1 Thessalonians 3:11-13: A Covenant Church
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
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Someone lost their job on that error… How could they make such a mistake?
Our lives are full of mistakes, but God makes no mistakes. Look around this room - on this covenant Sunday we’re reminded that we are not together by mistake - but for this time in history - according to His will, God has brought this church together for His purpose.
Covenant Sunday - a Sunday to remind ourselves that we are in covenant with God and a covenant with each other.
Covenant = a partnership in which two parties make binding promises to each other to work toward a common goal. You are in a covenant relationship with God. God has promised to be your God and give you the gift of life, and in response to what God has done for you in Christ, you have promised to live your life for Him. Good news: Even when you fall down on your end of the covenant agreement, God continues to uphold His end of the covenant. God has made an unconditional covenant promise to you.
Covenant with God’s people - When you became a member of this church you entered into a covenant with this local body of believers. We entered into a partnership together. We’re working toward a common goal: to make disciples of all nations.
Our church covenant is what we promise to each other. What’s unique about our church is that we choose to sign a copy of our church covenant each year as a reminder of the covenant we have made to each other. You don’t find churches signing covenants in the Bible, but you do find the apostles, like Paul, encouraging churches to live committed to each other as they strive together to live out the Gospel. This is our way of reminding ourselves of our commitment to each other.
Every church has a statement of faith - what we believe. For us, Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Exclusivity of Christ, inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture, etc. Statement of faith is doctrinal.
Most churches have a covenant. For many of us who grew up in church, pasted in the back of the hymnal. Or other churches, it’s in their constitution and bylaws.
Statement of faith is doctrinal - a covenant is ethical - this is how we agree to live in light of what we believe. A written covenant reflects Scripture - a summary statement.
Really, two commitments in our covenant with each other: to grow in love for one another and to grow in holiness together.
Covenant Sunday is a reminder of what the church is not: not a social club, nor a performance we attend, nor a provider of activities and opportunities for your family to make you feel good about life.
Rather, a reminder of what the church is: surrendered followers of Jesus committed to Christ and committed to one another for the sake of the mission that God has called us to.
This morning, look at a prayer that Paul prayed for church at Thessalonica to help us think about the renewed commitment we’re making to each other this morning.
We renew our commitment to grow in love for one another.
We renew our commitment to grow in love for one another.
Paul didn’t spend much time in Thessalonica. Acts 17: people came to faith, and Paul was run out of Thessalonica, but he wanted to go back. He wanted to see how the small church at Thessalonica was doing.
Paul had sent Timothy to Thess. Timothy returned to Paul with a report - mixed. There was confusion among the believers about the return of Christ. In every chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul talks about the second coming of Jesus, and writes at length about the second coming in 1 Thess. 4.
But, Timothy reports good to Paul concerning Thess. 1 Thess. 1:3 - They’re growing in faith, hope, and love.
1 Thess. 3:11-13 - Paul prays for the church. We’ve studied enough of Paul’s letters to know that Paul loves to pray for the churches, and when he prays it’s focused on their spiritual growth.
vs. 12 - “May the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another.”
Why wouldn’t Paul say that? Paul knows like you do that what Jesus desires from His people is a genuine love for each other. When Jesus was asked the greatest command, He said Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law hinges on these two commands. (Matt. 22:36-40)
Apostle John reminded the church that our love for one another is evidence of our love for God. (1 John 4:7-8)
In our covenant relationships we are promising to live out our faith by loving God supremely and loving one another.
New Testament full of “one another” statements that remind us how to express our love for each other:
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
Comfort one another (2 Cor. 13:11).
Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16).
Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32).
Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).
Have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
Honor one another (Romans 12:10).
Pray for one another (James 5:16).
Encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24).
Build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Instruct one another (Romans 15:14).
Sing with one another (Ephesians 5:19).
Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13).
Stir up one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24).
Do good to one another (1 Thess. 5:15)
Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
A partial list of the “one another’s” of Scripture - THIS is what we are committing to in our covenant relationship with each other. What this means:
You can’t grow in love for others without Jesus. (We love because Jesus first loved us.)
You can’t grow in love for others without sacrifice.
You can’t grow in love for others when you make life all about you.
You can’t grow in love for others if you don’t make an attempt to know others. (When everyone is sitting in rows, you can’t do any one another’s…)
You can’t grow in love for others without giving a lot of grace.
How are you doing in practicing the one another’s of the New Testament? Do not take your covenant commitment lightly.
Not going to Chik-fil-a - has made me healthier… Not being a part of the church - makes you unhealthy…
We renew our commitment to grow in holiness together.
We renew our commitment to grow in holiness together.
“At the coming of our Lord...” Time is short… Make the most of the time you have by loving one another and together striving for holiness.
God is concerned about us living holy lifestyles. 1Peter 1:15: Be holy as God is holy.
Holy - to live a life distinct from the rest of the world. To imitate God and not this world.
Why is God so concerned about your holiness? Because He is holy… His longing is for you to be like Him! Our heavenly Father wants His children to be like Him. He wants you to hate sin and to love righteousness. You were made in His image to represent Him on this earth… To shine His glory.
Why are we so unconcerned about our holiness? We don’t understand God’s holiness. We don’t understand the destructive nature of sin. We don’t understand God’s hatred of sin. We don’t understand our present calling. We don’t understand our future glory.
We need each other if we’re going to live in holiness. We need the constant reminders from the Word of God and the body of Christ to not give up in our pursuit of holiness.
We have to know our time is limited.
We have to be a people who walk the talk.
We have to know that holiness matters for the spread of the Gospel. (People need to see real life change - that there’s a better way…)
We have to hold each other accountable.
We have to grow to hate what God hates.
We have to restore people in love. (We can’t be afraid to have the tough conversations.
A church covenant is a big deal because it is a reminder of our commitment to God and to each other. The relationship we share is a special, supernatural, purposeful relationship.
Think what God can do through a church that is committed to loving each other and growing in holiness together.
The church will never be perfect this side of eternity, but God can use imperfect people who seek His help to grow in love and holiness.
Today, we can celebrate the covenant we have with each other because of the covenant Jesus made with us. Before His death, Jesus shared a meal with His disciples - a Passover meal - a traditional Jewish feast that commemorated Israel’s rescue from Egypt.
Jesus took the cup… “This cup is the new covenant in my blood…”
A covenant of grace. Promised in Jeremiah 31:31-33.
Old Covenant - full of sacrifices - trips to the temple, bringing offerings before priests…
New Covenant - Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice who went to the cross to die in our place and rose again to give us life eternal and complete forgiveness of sins.
Because of the New Covenant - we are a covenant people - one family on mission for the sake of the Gospel.
You are invited to be a member of the covenant family by faith. Trust Christ today.
Faith family - realize the gift of the covenant - commit yourself to this family for your good and His glory.