Sermon Synopsis for July 20, 2008

“A Model Church”
Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

EULOGY FOR A FRIEND

Yesterday (July 19), a good friend passed away.
We spent a lot of time together.
I shared intimate thoughts with this friend.
What a memory!
He helped me with my correspondence, with my work; once in a while we’d even play a game together.
Sometimes when I’m just sitting and thinking, I recall a shared memory we had, or something he knew that will be lost forever.
Maybe he had a virus that made him sick.
In the end, he was worn out, and couldn’t go on any longer.

You won’t see him written up in the obituaries,
Sadly, I don’t think anyone else will mourn his death
Unfortunately, he was only about 7 years old.

I entrusted that friend with my sermon notes for today.
When that friend passed away, he took my notes along.

The computer in the Pastor’s Study died yesterday – and as I try to recreate my sermon notes, I’m still in mourning.

A MODEL CHURCH

Today I want to talk about “A Model Church.”

I’ve been speaking about characteristics of a healthy church. As the body of Christ in this world, we don’t want to just be a church that’s “not sick.” We want to be a healthy church. Most of us could pass a physical exam, but few of us could run a marathon. Jesus wants a “body” that could pass a physical exam, but Jesus wants so much more for his church – to “run the race set out before us” (Heb 12:1).

There are two scripture passages today.
The first is a story

The Apostle Paul had a way of getting into trouble, even (and especially) when he wasn’t looking for it. He traveled with a group of friends (Silas/Sylvanus, Timothy, probably Luke)

It was probably the summer of 50AD, about 15-20 years since the resurrection of Jesus. And they were taking seriously his mandate to spread the Gospel to the whole world.

They had just left Philippi, where they had been publicly beaten and thrown in jail. (Remember Lydia, jailer & family, earthquake). They left under pressure. Then they went to Thessalonica and ran into even more difficulties.

From the passage in Acts we see that the Church got off to a rough start in Thessalonica.
Three weeks Paul and friends were there: preaching and teaching on the Sabbath, and certainly talking about God through the week to those who would listen.
Three weeks – then forced to leave – I wouldn’t expect much to happen.

A few months later, Timothy returned to Thessalonica

About 10 months later, in about the spring of 51, Paul is in Corinth and writes a letter to these folks.

WHAT IS A “MODEL” CHURCH?

A church is a group of Christians committed to working together for the common goal of serving Christ.

Paul told the Thessalonians, “you became a model to all the believers” in the area. (1:7)

Once, when I was visiting churches in Maine, someone asked me to go see a “model church.” I thought, “Wow, let’s see what these folks think is a model church.”

We only drive for about 10 minutes when we arrived at a traditional New England clapboard church building, complete with bell tower and steeple. In the front yard was an exact replica in miniature of that church building. You could even look in the windows and see the pews and pulpit. (Not what I expected.)

I noted that there were no people in “the model church.” He responded to me, “That’s the only way to have a perfect model church.”

Paul told the Thessalonians, “you became a model to all the believers” in the area.

The word “Model” (Greek typon) speaks of a sculptor and the clay or plaster model made in preparation for the masterpiece. This model is the one worked on, changed, corrected, etc. until it is just right – ready to be copied …

The believers in Thessalonica are that model, for others to copy …
What was it that the Apostle Paul wanted others to copy?

THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA

These are found in 1 Thessalonians 1:3
FAITH … produces … WORK
LOVE … prompts … LABOR
HOPE … inspires … ENDURANCE

Faith, Hope & Love – the famous trio of the Apostle Paul & other NT writers – necessary for the Christian life

1 Corinthians 13:1 “And now these three remain (when all is said and done): faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Colossians 1:4 “we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints – the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven …”

Hebrews 10:22-24 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

See also (Galatians 5:5-6; 1 Peter 1:21-22, 1 Thess 5:8, Heb 6:10-12)
As Christians, we need to have these three qualities active and alive in our lives.

FAITH
Hebrews 11:1 – “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see.”

The church in Thessalonica had faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you have faith in God? Are you sure and certain that God exists, send Jesus to show us how to live, to teach us, to die for us and rise from the dead? Are you sure and certain that Jesus is in heaven waiting for the moment to return and bring the kingdom of God in power?

Faith comes through accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
In Thessalonica – Jason, some Jews, some Greeks, and some women of society – all received the message from Paul and accepted Jesus.

Have you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?

LOVE
Love is caring and compassion.

Apostle John (in his first letter) tells us (1 John 3:16-17) “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”

Compassion comes through expressing our new life in Christ – our devotion is not only shown to god (through faith), but to others (through love).

The Gospel tells us that there are two primary laws – “Love God, Love others”

In Thessalonica - Jason, some Jews, some Greeks, and some women of society – apparently they all learned to love one another and to love others – even those who persecuted them.

Are you filled with God’s love?

HOPE

Romans 8:24-25 “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not have, we wait for it patiently.”

Hope – implies a future – with God – on this earth and eternally in heaven

“I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future”

In Thessalonica - Jason, some Jews, some Greeks, and some women of society –they had hope in God’s presence with them now and eternally.

So … to be model Christians, and a model church, we need to have Faith, Love and Hope, in our lives.

Faith – Love – Hope – They all look pretty good in our lives.

BUT IT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE THESE THINGS

You need to use them …

If someone gives you a kitchen appliance – (you can put it on the counter, keep it clean, admire it) – it does you no good unless you use it.

If you get a new power tool – (you can put it on your work bench, keep it clean, admire it) – it does you no good unless you use it.

A useful tool or appliance – shows signs of wear – because it’s being used.

We just had our parking lot re-paved. Do you know how to keep the parking lot looking great? (Don’t use it)

Look at our building – after the remodeling and new addition – nicks, scratches, dents - we use it!!

Some day we’re going to have to say goodbye to all these (material) things.
But (the Apostle Paul tells us) three things remain (last forever) faith, hope and love.

We have faith, love and hope – to use in our Christian lives.

USING THESE THINGS WILL BRING OTHER THINGS TO OUR LIVES

WORK
1:3 “your work produced by faith”

Work = (generally) actions performed – the end product.

v.1:6 “You welcomed the message with joy”
1:9 “You turned to God from idols”
You spread the gospel message

How do you know they have faith?
By what they do & have done

Thessalonica became a mission center for the region.
1:8 their “faith has become know everywhere.”

You can’t just say “I believe.” “I accepted Christ as my savior.”
That faith produces work – telling others, sharing the faith (in your own way), it doesn’t sit dormant in our lives.

Does the faith in your life produce works for God?

LABOR
1:3 “your labor prompted by love”

Labor = (generally) the ongoing work of caring and showing compassion for others.

The Thessalonian Christians were know for providing financial support for outreach, helping the sick and hungry, Their love was evident in the things they were doing.

We need love in action – 1 John 3:18 “Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

It’s not enough to tell your spouses that you love them – you have to show it!

Does your love for God and others lead you to do good things for them?

ENDURANCE
1:3 “your endurance inspired by hope”

Endurance = living for Jesus in a difficult world.

For the Thessalonians – there was opposition – Paul left Thessalonica at night because of it – Jason and the others were out of jail on bail. Hope kept them going in spite of opposition and difficulties.

What difficulties are present in your life?
God wants you to keep going.

The hope of God will enable you (us) to get through every difficulty.

That hope “inspires us” to keep going.

Does your eternal hope enable you to keep going for Jesus when there is opposition or difficulties?

DO WE WANT TO BE MODEL CHRISTIANS?
DO WE WANT TO BE A MODEL CHURCH?

Not perfect Christians – but model Christians
Not a perfect church – but a model church

If you ever find the perfect church, don’t go there – you’d just ruin it.

What do we need to be a healthy “body of Christ” in this world?

FAITH that produces WORK
LOVE that prompts LABOR
HOPE that inspires ENDURANCE