First Thessalonians Pt:4

“Christ Is Coming: Living with Urgency”

Introduction and Historical Context

• Background of the church in Thessalonica (Acts; Letters of Paul):

  • Paul, Silas (Silvanus), and Timothy ministered in Thessalonica; Paul later wrote two epistles: 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

  • Believers faced intense opposition, especially from unbelieving Jews, leading to persecution and pressure. Paul and his team were forced to leave for Berea, and opposition followed them.

• Contemporary comparison:

  • In the Western world, becoming a Christian can feel “too easy,” dulling our sense of cost and commitment.

  • Personal stories illustrated how we can take God’s grace for granted, similar to not recognizing the cost parents bear.

The Theme of 1 Thessalonians: Christ Is Coming

• Central thesis: Every chapter of 1 Thessalonians points to the return of Jesus Christ, anchoring suffering believers and shaping daily conduct.

Who God Is and How He Responds

• God is faithful and sovereign over history.

• Jesus is the Coming Deliverer who rescues His people and executes righteous judgment.

• God gives grace and peace and sanctifies wholly—spirit, soul, and body.

• God’s response to suffering: He anchors His people in hope by the promise of Christ’s return and honors faithful endurance done in love and faith.

Who You Are in Christ and How to Live

• Identity: Beloved, chosen by God, part of His church, awaiting His Son; indwelt to produce faith, love, and hope.

• Calling: Be a model believer; serve with love; endure with hope; walk in holiness; live alert and sober; comfort the grieving with the promise of Christ’s return.

• How to live now: Live with urgency, holiness, effective ministry, and a pleasing walk, because Christ’s return is imminent.

Key Scripture Survey and Context

• Highlighted passages:

  • “To wait for His Son from heaven… Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:9–10”

    • Context: New believers turned from idols to serve the living God and learned to wait for Christ’s return as their deliverance.

    • Application: Waiting is active—serve God, resist idolatry, anchor hope in Christ’s appearing.

  • “Wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” — “1 Thessalonians 2:16”

    • Anticipates judgment on persistent unbelief.

  • “Our joy and crown… in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.” — “1 Thessalonians 2:19”

    • Application: Measure ministry in people presented to Christ at His coming; live with urgency and endurance.

  • “To the end He may establish your hearts… at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” — “1 Thessalonians 3:13”

    • Application: Pursue holiness in view of Christ’s return; God aims to make us blameless.

  • Comfort for grieving believers; promise of resurrection and catching up of the church — “1 Thessalonians 4:13–18”

    • “For this we say… we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord…” — “1 Thessalonians 4:15”

    • Application: Grieve with hope; expect the rapture of the church before the tribulation (as presented by the pastor).

  • “The day of the Lord so comes as a thief… sudden destruction…” — “1 Thessalonians 5:1–3”

    • Context: Unexpected judgment on the unbelieving.

    • Application: Be alert and sober; do not be lulled by “peace and safety.”

  • “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly… your spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — “1 Thessalonians 5:23”

    • Application: God Himself sanctifies us wholly in preparation for Christ’s return.

Doctrinal Clarifications by the Pastor

• Two distinct events:

  • The rapture of the church: Christ takes His church before the tribulation.

  • The second coming: Christ returns with His saints to the earth.

• Eschatological encouragement:

  • We live in the end times; many prophecies have been fulfilled; Israel’s national status is in place; we await the Antichrist and, imminently, Christ’s return.

  • God’s timeline differs from ours; delay does not negate imminence.

Exhortations Shaped by Christ’s Return

• Model church in the last days:

  • Chapter 1: Be a model church because Jesus is coming.

  • Chapter 2: Pursue effective ministry because Jesus is coming.

  • Chapter 3: Cultivate mature faith because Jesus is coming.

  • Chapters 4–5: Walk in a way that pleases God because Jesus is coming.

• Practical moral impact:

  • Christ’s imminent return changes daily choices, purifies behavior, and relativizes trivial conflicts and distractions.

Illustrations from the Pastor

• Social pressure as a new believer:

  • Declining post-dance hotel parties; the loneliness and cost of obedience illustrated discipleship’s challenge.

• “Mom is coming home” urgency:

  • Childhood stories of rearranging the dining room for indoor sports and frantically resetting the house before mom returned.

  • Application: Live with urgent awareness that “Jesus is coming,” prompting readiness, obedience, and mission.

• Prayer perseverance:

  • Attempting a 3:00–3:30 AM prayer slot; the struggle exposed spiritual flabbiness and the need for disciplined prayer.

Detailed Study: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–4

• “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus… Grace be unto you, and peace…” — “1 Thessalonians 1:1”

  • Teaching about God: God supplies sufficient grace and peace beyond understanding.

  • Application: Receive grace daily; let God’s peace guard your heart.

• “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:2”

  • Application:

    • Build a rhythm of thanksgiving and intercession for fellow believers.

    • Use memory as a Spirit-prompted prayer list—when someone comes to mind, pray immediately.

    • Consider a rotating written prayer list; follow with encouraging texts when prompted.

• “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:3”

  • Triad explained:

    • Work of faith: Genuine faith produces visible work.

    • Labor of love: Love fuels costly service.

    • Patience of hope: Hope in Christ sustains endurance under pressure.

  • Application: Evaluate your life by these three marks. Which one needs strengthening today?

• “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:4”

  • Teaching about God: Believers are loved and chosen by God—He initiates and secures salvation.

  • Application: Let God’s choosing steady you in trials; chosen people live distinctly and missionally.

Sermon Summary: What Will You Be Remembered For?

Introduction: A Call to Pray and Remember

• Echoing the disciples’ plea: “Lord, teach us to pray.”

• Reflection on recent church prayer meetings: even when corporate prayer feels imperfect or challenging, believers must act—step out and obey God’s call to pray.

• The pastor highlights Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving for the church, examining the qualities Paul remembers.

Core Scripture Passage

• “We give thanks to God always for you all… Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope… Knowing… your election of God.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:2–4”

• Context and diagramming:

  • The repeated “your” anchors four remembered characteristics:

    1. Your work of faith

    2. Your labor of love

    3. Your patience of hope

    4. Your election of God

• Application question:

  • If someone mentioned your name today, what would they remember? Worldly busyness or a life defined by Christ?

Key Points

1. Your Work of Faith

   • “Your work of faith” — “1 Thessalonians 1:3a”; “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power…” — “1 Thessalonians 1:5”

   • The nature of the Gospel and salvation:

     • The Gospel: the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

     • “The gospel of Christ… is the power of God unto salvation.” — “Romans 1:16”

     • “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” — “Romans 3:28”

     • Jesus locates sin in the heart (anger/murder; lust/adultery); human works cannot earn salvation; justification is by faith alone.

   • Faith produces tangible action:

     • “Faith without works is dead.” — “James 2”

     • Analogy: Dry cement becomes solid when mixed; genuine faith yields concrete action.

   • The “business of belief”:

     • Biblical “work” connotes business/vocation.

     • When a believer receives the Gospel, their primary employment becomes their faith.

     • “We walk by faith.” — “2 Corinthians 5:7”

     • Personal example (Navigators): “I pour concrete, but my real job is proclaiming the Gospel.” Christian doctrine dictates daily behavior at the gas station, grocery store, and workplace.

2. Your Labor of Love

   • “Labor of love” — “1 Thessalonians 1:3b”; “Our labour and travail” — “1 Thessalonians 2:9”

   • Meaning of biblical labor:

     • Labor connotes weariness, trouble, intense exertion—even enduring a beating.

     • “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” — “Galatians 6:17”

     • Paul’s hardships: “in labours more abundant… in weariness and painfulness.” — “2 Corinthians 11:23, 27”

   • Practical application:

     • Labor is demanding; modern culture avoids strain, but true love labors with sweat, difficulty, and commitment.

     • Concrete pour analogy: “in jail, all hands on deck”—exhaustion comes after the labor.

     • Childbirth analogy: called “labor” for the pain endured for joy.

   • Love proved through sacrifice:

     • Love is shown by what you’re willing to suffer and pay for.

     • Serving a spouse when tired or enduring hardship for Christ demonstrates authentic love.

     • Jesus defends sacrificial love: “Why trouble ye the woman?” — “Matthew 26:6–13”

3. Your Patience of Hope

   • “Patience of hope” — “1 Thessalonians 1:3”

   • Supporting texts:

     • “Tribulation worketh patience.” — “Romans 5:3–4”

     • “Patient in tribulation.” — “Romans 12:12”

     • “Through patience and comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.” — “Romans 15:4”

   • Teaching:

     • God uses tribulation to produce patience and equips endurance through Scripture.

     • God promises Christ’s return; His future keeps our present steadfast.

   • Applications and examples:

     • Treat Scripture as daily fuel—you won’t “make it to California on one tank.” Quiet time is essential.

     • Prayer: “Lord, enlarge my heart” to endure.

     • Anchor hope not in changing circumstances but in Jesus’ coming.

     • Cheetah analogy: fastest but small heart—many believers need a stronger “heart” for endurance.

     • Blind girl on the 10th floor: the Father’s voice makes the leap possible; God’s Word is the Father at your side.

Summary of Theological Insights & Christian Living

• Who God Is:

  • The Father justifies sinners through Jesus’ finished work; His Gospel is living and powerful, transforming hearts.

  • God sees and remembers quiet faithfulness; He dignifies work that springs from faith, honors sacrificial love, and matures us through tribulation.

• Who We Are in God:

  • Justified by faith, redeemed by Christ’s blood, ambassadors whose true vocation is Gospel witness; chosen and beloved.

• How We Should Live:

  • Treat faith as your primary business; let convictions govern every environment.

  • Embrace sacrificial labor for Jesus and others; endure inconvenience and hardship out of love.

  • Live before God’s eyes—“in our Lord Jesus Christ” and “in the sight of God.”

Sermon Recap: Work of Faith, Labor of Love, Patience of Hope

Scripture Focus and Flow

• Primary text: “1 Thessalonians 1:2–4”

  • “Your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father… knowing… your election of God.”

• Supporting texts:

  • “Matthew 26:6–13” (anointing at Bethany; Jesus says, “Why do you trouble the woman?”)

  • “1 Thessalonians 2:9” — “our labor and travail”

  • “Romans 5:3–4” — “tribulation works patience”

  • “Romans 12:12” — “patient in tribulation”

  • “Romans 15:4” — “through patience and comfort of the Scriptures”

  • “2 Timothy 2:10” — “I endure all things for the elect’s sake…”

  • “Colossians 3:12” — “put on therefore, as the elect of God…”

• Big Idea:

  • Christian life involves effort, endurance, and sacrifice—rooted in hope, energized by Scripture, and lived “in Christ” before God’s eyes.

  • Aim: Reorient our mindset so that our “business” is our beliefs—faith that works, love that labors, hope that endures—because God has chosen us.

1. Work of Faith — The Business of Belief

• Teaching about God:

  • God dignifies faith by appointing meaningful work that flows from it; He sees our faith-driven work “in the sight of God our Father.”

• Who you are in Christ:

  • An employee of the King; your daily vocation is animated by faith—your beliefs are your business.

• Application:

  • Adopt the mindset: “My employment is my beliefs.” Align decisions, priorities, and habits with the Gospel.

  • Do not be naïve about ease; doing right will cost something.

• Example:

  • Construction-site analogy: workers sharpen up when “the boss is coming.” In Christ, we live with that alertness—faith working because Jesus is near.

2. Labor of Love — Willing to Sweat and Suffer

• Teaching about God:

  • God’s love shed abroad in our hearts produces tangible, strenuous labor; He honors costly love (Matthew 26).

• Who you are in Christ:

  • Loved by God in a way you’ve never been loved; that love makes you willing to endure trouble for Him.

• Application:

  • Expect difficulty; love leads to toil and travail. If there’s no weight, it may not be love.

  • Evaluate what you truly love by what you are willing to labor and suffer for.

• Example:

  • Relationship illustration: a spouse endures much because she loves—love changes the calculus; so with loving God.

3. Patience of Hope — Endurance of Expectation

• Teaching about God:

  • God uses tribulation to produce patience and supplies endurance through the Scriptures; He promises Christ’s return.

• Who you are in Christ:

  • A hopeful pilgrim whose endurance comes from anticipation—“endurance of expectation.”

• Application:

  • Daily Scripture intake for patience and comfort; ask God to enlarge your heart for sustained endurance.

  • Recalibrate hope: not merely “this will end soon,” but “Jesus is coming.”

In Christ and In God’s Sight

• “In our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:3”

• Teaching about God:

  • God sees. Heaven acknowledges unnoticed faithfulness; all three graces are “in Christ.”

• Application:

  • Seek God’s affirmation above human accolades; remember Who ultimately sees and rewards.

Election: God Chose You

• “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” — “1 Thessalonians 1:4”

• Related texts: “Colossians 3:12”; “2 Timothy 2:10”; context from “Romans 9–11”

• Teaching about God:

  • God elects in love; His choice steadies us when performance fluctuates.

  • Note on usage: Scripture frequently calls Israel “elect”; here Paul addresses the church as “elect” (1 Thessalonians 1:4; Colossians 3:12). In “2 Timothy 2:10,” “the elect” refers to Israel needing salvation in Christ.

• Who you are in Christ:

  • “Brethren beloved” and “chosen.” When work, labor, and patience waver, God’s choice stands firm.

• Application:

  • Put on virtues fitting your identity “as the elect of God” (Colossians 3:12).

  • Let the certainty of God’s call stabilize you in weakness.

• Example:

  • Childhood picking-teams story: being chosen changes everything. In the Gospel, God says, “I pick you,” fueling perseverance.

Cultural Application for Today (American Context)

• Western ease can dull discipleship:

  • Comfort, digital distraction, and busyness undermine prayer, fellowship, and holiness.

  • Practice silence; set short, timed windows (e.g., five minutes) to thank God and intercede without devices.

• Urgency and mission if Jesus could return “this hour”:

  • Pursue reconciliation quickly.

  • Share the Gospel with someone on your heart.

  • Cut off known sins and entanglements.

  • Reprioritize schedule toward worship, Scripture, prayer, and service.

• Live as if “the Boss is coming”—with excellence and integrity even when unnoticed.

• Encourage fellow believers who feel like “cheetahs with small hearts”—pray for enlarged hearts and renewed endurance.

Action Steps

1. Build a simple, rotating prayer list; when a name comes to mind, pray and encourage them the same day.

2. Set a five-minute daily thanksgiving and intercession block with no phone.

3. Identify one entangling sin or distraction and remove it this week in light of Christ’s imminent return.

4. Share the Gospel with one person you know is far from God; prioritize the eternal over the trivial.

5. Rehearse the triad daily: “Work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope,” and ask God for growth in the weakest area.

Summary

• 1 Thessalonians beats a steady drum: Jesus Christ is coming. This promise is a sanctifying hope that reorders priorities, fuels endurance in suffering, sharpens mission, and calls the church to be a living model of faith, love, and hope. Put work to your convictions, labor in love, endure with expectation. Jesus is coming—live ready because God chose you and sees your faithfulness.

SCRIPTURES MENTIONED

• 1 Thessalonians 1:1–5

• 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10

• 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 16, 19

• 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 4:15, 5:1–3, 5:23

• Romans 1:16, 3:28

• Romans 5:3–4, 12:12, 15:4

• Romans 9–11

• 2 Corinthians 5:7, 11:23

• Galatians 6:17,

• Colossians 3:12

• 2 Timothy 2:9–10,

• James 2,

• Matthew 26:6–13