The Supernatural Nature of The Church

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The Supernatural Nature of The Church

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

May 5, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Thessalonians 1:1–3

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It was, perhaps, in the summer of the year 50 A.D. that Paul, Silas, and Timothy, arrived in the thriving, cosmopolitan city of Thessalonica.

It was a city located on the Via Egnatia, the famous Roman road that connected Rome to the East. That road stretched from what is today, Albania, to Constantinople, Istanbul. It was a harbor city, and the only port that existed on this road, and so the city was very influential.

It was a free city, allowed to manage its own political affairs in a way that few Roman controlled cities could. Fewer taxes, rulers that they chose for themselves, and a population that included all kinds of people. It was truly an international commercial city.

It was one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire and the capital city of the Macedonian province. Population estimates for the time of Paul’s ministry range from 100,000 to 250,000 people.

The missionary team that arrived in Thessalonica had just been beaten and imprisoned at Phillipi. God had miraculously delivered them from that prison and marvelously saved the jailor and his household through that deliverance. Earlier, Lydia had been saved, and there were others, but Paul was asked to leave town.

NAS 1 Thessalonians 2:1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

So, when he arrived in the city of Thessalonica, he had traveled 100 miles, shortly after being severely beaten. He had every reason to be timid and afraid, especially when trouble began to raise its head in this city also.

Thessalonica, unlike Philippi, had a large enough Jewish population to have a synagogue. Paul began his ministry there. He reasoned with them for 3 weeks, and as a result, there Jews converted. But then his ministry moved outside the synagogue into the Gentile population, and there were many Gentiles converted. That sparked Jewish jealousy, and the conflict was on once again.

Paul was torn away from them (ESV 2:17), and they were forced to flee the city (Acts 17:10).

We can’t be certain of how long Paul was in Thessalonica, but several considerations indicate that it was longer than his 3 weeks reasoning in the synagogue. The Philippians sent support for him more than once (Phil 4:16). But regardless of how long he was with them, it was a relatively short amount of time, and he couldn’t give them a lot of teaching.

Paul left Timothy and Silas in Berea after they were run out of Thessalonica, and he went on to Athens. Sometime after Paul was in Athens, Silas and Timothy met him there, and out of concern for churches Paul was willing to be left alone in Athens and dispatch them to find out about the churches.

ESV 1 Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,

It was after Paul was in Corinth, and reunited with Timothy, that this letter was written in response to Timothy’s report and Paul is rejoicing at what he has heard.

Chapter 1 is a record of his rejoicing, as he tells them about what he has seen in them and heard about them.

Chapter 2 is a reminder of his ministry among them.

Chapter 3 is an explanation of his affection for them, why he sent Timothy to them, and his reaction to Timothy’s report.

Chapter 4, he exhorts them to live holy lives, and follows that exhortation with comfort considering a true understanding of the return of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 5 begins with explanations about the day of the Lord, and then ends with closing exhortations and a final desire for their blessing.

Today we begin looking at this first chapter, and the chapter is amazing.

The chapter can be divided into 5 sections.

Verse 1 – How we regard you (Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy).

Verses 2-3 – How we pray for you.

Verse 4 – What we know about you.

Verses 5-7 – Why we are certain about you.

Verses 8-10 – What has become of you.

We are going to look at each of those five sections, but as we do we need to notice what this chapter represents.

It is Paul, on behalf of Silas and Timothy, telling this church what he believes about them and what he and others have seen in them.

A Ministry To Be Trusted Part 3

June 9, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16

Introduction: Paul is giving an extended explanation concerning the motives and the practices that characterized his ministry. Paul faces opposition — perhaps people slandering Paul to the Thessalonians, perhaps doubts or concerns coming FROM the Thessalonians — so that he now needs to access their memories in defense of his ministry. We said that he supplied three reasons why they should remember that his ministry is trustworthy. Those three reasons also serve as three characteristics of any trustworthy ministry. Review: I. A MINISTRY TO BE TRUSTED IS PURE IN ITS MOTIVES (vs.1-6) And we saw that the motives of ministry are most clearly on display in the preaching and teaching of God’s Word. A. PURE MOTIVES ON DISPLAY THROUGH DIFFICULT PREACHING B. PURE MOTIVES ON DISPLAY THROUGH REFUSED MANIPULATION C. PURE MOTIVES ON DISPLAY THROUGH FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP D. PURE MOTIVES ON DISPLAY THROUGH ETERNAL AMBITIONS II. A MINISTRY TO BE TRUSTED IS PARENTAL IN ITS AFFECTIONS (vs.7-12) We noted, however, that a ministry to be trusted is characterized not only by pure motives, but also by godly affection. The kind of affection that God grants to genuine shepherds can be compared to parents. A. THE SENSITIVE CARE OF A MOTHER (vs.7) B. THE SACRIFICIAL CARE OF A MOTHER C. THE SELFLESS RESPONSIBILITY OF A FATHER D. THE SPIRITUAL CONCERNS OF A FATHER (vs.11) Lesson: What we see NOW, in our verses, could almost seem like an aside. But if you go beyond verse 16 it is clear that Paul is continuing to explain himself. No, I think the best way to understand these verses is that he’s vindicating their ministry in yet another way. Robert Thomas — “A desire to vindicate his ministry continues to control Paul’s reasoning through ch. 3. He thus presents thanksgiving as another indication of his guileless interest in his readers.”#_ftn1 I AGREE WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THAT HIS THANKSGIVING IN THIS CASE POINTS TO SOMETHING BEYOND ITSELF. HIS THANKSGIVING HIGHLIGHTS THE FACT THAT THE GENUINENESS OF THEIR MINISTRY HAS BEEN PROVEN THROUGH SUFFERING. III. A MINISTRY TO BE TRUSTED IS PROVEN IN ITS SUFFERINGS (vs.13-16) Faithful ministry results in fruit THAT LASTS. Faithful ministry is proven by lives that ENDURE when tested. Faithful ministry results in people who persevere — because they are God’s work — through suffering. As one writer put it, “The spotlight now shifts from the evangelists to the evangelized.” (Thomas) PAUL IS OFFERING TWO DEFENSES TO THE APPARENT CRITICISMS OF HIS MINISTRY. *THE MINISTRY ITSELF (IT’S CONTENT AND CHARACTER) *THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE RESULT OF THAT MINISTRY He says, in effect, “You are the product of our ministry, so what has been produced?” But as Paul will demonstrate, it is not just the FACT of perseverance through suffering that commends his ministry. It is THE SPIRIT of that perseverance. God produces a kind of endurance that is much more than just gritting your teeth and getting through something. God grants a perseverance that IS ENLIGHTENED. It is an endurance that exists with thanksgiving, and it is strengthened by understanding. A. IT IS AN ENDURANCE THAT EXISTS WITH THANKSGIVING (vs.13) Paul now mentions his thanks to God for them for the second time (1:2-10). HIS THANKSGIVING FOCUSES on their reception of the gospel, and what the Word of God has produced in their lives. #_ftnref1 Robert L. Thomas, https://ref.ly/logosres/ebcrev12?ref=bible.1th2.13&off=2987&ctx=+present+paragraph.+~a+desire+to+vindicat in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians–Philemon (Revised Edition), ed. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, vol. 12 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006), 394.

A Ministry To Be Trusted Part 2

June 2, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Thessalonians 2:1–16

Introduction: What characterizes a ministry that can be trusted? We are getting a divine lesson in that as Paul reminds the Thessalonians of what made his ministry trustworthy. Review: I. A MINSTRY TO BE TRUSTED IS PURE IN ITS MOTIVES (vs.1-6) This morning, we spent our time considering Paul’s motives. His motives were pure. His motives were God-glorifying, and God-focused. We said that motives become apparent by the pattern of our behavior. Paul talked about his motives in the context of his ways of ministry — how his motives were on display in what they had done. The purity of his motives on display through difficult preaching. The purity of his motives on display through refusal to manipulate. The purity of his motives on display through the reverence of a faithful steward. The purity of his motives on display through eternal ambitions. The fuel for faithful ministry consists of ambitions that have been imparted by salvation and are maintained by the work of the Spirit of God. II. A MINISTRY TO BE TRUSTED IS PARENTAL IN ITS AFFECTIONS (vs.7-12) A faithful ministry is not just known by its motives — it is known by its affections. Faithful ministry demonstrates the heart of God because it is driven by affections taught by God and GIVEN by God. After stating what DIDN’T characterize their ministry in verses 5-6, Paul describes the LOVE that they demonstrated for these people. HE DESCRIBES THE LOVE OF THE MISSIONARY TEAM IN PARENTAL TERMS. In verse 7 he compares their care for them to a mother in her nurturing devotion. In verse 11 he compares their care for them to a father in his encouraging and imploring devotion. A MOTHER AS A NURTURER, A FATHER AS A PROVIDER AND A TEACHER. A. THE SENSITIVE CARE OF A MOTHER (vs.7) He describes the sensitive care of a mother. The word for “gentle” is only used twice in the NT. Its other use is in 2 Timothy 2:24 and is translated “kind.” NAS 2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. The word translated “nursing mother” is only used here in the NT and it can mean “nurse.” But Paul ties this with the idea that she is taking care of her own children, so it is translated “nursing mother.” That is, a mother considered in her care giving role with her children. Paul’s point is that they did not come to the Thessalonians in the manner of authoritarians. His ministry was not characterized by harshness or insensitivity. They did not meet with the Thessalonians in a way that was cold, aloof, proud, or heavy handed. The attitude on display in their concern for these people was not FORMAL it was FAMILIAL — It was the attitude of family love. Sensitivity, compassion, respect, care, for people marks the affections found in faithful ministry. B. THE SACRIFICIAL CARE OF A MOTHER (vs.8) In this way, in that same kind of care, with a yearning kind of affection for these people (think about how love for our children is a matter of strong desire) — so, out of this kind of affection — there was a willingness to give MORE than the gospel. There was a willingness to lay down the missionaries’ own lives for the sake of the souls of the Thessalonians. WHAT WILL A PARENT REFUSE TO GIVE FOR THE WELLBEING OF A CHILD? Once again, this is what CHARACTERIZED Paul’s ministry — not just at Thessalonica, but everywhere he went. NAS 2 Corinthians 12:14 Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I do not seek what is yours, but you; for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less? Parental love is not just characterized by a sensitive heart toward children, it is also characterized by the willingness to sacrifice. C. THE SELFLESS RESPONSIBILITY OF A FATHER (vs.9)

A Ministry To Be Trusted Part 1

June 2, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Thessalonians 2:1–16

Introduction: A consistent theme running through Paul’s letters in the New Testament, is the fierceness of the opponents of faithful ministry. The fierceness of human opponents is explained by the fierceness of their prince. THE TRUE ENEMY WHO STANDS BEHIND THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH — IS THE DEVIL. THE TRUE BATTLE THAT BELIEVERS STRUGGLE WITH IS NOT FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT THE SPIRITUAL KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. As the hymn says — it is “our ancient foe who seeks to work us woe”. And “he is armed with cruel hate”. Paul makes clear in his letters that this fierce opposition is not something reserved just for him. Because of his calling as an apostle it was often specially focused on him. But the expectation of spiritual opposition belongs to every faithful ministry. Paul warned the Ephesian elders when he met with them the final time, that spiritual opposition was something they could expect. He prepared Timothy with the same expectation, even using war imagery, and encouraging Timothy to serve as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. And Paul made clear that this kind of opposition is something to be faced by the church throughout time. When Paul exhorted Timothy to faithfulness — using his own example — he also expanded the application to make clear that persecution will be suffered by all who seek to please Christ. 2 Timothy 3:10-13 “But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” Notice that he also makes the point that this is not something that will improve over time. All of this, of course, simply echoes what Jesus promised we would all face. John 15:18 “aIf the world hates you, 1know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but aI chose you out of the world, bbecause of this the world hates you. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘aA slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, bthey will also persecute you; if they ckept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 “But all these things they will do to you afor My name’s sake, bbecause they do not know the One who sent Me.” The result of this reality is that Paul was often put in the position of having to defend his ministry. And we are seeing in this letter that he felt the need to defend his ministry to the Thessalonians. Paul and his missionary team had to leave Thessalonica quickly when fierce opposition arose in the city. That departure left an opportunity for spiritual wolves to slander him and to call his ministry into question. Paul could not leave the criticism unanswered. The apostle has a responsibility for these churches. It is vital they receive his ministry. And so, for the sake of their souls he needs to defend his calling and work. Paul began to do that in seed form in chapter 1. Now, in chapter 2, he expands with a more detailed reminder of his time with them, and an explanation of how and why they conducted their ministry in Thessalonica. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT PAUL’S DEFENSE IS THE TRUTH. He is not mounting a defense where no true defense existed. Nor is he mounting a defense that was self-interested. He can take them to what was truthful, factual, and he does so for THEIR UPBUILDING. He does this with Christ honoring motives. He is not defending himself FOR himself — he is guarding this church. He guards them by reminding them of the trustworthy nature of his ministry. AS HE DOES THIS, HE ALSO PROVIDES THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST — FOR ALL TIME — A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT CHARACTERIZES ALL TRUSTWORTHY MINISTRY. That is what we begin thinking about this morning. What characterizes a ministry that is trustworthy? What characterizes faithful shepherding — faithful ministry? We will see three major points in verses 1-16, but we will look at these in more than one sermon. Nevertheless, let me give you these three main points, and then we will examine them. (1) A ministry to be trusted is pure in its motives (vs.1-6). (2) A ministry to be trusted is parental in its affections (vs.7-12). (3) A ministry to be trusted is persevering in its sufferings (vs.13-16).