Preaching by Jorge Max, Translated by Andrew Love

The Church in God

• It gives us great encouragement
• The church is a result of the Gospel
• The church spreads the Gospel
• This brings other Churches into existence
• v1 - the Church is in God and Jesus
• Geographically it is in Thessalonians
• It is part of the vine/the body
• v3 - a work of faith, labour of love, patience of hope - it is an alive church
• Let's think how the church began
• The people are called of God
• Election is a mystery from God (v4)
• The Gospel came to them in the word (v5)
• God is sovereign
• Acts 16 - Example
• A proof that they are chosen of God because the word came to them
• The Gospel came in power and Holy Spirit
• The gospel without the Spirit does not have power
• The word of God came in word and the power of the Holy Spirit
• Only the power of the Holy Spirit is able to give new life
• The Gospel came in deep conviction
• The Gospel of God (Chapter 2 - x3)
• The Gospel of Christ (Chapter 3 - x1)
• The Gospel to us - we received it
• The gospel comes in great power and we must have absolute conviction in it
• They received the word of God (v6) with a joy that comes from the Holy Spirit
• They were in much affliction
• The joy of the Holy Spirit was greater than the pain of persecution
• Example of the Parable of the Sower
• The Thessalonians received the word of God, suffered persecution but had the joy of the Holy Spirit
• This is another evidence that they were chosen of God
• Jesus suffered because of the word and the apostles suffered because of the gospel
• The one who suffers for the gospel imitates Jesus and the apostles
• They became models/examples to other churches (v7)
• He who imitates Jesus becomes a model to others
• Models of those who suffer for the word of God but have joy
• Another example they were chosen of God
• They sounded forth the word of God (v8)
• They received the word of God and did not keep it to themselves but preached it to others
• The word indicates a great sound
• They were persecuted but had the courage to preach with a loud voice
• Society was so taken up with their new faith in God that they were able to expound what the apostles were doing
• Society shared the news
• A new faith in God
• They were converted from idols to God
• People become slaves of Satan through idolatry
• The people would receive many threats if they broke from their idolatry
• If they are worshiping idols they are worshiping demons
• Example from Brazil
• The people were freed without issue
• They were freed from idols for two reasons: (v9)
1. To serve the living God
• Jesus came to transform us into servants
• To serve the Gospel to those around us
• The church is the product of the grace of God and we need to serve
• Example from Brazil of serving
• It is not more spiritual to preach
• It is all spiritual if done with love for God and our neighbour
• We were saved to serve
2. To free us from the wrath to come
• The church has forgotten about the return of Christ
• Christ is our propitiation
• We need to love one another and this lost world
• Paul, Silas & Timothy knew that these people were chosen by God
• The word came in Word, power and absolute conviction
• They became imitators of Jesus and the apostles
• They suffered with great joy
• They became models to all believers
• They preached the word without fear
• Their conversion impacted society
• They became servants of Jesus Christ
• They are waiting for Him to come in glory
• I pray the same thing for us
• Concluding Remarks