THE BEST IS YET TO COME
1 Thessalonians Introduction
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
My life should be defined by passionately following Christ with godly believers in the new community, the Church.
(1 Thessalonians 1:7, NLT) “As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece—throughout both Macedonia and Achaia.”
The church at Thessalonica was not perfect but it was an example
The Philippians supported Paul while he planted the church in Thessalonica.
(Philippians 4:16, NLT) “Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.”
Teach me to seek thee, and reveal thyself to me, when I seek thee, for I cannot seek thee, except thou teach me, nor find thee, except thou reveal thyself. Let me seek thee in longing, let me long for thee in seeking; let me find thee in love, and love thee in finding. Lord, I acknowledge and I thank thee that thou hast created me in this thine image, in order that I may be mindful of thee, may conceive of thee, and love thee; but that image has been so consumed and wasted away by vices, and obscured by the smoke of wrong-doing, that it cannot achieve that for which it was made, except thou renew it, and create it anew. I do not endeavor, O Lord, to penetrate thy sublimity, for in no wise do I compare my understanding with that; but I long to understand in some degree thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe,—that unless I believed, I should not understand. Anslem, Proslogion, chapter 1
GOD HAS SOMETHING TO SAY TO ME
CHRIST HAS DIED! CHRIST HAS RISEN! CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN!
1. UNDERSTAND WHY 1 THESSALONIANS WAS WRITTEN
a. News of their faith and love.
b. News of the criticism of Paul.
c. Need of instruction about sexual morality, Jesus’ return, and the fellowship of the church.
2. UNDERSTAND WHAT 1 THESSALONIANS IS ABOUT
John Stott’s Outline of 1 Thessalonians
a. Evangelism 1:1-10
- How the church spreads the good news
b. Ministry 2-3
- How pastors serve both the good news and the church
c. Christian Behavior 4:1-12
- How the church must live according to the good news
d. Christian Hope 4:13-5:11
- How the good news should inspire the church
e. Christian Community 5:12-2
- How to be a good news church
3. UNDERSTAND THE TONE
a. It is a heart-to-heart letter
b. It is gentle and caring
c. It is simple and basic
d. It is personal and direct
e. It is expectant
4. THREE WORDS GRACE, PEACE, AND THANKSGIVING
(1 Thessalonians 1:1–2, NLT) “This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace. We always thankGod for all of you and pray for you constantly.”
5. BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH, LOVE, AND ENDURANCE
(1 Thessalonians 1:3, NLT) “As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your lovingdeeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
a. Faith produces work
b. Love produces good deeds
c. Hope produces endurance
GROWTHWORK
Confess
1. Christ has died!
2. Christ has risen!
3. Christ will come again!
Pray
1. Lord, increase my faith.
2. Lord, enlarge my love.
3. Lord, inspire my hope.