can the church grow in this very unchristian society?

CAN THE CAN THE CHURCH GROW CHURCH GROW IN THIS VERY IN THIS VERY UNCHRISTIAN UNCHRISTIAN

SOCIETY?SOCIETY?

I Thessalonians 1:1-3I Thessalonians 1:1-3

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.


For we know, brothers loved by God, that he For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.Macedonia and Achaia.


The Lord’s message rang out from you not only The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. coming wrath.

Here are some ways ourHere are some ways our

church can make achurch can make a

spiritual difference!spiritual difference!

I. Present to the World a I. Present to the World a Transformed LifeTransformed Life

I Thessalonians 1:2-3 - We always thank God I Thessalonians 1:2-3 - We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.Lord Jesus Christ.

A. Which Bible will people read the A. Which Bible will people read the most?most?

Your genuine Christian life!Your genuine Christian life!

I. Present to the World a Transformed LifeI. Present to the World a Transformed Life

B. What attributes provide your best B. What attributes provide your best witness?witness?

I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: remain: faithfaith, , hopehope and and lovelove..


I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: remain: faithfaith, hope and love., hope and love.

1. Show the gospel message by 1. Show the gospel message by your your faithfaith expressed through expressed through your your workwork..

I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember before our God and Father your before our God and Father your workwork produced by produced by faithfaith, your labor prompted by , your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.in our Lord Jesus Christ.




a. a. WorkWork ( (ἔργονἔργον) = a deed, ) = a deed, action, action, physical labor, physical labor, employment.employment.




James 2:17 - faith by itself, if it is not James 2:17 - faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.accompanied by action, is dead.




James 2:17 - faith by itself, if it is not James 2:17 - faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.dead, so faith without deeds is dead.


I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, hope and remain: faith, hope and lovelove..

2. Show the gospel message by 2. Show the gospel message by your your lovelove expressed through expressed through your your laborlabor..

I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember before our God and Father your work before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your produced by faith, your laborlabor prompted by prompted by lovelove, and your endurance inspired by hope , and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.in our Lord Jesus Christ.




a. a. LaborLabor ( (κόποςκόπος) = hard work, ) = hard work, laborious toil, laborious toil,

exhaustion or exhaustion or pain as a pain as a result of hard result of hard work.work.




b. Have you ever exhausted b. Have you ever exhausted yourself doing something yourself doing something for someone you love?for someone you love?


I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three I Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, remain: faith, hopehope and love. and love.

3. Show the gospel message by 3. Show the gospel message by your your hopehope expressed through expressed through your your enduranceendurance..

I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember I Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember before our God and Father your work before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your love, and your enduranceendurance inspired by inspired by hopehope in our Lord Jesus Christ.in our Lord Jesus Christ.




a. a. EnduranceEndurance ( (ὑπομονήὑπομονή) = ) = to to remain under, so endure, remain under, so endure, be be patient.patient.




b. How do you handle the b. How do you handle the cross cross you have to bear?you have to bear?


II. Present to the World a Genuine II. Present to the World a Genuine GratitudeGratitude

I Thessalonians 1:4-7 - For we know, brothers I Thessalonians 1:4-7 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Macedonia and Achaia.

A. You were A. You were lovedloved & & chosenchosen..I Thessalonians 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers I Thessalonians 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers

lovedloved by God, that he has by God, that he has chosenchosen you, you, because our gospel came to you not simply because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You You know how we lived among you for your know how we lived among you for your sake. sake.

II. Present to the World a Genuine GratitudeII. Present to the World a Genuine Gratitude

A. You were A. You were lovedloved & & chosenchosen..Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, when we when we

were still powerlesswere still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. , Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: us in this: While we were still sinnersWhile we were still sinners, Christ died , Christ died for us.for us.


A. You were A. You were lovedloved & & chosenchosen..Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, Romans 5:6-8 - You see, at just the right time, when we when we

were still powerlesswere still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. , Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: us in this: While we were still sinnersWhile we were still sinners, Christ died , Christ died for us.for us.

John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the not send his Son into the world to condemn the worldworld, , but to save the worldbut to save the world through him. through him.


B. You were presented the B. You were presented the gospelgospel messagemessage..

I Thessalonians 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers I Thessalonians 1:4-5 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our because our gospelgospel came to youcame to you not simply not simply with with wordswords, but also with power, with the , but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You You know how we lived among youknow how we lived among you for your for your sake.sake.


C. You responded to the gospel & C. You responded to the gospel & were were savedsaved..

I Thessalonians 1:6-7 - You became imitators of I Thessalonians 1:6-7 - You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, suffering, you welcomed the messageyou welcomed the message with with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.Macedonia and Achaia.


D. Your life was D. Your life was transformedtransformed..

I Thessalonians 1:6-7 - You became imitators of I Thessalonians 1:6-7 - You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you you became a model to all the believers in became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and AchaiaMacedonia and Achaia..


D. Your life was D. Your life was transformedtransformed..

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but the pattern of this world, but be be transformed by the renewing of your mindtransformed by the renewing of your mind. . Then you will be able to test and approve Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.perfect will.


III. Present to the World a Verbal III. Present to the World a Verbal WitnessWitness

I Thessalonians 1:8-9 - The Lord’s message I Thessalonians 1:8-9 - The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become and Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.you gave us.

A. What is witnessing?A. What is witnessing?

III. Present to the World a Verbal III. Present to the World a Verbal Witness.Witness.


1. It is genuinely living 1. It is genuinely living the the Christian lifeChristian life..




2. It is involvement 2. It is involvement in the churchin the church..





3. It is giving 3. It is giving sacrificiallysacrificially..





3. It is giving 3. It is giving sacrificiallysacrificially..

4. It is sharing 4. It is sharing the gospelthe gospel..



a. Telling the a. Telling the goodgood newsnews..


I Corinthians 15:1-6 - Now, brothers, I want to I Corinthians 15:1-6 - Now, brothers, I want to remind you of remind you of the gospel I preached to youthe gospel I preached to you, , which you received and on which you have which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first received I passed on to you as of first importance: that importance: that Christ died for our sinsChrist died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that according to the Scriptures, that he was buriedhe was buried, , that that he was raised on the third dayhe was raised on the third day according to according to the Scriptures, and that the Scriptures, and that he appearedhe appeared to Peter, to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.some have fallen asleep.




b. Introducing others to b. Introducing others to a a loving loving SaviorSavior..





c. Sharing your c. Sharing your lifelife..





c. Sharing your c. Sharing your lifelife..

d. Showing others how to d. Showing others how to become a Christian.become a Christian.


B. So - Ring it out!B. So - Ring it out!I Thessalonians 1:8 - The Lord’s message I Thessalonians 1:8 - The Lord’s message rang rang

out from youout from you not only in Macedonia and not only in Macedonia and Achaia — your faith in God has become Achaia — your faith in God has become known everywhere.known everywhere.




1. 1. Ring out Ring out ((ἐξηχέωἐξηχέω) = sound ) = sound forth like a trumpet, thunder out.forth like a trumpet, thunder out.




Romans 1:16 - Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospelI am not ashamed of the gospel, , because it is the power of God for the because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.salvation of everyone who believes.


B. So - Ring it out!B. So - Ring it out!Matthew 28:19-20 - Therefore go and Matthew 28:19-20 - Therefore go and make make

disciplesdisciples of all nations, baptizing them in of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to teaching them to obeyobey everything I have commanded you. everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.very end of the age.


B. So - Ring it out!B. So - Ring it out!

a. Prayerfully.a. Prayerfully.




b. Financially.b. Financially.





c. In your life.c. In your life.





c. In your life.c. In your life.

d. Verbally.d. Verbally.


This church can impact our world This church can impact our world spirituallyspiritually

As each of you live your As each of you live your transformed life before ittransformed life before it

And not be ashamed of the gospel And not be ashamed of the gospel and it’s power!and it’s power!

can the church grow in this very unchristian society?

Documents

transformed lifei corinthians

true god

gospel message

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transformed lifeb

lords message

physical labor