Sermon 173

📖 Sermon 173 — I Thessalonians 1:1–10

Date: 6-28-1951 — Holland Heights
Text: I Thessalonians 1:1–10
Preacher: G. S. Kok
Subject: A Fine Church

INTRODUCTION

Visiting a home with a newborn baby, we congratulate the parents and express our best wishes for the child. Visiting a new congregation for the first time is somewhat similar.
We might congratulate Classis Holland, but especially express our best wishes for this young, newborn church.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy remembered the Thessalonian church with deep satisfaction. They could speak of her as a fine church.
May the same be true of you.

I. A CHURCH REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE

A. Paul, Silas, and Timothy give thanks to God for her
Her excellence is not man-made — it is grace-produced.

B. Remembered for her work of faith
Faith revealed itself in work for the glory of God.
Faith inspired her members to toil for the Lord.

C. Remembered for her labor of love
Her love for the Lord and for one another caused the members to work hard.
Not out of compulsion — but moved by true love.
Not like slaves — but like lovers.

D. Remembered for her patience of hope
Hope sustained her amid trials, persecutions, and difficulties.
They knew they would not be disappointed in Christ.

E. Application
May you as a congregation be remembered with such gratitude.
To be so remembered, you must continue steadfast in faith, love, and hope.

II. A CHURCH KNOWN AS ELECT OF GOD

Knowing your election…

A. Elect may mean

1. Choice — a splendid congregation.
2. Selected — but not in a prideful sense.
   Not cream of the crop.
   Nor scum of the churches.
3. Divinely chosen people — saints, God’s children.

B. How could this be known?

1. Not by a voice from heaven.
2. By their response to the gospel:
   They took it to heart.
   Put it into practice.
   Lived by faith.
   Received the Word in affliction with joy.
3. The Holy Spirit operated among them with power.

III. A MISSION-MINDED CHURCH

A. Doing mission work by turning to the living God from idols
Their conversion itself was a missionary testimony.

B. Spreading the Word
Their faith sounded forth into the surrounding region.

C. Revealing Christ in ever-widening circles
Their witness radiated outward from their own community.

IV. A CHRIST-EXPECTING CHURCH

A. They believed Christ would come again

1. The One whom God raised from the dead.
2. The One now in heaven.
3. The One who delivers us from the wrath to come.

B. They lived constantly looking for His return

1. This kept them faithful.
2. This sustained their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope.
3. This inspired consecrated living.

CONCLUSION

May Holland Heights be such a church:
Remembered with gratitude to God,
Known as God’s elect,
Truly separated from the world,
Mission-minded,
Awaiting Christ’s return.