Sermon 214

📖 SERMON 214 — A LIVING CHURCH

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

INTRODUCTION

Paul founded the church at Thessalonica during his missionary journey. His letter, written soon after from Corinth, reveals a congregation remarkable for its spiritual vitality. Persecuted yet joyful, young in the faith yet exemplary, small in time yet large in influence, this church lived.

His opening words show how dearly he cherished this living congregation.

SUBJECT: A LIVING CHURCH

I. A LIVING CHURCH IS REMEMBERED WITH GRATITUDE

A. By the men who labored there

1. Evident in Paul’s warm salutation.
2. He speaks of them as “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
3. He seeks for them grace and peace.

B. Remembered in prayer and thanksgiving

1. Paul thanks God for them — for the life they possess as His gift.
2. Their spiritual qualities stand out:
   • Their work of faith.
   • Their labor of love.
   • Their patience of hope.
Beautiful marks of a living congregation.

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

A. Paul declares he knows their election

1. They are not a man-made group but a God-ordained people.
2. Composed of men, women, and children chosen by God.
3. Every truly living church is necessarily an elect church.

B. How this election is known

1. Not by a voice from heaven.
2. Not by mystical revelation.
3. But as a believer knows his own election — by the Gospel’s effect.

C. The evidence Paul observed

1. The Gospel came not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance.
2. Paul sensed the Spirit applying the Word to their hearts.
3. They embraced the message; it became transforming power.
A living church receives the Word with faith.

III. A LIVING CHURCH IS A WITNESSING CHURCH

A. The Gospel changed their conduct

1. They became imitators of Paul and of the Lord.
2. They experienced joy even in affliction.
3. Their lives became known in Macedonia and Achaia.

B. They proclaimed the Word

1. The Word of the Lord sounded forth from them.
2. Their witness was so strong that Paul needed not to speak.
3. They were missionary-minded.

C. They testified by their conversion

1. They turned from idols to serve the living and true God.
2. Their lives showed a complete break from the past.
3. They served God actively and faithfully.
A living church cannot hide its witness.

IV. A LIVING CHURCH AWAITS JESUS’ RETURN

A. This expectation characterizes a living congregation

1. Eyes fixed on heaven.
2. Hearts longing for Christ’s appearing.
3. Faith built on a risen and returning Lord.

B. This hope is the secret of her power

1. It inspires faithfulness.
2. It nourishes self-denial.
3. It fuels missionary zeal.
4. It produces godly living.
A church focused on the coming Christ cannot be dead.

CONCLUSION

What a blessing to be known as a living church. But such a church must be composed of living members. Dead branches cannot make a living tree.

Are you alive in Christ? Let us pray and labor that in God’s sight we may be known as a living, Christ-expecting congregation.