THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

Worthy Word, Worthy Walk -- 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Thessalonica

Is The Gospel Still Good News?

• “I think the greatest weakness in the church today is that almost no one believes that God invests His power in the Bible. Everyone is looking for power in a program…methodology…technique …anything and everything but that in which God has placed it – His Word.”

R.C. Sproul

The Gospel Paul Preached To Them

• 1 Thessalonians 2:8,9,13 – “…we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives…we proclaimed to you the gospel of God….For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God…you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”

The Worthy Word Is The Gospel

Paul calls it the gospel of God. Gospel is EUANGELION – it is

good news. Matthew 24:14 –

“This gospel of the kingdom

shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and

then the end will come.”

Luke 16:16 “The Law and the

Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.”

The Good News For Free Paul reminds them they received the

gospel free of charge.

1 Corinthians 9:12, 16, 18

Paul preached while supporting himself

Felt he was under compulsion to preach Gave up his right to remuneration so the

gospel could be preached.

Offered Their Very Souls

1 Thessalonians 2:8 – “…we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives….”

Lives = PSEUCHE – souls

Accepted As The Word Of God God’s word spoken

through men 2:2 – “…we had the

boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.”

Word Originated With God Romans 3:2 – “…

First of all , that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

God first spoke His word to the Jews – His very own oracles.

Hebrews 5:12 “For though by

this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God….”

Word Administered By The Spirit

2 Peter 1:21 – “…for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Contrasted With The Word Of Men

False prophets 2 Cor. 11:4 – “For if one

comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”

Galatians 1:6

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel….”

As Presented By Philosophers Colossians 2:8 – See to

it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

The Worthy Walk

Vs. 11-12 -- just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walkin a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Called Into The Kingdom Of God

Revelation 5:10 – “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Their Kingdom Walk

Paul uses the word PERIPATEO – walking about.

Romans 14:17 – “…for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

They Were Called By The Word

KALEO 2 Thes. 2:14 --

It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We Are Called Into God’s Glory

1 Peter 5:10 – “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

We Are Vessels Of Mercy

Romans 9:22-24 -- What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.