Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Responses and Results to the Ministry God Honors

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!  1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

A. The Ministry God Honors

1. A ministry centered on the Gospel: 1 Thess. 2:4, 8, 9, 1 Cor. 2:1-2

2. A ministry of sincerity: 1 Thess. 2:3, 4, 2 Cor. 5:6-10, Phil. 1:20-21

3. A ministry of stewardship: 1 Thess. 2:4, John 1:35-37, John 3:30

4. A ministry of Christ-like character: 1 Thess. 2:7-9; 11-12

5. A ministry of encouragement: 1 Thess. 2:12, Rom. 1:11-12

TODAY

B. The Responses and Results to the Ministry God Honors

1. The Responses

a. Reception of the Word of God: 1 Thess. 2:13a, John 1:12, 1 Cor. 15:1-4

b. Hearing of the Word of God: 1 Thess. 2:13b, Rom. 10:14-17

c. Accepting of the Word of God: 1 Thess. 2:13c, Rom. 1:18, 2 Tim. 3:16

2. The Results

a. God’s work in hearts (internal): 1 Thess. 2:13, Heb. 4:12, 1 Peter 1:23

b. God’s work in lives (external): 1 Thess. 2:14-16

– Imitators of Christ-like conduct: 1 Thess. 1:6-7, Col. 1:3-6

– Imitators of Godly suffering: 1 Thess. 2:14-16, 2 Tim. 3:10-13, Luke 21:10-19