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SERMON for OCTOBER 18, 2020
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TO SERVE A LIVING AND TRUE GOD
Text: I Thessalonians 1: 1-10; Matthew 22: 15-22
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“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 1: 2-3
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The Apostle Paul starts his letter to the Thessalonians with praise and thanksgiving: thanksgiving that the living and true God of all creation, the God of all people and nations, the one and the same living God who has transformed his very life and whose truth Paul has been preaching from that time forward, the living and true God has turned slaves of idols into free communities of believers. The community of believers located in Thessalonica is very much alive, filled with the joy of the Lord and bearing witness throughout the regions of Macedonia and Achaia despite persecution, helping others to turn from the worship of idols to serving the living and true God – to living out their faith in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s actions and words sound forth through these faithful disciples.
The Holy Spirit has been actively transforming their hearts and minds so that these first century disciples are empowered to take action – together – for the glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What is their work as disciples of Jesus Christ? Paul writes that the Thessalonians have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. What example have they set? What example are we setting – as individual disciples and as a congregation? How do we live out our faith in challenging and threatening times?
First, a brief history and overview of I Thessalonians:
Scholars believe that the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is the earliest letter of the New Testament, written around A.D. 51. The Church at Thessalonica was a very young church, established by Paul, Timothy, and Silas approximately two to three years before Paul wrote this letter to them. The main purpose of Paul’s letter is to encourage their faith in the face of persecution. In addition, Paul is writing to correct their misunderstanding concerning Christ’s second coming. Some believe that the Risen Lord is returning immediately. They are expecting the Lord to come and fulfill His promise of giving them victory of death itself and sin. Thus, in the face of death – that is, the passing of their loved ones before the Lord has come again in final victory – they are confused. Why hasn’t the Risen Lord come back yet? In this letter, Paul strives to answer such questions.
Let us turn briefly to another book of the Bible, the Book of Acts, to provide us with some important information about what was going on in Thessalonica – the context in which Paul is writing this letter to the Thessalonians. When Paul and Silas preached in the local synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures, the response to their proclamation was mixed. Some, but not all, were convicted by the truth and came to believe in the Lord. I will return to the “not all were convicted” and their negative reactions to the Gospel in a moment.
First, let us consider those who listened to Paul and Silas and became believers. Among them were Jewish converts to the faith. In addition, in Thessalonica there were Greeks who had been worshiping idols before hearing and believing the Gospel message. Paul gives thanks to God for them in the opening to his First Letter to the Thessalonians. These Thessalonians are facing persecution for their faith in the Risen Lord. Paul reminds them that the Holy Spirit will help them to remain strong in faith, hope, and love. Paul stresses the importance of setting a good example in the community, that is, being faithful role models, imitators of Christ and imitators of Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas set a standard that the Thessalonians might emulate: “you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.” (v. 5b) The faith of the Thessalonians is becoming known as they are bearing witness to their faith in both word and deed. Because of their professing and living out their faith, these new disciples of the Lord are facing persecution, persecution that was known by Paul and Silas and Timothy. The people wonder: why hasn’t the Risen Lord come to destroy death and those who persecute them?
Paul writes to assure them: in the Lord’s resurrection, Jesus Christ has conquered all principalities and powers of evil and darkness, even death itself. On the cross, in His own body, Jesus takes upon Himself the sin and suffering of the world – once and for all. Jesus proves in His death and resurrection that evil and death do not conquer Him. As for when the Lord will come in final victory, no one knows when the Second Coming of the Lord will be. In the meantime, as the Thessalonians wait for the Lord’s return, they need to be prepared – living faithfully as if He might come at any time. Likewise, we know not when our mortal days will be over on this earth. In the meantime, as we wait for the Lord’s return, we need to be prepared – living faithfully as if He might come at any time. While we yet live, we, like the Thessalonians, need to press on in faith - comforting, encouraging, and strengthening one another with the assurance of our resurrection lives in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As related, in Thessalonica when Paul and Silas preached about Jesus Christ, not all were convicted by the truth of the Gospel. Many reacted strongly against Paul’s message. As it is recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 17: some “became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob” (Acts 17: 4-5). They “set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities.” (Acts 17:5-6) Charges are made against Paul and Silas and the new church in Thessalonica: “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decree of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17: 6-7) Turning the world upside down for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel is a backhanded compliment!
Paul addresses their work as disciples of Jesus Christ and how they are to live out their faith. What is our work as disciples of Jesus Christ? How are we to live out our faith?
For us as it was for the Thessalonians, we are called to works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, especially when we face trials and tribulations, persecution and pandemics, destruction of things we value and death of loved ones. During times of adversity, if we turn away from the Lord and to idols of this world for pat answers and quick relief, whether consciously or unintentionally, we need to hear and heed the Lord’s call to serve the living and true God of all people and nations. As disciples of the Risen Lord, we wait with expectant hope, patiently, for the healing strength and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in this world. In word and in deed, let the word of the Lord sound forth in our lives.
Let us always give thanks to God for one another in our prayers, lifting up each other and our families, our faith family and other congregations throughout the world, constantly remembering before our God and Father the call to works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [Adaptation of I Thessalonians 1: 2-3] Let us also remember to pray for those who have turned to idols in this world, to principalities and powers and persons of darkness and evil. May the life, light, and love of Jesus Christ break through and bless hardened hearts and minds with truth.
Let us remember and give thanks: we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. With the Lord’s help and strength, truly, we can do. Thanks be to God. Amen
Text: I Thessalonians 1: 1-10; Matthew 22: 15-22
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 1: 2-3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Apostle Paul starts his letter to the Thessalonians with praise and thanksgiving: thanksgiving that the living and true God of all creation, the God of all people and nations, the one and the same living God who has transformed his very life and whose truth Paul has been preaching from that time forward, the living and true God has turned slaves of idols into free communities of believers. The community of believers located in Thessalonica is very much alive, filled with the joy of the Lord and bearing witness throughout the regions of Macedonia and Achaia despite persecution, helping others to turn from the worship of idols to serving the living and true God – to living out their faith in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s actions and words sound forth through these faithful disciples.
The Holy Spirit has been actively transforming their hearts and minds so that these first century disciples are empowered to take action – together – for the glory of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. What is their work as disciples of Jesus Christ? Paul writes that the Thessalonians have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. What example have they set? What example are we setting – as individual disciples and as a congregation? How do we live out our faith in challenging and threatening times?
First, a brief history and overview of I Thessalonians:
Scholars believe that the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is the earliest letter of the New Testament, written around A.D. 51. The Church at Thessalonica was a very young church, established by Paul, Timothy, and Silas approximately two to three years before Paul wrote this letter to them. The main purpose of Paul’s letter is to encourage their faith in the face of persecution. In addition, Paul is writing to correct their misunderstanding concerning Christ’s second coming. Some believe that the Risen Lord is returning immediately. They are expecting the Lord to come and fulfill His promise of giving them victory of death itself and sin. Thus, in the face of death – that is, the passing of their loved ones before the Lord has come again in final victory – they are confused. Why hasn’t the Risen Lord come back yet? In this letter, Paul strives to answer such questions.
Let us turn briefly to another book of the Bible, the Book of Acts, to provide us with some important information about what was going on in Thessalonica – the context in which Paul is writing this letter to the Thessalonians. When Paul and Silas preached in the local synagogue and proclaimed that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew scriptures, the response to their proclamation was mixed. Some, but not all, were convicted by the truth and came to believe in the Lord. I will return to the “not all were convicted” and their negative reactions to the Gospel in a moment.
First, let us consider those who listened to Paul and Silas and became believers. Among them were Jewish converts to the faith. In addition, in Thessalonica there were Greeks who had been worshiping idols before hearing and believing the Gospel message. Paul gives thanks to God for them in the opening to his First Letter to the Thessalonians. These Thessalonians are facing persecution for their faith in the Risen Lord. Paul reminds them that the Holy Spirit will help them to remain strong in faith, hope, and love. Paul stresses the importance of setting a good example in the community, that is, being faithful role models, imitators of Christ and imitators of Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas set a standard that the Thessalonians might emulate: “you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.” (v. 5b) The faith of the Thessalonians is becoming known as they are bearing witness to their faith in both word and deed. Because of their professing and living out their faith, these new disciples of the Lord are facing persecution, persecution that was known by Paul and Silas and Timothy. The people wonder: why hasn’t the Risen Lord come to destroy death and those who persecute them?
Paul writes to assure them: in the Lord’s resurrection, Jesus Christ has conquered all principalities and powers of evil and darkness, even death itself. On the cross, in His own body, Jesus takes upon Himself the sin and suffering of the world – once and for all. Jesus proves in His death and resurrection that evil and death do not conquer Him. As for when the Lord will come in final victory, no one knows when the Second Coming of the Lord will be. In the meantime, as the Thessalonians wait for the Lord’s return, they need to be prepared – living faithfully as if He might come at any time. Likewise, we know not when our mortal days will be over on this earth. In the meantime, as we wait for the Lord’s return, we need to be prepared – living faithfully as if He might come at any time. While we yet live, we, like the Thessalonians, need to press on in faith - comforting, encouraging, and strengthening one another with the assurance of our resurrection lives in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As related, in Thessalonica when Paul and Silas preached about Jesus Christ, not all were convicted by the truth of the Gospel. Many reacted strongly against Paul’s message. As it is recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 17: some “became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob” (Acts 17: 4-5). They “set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities.” (Acts 17:5-6) Charges are made against Paul and Silas and the new church in Thessalonica: “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decree of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17: 6-7) Turning the world upside down for the sake of proclaiming the Gospel is a backhanded compliment!
Paul addresses their work as disciples of Jesus Christ and how they are to live out their faith. What is our work as disciples of Jesus Christ? How are we to live out our faith?
For us as it was for the Thessalonians, we are called to works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, especially when we face trials and tribulations, persecution and pandemics, destruction of things we value and death of loved ones. During times of adversity, if we turn away from the Lord and to idols of this world for pat answers and quick relief, whether consciously or unintentionally, we need to hear and heed the Lord’s call to serve the living and true God of all people and nations. As disciples of the Risen Lord, we wait with expectant hope, patiently, for the healing strength and empowerment of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in this world. In word and in deed, let the word of the Lord sound forth in our lives.
Let us always give thanks to God for one another in our prayers, lifting up each other and our families, our faith family and other congregations throughout the world, constantly remembering before our God and Father the call to works of faith, labors of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [Adaptation of I Thessalonians 1: 2-3] Let us also remember to pray for those who have turned to idols in this world, to principalities and powers and persons of darkness and evil. May the life, light, and love of Jesus Christ break through and bless hardened hearts and minds with truth.
Let us remember and give thanks: we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. With the Lord’s help and strength, truly, we can do. Thanks be to God. Amen