Paul's church planting experience

8/7/2019 Paul's church planting experience

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Text: 1 Thessalonians 2.1-6Title: Pauls Church Planting Experience in Thessalonica

Introduction 1 Thessalonians was written about 50 AD. Both Epistles were composed in the ancient Greek city of Corinth and were addressed

to recent converts to Christianity residing in the ancient Macedonian city of Salonica or

Thessalonki. Timothy, apparently with a report that the newly founded Church of Salonica was

remaining loyal despite Jewish and pagan hostility. Paul's response to the good news is primarily one of joy and gratitude and of loving

concern for the new converts (chap. 1-3). The Epistle records Paul's recollections of theapostolic mission and labours in Salonica (2:1-16), his great longing to see theThessalonians again, and his purposes in sending Timothy to them (2:17-3:10).Chapters 4-5 contain mostly ethical and doctrinal instruction and guidance. The readersare exhorted to live chastely, according to the gospel as it had been taught to them bythe apostles, loving one another, keeping to their own affairs, and avoiding idleness byworking with their own hands. Two questions that apparently troubled theThessalonians are also dealt with in these chapters, the last of 1 Thessalonians. Paulassures them that they need not concern themselves about Christians who die beforethe Parousia, or second coming of Christ, because such Christians will be taken toheaven when Christ reappears (4:13-18). As to the time of his reappearance and theDay of Judgement, the readers need no written reminders of when these will occur, forthey know already that the end time will come stealthily, when people believe they areat peace and safe. Then, none of the children of darkness will escape God's wrath, butthe faithful, the children of light, will obtain salvation (5:1-11). The eschatologicalthemes and apocalyptic imagery of the Epistle, especially in the last two chapters, areoutstanding features of 1 Thessalonians.

21You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2We had previouslysuffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we

dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make

does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On thecontrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are

not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used

flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6We werenot looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

Outline1. The Match v. 1-22. The Message v. 3-4a3. The Motive v. 4b-6

1. The Match v. 1-2

21You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2We had previouslysuffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our Godwe dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.

There is that contest and the challenge to Paul and his companions when theyarrived to do the ministry


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v. 1Amplified: FOR YOU yourselves know, brethren, that our coming among you was notuseless and fruitless

They were persistent in pain and pressure A vital principle here is that we must not ignore the fact that our personal

lives speak powerfully to the nature of our ministry in the motives,

methods, and the means we employ to accomplish the work of God. Ourbehavior patterns demonstrate the validity and biblical authenticity ofwhat we are doing.

it, was not in vain? Purposeless, or vain is keno which meansempty, without content, without any basis, without truth or power, or itcould be used in the sense of without result, effect, or profit, fruitless.

v. 2Mistreated is hubrizo, to abuse, to treat shamefully. The word expresses insultingand outrageous treatment and especially treatment which is calculated publicly to

insult and openly to humiliate

We had the courage or boldness to speak (NASB) is parresiazomai, to speakfreely, openly, fearlessly, express oneself freely.

There are many reasons why Christians do not witness or share their faith, but nodoubt, fear is the underlying issuefear of failure, fear of ridicule, fear of hostility

in our God. Many are bold for the wrong reasons. This phrase points us to thesphere and reason for their boldness to speak.

amid much opposition.Opposition is Agon (greek word) from which we get ourword agony. This word was used of various types of athletic contests. Thecorresponding verb meant to contend in the sports, either running or wrestling.

Church planting is challenge to face the opposition of the Devil

The term opposition (agon) reminds us that ministry to others,

the work of leading people to Christ and helping them grow in Christ, is a

contest; it is a spiritual struggle. As such, if we are to be victorious in thestruggle, there are certain things we need to keep in mind and commitourselves to. Let me suggest four:

1. Earnest effortwe never win by half trying. The struggle calls for hard work,though never in the energy of our abilities, strategies or methods (1 Cor. 15:10; Col.1:292:1).


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2. Putting off that which hinders, stripping down to the essentials (Heb. 12:1;1 Tim. 4:7b-8, 15-16). In our consumer- and comfort-oriented world, this has becomea tremendous hindrance.

3. Singleness of mind, eyes on the goal (Matt. 6:19-24; Heb. 12:1-3; 1 Pet.1:13).

4. Painas the saying goes, no pain, no gain. If we are committed to our comfortand pleasure above the needs of others and Gods call, we simply wont be able tofollow the Lord. Compare Philippians 1:29-30. Remember, the word conflict here isagon. The Apostle pictures the Christian life as a contest, a struggle that demandsdedication and great energy.

2. The Message v. 2-4a

3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we

trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to beentrusted with the gospel

if you expect your message to have power, it must be based from the word ofGod

Paul and his team never ministered for personal gain or self-centered pursuits. impurity, ek akatharsias. This word could refer to sexual or moral impurity,

but here it is more general and means that Paul did not preach from any impuremotives like personal ambition, pride, greed, popularity.33

Not by way of deceit, en dolos. The Greek word dolos referred to a bait or trapand then figuratively of any form of trick or strategy. The preceding deals with awrong motive, but this deals with a wrong method or strategy used toaccomplish the wrong motive.

Approved is dokimazo and means to approve after testing. Remember thatPaul and Barnabas had been separated to this ministry by the Spirit of God onlyafter they had been tested and proven in the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1-3).

3. The Motive v. 4b-6

We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never

used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6Wewere not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.

The Bible study in Bantilan, the issue is idolatry- they reacted!

I said to God, bahala na kayo, ginagawa ko lang ang aking bahagi

Verse 4b. Not to please people, but God. The tense of the infinitive, to please,which expresses aim, is the present continuous tense. In this we see the constant aimof the Apostle and his associates. Whenever our primary aim is to please men, welose our capacity to please God. Conversely, only when we seek to please God andspeak according to His Word in love, do we truly have the capacity to ministereffectively to others. Pleasing people stems from wrong motives such as fear ofrejection, desire for approval, power, praise, and so on. Also, pleasing people occurs


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when we are seeking to meet our needs by our own strategies of protection ordefense. Who examines our hearts is one of the keys here. Examines is the same

verb as approved used above. Literally, it is the one who constantly tests ourhearts. God is the heart tester. He is concerned about our motives and thesource of what we do as much as the what itself. God knows our heart,weighs our motives, and searches us. What a challenge. Our ministries must be

considered and examined in the light of Gods standards, and not mans andthat includes our own. We are all accountable before the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1-5).

Verse 5. For we never appeared with flattering speech. Flattering, iskolakeia, which contains the idea of deception for selfish ends. People often useflattering words as a cloak to exploit others for selfish purposes. Note a coupleof simple illustrations: (a) A supervisor might praise someone on the job toincrease their production so his department will look better. (b) A wife mightflatter her husband so he wont be as angry when he finds out about how muchhe spent on something she purchased

Nor with a pretext for greed. Pretext is prophasis, meaning a cloak,pretense. It denotes that which one puts on for appearance and with a definitedesign to cloak or cover up something. Greed is pleonexia, greed,selfishness. In the New Testament this word always has an evil connotation. Itconcerns disregarding the rights and needs of others in order to gain ones ownselfish desires.

I wonder how many of the problems and heartaches going on in the church arerooted in this problem, the problem of people using ministry of all sorts topromote themselves and meet their own needs and wants whether financial or

emotional. It is the problem of hidden agendas.

God is witness (see Rom. 1:9; Phil. 1:8). As one who lived in the light of theresurrection (for believers this includes the Judgment Seat of Christ, a place ofrewards or loss), Paul was one who always endeavored to have a blamelessconscience for he knew that God not only knew his heart, but would one daybring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives ofmens hearts; and then each mans praise will come to him from God (cf. Acts24:15-16 with 1 Cor. 4:5b). Paul has appealed to the Thessalonians knowledge

of him and his team, but they could not judge his inner motives for this laybeyond their ability, so he appeals to God.

Application: Here we have a wonderful illustration of how the knowledge ofGod should transform us if we really believe Gods truth. This again reinforcesthe truth that Christianity is a relationship with God that is to change us fromthe inside out. Its the inner person and the life of faith in the reality of theliving God that must change us. Otherwise, we are like white-washed sepulchersfull of decaying corpses.


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Verse 6. Nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others Seek is a present participle in the Greek text and gets its time element fromthe main verb of verse 5, we never came. We might translate it, nor were weseeking Pauls choice of the Greek present tense means this was theirpattern, their habit of life, something they never did. Glory is doxa and refershere to an opinion in the sense of praise, honor, respect. They were not in theministry to get their name up in lights or to be patted on the back. Note also

how Paul defines the sources, from (ek) people, either from (apo) you or from(apo) others. The first is abstract and general forming the foundation formotives, and the second two are concrete and specific, the specific applicationof the general aim. The change in the prepositions seems to highlight thisdistinction. As servants of the Savior, we all need to have the general motive ofpleasing God and seeking our praise from Him rather than people, but this mustbe carried out in the specifics of life which have a subtle way of encroaching onour general objectives.

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Paul's church planting experience