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The Church That Pleases God (I)

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, NIV

2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.


Apostles Paul and Silas, on their second missionary journey, established the church at Thessalonica. The church endured and grew through many difficulties and demonstrated an example of faith with good influence on others (1 Th 1:3). How did the church at Thessalonica become a church that pleased God?


혻1. The church that produces work by faith (1 Th 1:3a).

Members of the church at Thessalonica believed in the Trinity. In addition, they believed that Jesus Christ, the son of God, died on the Cross for the sins of humankind, rose from the dead, and will come again. In addition, their faith in God was not only in their heads, hearts, or lips. Rather, they had a faith that was alive and working that distinguished them from unbelievers and brought about miracles in their daily lives (1 Th 1:9). After they accepted Christ, they turned away from serving idols and gave glory to God. Their faith was accompanied by actions (Jas 2:14, 17).혻혻혻혻혻


2. The church that labors prompted by love (1 Th 1:3b).

The church of the Thessalonians practiced love and did not mind laboring and suffering. True love accompanies sacrifice and labor. To show His love, Jesus took the suffering on the Cross. Mary poured a jar of very expensive perfume on Jesus??feet and wiped them with her hair. Lydia gave up her own house for the church and offered her resources to support the apostle Paul?셲 mission. The Thessalonians understood the value and meaning of the love they received from the Lord and spared no efforts in conveying that love to others (2Co 8:1-3).혻혻혻
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3. The church that endures inspired by hope (1 Th1:3c).

Endurance refers to the spirit of a soldier who stands firm under extreme circumstances. Members of the church at Thessalonica suffered persecution when they believed in Jesus Christ in a Gentile city full of idols. However, they endured all trials, suffering, and difficulty inspired by hope for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (1 Th 1:10). When our future is guaranteed, we can endure every difficulty. Sometimes we work hard at preaching the Gospel and studying the Bible, ending up with no fruit or even persecution. However, if we stand firm with hope in Jesus and endure without losing heart, we will bear fruit in the end (Ro 5:3-4).혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻혻


Is your faith alive and working in your daily lives? Do you practice love in your lives? Are you gaining victory over all difficulty through your faith in the guaranteed future that the Lord has promised? Like the members of the church at Thessalonica, I pray that you will be full of ?쐄aith, love, and hope??at all times, and be the church that pleases the Lord.