LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF HIS COMING 5. THE WORD OF GOD AT WORK (1 Thess 2:13-20)

1. The Word of God Produces – New Life Through Faith (v13)

Genesis 1 & John 1 – the Word of God brings…

The Thessalonians:

a) Received, believed, went on believing

b) Trusted the words they heard were from God – true & authoritative, even though delivered by human heralds (1 Cor 2:13, Matt 16:17)

c) Evidenced belief by their work of faith, labour of love, steadfastness of hope (1:3), their example (1:8-10)

d) Caused Paul’s rejoicing! “And we also thank God constantly…”

2. The Word of God Produces – Steadfastness Through Suffering (v14-16)

The Thessalonians followed a pattern:

a) Imitators of churches in Judea “in Christ Jesus” (2:14)

b) Suffering well, standing firm (3:8)

c) Imitators of Jesus, OT prophets, Apostles, all of whom suffered (Matt 27:25, 23:29-31, Acts 17:10)

d) Larger pattern of human opposition to God’s word (2:15-16) but still within God’s plan (Acts 2:23)

e) Joyfulness in suffering, enabled by the Holy Spirit (1:6)

3. The Word of God Produces – Fellowship in Family (v17-18)

a) Paul defends his absence from them (see Acts 17)

b) “Torn away (Gr. ‘aporphanizomai’), orphaned” (2:17)

c) Are we affectionately desirous of each other (2:8)??

d) Pattern of imitation! (1 Cor 11:1)

e) Role of mother (2:7) & father (2:11) now results in “brothers & sisters” (2:17)

f) What does our Bridge Chapel family look like?

4. The Word of God Produces – Hope in His Return (v19-20)

a) “crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at His coming…is it not you?”

b) Paul’s hope is to present the Thessalonians to Jesus at His return (see Matt 25:21)

c) A joy shared, celebrated, and hoped for (2:19)

d) Who will I present to Jesus upon His return?