mission work is described.

One of these places is/ *I Thessalonians 1:5-8*.

*BACKGROUND of Thessalonica*

 

Prominence of the city in the Roman World.

Population of 200,000  &  Capital of Roman province of Macedonia.

The Church in Thessalonica was in many ways a model church.

She served as an example to many others.

One way in which this church shone as a bright example was in their enthusiasm for the work of the Lord.

CAUTION: Abounding in the work of the Lord is only one step removed from Abandoning the work of the Lord.

They had a great opportunity to reach the world from here!!

 

/In this passage the description of Biblical missions includes several key components./

!! I. MISSION WORK IS EVANGELISM (I THESSALONIANS 1:5)

 

A.

Paul Brought The Gospel (*I Corinthians 15:1-4*).

Paul says, “We were just men among you, Messengers who brought you the Gospel.”

That’s what missions is!

When a believer meets with an unbeliever – that is a mission field!!

 

STRESS importance of this Gospel ministry at Home first – Mississauga.

*His Jerusalem Not Won*

D. L. Moody once met a young fellow on a train.

This young man was bubbling over with the prospect of going to Africa and winning the heathen for Christ.

Mr. Moody asked him a very pertinent question, “How many souls have you brought to the Lord here at home?”

After a brief pause, he answered truthfully, “I do not know of one soul that I have won.”

B.

The Gospel Was Preached In Power

 

Here was the power – not in the men, but in the message preached!

*1 Corinthians 1:1818*For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

*Romans 1:1616*For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

C.

The Gospel Was Accompanied By The Work Of The Holy Spirit.

God’s Holy Spirit will use His Word – That is our confidence!

*1 Peter 1:12* *12*Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you */by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven/*; which things the angels desire to look into.

He will not use any other message than the Gospel!!  Any other messengers than men!!

And any other medium than preaching!!

 

D.

The Gospel Produced Assurance Of Salvation:

 

“/In much assurance/”

 

They were transformed and they knew it!!!

 

!! II.

MISSION WORK IS DISCIPLESHIP (I THESSALONIANS 1:6,7)

 

!!! A. The Believers Became Followers Or Imitators:

 

*/1.

First of Paul. 2. Then of the Lord./*

FOLLOWERS - It is a call to reproduce in our own way of life those godly qualities that result from salvation and that we see in others.

Here referring to the definite act of conversion in the past – /Now what we became at conversion we must diligently continue to be thereafter./

Leadership is Influence ~/ Discipleship is Relationship

 

/They learned to follow Christ by following Paul/.

*1 Corinthians 11:11*Be ye followers of me, even as I also /am/ of Christ.

3.

New Testament believers are to learn to follow;

 

a.

God.

 

*Ephesians 5:11*Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

 

b.

Good.

*3 John 11* *11*Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.

He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

 

c.

Godly men.

*Hebrews 6:1212*That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

d.

Pastors

 

*Hebrews 13:77*Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of /their/ conversation.

!!! B. Effective Believers Become A Pattern For Other Christians~/Churches To Follow

!!! (/I Thessalonians 1:7/).

INDIVIDUALLY – What sort of example are we?

CORPORATELY

 

Not only in their own province of Macedonia, but also into neighbouring Achaia!

EXAMPLES in that they .....

 

1.Received the Word vs.5

 

2.

Respected their Leaders vs.6

 

3.

Reproduced Themselves vs.7-8