A church with a good report

1 Thessalonians 1 vs 8-10

The word ‘report’ can mean different things to different people. eg. Business / media / military & school reports.

In 1 Thessalonians we see a different kind of report given to Paul, Silas & Timothy, about the church in Thessalonica.

Note how they are an example of a church that is a witness to the surrounding communities.

vs 7: and so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Note how the gospel went into those areas and further afield from the Thessalonian Church.

• vs 8: The Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith has become known everywhere.

The Thessalonian church had a reputation and it was a gospel reputation.

How do Paul, Silas and Timothy know this? They know it from the report from those people in these areas, those who have been impacted by the Thessalonian church.

3 points to summarize the contents of this report:

• They welcomed the Gospel
• They ‘ve turned to God from idols to serve the living and True God
• They’re waiting for the Saviour’s return
• They welcomed the Gospel

Vs 6: . . . .you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit.

It’s obvious from verse 6 that they welcomed the gospel, but we also see it in verse 8:

8: for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us?

Not just welcoming the people, but the message as well. Remember Acts 17, and we saw how they looked after them.

they’re not just welcoming Paul and Silas, they’re welcoming the message that they bring.

When you welcome the messenger, you welcome the message.

Eg. Group from Japan who advocate nuclear disarmament. They go around the world to various organizations sharing the effects of the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945.  

When a particular organization welcomes these advocates in, it shows that they’re serious about the cause that they represent.

And it becomes obvious that they’re welcoming the message.  

In the same way, the Thessalonians welcomed Paul and Silas. They’re a church that welcomed the gospel message.

It shows that the gospel message must have impacted them, because they welcomed Paul, the apostle and Silas.

Eg. Old Testament occasions where the messengers were received according to how those receiving the message felt about it. Have you welcomed the gospel message? Has it shown in the way you’ve accepted the word of God / the way you treat those who bring you the word of God / the way those who live out the word of God among you.

• They ‘ve turned to God from idols to serve the living and True God

See vs 9 again

For they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned from idols to serve the living and True God,

So the report that reached the apostles from the areas surrounding Thessalonica / from Macedonia and Achaia mentioned how the thessalonians had turned from idols to serve the true and living God.

In other words, it was evident that they had been transformed. /  that their lives had been turned around by the gospel. God had changed their hearts. The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s powerful work was there.  

The Thessalonians weren’t just a group who payed lip service to the gospel / they didn’t just say we’re Christians / we love Jesus / we’re part of this movement / this is the movement we associate ourselves with. No, it had transformed them / they had done a complete 180 in terms of what they lived for.

Eg. Stephen Baldwin.

The Thessalonians were people whom you could tell, had turned from idols to the living God. I wonder if the same could be said of us.  

Because that is the evidence right there of hearts that have been changed by God

Their identity used to be in the fact that they worshiped idols / that’s who they used to / that’s what they were known for / and now the change was evident  

The best way to sell a product is word of mouth. When a friend has bought something that has made a difference in their life.

That’s what had happened with the Thessalonians / they had the gospel / the people living in the surrounding areas saw how it had changed them / saw how their lives had turned around / saw how they had gone from worshipping idols to worshipping the living and true God / from idols who were dead / that were inanimate objects / that could do nothing / that were false made up Gods / to the living and true God.

Do you see how the Thessalonian church isn’t about the Thessalonian church? But they’re about the living and True God.

I wonder if that could be said of ST Matthews? That there’s a church that has turned from idols to serve the living and True God.

• They’re waiting for the Saviour’s return

Verse 9 & 10 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

So they’ve welcomed the gospel / they’ve turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and they’re waiting for Jesus. In other words they are anticipating his return. They are looking forward to him coming back.

They’re not just sitting around waiting, remember they’re serving the living and true God, they’re a church that is working  

And what exactly are they waiting for?

Vs 10 for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

They’re not waiting for a saviour who is still in the grave. He has been raised from the dead. A saviour who is alive. The death and the resurrection of Jesus, showed us that Jesus was the son of God, but not only that. Jesus’ resurrection shows us that God’s plan didn’t end at the death of Jesus. It gives us assurance that Jesus will come again.

So they’re waiting for Jesus whom God raised from the dead. But Paul also mentions that Jesus is the one who rescues us from the coming wrath.

They’re waiting for Jesus who has saved us from our sins. We’ve seen how Jesus has already delivered them from their idols / how they’ve now turned to God / But here’s the thing for the Thessalonians / and this is also the thing for you if you’re a Christian here today / if you’ve placed your faith and your trust in Jesus.

The Day of the Lord is a day they can look forward to. It won’t be a day of wrath for them. But for those who don’t know God / who don’t know Jesus / ON the day when Jesus returns, God’s wrath / God’s anger / God’s punishment / God’s justice will be poured on the human race / We know from the Bible that God hates sin / We know from the Bible that we’re all sinners / But we also know that God has done something about sin through Jesus on the cross.

So all those who repent and turn to him are saved. But on that day / God will again deal with sin / and this time the sin of those who haven’t repented / the sin of those who haven’t turned to Christ.

So the Thessalonians do what they do, with the end in mind. That’s why they’re so effective for the gospel / that’s why we see in verse 8, Paul saying: The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, your faith in God has become known everywhere . . .

They were concerned that the people around them, in the areas around them / they were concerned that they got to hear the gospel / that they got to hear the message about Jesus / so that they could be saved by Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath. That’s why they were an effective church.

Eg. Army inspection. Being ready for the captain’s inspection.

Conclusion

St Matthews: Do we live with that awareness of the need for the gospel? Do we welcome the gospel? Is the gospel at the heart of what we do? because we know that is the only way this community can know God. Have we ourselves, turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Are we waiting For Jesus, whom God raised from the dead who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Questions for Home Group:

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Pay particular attention to vs 6 & vs 9-10

• What did the Christians from the areas around Thessalonica report about the Thessalonians? (vs 9-10)
• What should the following mean and look like in our context today?
  • to welcome the gospel?
  • To turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God?
  • to wait for His Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the dead – Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath?
• How can we get this right at St Matthews?