WAITING FOR THE SON

1 THESSALONIANS 1                                                       

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS [v. 1-3]

1.  A GRACE CHURCH [v. 1]

-because of the Gifts of the Church [v. 1, Eph. 4:11-13]

-because of the God of the Church [v. 1, Acts 20:28]

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

-because of the Grace of the Church [v. 1, 2 Corinthians 8:1]

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2. A GOOD CHURCH [v. 2-3a]

-Paul gave thanks for them

-Paul prayed for them

-Paul remembered them

3. A GOING CHURCH [v. 3] “A Going Church for the Coming Lord”

- “work of faith” for the Master

- “Labour of love” for the Master

- “patience of hope” for the Master [Titus 2:13]

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

II. THE CHANNEL TO THE THESSALONIANS [v. 4-5]

1. ELECTION [v. 4-6]

-ALL Christians are “elect” [v. 4] “elect” & “election” are NEVER used in connection with the lost

- “Elect” because of their response to God’s action through the Gospel [v. 5a, 6b]

- “Elect” can have joy even in affliction [v. 6c]

God, in His Sovereignty, chose the elect to be the “whosoever wills”

2. THE GOSPEL [v. 5]

-the Gospel Preached [Rm. 10:13-17]

-the Gospel’s Power [Rm. 1:16]

-the Gospel’s Promoter [Luke 4:18]

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

III. THE CHANGE IN THE THESSALONIANS [v. 5-10]

1. THE TESTIMONY OF PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS [v. 5c-7]

-the Men’s Manner [v. 5c]

-the Men’s Mimics [v. 6] “mimetes” 1 Cor. 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

-the Men’s Missionaries [v. 7]

2. THE “EX” MEN [v. 7-8]

-Examples [v. 7]

-Exclaimers [v. 8]

-Expounders [v. 8]

3. THE HEART OF THE THESSALONIANS [v. 9-10] (both the people and the Epistles)

-Turning [v. 9a]

-Serving [v. 9b]

-Waiting [v. 10]