Idea: The Lord wants his church in every age to be a missionary church, to take the gospel to their community and to the world.
Intro: The church in Thessalonica experienced persecution within the first year of being established. But these were no fair weather Christians. They became followers of Christ, not followers of their own comfort. They received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that they became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. That doesn't describe someone who has decided to hide his faith so as to avoid trouble or notice. Instead, it describes a church who is, as Jesus said, a city on a hill which cannot be hid. A light set on a table to give light to the whole room. In other words, as Young says, the Th church became a “missionary church.” The Thessalonians did so and provide us an example to follow in our own witness.
1. Description of the Thessalonians' witness
2. Sound forth the word of the Lord
3. Sound forth your conversion
4. Sound forth you Christian hope - The cross, the resurrection, the Second Coming |
