Sermon 177

📖 Sermon 177 — I Thessalonians 1:1–10

Date: October 12, 1947
Text: I Thessalonians 1:1–10
Preacher: G. S. Kok
Subject: A Living Church

INTRODUCTION

1. The founding of the church.
2. The time of writing, and the place.
3. The peculiar nature of this church.

SUBJECT: A LIVING CHURCH

I. A LIVING CHURCH IS REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE

A. By the men who labored there

1. Revealed in the salutation.
2. They knew her as being in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. They seek grace and peace for her.

B. Remembered in prayer and thanksgiving

1. God is thanked for her, for she owes her life to God.
2. Remembered for her faithfulness:
   a. Her work of faith.
   b. Her labor of love.
   c. Her patience of hope.
3. Beautiful remarks.

II. A LIVING CHURCH IS KNOWN TO BE AN ELECT CHURCH

A. Paul says he knows their election

1. Not a man-made, artificial church, but God-ordained.
2. Made up of men, women, and children chosen of God.
3. A living church is always an elect church.

B. How this is known

1. Not by a voice from heaven; Paul had no special revelation about them.
2. The same way we may know we are elect.
3. By the way the gospel came to them — and by the way they received it.

Their attitude:
a. It was as though Paul could feel while speaking that the words were going deeper than their ears.
b. Paul felt the operation of the Holy Spirit in the preaching.
c. It was not a matter of words only — the preaching was a powerful experience.
d. They were blessed with assurance: Paul as preacher, and they as hearers, by the Holy Spirit.

4. When our response to the gospel is heartfelt faith and trust, that is evidence of election.

III. A LIVING CHURCH IS A WITNESSING CHURCH

A. By revealing the power of the gospel in its members

1. It made them imitators of Paul and of the Lord — Christlike.
2. It gave them joy, even while afflicted.
3. It became noticeable throughout Macedonia and Achaia.

B. They broadcast the Word of God

1. They sounded it forth, unable to keep silent.
2. So much that Paul needed not to speak.
3. Their transformed lives advertised Christ.

C. Their open testimony

1. Turned from idols to God.
2. From dead idol-worship to serving the living God.
3. Active service — not merely profession.

IV. A LIVING CHURCH AWAITS JESUS’ RETURN

A. A mark of a living church

1. She keeps her eyes on heaven.
2. She looks for the second coming.
3. Her faith is anchored in a living Christ who shall return.

B. This expectation is the secret of her power

1. It inspires faithfulness.
2. It inspires self-denial.
3. It inspires missionary zeal.
4. It inspires a godly life.

CONCLUSION

Is it not wonderful to be known as a living church?
Are we alive?
Let us work and pray that, in God’s eyes, we may also be known as a living, Christ-expecting church.
A living church requires living members.
A group of dead members cannot form a living church.
Dead branches will never make a living tree.