Growing the O-Fashioned way
1^st Thessalonians 2:10-15 & 19-20

 

To You from Us (vv.10-12)

·       Observation

o   They were:

§  Holy.’ They behaved as men who had been separated to God and his service.

§  Righteous.’ They always strove to do what was right according to the law of God.

§  Blameless.’ Their conduct was irreproachable before men. They lived without giving cause for scandal or offence.

o   He did

§  Exhort

·       παρακαλέω parakaleō  Call alongside, Plead Beg

§  Encouraged

·       Comforted

·       Picture = Walk with

§  Urged them to live lives worthy of God.

·       Not selfish but selfless

·       Obligation

o   Listen

o   Imitate

·       Outcome

o   1:6-

§  Example

§  Word of the Lord sounded forth (NIV the Lords Message rang out!)

Segue: Because of his actions the Thessalonians were able to discern the source of Paul’s empowerment; in the same way, because of his words, they are able to identify the source of his truth

To You from God (v.13)

·       Observation

o   To exhort them he would lift up Jesus, not himself

§  1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

o   He urged them to live lives worthy of God not to do anything for him

o   Because of this they were able to see His teaching was not his words but the word of God…

·       Obligation

o   Appreciated the Word

o   Appropriated the Word

o   Applied the Word

·       Outcome

o   It was a work within them

o   1:9

§  Turned

§  Wait

 

Segue… The waiting was harder than you can imagine because of the persecution we do not face.

To You from Others (vv.14-15)

·       Observation

o   They are persecuted

o   Others are persecuted

·       Obligation

o   Learn from their walk

o   Walk as they walk

·       Outcome

o   Others learn from them

o   V.1-7

 

Conclusion \ Application

See Jesus

Be Jesus