1Thes2:1-12 The Toil of Love
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# The Toil of Love ## 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 [Warsaw, Poland. FreeStocks](https://unsplash.com/photos/r_oV6smBBYk/info "caption") >>> + don't **feel** like shar gospel: **worth** it? + out of **oblig** + **tried** it, no **impact** + **We** are hurting, tired, and weak: + **doubts** about our faith, + **limited** in our love, + **struggling** in holy living --- # How can we
**share** the gospel
with **efficacy**? >>> + 1Thes book of **encouragement**: + Today: **blueprint** how to share gospel + and how **not** to share gospel! + We've **rcvd** new **life** of Christ: now + invite **others** to behold **Lamb**: ______ + Remind of Your **worth**: glory, majesty + **Son** to redeem: You are **worthy** + **Entrust** us w/gospel: it is **worth it** + Open our **ears**, eyes, hearts + to receive Your **exhortation** + Equip us to **proclaim** Your gospel + with our lives --- ## Growing Together, While Apart | *1* | Impact of **Faith** | |---|---| | *2a,b* | Toil of **Love** | | *3* | Accountability with **Hope** | | *4* | Growing in **Purity + Love** | | *5a* | **Hope** as Sons of Day | | *5b* | Acts of **Faith** | >>> + Theme: **FHL** + ch1: thanks for Thes' **faith** + and **impact** on other believers + ch2: **ministry** amongst Thes + **motiv** + **actions** in sharing gospel + v1 "visit": **in-road** (manner) w/them + Not **boasting** about self! 2x **witness**: + **God** exam. heart + **you** yourselves know --- ## Toil of Love [(1Th2a)](# "ref") 1. A Clean **Heart** [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. A **Mother's** Gift [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. A **Father's** Encouragement [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + I **unworthy**: treat as **aspirational** + v3-6: mostly **neg**, how **not** to mission + Some preach **false** gosp in name Chr + or **true** gospel w/**impure** motives + for personal **gain** + God **sees** through this very **clearly** + 2 **triplets** of poisons: root + fruit + **beliefs** / motiv impact missions --- For our appeal does not spring from
**error** or **impurity** or any attempt to **deceive**, [1 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV)](# "ref") [Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/c333d6YEhi0 "caption") >>> + *appeal*: **encouragement** + 3 **poisons**, 3 antidotes + *Error* : wandering, vs **truth** + Making stuff **up** + Unconsc. affect by **pop culture** + Anti: deep **immerse** in Scrip + *Impurity* : filthy, vs **clean** + **Immoral**, uneth, cover secret sin + Anti: remem God's **holiness** + *Deceive* : **bait**: + Appears beneficial but **traps** + **Feel-good** msg to **inflate** nums, + or to **control**, for personal gain + Antidote: preach the **whole** gospel, + not just comfort promises + 2nd triplet: **fruit**: char as share gospel --- For we never came with
words of **flattery**, as you know,
nor with a pretext for **greed** -- God is witness.
Nor did we seek **glory** from people [1 Thessalonians 2:5 (ESV)](# "ref") [Los Angeles. Edwin Andrade](https://unsplash.com/photos/6liebVeAfrY "caption") >>> + How we **were**, when among you + *Flattery*: **vacuous** / false encour + for personal **gain** + Pretext for *greed*: **excuse** / cover + for **selfishness** + **money**, influence, security + *Glory* from people: **admir**, approv: + "See what a **good** Chr he is!" + or **fear**: "not **spiritual** enough!" + We **do** seek reward, but not from man + **God**, who examines hearts: --- but just as we have been **approved** by God
to be **entrusted** with the gospel,
so we speak, not to please **man**,
but to please **God** who **tests** our hearts. [1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ESV)](# "ref") [Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/o--lefJNe0w "caption") >>> + Gospel not **invented** by man, + but **given** to us by God + As we put our **trust** in Him, + God deems us **trustworthy** + of handling it accurately + So we **pass on** this message of life, + striving to be **worthy** of this trust --- # Is my heart **clean**
as I share the gospel? >>> + As I **prepare** to share gospel, + **examine** own heart: + **Study** Bible honestly + deeply? + **know** God's grace + **exp** it? + Do I seek no **gain** for self? + No money, no thx, no admiration + Only **reward** of sharing + in Father's **happiness**? + What is my **motivation** + for proclaim name of Christ? --- ## Toil of Love [(1Th2a)](# "ref") 1. A Clean Heart [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. **A Mother's Gift** [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. A Father's Encouragement [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + Might feel **unworthy** + unready + But it is not our **eloquence** or holiness + that changes others' **hearts** + But the **life** of the risen Saviour --- But we were **gentle** among you,
like a nursing **mother**
taking care of her own children. [1 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + *Gentle* : old mscp **babies** (one letter) + v11 **father**: analogy of **family** rl + *Nursing*: not title of mother, but + **action**, care, concern: own kid + "Church family": but too often + bring **trauma** from own families: + **hurt**, distrust, fear, bitterness + Or **escape** from own family: so + only dare have **shallow** church rl + **Warm bond** mom to child + Invest **whole** heart + **Singles**, too! --- So, being **affectionately** desirous of you,
we were ready to **share** with you not only
the **gospel** of God but also our own **selves**,
because you had become very **dear** to us. [1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV)](# "ref") [Legenäsgatan, Sweden. Jon Flobrant](https://unsplash.com/photos/C2PvO6dOORY "caption") >>> + You became **beloved** (yearn) to us + *Share* : give over, **transfer**: + **pour out** life to you + (mom): sharing gospel not merely + comm. of **knowledge**, but of **life** + of **Christ**, from **my** life to **yours** + w/**vuln**, warmth, deep affection + and **hard work**: --- For you remember, brothers, our **labor and toil**:
we worked **night and day**, that we
might not be a **burden** to any of you,
while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)](# "ref") [Ian Espinosa](https://unsplash.com/photos/oXo6IvDnkqc "caption") >>> + **Tentmaking**: normal, honest work + not partic. "spiritual" + to pay own **bills** + so church doesn't have to support + Two **extremes** role of **work**: + all **sinful**, or all **holy** + (1) **sinful**: materialistic, worldly + Serve God = FTE **pastor** / mission + **Dichot**: "holy" church volun. wknd + and "real" work at M-F job + e.g., **grad sch** fail class --- ## Labour and Toil + "All work is **sinful**" + "All work is **holy**" >>> + (2) all work is **holy**: + Succ. in **job** = succ. in Chr walk + **Prayers**: **my** acad./career goal + If **succ** in job, assume following God + If **struggling**: must be **failure** of + either **my** spiritual. or **God's** faithf. + Paul talks very little about his **tents**: + won awards, **excel**, was biz good + Purpose: not to **burden** church + Devoted to hard **labour** + toil on 2 fronts: + not only to earn own **living**, but + to **proclaim** gospel of God --- # Do I **work** hard
and **care** deeply
as I proclaim the gospel? >>> + Proclaim Chr not just on **wknds**, + special **evangel** mtgs, or **STM**. + Learn from those who **mothered** us: + Mother's **gift** is her own **life** + As Chr poured **life** in our hearts, + give complete of **self** for others + so they may **grow** in life of Christ + e.g., son's **env** is us @home: struct + home life around God's **truth** + demonstr. **grace** + forgive daily + But also extend **beyond** family + to world **dying** for real love --- ## Toil of Love [(1Th2a)](# "ref") 1. A Clean Heart [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. A Mother's Gift [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. **A Father's Encouragement** [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + Lastly, we share the gospel with + our **life** and our **words**: --- You are witnesses, and God also, how
**holy** and **righteous** and **blameless**
was our conduct toward you believers. [1 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV)](# "ref") [Nancy, France. Rémi Walle](https://unsplash.com/photos/UOwvwZ9Dy6w "caption") >>> + How we **were** toward you (adverbs): + holily, righteously, blamel. + *Holy* : pious, devout, **reverent**: + patterned on God's own holy + *Righteous* : acc. God's std of **justice** + not **own** std, nor that of **tradition** + *Blameless* : not **human** condemn, + but **God's** judg: under **Chr's** grace + Live **holy** bc **gratitude** for Chr forgive + But it is **hard** to live consistently holy: + **Grace** of God **strengthens**, and + **Mentors** who **encourage**: --- For you know how, like a **father** with his
children, we **exhorted** each one of you
and **encouraged** you and **charged** you
to **walk** in a manner **worthy** of God,
who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. [1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + As God gave first **cmdmts** to Adam, + and through him to his **family**, + So we **fathers** have responsibility + to **speak** God's Word in love + in fact, not just fathers, **all** of us! + *Exhort* : **encour**, call alongside: + not give **orders** from afar + but **be** with as stumble + learn + *Encourage* : **comfort**, console, soothe + *Charge* : **testify**, share from own exp + solemnly **affirm** God's way + is the path of life --- # Will I **encourage**,
**comfort**, and **testify**
that others may walk
**worthy** of God's calling? >>> + Not bolster **self-esteem** or own **goals**, + But that their **walk** (daily habits) + may be **worthy** -- reflect worth of God + and so be a life that **worships** Him + He is **King** of glory: + **called** us into His kingdom + He is **worthy** of all honour, + so **worth** it to proclaim holy + Through own **holy** conduct, and + **encour**, comfort, testimony + to **equip** others to live in holiness --- >>> + You've given us **good news**: + You are **holy**, that we are **sinful**, + You sent Christ to **die** + **resurrect** + You are **coming** soon w/reward + We've **exp** your grace, and You + **entrust** gospel to us to share + **Search** our hearts for impure **motiv.** + Keep us aligned with Your **truth**, + **clean** in heart, without **deceit** + **Open** our hearts + to give of **ourselves** unreservedly + with the deep bond of **love** + and devoted, committed **toil** + **Strengthen** our hearts to live + as Your holy, redeemed people + to **encourage**, comfort, and testify + to be Your **holy**, redeem people ________________________________________________