Sermon 185

📖 Sermon 185 — 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Date: August 28, 1951
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10
Preacher: G. S. Kok
Subject: A Fine Church

INTRODUCTION

Visiting a home where a newborn baby has arrived, we congratulate the parents and express our best wishes for the child. Visiting a new congregation for the first time is in some ways similar.
We might congratulate Classis Holland, but especially we express our best wishes for this newly organized church.
My wish is that you may prove to be such a congregation that future ministers — both those who helped bring you into existence and those who may serve you later — will remember you with as much satisfaction as Paul, Silas, and Timothy remembered the church of the Thessalonians.
They could speak of that congregation as: A fine church.

I. A CHURCH REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE

A. Paul, Silas, and Timothy give thanks to God for her
They remember her with gratitude because of her spiritual excellence.

B. Remembered for her work of faith
Faith revealed itself in works done for the glory of God.
True faith inspired the members to labor for the Lord.

C. Remembered for her labor of love
Their love for the Lord and for each other caused them to work hard.
They did not labor out of compulsion, but out of sincere, willing love — not like slaves, but like lovers.

D. Remembered for her patience of hope
They endured trials, persecutions, and difficulties because they hoped in Christ.
Their hope assured them that they would not be disappointed.

E. May you as a congregation be remembered in the same way
To be remembered thus, you must remain faithful, steadfast, and spiritually vibrant.

II. A CHURCH KNOWN AS ELECT OF GOD

A. Knowing your election
The word elect here may carry two shades of meaning:

1. Choice — an excellent or splendid congregation.
2. Chosen — a people selected by God.
   A minister once said to a newly formed church: You are the cream of the crop.
   Paul does not mean this, and you must not think of yourselves this way.
   Nor should the parent churches or Classis consider you the scum of the church.
   The meaning is not pride, but grace.

B. How could Paul know they were chosen of God

1. Not by a voice from heaven.
2. By observing their response to the gospel:
   They took it to heart.
   They lived by it.
   They endured affliction with joy.
3. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully among them.

III. A MISSION-MINDED CHURCH

A. They turned openly from idols to serve the living God
Their conversion itself was missionary testimony.

B. The Word sounded forth from them
The gospel spread outward because of them.

C. Their influence expanded in ever-widening circles
They were a blessing both at home and abroad.

IV. A CHRIST-EXPECTING CHURCH

A. They believed Christ would come again

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

B. They watched for His return

1. This watchfulness kept them faithful.
2. It strengthened their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope.
3. It inspired a consecrated life.

CONCLUSION

May Holland Heights be such a church:
Remembered with gratitude to God,
Known as elect of God,
Truly separated from the world,
Mission-minded — working in ever-widening circles beginning at home,
Awaiting the return of Christ with hope and holiness.