Message Notes

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020
Theme: “Your Work of Faith” 1 Thessalonians 1:3

MORNING WORSHIP 6 SEPTEMBER 2020
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1
Title: Commencement of Genuine Faith

INTRODUCTION

1. The Biblical Teaching of “Faith”

a) Historical Objective Faith

i) Body of doctrine

ii) Objective Faith

iii) Fixed

iv) Foundational

b) Personal Subjective Faith

i) Based on God’s word

ii) Subjective Faith

iii) Personal Faith

c) Possibilities

i) Little faith (Matthew 6:30; 8:26)

ii) Great faith (Matthew 8:10)

2. Struggles in Faith

a) Struggles in faith are experienced

b) This was certainly experienced by the Disciples of Christ

c) The lessons they learned have gone a long way to help us cultivate our faith

3. Is it possible to have a Strong and Meaningful Faith?

a) One that can cope in troubled times?

b) One that can help us overcome challenges and difficulties?

4. The series of Messages for the months of September and October 2020

a) We will be reading from the Thessalonian epistles

b) We hope to learn how we can cultivate a vibrant and strong faith in the Lord

5. Commencement of our 40+8 year of Ministry at Bethany

a) A Challenge to cultivate an even greater faith

b) A Faith that will see us cultivate a more significant personal faith

THE COMMENCEMENT OF A NEW MINISTRY IN MACEDONIA

1. The Macedonian Call
(2nd Missionary Journey)

a) A Vision was sent by the Lord to Paul to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10)

b) First city visited was Philippi
(A leading city in Macedonia)

i) He had a successful ministry initially (Acts 16:11)

ii) Lydia and her family were baptised (Acts 16:14-15)

iii) Paul and team stayed in her home

c) Problems erupted

i) Paul and Silas were wrongfully beaten and jailed

ii) Roman citizenship of Paul was claimed (Acts 16:37-38)

iii) He left Philippi (Acts 16:39-40)

2. Ministry in Thessalonica

a) Founded by General Kassender (one of the successors of Alexander the Great)

b) He made it the Capital of Macedonia

c) But it was ultimately conquered by the Romans

d) Made a Free City by Octavian Caesar

e) It was the gateway of Macedonia

f) Paul visited Thessalonica as the next city after Philippi

3. Ministry in a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica

a) Paul began his ministry in a synagogue

b) He spoke for only 3 Sabbaths (Acts 17:2)

c) A great multitude joined Paul (Acts 17:4)

4. Opposition to Paul’s ministry

a) The unbelieving Jews were envious of Paul’s success (Acts 17:5)

b) They gathered a mob and rioted (Acts 17:6-9)

5. The Disciples who were loyal to Paul

a) They sent Paul away to Berea

b) They did not want to risk Paul being injured by the rioters

THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

1. It was probably written from Corinth

2. It was written for the following reasons:

a) To commend the Thessalonians

b) To comfort the believers there

c) To challenge the believers to continue steadfastly

d) To encourage other churches/ believers by the example of the Thessalonians

THREE OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE FAITH OF THE THESSALONIANS

1. Their work of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3a)

2. Their labour of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3b)

3. Their patience of hope
In the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:3c)

WHAT ENABLED THEM TO HAVE THESE FEATURES OF FAITH?

1. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus

a) Word

b) Power (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

2. The Holy Spirit

a) His involvement

b) His instruction (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

3. The effective ministry of Paul and his team

a) Reasoned from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2)

b) Explaining (Acts 17:3)

c) Demonstrating (Acts 17:3)

4. Their response to the Lord and His word

a) They believed genuinely

b) They sought to cultivate their faith

c) They learned to love the Lord

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To check our Faith

2. To cultivate our Faith

3. The possibilities:

a) A great personal faith

b) An outstanding faith