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1 Thessalonians – Reproducing the Thessalonian Church – Sermon Outline
Church Growth – Church Health
Reproducing the Thessalonian Church
Elected by God
1 Thessalonians 1:4 HCSB (4) knowing your election, brothers loved by God.
I. RELY ON GOD’S TIMING
- Acts 16:9-10 HCSB During the night a vision appeared to Paul: a Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” (10) After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.
II. REACH UP TO WORSHIP AND SERVE THE LIVING GOD
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9 HCSB (8) For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don’t need to say anything. (9) For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
III. RESPECT THE WORD OF GOD
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 HCSB (8) For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don’t need to say anything. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, 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.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 HCSB (1) Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God–as you are doing–do so even more. (2) For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 HCSB (9) About brotherly love: you don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. (10) In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,
IV. RADIATE THE HOLY SPIRIT
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 HCSB (5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit, (6) and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 HCSB (8) Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19 HCSB (19) Don’t stifle the Spirit.
Work of Faith
Preach the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
V. REALISE GROWTH IS ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5 HCSB (5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 HCSB (2) On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 HCSB (9) For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 HCSB (13) Also, this is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.
VI. RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL WITH JOY
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6 HCSB (6) and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit.
VII. REEMPHASIZE ORIGINAL CONVERSION
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 HCSB (13) Also, this is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers.
VIII. REACH OUT TO OTHERS WITH GOSPEL
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 HCSB (8) For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don’t need to say anything.
Work of Faith
Live the Gospel
1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
IX. REQUIRE PURE LIVING BASED UPON THE GOSPEL
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 HCSB (3) For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, (4) so that each of you knows how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (5) not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God. (6) This means one must not transgress against and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. (7) For God has not called us to impurity, but to sanctification.
Labor of Love
Leadership
1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
X. REPLICATE PAUL’S LEADERSHIP
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 HCSB (7) Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children. (8) We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. (9) For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. (10) You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. (11) As you know, like a father with his own children, (12) we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
XI. RELENTLESSLY PURSUE ELDERS
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 HCSB (12) Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
XII. RESPECT SPIRITUAL LEADERS
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6 HCSB (6) But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 HCSB (12) Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
XIII. Reflect Good Teachers and Leaders
- 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 HCSB (6) and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit. (7) As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Labor of Love
Relationships
1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
XIV. REAFFIRM LOVE TO ONE ANOTHER
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6 HCSB (6) But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, wanting to see us, as we also want to see you.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 HCSB (12) And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 HCSB (9) About brotherly love: you don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. (10) In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8 HCSB (8) But since we are of the day, we must be sober and put the armor of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmet of the hope of salvation.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:13 HCSB (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
XV. RALLY TOGETHER AS ONE
- 1 Thessalonians 1:8 HCSB (8) For the Lord’s message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don’t need to say anything.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 HCSB (12) And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 HCSB (1) Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God–as you are doing–do so even more.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 HCSB (9) About brotherly love: you don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. (10) In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 HCSB (11) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
XVI. REACH DOWN TO THE STRUGGLING
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 HCSB (14) And we exhort you, brothers: warn those who are lazy, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
XVII. RISE ABOVE DIFFICULTIES
- 1 Thessalonians 2:14 HCSB (14) For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews.
XVIII. REMIND WHAT THEY KNOW
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5 HCSB (5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit,
- 1 Thessalonians 2:1 HCSB (1) For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:2 HCSB (2) On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and been outrageously treated in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5 HCSB (5) For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives–God is our witness–
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11 HCSB (11) As you know, like a father with his own children,
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3 HCSB (3) so that no one will be shaken by these persecutions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:4 HCSB (4) In fact, when we were with you, we told you previously that we were going to suffer persecution, and as you know, it happened.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2 HCSB (2) For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 HCSB (4) so that each of you knows how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, (5) not with lustful desires, like the Gentiles who don’t know God.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 HCSB (2) For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
Endurance of Hope
1 Thessalonians 1:3 HCSB (3) We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ,
XIX. REMEMBER THE COMING OF JESUS
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10 HCSB (10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19 HCSB (19) For who is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13 HCSB (13) May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 HCSB (15) For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly have no advantage over those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore encourage one another with these words.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 HCSB (23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
XX. REJOICE IN BEING SAVED FROM WRATH
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10 HCSB and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 HCSB (16) hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always adding to the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them completely.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 HCSB (13) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 HCSB (1) About the times and the seasons: brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. (2) For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. (3) When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (4) But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that this day would overtake you like a thief. (5) For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We’re not of the night or of darkness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 HCSB (9) For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
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