Hope in the Power of God (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

Town Creek Baptist Church

Sermon Direct Link
1/5/24
Rev. Clint Smith

Hope in the Power of God (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

Scholars estimate that Paul traveled around 10,000 miles during his missionary journeys—roughly the equivalent of walking coast to coast across the United States three and a half times. What motivated him? His mission was clear: to bring people to salvation through the preaching of the gospel, followed by baptizing them and teaching them the doctrines of Christ. (2 Timothy 4:1-22)

Paul used the power of prayer to instill hope in the young believers at Thessalonica and continually asked God to strengthen their spiritual growth.

Paul applauded their powerful work, energized by faith, and their service motivated by love and their unwavering hope in the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Paul first preached the hope of the gospel with power and with the unction of the Holy Spirit to those living in Thessalonica. He set a Christian witness before them, and they became imitators of Paul and the team the Lord had assembled with him. “There was no difference between the Christ whom Paul preached and the Christianity that he practiced.”(John Phillips).

The Holy Spirit filled the Thessalonians with great spiritual joy as they received the gospel message, even amid suffering and cultural afflictions. What they experienced through their love relationship with Jesus Christ was too good to keep to themselves. With limited knowledge and the Holy Spirit’s empowering, they faithfully fulfilled the Master’s commands. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Despite their challenges, the Thessalonian church’s Christian witness spread, being heard of, and modeled by communities as far as 300 miles away in Macedonia and Achaia. (Galatians 5:22,23)

The young church inspired their surrounding neighbors with their God story of turning from idol worship to worshiping and serving the living and true God.

Paul acknowledged their hopeful expectation that Jesus would soon return from Heaven. They truly believed that God had raised Jesus from the dead, and that He was coming back to deliver them—and all believers—from the coming wrath of God. (Acts 1:8-11)

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