Man’s Empty Praise
TEACHING TEXT
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
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This Sunday, Pastor Lonnye continued our sermon series in First Thessalonians. This series is about how the Thessalonian church practiced their faith while under intense persecution by their community. The apostle Paul assures the church of their motives while ministering among them (at the time there were a lot of false teachers that would travel and teach in the various cities in the region). Instead of striving after praise, money, or power… their ministry was holy, righteous, and blameless. The comparisons to mother and father figures conveys Paul, Timothy, and Silas’ deep affection for the new converts.
Lonnye challenged us with three questions:
-Are you living a life worthy of God?
-Are you encouraging, comforting, urging someone else to live a life worthy of God?
-Who are you relying on to encourage, comfort, urge you to live a life worthy of God?
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Read Scripture:
Read 1 Thessalonians 1-5, one chapter each day Monday-Friday
Notice the major themes of faith, love, and hope.
Memorize Scripture:
Together we are memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:8
Here are a few wallpapers for this series.
Here's a helpful guide we put together for memorizing Scripture: https://faithe.org/memorize/
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Questions:
1) What is one word or phrase that they Holy Spirit highlighted for you during this teaching? Why?
Journal your thoughts and/or share this with someone else.
2) What kind of parental figures have you had in your life? How did they impact you as a child and now as an adult? What things would you do the same as them… what would you do differently?
3) What areas in your life aren’t you ‘living in a manner worthy of God’?
Share these with someone you trust.
Prayer:
God, help me to walk in a manner that is worthy of your name. Help me to reflect your pure love and grace to those around me. Empower me to live in such a way, that others see You… when they see me.
Amen.
