1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 (NASB)

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

Theme: Christians are spiritually encouraged when the know that other Christians are thankful for them.

Outline:
1) Continual prayer for them (1:2)
2) Constant remembrance of them (1:3)
     A) Their work of faith
     B) Their labor of love
     C) Their steadfastness of hope
3) Confidence of their election (1:4-5)

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Matthew 9:35-38 (NASB)

35 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

Big Idea: Jesus looked upon a people who were lost, lonely and misguided, and his heart broke for them. So broken that it moved Him to action, to lay down His life to save the souls of men, and raise up those who would do the same as workers who proclaim His message among His harvest.

Outline:
1) Saver of Lost Souls (9:36)
2) His Rescue Crew (9:37a)
3) And the Call to Be Life Savers (9:37b-38)

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1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2 We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you; 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us 2as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.

1) The Birth of the Thessalonian Church (1 Thess. 1:1; Acts 17)

2) The Purpose(s) of this Letter (Overview of 1 Thess.)

3) The Theme(s) of this Letter (Overview)

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Four biblical bases which clearly imply & instruct Christians to become members of a local church.

1) The Example of the Early Church (Acts; NT Epistles)

2) The Existence of Church Government

(1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-5)

3) The Exercise of Church Discipline (Matt. 18:15-19; 1 Cor. 5)

4) The Exhortations to Mutual Edification (NT Epistles)

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Sermon Theme: We must know and understand what God’s purpose is for the local church, and together strive to excel in fulfilling that purpose for His glory.

The “Fantastic 4” of God’s purpose(s) for the local church:

1)     Exaltation – A Worshiping Body

2)     Edification – A Walking Body

3)     Equipment-ation – A Working Body

4)     Evangelization – A Witnessing Body

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Sermon Theme: We must know and understand what God’s purpose is for the local church, and together strive to excel in fulfilling that purpose for His Glory.

Sermon Outline – The “Fantastic 4” of God’s purpose(s) for the local church
(Part 1 covered this week)
1) Exaltation – A Worshipping Body
2) Edification – A Walking Body
3) Equipment-ation – A Working Body
4) Evangelization – A Witnessing Body

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Genesis 11:1-9 (NASB)

1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. 2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. 4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” 5 The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. 7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Theme: Although sinful man seeks to glorify himself, God mercifully intervenes so that He will receive all the glory.

Outline:
1) Man’s prideful rebellion against God (11:1-4)
2) God’s merciful response to man (11:5-9)

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Outline:
1) All babies are created by and precious to God
2) Nations that sacrifice their children were judged by God
3) God calls Christians to have compassion on the defenseless

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Acts 20:24 (NASB)

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Outline:
1) Understand that your life is not just for yourself (v. 24a)
2) Know that Jesus gave you a mission to accomplish for Him (v. 24b)
3) [Accept that] You are called to proclaim the Gospel (v. 24c)

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