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Message
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
Gospelling Like Paul
As we make our way through Thessalonians a topic which will come up regularly is that of imitation.
Seeing what someone does
… their life.
… the way they go about a task.
… the processes they use.
… the actions they take.
Seeing these things and then growing and learning and implementing what has been seen.
It happens as a natural response in the church of the Thessalonians.
You became imitators of us … and so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia … your faith in God has become known everywhere.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
How does this imitation continue?
Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
What we have here is a passage where Paul talks quite extensively about his ministry in Thessalonica. We will come back to that in a moment.
However let’s keep reading and see the specific outcome which results from Paul’s ministry. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16.
What is the outcome?
We brought the Word to you, in the same way we brought the Word to Judea, and you believed. You now imitate what we have done so that others may be saved.
That is the outcome.
Which means that the key reason Paul talks about his ministry is to describe how he went about bringing the message of salvation.
The pattern he used to evangelise and share the gospel.
That is the main focus of verses 1-12 – it is a lesson on sharing the Gospel.
It isn’t a comprehensive lesson. It is however a lesson which has 2 key teachings.
Lesson 1 – 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5
“Gospelling” Avoids All Worldly Techniques
Sometimes effective teaching involves demonstrating HOW to go about an activity.
If you want to hammer a nail pick up the hammer and hold it above the nail which is in your other hand – keep looking at the nail as you raise and lower the hammer.
Sometimes effective teaching involves demonstrating HOW NOT go about an activity.
Don’t hit your thumb with the hammer. Don’t let go of the nail and expect it to stay standing. Don’t look around the room when you bring the hammer down.
Paul’s emphasis here is on HOW NOT to Gospel.
Gospelling … does not spring from error (1 Thess 2:3)
The concept is used in Matthew 27:64 where the Pharisees are worried about body of Jesus being stolen and that there would begin story of fraud based on the deception.
Of course we know that the resurrection of Jesus is true, not an error or fraud.
So, when we talk about the Gospel, we are sharing a message of truth which has been come into our lives and convicted us of the need of repentance and transformation.
This transformation has happened in a world where, more and more, truth is relative. Where every religion and every life-style should be accepted and tolerated – unless you are a Christian then you can be intolerant.
Telling the whole truth brings persecution, and ridicule, and backlash.
It is tempting to back off … or just stay silent. But there is a bigger picture.
Every single world-and-life view not based on a personal relationship with Jesus is an error.
The one world-and-life view that is not an error is the one that has the only way, the only truth, the only life.
We will not be effective in bringing the Gospel – unless we are convinced that the Gospel is not in error.
Gospelling … is not based on impure motives (1 Thess 2:3)
Motives are so important. Especially Gospel motives.
Is our motive to have a debate?
Is our motive to make someone feel guilty and ashamed?
Is our motive to make ourselves feel good that we have done a good work?
Is our motive skewed by our perception of others – who is worthy and who is not.
The motive of God the Father is clear, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).” When Jesus ministered he gave everyone from every situation of life a chance … even a Pharisee like Nicodemus. Paul in his ministry made himself “a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible (1 Corinthians 9:19).”
The Father, and Jesus, and Paul all have the same motive. To make have a pure motive that identifies the spiritual emptiness that only Jesus can fill.
We will not be effective in bringing the Gospel – unless we are constantly sensitive to the spiritual needs and emptiness that results when people are outside of God’s kingdom.
Gospelling … is not a trick (1 Thess 2:3)
When the chief priests and the elders wanted to get rid of Jesus “they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him (Matthew 26:4).” The secrecy was a plan to trick and not enable the full facts and the full story to come out.
Gospelling can’t involve trickery and secrecy.
Which means when we bring the Gospel we need to be aware of the temptation to edit, or mute, or perhaps even to deny aspects of the message.
Talking about grace, but neglecting judgement.
Understating the severity of sin and the necessity for repentance.
Pointing to heaven and conveniently not pointing to hell.
Emphasize God’s mercy but not his justice, his love but not his wrath, his kingdom but not his cross. Doing this because we want to be more acceptable.
It may be acceptable – but it may also be powerless.
We will not be effective in bringing the Gospel – unless we avoid all secrecy and declare to not-yet-believers the full kingdom truths.
Gospelling … does not spring from error.
Gospelling … is not based on impure motives.
Gospelling … is not a trick.
This is part of the lesson the church of the Thessalonians saw and imitated.
In giving this lesson Paul is also building on the overall theme of 1 Thessalonians which we are asking every week.
How can we be strong and ready to stand out in a world that is pressuring us to just fit in?
A part of the answer is that we bring the Gospel in a way that avoids all worldly techniques
Organisations and individuals with agendas, and half-truths, and false motives are everywhere. They want to con, and scheme, and snare, and pervert, and scam.
That is the world we live in toady.
But Ecclesiastes 1:9 is so true “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
What happens today was happening in the days of the Thessalonian church.
In the first century, right across the Roman Empire, there were many itinerant lecturers, philosophers, and orators who travelled around seeking to make a living off an unsuspecting public. Some were highly regarded and were not motivated by anything other than to share their thoughts and build a following. Many were not so highly regarded and they had a very negative reputation.
They were known to “dine sumptuously” and “lodge luxuriously” at the expense of others. Lucian – a 2nd century Greek author says, “they sow not, they plough not; yet all things grow for their use (Lucian, The Dependent Scholar, 3).” Such was the situation in the first century that “finding a man who in plain terms and without guile speaks his mind with frankness, neither for the sake of reputation nor for gain, but out of good will and concern — to find such a man is not easy, but rather the good fortune of a very lucky city (Dio Chrysostom, Orations, 32.11).”
When Paul says …
We were not trying to please people (1 Thess 2:4).
We never used flattery (1 Thess 2:5).
We did not put on a mask to cover up greed (1Thess 2:5).
When Paul says these things – it is against the cultural backdrop of itinerant speakers and teachers who acted exactly like this. Such people do not deserve to be taken seriously – or to be listened to.
They don’t stand out.
Not then in the first century.
Not now in our present day.
And neither will stand out in our gospelling unless we avoid all worldly techniques.
It is a great lesson – but there is a second lesson.
Lesson 2 – 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12
“Gospelling” Has A Family Familiarity
I’m going to say that this may be the first time you have heard of the Family Familiarity Gospel … I made it up this week.
The term is new, the concept is not. It is nothing more than a description of these verses.
We could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.
(1 Thessalonians 2:6-7a)
In these past weeks I have had at least 10 people ask me if I have seen the show called “Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds”. It was an experiment conducted over eight weeks where four year olds went to the old people’s home and huge transformations happened.
People who were recluse – came out of their shell.
People who were depressed – found a new lease of life.
People who barely moved – were participating in running races and freely walking.
In eight weeks the four year old children were able to achieve outcomes unachieved by years of professional support and therapy.
The children never exercised authority, but they were able to get the old people to do things that the old people themselves never thought they would do.
It’s family.
So here is the lesson
Be like children when “Gospelling” … not using authority but just by being who you are in Christ.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much
(1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8)
It is a powerful image isn’t it … and one that doesn’t need any cultural explanation.
In every age, at every time, in every culture a nursing mother is respected and lifted up as an example of self-sacrifice, love, care and nurture.
The emotional connection is so strong that, even after only a few hours, a mother can identify the cry of her baby among all the others. There will be times when her body suffers for the sake of her child which she loves.
The lesson is easy to learn.
Be like a nursing mother when “Gospelling” … always having an emotional connection of love.
We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone.
You know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging.
(1 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
It is another easy lesson to learn.
In every age, at every time, in every culture the man who works and provides for his family is respected and lifted up as an example of self-sacrifice, love, and care.
Sometimes working overtime, or even two jobs.
Not because he is a workaholic … but because he has a family, and responsibility, and he has made a promise.
At all costs, sometimes to his own detriment, he doesn’t want to be a burden.
He will protect. He will encourage. He will be strong. He will push himself to the limit and beyond.
For no other reason than this … he is a father.
You see the application
Be like a father when “Gospelling” … not being a burden, but being an encouraging comforter.
Two lessons.
“Gospelling” Avoids All Worldly Techniques
“Gospelling” Has A Family Familiarity
It is a lot to take in … and learn from … and apply.
But when we do so we will be further equipped to be strong and ready to stand out in a world that is pressuring us to just fit in. And we will be noticed.
Prayer
