1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,920 Oh my soul, I'll worship your holy name. 2 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,340 Bless the Lord, oh my soul. 3 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:59,980 Thank you. 4 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:29,980 Thank you. 5 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:59,980 Thank you. 6 00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:34,000 - Just like a nipple, but you can sleep on the street. 7 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:34,960 - I love it. 8 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,960 - I love it, but do you want to do it? 9 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:40,960 - You see everything, you never think. 10 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:46,960 - I'm just trying to stop the screen. 11 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,960 - Oh, okay, it's like that. 12 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,960 - Yeah, we're over there, right there. 13 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,960 - I'm on here. 14 00:18:56,960 --> 00:18:59,960 - Just sit there. 15 00:18:59,960 --> 00:19:00,480 Can you sit? 16 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:05,720 It's fine. 17 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:07,200 Good morning. 18 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:15,160 We're going to shorten the service a little bit today just because the weather started 19 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:18,440 and it might be okay, but it might not be okay for some. 20 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:23,180 So we're going to Scripture together, and we're going to sing together, 21 00:19:23,180 --> 00:19:25,980 and then we're going to just move into our prayer and share time after that. 22 00:19:25,980 --> 00:19:29,920 And so let's go ahead and stand. 23 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:39,640 Today we're going to be reading out of Isaiah 26, and we're going to be doing verses 3 and 24 00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:49,520 verse 4, and it starts, you keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because 25 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:50,980 he trusts in you. 26 00:19:50,980 --> 00:19:57,800 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting rock. 27 00:19:57,800 --> 00:19:59,140 This is the word of the Lord. 28 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:06,200 let's pray God we thank you for the opportunity to gather here today we 29 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:11,300 thank you for those that are watching online and we just ask that our service 30 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:16,220 today would glorify you and we thank you for the perfect peace that you mentioned 31 00:20:16,220 --> 00:20:23,160 here that is with us even in our very unpeaceful moments of our life and we 32 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,560 thank you so much for the good things that you've given us we thank you for 33 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:34,760 the gospel and for your grace and your mercy in Jesus name amen okay all right so we're going to 34 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:39,240 be singing together and then we're going to be moving into our prayer and share time and if 35 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:44,460 you're watching online there'll be a slide up with a number you can text if you have any requests or 36 00:20:44,460 --> 00:20:49,560 praises or anything you'd like to share with us we can do that here together and then we're going 37 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:53,980 to be muted here during that time so just wait a few minutes and then we'll be back to move into 38 00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:58,000 our time of communion. So we're going to be singing together, Behold Our God. 39 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:05,560 Nope, hang on. Rachel didn't do it right. 40 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,360 There we go. 41 00:21:23,980 --> 00:21:27,980 Who has held the oceans His hands? 42 00:21:27,980 --> 00:21:34,440 Who has numbered every grain of sand? 43 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:41,920 Kings and nations tremble at His voice. 44 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:48,120 All creation rises to rejoice. 45 00:21:50,540 --> 00:21:58,080 Behold our God, seated on His throne. 46 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,520 Come, let us adore Him. 47 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:10,740 Behold our King, nothing can compare. 48 00:22:10,740 --> 00:22:17,020 Come, let us adore Him. 49 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:33,480 has given counsel to the Lord, who can question any of His words, who can teach the one who 50 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,480 knows all things, who can 51 00:22:37,480 --> 00:22:41,980 fathom all his wondrous deeds 52 00:22:41,980 --> 00:22:44,980 Behold 53 00:22:44,980 --> 00:22:49,540 our God, seated 54 00:22:49,540 --> 00:22:53,580 on his throne, come let us 55 00:22:53,580 --> 00:22:57,660 adore him, behold 56 00:22:57,660 --> 00:23:01,080 our King 57 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,220 Nothing can compare 58 00:23:04,220 --> 00:23:11,460 Come let us adore Him 59 00:23:11,460 --> 00:23:28,700 Who has felt the nails upon His hands 60 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:35,040 Bearing all the guilt of sinful man 61 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:41,880 God eternal, humble to the grave 62 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:48,320 Jesus, Savior, is announced to reign 63 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:57,900 Behold our God, seated on His throne 64 00:23:57,900 --> 00:24:02,620 Come let us adore Him 65 00:24:02,620 --> 00:24:08,060 Behold our King 66 00:24:08,060 --> 00:24:10,820 Nothing can compare 67 00:24:10,820 --> 00:24:17,980 Come let us adore Him 68 00:24:17,980 --> 00:24:22,560 You may be seated. 69 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:57,880 Thank you. 70 00:24:57,900 --> 00:25:27,880 Thank you. 71 00:25:27,900 --> 00:25:31,360 It's time to go home to me 72 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:35,520 It's time to go home to me 73 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:39,260 It's time to go home to me 74 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:48,360 We hold that in love for you 75 00:25:48,360 --> 00:25:54,360 It's time to go home to me 76 00:25:54,360 --> 00:26:01,360 For today I am one of those who I am 77 00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:06,360 The world of love is all over me 78 00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:12,360 The world of beauty is only one of those who I am 79 00:26:12,360 --> 00:26:17,360 The world of beauty is only one of those who I am 80 00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:23,360 The world of beauty is only one of those who I am 81 00:26:23,360 --> 00:26:29,360 I know that I can't believe in you. 82 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:39,860 I know that I can't believe in you. 83 00:26:39,860 --> 00:26:45,860 I know that I can't believe in you. 84 00:26:52,360 --> 00:27:22,340 Thank you. 85 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:52,340 Thank you. 86 00:27:52,360 --> 00:28:22,340 Thank you. 87 00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:31,360 The great day at the sound of your great name 88 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:44,360 I'll come back, feel no shame at the sound of your great name 89 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:50,940 Every thing has no place 90 00:28:50,940 --> 00:28:56,900 At the sound of your great name 91 00:28:56,900 --> 00:29:03,520 The enemy he has to leave 92 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:10,520 At the sound of your great name 93 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:19,960 Jesus, the least of the land that once made me fast. 94 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:25,960 Some God had never known how I had left it out. 95 00:29:25,960 --> 00:29:30,520 But I know where the prayers were broken. 96 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:47,320 I'm standing high, from the redneck 97 00:29:47,320 --> 00:29:53,960 Humble meters, to see your face 98 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:59,960 I'm standing high, from the redneck 99 00:29:59,960 --> 00:30:03,320 I'm standing high, from the redneck 100 00:30:03,320 --> 00:30:05,120 I'm standing high, from the redneck 101 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:13,120 At the sun, you're awake 102 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:19,120 As if I'm here, and then I'm ready 103 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:26,120 At the sun, I'm awake 104 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:32,120 It's a dream, it's a dream, it's a dream 105 00:30:32,120 --> 00:31:02,100 The end of the day is a great day. 106 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:32,100 Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh! 107 00:31:32,120 --> 00:32:02,100 We'll be right back. 108 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:32,100 We'll be right back. 109 00:32:32,120 --> 00:33:02,100 Thank you. 110 00:33:02,120 --> 00:33:06,360 And I'm chosen for you. 111 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:07,740 Yeah. 112 00:33:07,740 --> 00:33:23,700 We're going to move into our time of communion now. 113 00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:26,380 And we're going to be singing together in Christ alone. 114 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:44,660 In Christ alone, my hope is found. 115 00:33:44,660 --> 00:33:50,040 He is my light, my strength, my soul. 116 00:33:50,040 --> 00:33:55,540 This cornerstone, this solid ground. 117 00:33:55,540 --> 00:34:00,880 Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. 118 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:06,780 What heights of love, what depths of peace 119 00:34:06,780 --> 00:34:12,200 When fears are still, when strivings cease 120 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:17,520 My comforter, my all in all 121 00:34:17,520 --> 00:34:23,160 Here in the love of Christ I stand 122 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:30,800 In Christ alone, who took on flesh 123 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:36,100 The fullness of God in helpless faith 124 00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:41,240 This gift of love and righteousness 125 00:34:41,240 --> 00:34:47,320 Scorned by the ones He came to save 126 00:34:47,320 --> 00:34:52,860 Till on that cross, as Jesus died 127 00:34:52,860 --> 00:34:58,140 The wrath of God was satisfied 128 00:34:58,140 --> 00:35:09,400 For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live. 129 00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:22,460 There in the ground His body lay, the light of the world by darkness slain. 130 00:35:22,460 --> 00:35:33,280 Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again. 131 00:35:33,280 --> 00:35:44,400 And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse hath lost its grip on me. 132 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:50,500 For I am His and He is mine 133 00:35:50,500 --> 00:35:56,040 Wrote with the precious blood of Christ 134 00:35:56,040 --> 00:36:03,880 No guilt in life, no fear in death 135 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:08,780 This is the power of Christ in me 136 00:36:08,780 --> 00:36:19,340 From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commends my destiny. 137 00:36:19,340 --> 00:36:31,100 No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from his hand. 138 00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:36,460 Till He returns or calls me home 139 00:36:36,460 --> 00:36:41,900 Here in the power of Christ I'll stand 140 00:36:41,900 --> 00:36:47,220 No power of hell, no scheme of man 141 00:36:47,220 --> 00:36:52,560 Can ever block me from His hand 142 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:58,380 Till He returns or calls me home 143 00:36:58,380 --> 00:37:04,140 Here in the power of Christ I'll stand 144 00:37:28,380 --> 00:37:35,020 There are, it seems, so many ways that our world is uncertain. 145 00:37:35,020 --> 00:37:44,220 We face uncertainty sometimes politically, sometimes financially, sometimes in terms 146 00:37:44,220 --> 00:37:50,560 of our health, and it seems that everything in our world is changing rapidly, quickly. 147 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:54,900 It's almost like we're not sure quite what to hold on to. 148 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:58,760 And so as we come to the Lord's table this morning, 149 00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:03,140 I want to remind you of what the writer of Hebrews reminded 150 00:38:03,140 --> 00:38:06,860 the struggling Hebrew Christians in Hebrews chapter 6. 151 00:38:06,860 --> 00:38:08,520 He says this, 152 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:15,040 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, 153 00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:18,900 a hope that enters into the place behind the curtain 154 00:38:18,900 --> 00:38:22,580 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, 155 00:38:23,220 --> 00:38:28,820 having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 156 00:38:28,820 --> 00:38:33,420 And I want to draw your attention to what we have in Jesus 157 00:38:33,420 --> 00:38:35,200 and the hope that we have in Jesus 158 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,040 because the Hebrew writer says something that is remarkable 159 00:38:38,040 --> 00:38:41,440 and he emphasizes it in such a deep way. 160 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:45,400 He says this, we have a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. 161 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:49,600 And if you think about it, an anchor is something that holds something steadfast, 162 00:38:49,680 --> 00:38:51,520 But the writer of Hebrews doesn't just say 163 00:38:51,520 --> 00:38:54,120 that we have an anchor for the soul. 164 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:56,980 He doesn't even just say that we have a sure anchor. 165 00:38:56,980 --> 00:39:00,240 He doesn't say that we just have a steadfast anchor, 166 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:02,620 but he emphasizes it in such a way 167 00:39:02,620 --> 00:39:06,620 that he's saying we have a sure and steadfast anchor 168 00:39:06,620 --> 00:39:08,920 for our soul in Jesus. 169 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:13,240 And then he points out to change. 170 00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:17,160 He'll say he has become a high priest forever. 171 00:39:17,860 --> 00:39:20,440 The hope that we have in Jesus doesn't tarnish, 172 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:23,480 it doesn't wear out, it doesn't break, 173 00:39:23,480 --> 00:39:26,920 it doesn't get old, and it doesn't disappear. 174 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:31,460 And so just like the writer of the book of Hebrews 175 00:39:31,460 --> 00:39:33,840 who took a struggling church 176 00:39:33,840 --> 00:39:35,540 in the midst of all kinds of uncertainty 177 00:39:35,540 --> 00:39:38,260 and he directs them to Jesus, 178 00:39:38,260 --> 00:39:41,400 that's what this meal does for our hearts 179 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:43,520 and our souls this morning. 180 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:47,140 It points us to the place where our hope is steadfast 181 00:39:47,140 --> 00:39:49,180 and our hope doesn't move 182 00:39:49,180 --> 00:39:50,500 and our hope doesn't waver 183 00:39:50,500 --> 00:39:52,760 and our hope doesn't wear out. 184 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:54,000 So we're going to pray 185 00:39:54,000 --> 00:39:56,400 and then we will partake of this meal together. 186 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:57,160 Father in heaven, 187 00:39:57,160 --> 00:39:59,780 thank you that we have a hope 188 00:39:59,780 --> 00:40:01,760 that is sure, steadfast 189 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:03,200 and an anchor to our soul. 190 00:40:03,200 --> 00:40:06,640 We thank you that Jesus has gone before us. 191 00:40:06,640 --> 00:40:07,980 He didn't leave it for us 192 00:40:07,980 --> 00:40:10,440 to try to find a way or to figure out 193 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:12,120 but rather he has gone before us 194 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:13,560 to the place we could not go 195 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:15,400 and because of that 196 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:17,040 we can be with him for eternity. 197 00:40:17,660 --> 00:40:18,860 We thank you for hope. 198 00:40:18,860 --> 00:40:21,700 We thank you for the good news and the power of the gospel. 199 00:40:21,700 --> 00:40:26,860 We thank you for your strength and your work in our lives. 200 00:40:26,860 --> 00:40:30,240 And so this morning as we break this bread and drink this cup, 201 00:40:30,240 --> 00:40:32,280 may we look to the cross. 202 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:34,780 May we see the price for our sins. 203 00:40:34,780 --> 00:40:38,820 May we see the victory over sin and death and Satan and hell. 204 00:40:38,820 --> 00:40:43,340 May our hope be renewed and be strengthened this morning. 205 00:40:43,340 --> 00:40:46,000 I ask that you bless this bread and this cup. 206 00:40:46,620 --> 00:40:48,760 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 207 00:40:48,760 --> 00:40:52,880 Paul, as he writes the church, 208 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:56,480 he will point their minds to the account of Passover 209 00:40:56,480 --> 00:40:59,920 where Jesus gathers the true Passover lamb 210 00:40:59,920 --> 00:41:01,780 celebrating Passover. 211 00:41:01,780 --> 00:41:05,100 And he'll take bread after supper 212 00:41:05,100 --> 00:41:06,920 and he will say, this is my body, 213 00:41:06,920 --> 00:41:08,200 which is for you. 214 00:41:08,200 --> 00:41:10,260 Do this in remembrance of me. 215 00:41:10,260 --> 00:41:11,140 Let's partake together. 216 00:41:16,620 --> 00:41:20,640 And in the same way, after supper, he took the cup, 217 00:41:20,640 --> 00:41:24,640 the cup that pointed to the redemption of God's people, 218 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,200 and says, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, 219 00:41:28,200 --> 00:41:32,140 for as often as you do this, do this in remembrance of me. 220 00:41:32,140 --> 00:41:39,900 And then he will say, for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, 221 00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:43,540 you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 222 00:41:44,560 --> 00:41:51,720 Our Scripture reading this morning is from Acts chapter 17, verses 1 through 10. 223 00:41:51,720 --> 00:41:57,520 I'm going to go ahead and read through it, and then we'll pray and dive into our message this morning. 224 00:41:57,520 --> 00:41:58,660 So Luke writes this, 225 00:41:58,660 --> 00:42:06,140 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, and came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 226 00:42:06,140 --> 00:42:13,200 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 227 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:19,380 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, 228 00:42:19,380 --> 00:42:24,280 saying, This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ. 229 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:27,880 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, 230 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:32,140 as did a great many devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 231 00:42:32,140 --> 00:42:36,260 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some of the wicked rabble, 232 00:42:36,260 --> 00:42:40,720 they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, 233 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:42,560 seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 234 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:47,160 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city 235 00:42:47,160 --> 00:42:52,660 authorities shouting, these men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. 236 00:42:52,660 --> 00:42:54,800 And Jason has received him. 237 00:42:54,800 --> 00:43:00,480 And they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus. 238 00:43:00,480 --> 00:43:04,980 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 239 00:43:04,980 --> 00:43:09,600 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 240 00:43:10,080 --> 00:43:14,440 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. 241 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:17,760 And when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 242 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:19,520 This is the word of the Lord. 243 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:24,900 Father in heaven, thank you for your word. 244 00:43:24,900 --> 00:43:30,280 Thank you for this account of faithful gospel proclamation. 245 00:43:30,280 --> 00:43:35,060 Help us this morning as we consider this church in Thessalonica. 246 00:43:36,920 --> 00:43:39,980 Surrounded by persecution, surrounded by struggle. 247 00:43:39,980 --> 00:43:45,000 Help us to see how the gospel changes and transforms, 248 00:43:45,000 --> 00:43:49,460 how it changes our hearts to love and forgive and to persevere. 249 00:43:49,460 --> 00:43:53,880 It changes our outlook on others 250 00:43:53,880 --> 00:43:56,200 and brings us together into a community of people 251 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,200 we never thought we would find ourselves among. 252 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:01,840 It gives us courage in the face of opposition. 253 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:05,720 Help us to see that you don't just turn the world upside down, 254 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:12,540 but you turn it right side up, and you have made things new and are changing and transforming us. 255 00:44:12,540 --> 00:44:17,260 Thank you for your church and your people. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 256 00:44:17,260 --> 00:44:23,340 So as we dive back into the book of Acts, it's been a few weeks since we have been here. 257 00:44:23,340 --> 00:44:27,440 We were last in Philippi, and now we come to Thessalonica. 258 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:33,240 And one of the things that sometimes we tend to do as people is we sometimes miss the point 259 00:44:33,240 --> 00:44:38,520 or we miss something important because we're focused on something that maybe isn't as important. 260 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:42,500 And I've shared this with some of you before, but when Rachel and I were dating, 261 00:44:42,500 --> 00:44:47,760 we were just getting ready to take her home one evening and drop her off. 262 00:44:47,760 --> 00:44:48,520 And so we were in the car. 263 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:52,700 And for whatever reason, I remember what the argument was about other than I was right. 264 00:44:52,700 --> 00:44:57,340 And we were in the midst of this argument where I was obviously right. 265 00:44:57,340 --> 00:45:02,040 And we're pulling out of the parking lot and over by our mailbox and Eric and Janice's mailbox. 266 00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:07,640 Evidently, I didn't see it, but a fox goes running across the yard over there. 267 00:45:07,640 --> 00:45:09,820 And Rachel goes, look, a fox. 268 00:45:09,820 --> 00:45:11,160 And I'm like, I don't care. 269 00:45:11,160 --> 00:45:12,780 I'm going to win this argument, right? 270 00:45:12,780 --> 00:45:20,200 I was so focused on winning an argument that in the long term doesn't even matter. 271 00:45:20,200 --> 00:45:23,060 That I missed something that was pretty neat. 272 00:45:23,060 --> 00:45:27,000 And what happens sometimes when we come to the book of Acts, 273 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:29,920 we focus so much on the history of the church. 274 00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:32,460 We have the people and we have the places and the events. 275 00:45:32,880 --> 00:45:36,300 And we're going here, and we're doing that, and the map that shows us where they went. 276 00:45:36,300 --> 00:45:39,400 And here's how Paul traveled by boat, and he traveled here by foot. 277 00:45:39,400 --> 00:45:42,200 And here's where the church met together in Jerusalem. 278 00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:45,900 And all those things are good and healthy, but we miss the point of the book of Acts, 279 00:45:45,900 --> 00:45:48,520 is that it's all about Jesus. 280 00:45:48,520 --> 00:45:55,100 In Acts 1, verse 1, as Luke begins this second letter to Theophilus, he'll say, 281 00:45:55,100 --> 00:45:58,960 my first letter, I talked about what Jesus began to do, 282 00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:05,220 And the implication of Luke's writing is that the second letter is about what Jesus continues to do, right? 283 00:46:05,220 --> 00:46:07,500 This is what he did in the book of Luke. 284 00:46:07,500 --> 00:46:11,280 And now I'm going to tell you what he continues to do ultimately through the church. 285 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:15,820 And what you find Jesus doing throughout the book of Acts is that he directs his church. 286 00:46:15,820 --> 00:46:16,700 He gives them a mission. 287 00:46:16,700 --> 00:46:20,020 He equips them with the power of the Spirit. 288 00:46:20,020 --> 00:46:23,700 He encourages them in the midst of struggle. 289 00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:28,960 He brings a church out of different groups of people 290 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:31,440 that normally would have been enemies with one another. 291 00:46:31,440 --> 00:46:35,240 He changes and transforms lives and hearts, 292 00:46:35,240 --> 00:46:39,960 and this is what we see happening in the church in Thessalonica. 293 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:42,220 So when we come to Thessalonica, 294 00:46:42,220 --> 00:46:45,580 one of the interesting things is Luke has stayed in Philippi, 295 00:46:45,580 --> 00:46:48,000 and one of the ways you can see that as you're reading through the text 296 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:50,860 is that the language in Luke changes from 297 00:46:50,860 --> 00:46:55,480 we went here, we did this, to they went there, and they did this. 298 00:46:55,480 --> 00:47:00,900 So Lucas stayed behind at Philippi, and Paul, Silas, and Timothy have traveled. 299 00:47:00,900 --> 00:47:04,980 And after being asked to leave Philippi, they've traveled about 100 miles, 300 00:47:04,980 --> 00:47:07,540 and they've ended up in the town of Thessalonica. 301 00:47:07,540 --> 00:47:12,640 And Paul goes into the Jewish synagogue, and he proclaims a message that is wonderful, 302 00:47:12,640 --> 00:47:16,760 and it's simple. He said, Jesus is the Christ. 303 00:47:16,760 --> 00:47:20,300 And the message is, Jesus is the promised Messiah. 304 00:47:20,860 --> 00:47:22,560 He is the one that in 305 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:24,860 Genesis chapter 3 would defeat 306 00:47:24,860 --> 00:47:25,680 the serpent. 307 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:28,640 He's the one to whom Abraham 308 00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:30,600 was promised that through you all 309 00:47:30,600 --> 00:47:32,660 the nations of the earth will be 310 00:47:32,660 --> 00:47:34,540 blessed. He's the one 311 00:47:34,540 --> 00:47:36,740 who, like Moses, led 312 00:47:36,740 --> 00:47:38,440 his people out of slavery 313 00:47:38,440 --> 00:47:40,620 and into the promises of God. He's the 314 00:47:40,620 --> 00:47:42,600 Passover lamb who stands between 315 00:47:42,600 --> 00:47:44,300 us and the angel of God. 316 00:47:44,300 --> 00:47:46,380 He's our rock in the wilderness. 317 00:47:46,380 --> 00:47:48,620 He's our king 318 00:47:48,620 --> 00:47:50,460 who stands between us of 319 00:47:50,860 --> 00:47:52,860 A fearful people and a giant. 320 00:47:52,860 --> 00:47:57,200 In Isaiah 61 it says this, 321 00:47:57,200 --> 00:47:58,940 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me 322 00:47:58,940 --> 00:48:00,040 because He has sent me 323 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:01,900 to bring good news to the poor, 324 00:48:01,900 --> 00:48:04,040 to bind up the brokenhearted, 325 00:48:04,040 --> 00:48:05,880 to proclaim liberty to the captives 326 00:48:05,880 --> 00:48:07,580 and the opening of the prison 327 00:48:07,580 --> 00:48:08,940 for those who are bound. 328 00:48:08,940 --> 00:48:10,560 And the message of the Messiah 329 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:12,220 is that He has come 330 00:48:12,220 --> 00:48:14,620 to bind up those who are hurting, 331 00:48:14,620 --> 00:48:17,280 to proclaim liberty to those 332 00:48:17,280 --> 00:48:18,000 who are oppressed, 333 00:48:18,000 --> 00:48:20,340 to bring those out of the bondage 334 00:48:20,340 --> 00:48:21,880 of sin and darkness 335 00:48:21,880 --> 00:48:24,560 to bring the good news, the gospel 336 00:48:24,560 --> 00:48:26,360 to those who are struggling and 337 00:48:26,360 --> 00:48:28,640 hurting. And Paul will say in 2 Corinthians 338 00:48:28,640 --> 00:48:30,660 that all of the promises 339 00:48:30,660 --> 00:48:32,460 of God are yes and 340 00:48:32,460 --> 00:48:34,000 amen in him. 341 00:48:34,000 --> 00:48:36,460 And so Paul comes and he 342 00:48:36,460 --> 00:48:38,320 walks through with these Jewish people 343 00:48:38,320 --> 00:48:40,440 all through the Old Testament, all of these promises 344 00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:42,620 that Jesus is the promised 345 00:48:42,620 --> 00:48:44,360 King, he's the promised priest, 346 00:48:44,360 --> 00:48:46,560 he's the promised prophet, he is the 347 00:48:46,560 --> 00:48:48,660 one who has come and he has saved 348 00:48:48,660 --> 00:48:50,120 us from our sins. 349 00:48:51,340 --> 00:48:54,440 And he does it in a very specific way. 350 00:48:54,440 --> 00:48:57,480 It says, Paul went in, as was his custom, three Sabbath days. 351 00:48:57,480 --> 00:48:59,240 He reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 352 00:48:59,240 --> 00:49:05,580 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and rise from the dead, 353 00:49:05,580 --> 00:49:09,520 saying, this Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ. 354 00:49:09,520 --> 00:49:11,840 And so Paul starts by reasoning. 355 00:49:11,840 --> 00:49:17,140 And so what that means is Paul doesn't just come in and preach sort of his pet peeve of the day, 356 00:49:17,200 --> 00:49:21,980 but the idea of reasoning is that he sort of systematically walks through 357 00:49:21,980 --> 00:49:24,980 what God has said in the Old Testament about Messiah 358 00:49:24,980 --> 00:49:27,960 and says, I know who the promised one is, 359 00:49:27,960 --> 00:49:30,480 and it is Jesus, and it is wonderful. 360 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:33,560 In him there is hope and life and transformation. 361 00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:37,180 And then he explains it, 362 00:49:37,180 --> 00:49:39,760 and the word literally means to open it up. 363 00:49:39,760 --> 00:49:41,080 We just got done with Christmas, 364 00:49:41,080 --> 00:49:43,000 and one of the things as a dad that I like, 365 00:49:43,000 --> 00:49:45,300 is you have your little kids and their opening presents, 366 00:49:45,660 --> 00:49:48,000 And there's this box, and they have no idea what it is, 367 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:49,680 and they begin to sort of tear it apart, 368 00:49:49,680 --> 00:49:51,500 and they see what it is, and they're excited. 369 00:49:51,500 --> 00:49:53,080 That's what Paul is doing to the church. 370 00:49:53,080 --> 00:49:55,400 He's taking the promises of God, 371 00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:59,960 and he's unwrapping them so they see that joy. 372 00:49:59,960 --> 00:50:02,880 And then it says he proves it. 373 00:50:02,880 --> 00:50:04,540 Now, this isn't Paul's argument. 374 00:50:04,540 --> 00:50:06,780 The word here literally everywhere else in the New Testament 375 00:50:06,780 --> 00:50:09,040 is used when you're feeding somebody 376 00:50:09,040 --> 00:50:10,820 and you set the food before them. 377 00:50:10,820 --> 00:50:15,240 That he takes this well-reasoned, well-thought-out, 378 00:50:15,660 --> 00:50:18,740 wonderful, open present 379 00:50:18,740 --> 00:50:20,120 and he sets it before them 380 00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:22,140 and he shows them that it is solid 381 00:50:22,140 --> 00:50:23,200 and that it is real 382 00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:25,920 and that it's not just a good idea 383 00:50:25,920 --> 00:50:27,500 or a nice thought 384 00:50:27,500 --> 00:50:29,240 but this is a real something 385 00:50:29,240 --> 00:50:32,360 that will change the way you live. 386 00:50:32,360 --> 00:50:34,640 And what you find is this message 387 00:50:34,640 --> 00:50:36,760 of the gospel that Jesus is the one 388 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:37,800 who has defeated the serpent. 389 00:50:37,800 --> 00:50:40,100 It's through him all the nations of the earth 390 00:50:40,100 --> 00:50:40,540 will be blessed. 391 00:50:40,540 --> 00:50:42,980 He's the Passover lamb that stands between us 392 00:50:42,980 --> 00:50:43,720 and the angel of death 393 00:50:43,720 --> 00:50:46,180 that he's the king that stands between our giants, 394 00:50:46,180 --> 00:50:48,740 that he's the one who brings good news to the poor, 395 00:50:48,740 --> 00:50:51,340 liberty for the captives, sight for the blind. 396 00:50:51,340 --> 00:50:53,040 He's the one who lifts the burdens. 397 00:50:53,040 --> 00:50:58,680 This changes and transforms us in such a deep and wonderful manner. 398 00:50:58,680 --> 00:51:02,100 In fact, you see it in the church in Thessalonica. 399 00:51:02,100 --> 00:51:06,180 The first thing you see it is in the life of Paul himself. 400 00:51:06,180 --> 00:51:12,080 Because the gospel strengthens us to love deeply and patiently, 401 00:51:12,080 --> 00:51:19,040 especially when people are difficult think if you go somewhere like a restaurant how many times do 402 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:25,140 you have to go back before you give up with terrible service so i was thinking about this 403 00:51:25,140 --> 00:51:30,420 because we used to go to the dunkin donuts across the street just about every day or every other day 404 00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:35,160 and then with the health shortage and not very good training it seemed like every time we went 405 00:51:35,160 --> 00:51:40,240 our order would be wrong order would be upside down they would have our order all these different 406 00:51:40,240 --> 00:51:43,820 things happened over and over. And finally, we just said, you know what, that's enough. I'm done 407 00:51:43,820 --> 00:51:50,860 with it. And we all have a limited patient, right? If we go somewhere and it just isn't good, maybe 408 00:51:50,860 --> 00:51:55,700 we'll give it a second chance, maybe a third chance. In our case, with Dunkin' Donuts, the fourth or 409 00:51:55,700 --> 00:52:01,220 fifth chance. But eventually we get to the point where we say, I can't do this anymore. I'm fed up. 410 00:52:01,220 --> 00:52:09,540 I'm done. I'm doing something different. Now think about the Apostle Paul. Acts chapter 17, 411 00:52:09,640 --> 00:52:15,100 Verse 2, he went in as was his custom on three Sabbath days and reasoned with them from Scripture. 412 00:52:15,100 --> 00:52:18,320 So he goes into the synagogue and he does. 413 00:52:18,320 --> 00:52:20,420 And he says, well, it seems reasonable you go to the synagogue. 414 00:52:20,420 --> 00:52:26,300 It's reasonable until you understand Paul's reception in synagogues throughout the book of Acts. 415 00:52:26,300 --> 00:52:29,860 When he first starts in the synagogues, they invite him in to speak. 416 00:52:29,860 --> 00:52:33,400 And then as he begins to speak, they get upset with what he is saying. 417 00:52:33,400 --> 00:52:35,400 And then they begin to dispute with him. 418 00:52:35,440 --> 00:52:38,640 And you see this progression that goes from disputation 419 00:52:38,640 --> 00:52:43,140 to causing him trouble, to seeking to persecute him, 420 00:52:43,140 --> 00:52:46,840 to seeking to kill him, to eventually getting a mob together 421 00:52:46,840 --> 00:52:50,220 to throw stones at him until they think he is dead. 422 00:52:50,220 --> 00:52:56,800 And now they're constantly in angry mobs attacking Paul. 423 00:52:56,800 --> 00:53:01,560 At what point does he say, I'm done going to synagogues? 424 00:53:01,560 --> 00:53:04,160 I'm done trying to speak to the Jewish people. 425 00:53:04,160 --> 00:53:05,120 I am done. 426 00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:06,440 Everywhere you go, right? 427 00:53:06,440 --> 00:53:07,540 You argue with me. 428 00:53:07,540 --> 00:53:08,620 You beat me up. 429 00:53:08,620 --> 00:53:10,000 You throw me in jail. 430 00:53:10,000 --> 00:53:12,000 You throw rocks at me until you think I'm dead. 431 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:13,180 I'm done with you. 432 00:53:13,180 --> 00:53:15,060 That's not what the Apostle Paul does. 433 00:53:15,060 --> 00:53:20,000 It says, as was his custom, he's already been through these terrible things. 434 00:53:20,000 --> 00:53:20,540 And you know what he does? 435 00:53:20,540 --> 00:53:21,280 He goes back. 436 00:53:21,280 --> 00:53:25,320 And he goes back because he deeply loves these people. 437 00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:28,140 He'll say this, I am speaking the truth in Christ. 438 00:53:28,140 --> 00:53:29,280 This is in Romans 9. 439 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:30,020 I am not long. 440 00:53:30,020 --> 00:53:34,240 My conscience bears witness to me with the Holy Spirit 441 00:53:34,240 --> 00:53:38,580 that I have great sorrow and unseeking anguish in my heart, 442 00:53:38,580 --> 00:53:41,860 for I wish that myself were accursed and cut off from Christ 443 00:53:41,860 --> 00:53:46,940 for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen, according to the flesh. 444 00:53:46,940 --> 00:53:48,660 You hear Paul's attitude? 445 00:53:48,660 --> 00:53:52,740 He says, if I could be cut off so that they could be brought in, 446 00:53:52,740 --> 00:53:53,860 I would do that. 447 00:53:53,860 --> 00:53:57,940 These are the people who persecute him, who stone him, who beat him. 448 00:53:57,940 --> 00:53:59,380 Now think about our lives, right? 449 00:54:00,020 --> 00:54:03,140 I struggle to let go when someone wrongs me, right? 450 00:54:03,140 --> 00:54:06,080 It's so easy to just bring it back up and back up. 451 00:54:06,080 --> 00:54:08,080 And not even just in the past year, right? 452 00:54:08,080 --> 00:54:10,240 We can go back 10 years, 20 years, 453 00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:13,280 and we can remember exactly how somebody has done us wrong, 454 00:54:13,280 --> 00:54:15,960 and we hold on to it, and we become bitter about it. 455 00:54:15,960 --> 00:54:18,040 But notice what Paul does. 456 00:54:18,040 --> 00:54:23,500 He keeps going back to the very people who hurt him because of this. 457 00:54:23,500 --> 00:54:24,820 In Romans 5, 458 00:54:24,820 --> 00:54:29,120 For while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. 459 00:54:29,800 --> 00:54:31,920 How much more now that we are reconciled 460 00:54:31,920 --> 00:54:33,560 shall we be saved by his life? 461 00:54:33,560 --> 00:54:37,460 Paul deeply desires the salvation 462 00:54:37,460 --> 00:54:40,460 of his countrymen, 463 00:54:40,460 --> 00:54:41,700 other Jews, 464 00:54:41,700 --> 00:54:43,040 because he's seen how Jesus 465 00:54:43,040 --> 00:54:45,820 has taken the enemy, him, Paul, 466 00:54:45,820 --> 00:54:47,840 and changed and transformed 467 00:54:47,840 --> 00:54:50,360 and loved him even when he was opposed to God. 468 00:54:50,360 --> 00:54:51,320 And so Paul says, 469 00:54:51,320 --> 00:54:53,040 even when these guys are opposed to God, 470 00:54:53,040 --> 00:54:54,640 like Jesus, I will love them. 471 00:54:54,640 --> 00:54:55,880 What you see is the gospel. 472 00:54:55,880 --> 00:54:58,360 It takes us and it changes our heart 473 00:54:58,360 --> 00:55:01,520 and it allows us to let go of the anger and the bitterness 474 00:55:01,520 --> 00:55:04,640 and it allows us to forgive and it allows us to love 475 00:55:04,640 --> 00:55:07,020 even when those people are difficult, 476 00:55:07,020 --> 00:55:08,560 even when they're hard, 477 00:55:08,560 --> 00:55:10,300 even when they hurt us, 478 00:55:10,300 --> 00:55:13,620 even when they ultimately try to kill us. 479 00:55:13,620 --> 00:55:15,560 In the good news of the gospel, 480 00:55:15,560 --> 00:55:19,520 we see a Savior who loves and who perseveres for us 481 00:55:19,520 --> 00:55:22,140 and it allows us to treat others in the same way. 482 00:55:22,140 --> 00:55:24,460 The second thing you see in Thessalonica 483 00:55:24,460 --> 00:55:27,100 is the gospel powerfully creates a new community. 484 00:55:27,100 --> 00:55:29,220 We like to divide people up, right? 485 00:55:29,220 --> 00:55:31,300 So maybe we divide when we're little. 486 00:55:31,300 --> 00:55:34,620 It's like you're playing the game, and it's boys versus girls. 487 00:55:34,620 --> 00:55:37,940 And then as we get older, it's men versus women. 488 00:55:37,940 --> 00:55:42,400 And we make fun of each other, tell jokes about each other, divide each other up. 489 00:55:42,400 --> 00:55:47,880 And then sometimes we divide ourselves up based on location. 490 00:55:47,880 --> 00:55:53,480 So a lot of times we talk about where we live, and Rachel says, well, I grew up in Pawpaw. 491 00:55:53,480 --> 00:55:55,140 And I say, yeah, that's West Virginia. 492 00:55:55,140 --> 00:55:56,900 She says, no, no, it's the best Virginia. 493 00:55:57,100 --> 00:56:03,760 right? You know, the other morning we were eating breakfast and somebody had keto maple syrup instead 494 00:56:03,760 --> 00:56:09,080 of real Vermont maple syrup. And I was like, what is this, right? This doesn't belong in my house. 495 00:56:09,080 --> 00:56:13,480 And it's like, oh, you're from Vermont, right? So you can make fun of the guy from Vermont because 496 00:56:13,480 --> 00:56:20,100 he likes things that are good. And so you have like this division where where we're from is good 497 00:56:20,100 --> 00:56:25,860 and where somebody else is from not quite as good, right? We're really good at dividing people up. 498 00:56:26,020 --> 00:56:30,520 We divide on race, we divide on social class, rich and poor. 499 00:56:30,520 --> 00:56:32,060 We divide politically. 500 00:56:32,060 --> 00:56:37,660 In the last couple of years, we divided medically in terms of the virus. 501 00:56:37,660 --> 00:56:42,120 We divide, and I don't think this is a word, but I'm going to make it one, we divide churchly. 502 00:56:42,120 --> 00:56:47,440 Well, they go to this church, they go to that church, they go to that church over there. 503 00:56:47,440 --> 00:56:50,600 So we go to this church and we divide ourselves up. 504 00:56:50,600 --> 00:56:53,000 Just like Paul talks about the Corinthian church, 505 00:56:53,000 --> 00:56:58,240 where one says, I'm Apollos, I follow Paul, I follow Peter, I follow Christ. 506 00:56:58,240 --> 00:57:00,800 We're still doing the same exact thing today. 507 00:57:00,800 --> 00:57:05,180 And we're so easy to divide ourselves up. 508 00:57:05,180 --> 00:57:08,500 Look at what happens in Acts 17.4. 509 00:57:08,500 --> 00:57:11,960 And some of them, these are the Jewish people in the synagogue, 510 00:57:11,960 --> 00:57:15,280 were persuaded and they joined Paul and Silas. 511 00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:17,900 As did a great many of the devout Greeks, 512 00:57:17,900 --> 00:57:20,380 and not a few of the leading women. 513 00:57:20,480 --> 00:57:21,360 So you have three groups. 514 00:57:21,360 --> 00:57:25,680 You have the people who are Jewish by birth and Jewish by their belief. 515 00:57:25,680 --> 00:57:31,100 You have the Greeks who are not Jewish, but they've been learning about Judaism. 516 00:57:31,100 --> 00:57:32,700 They believe in the one true God. 517 00:57:32,700 --> 00:57:36,600 And then you have the leading women, likely the most important women in this town, 518 00:57:36,600 --> 00:57:41,400 who were not Jewish, who weren't on the edge like those Greeks were, 519 00:57:41,400 --> 00:57:44,440 but who were outright unbelievers. 520 00:57:44,440 --> 00:57:47,920 And you have men and women, Jews and Greeks, 521 00:57:48,640 --> 00:57:52,360 all of these different people coming together in the church. 522 00:57:52,360 --> 00:57:54,480 And what's remarkable about this 523 00:57:54,480 --> 00:57:58,160 is not just that these divisions sort of disappear into this church, 524 00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:01,660 but it's how long it takes for this to happen. 525 00:58:01,660 --> 00:58:04,120 So if you were to plant a church today, 526 00:58:04,120 --> 00:58:05,920 and I did a little bit of research on this this week, 527 00:58:05,920 --> 00:58:07,980 the average for planting a new church 528 00:58:07,980 --> 00:58:10,740 in terms of training and preparation and fundraising 529 00:58:10,740 --> 00:58:13,420 and securing a location and building a team 530 00:58:13,420 --> 00:58:16,860 averages anywhere from three to five years 531 00:58:16,860 --> 00:58:18,380 in our world to plant a new church. 532 00:58:18,480 --> 00:58:24,360 If somebody wants to plant a church, generally, they'll tell them it takes between three and five years to get your new church going. 533 00:58:24,360 --> 00:58:27,140 Listen to what happens in Thessalonica. 534 00:58:27,140 --> 00:58:34,600 Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them from Scriptures. 535 00:58:34,600 --> 00:58:41,260 And then, before the next, before the fourth Sabbath day, he's going to get run out of town by an angry mob. 536 00:58:41,260 --> 00:58:45,780 Three weeks, he's there planting this church. 537 00:58:46,620 --> 00:58:50,380 And this is not a half-formed, wishy-washy, weak church. 538 00:58:50,380 --> 00:58:53,080 Listen to these words that Paul has from Thessalonians. 539 00:58:53,080 --> 00:58:55,080 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, 540 00:58:55,080 --> 00:58:57,220 You became imitators of us and the Lord, 541 00:58:57,220 --> 00:59:01,720 for you received the word in much affliction with joy in the Holy Spirit. 542 00:59:01,720 --> 00:59:04,040 And in 1 Thessalonians 2, 543 00:59:04,040 --> 00:59:08,300 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God and Christ Jesus 544 00:59:08,300 --> 00:59:09,420 that are in Judea, 545 00:59:09,420 --> 00:59:13,220 for they suffered the same things from your own countrymen, 546 00:59:13,220 --> 00:59:16,040 for you suffered the same things from your own countrymen 547 00:59:16,040 --> 00:59:18,240 as they did from the Jews, 1 Thessalonians 3. 548 00:59:18,240 --> 00:59:22,800 No one, that no one be moved by these afflictions, 549 00:59:22,800 --> 00:59:25,840 for you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 550 00:59:25,840 --> 00:59:27,380 He says, this has not been easy. 551 00:59:27,380 --> 00:59:30,020 So not only does God take, in three weeks, 552 00:59:30,020 --> 00:59:31,300 through the power of the gospel, 553 00:59:31,300 --> 00:59:33,620 bring a bunch of different groups together, 554 00:59:33,620 --> 00:59:36,720 he makes them strong enough that as the church 555 00:59:36,720 --> 00:59:40,960 is constantly surrounded by affliction and persecution, 556 00:59:40,960 --> 00:59:44,800 before Paul even leaves town, they're strong. 557 00:59:45,680 --> 00:59:48,020 Not because they're somehow remarkable, 558 00:59:48,020 --> 00:59:50,900 but because the good news of the gospel is remarkable. 559 00:59:50,900 --> 00:59:56,540 And they're not just remarkable in terms of their faithfulness. 560 00:59:56,540 --> 00:59:58,400 Listen to what he says in 3.6. 561 00:59:58,400 --> 01:00:02,760 Now Timothy has come to us and brought us the good news of your faith and your love. 562 01:00:02,760 --> 01:00:06,440 And you also reported that you always remember us kindly 563 01:00:06,440 --> 01:00:08,940 and long to see us as we long to see you. 564 01:00:08,940 --> 01:00:10,940 They're a church that's full of love. 565 01:00:10,940 --> 01:00:13,360 They're full of faith, they're full of love, 566 01:00:13,360 --> 01:00:15,540 even as the world falls apart around them. 567 01:00:15,680 --> 01:00:20,800 And the only way that this happens is through the power of the gospel. 568 01:00:20,800 --> 01:00:24,600 The power of the gospel helps us forgive and to love 569 01:00:24,600 --> 01:00:26,840 and to go to those things that we normally would avoid. 570 01:00:26,840 --> 01:00:32,140 It takes and transforms a bunch of different people into a family, 571 01:00:32,140 --> 01:00:37,600 a group who is faithful and loving even in the midst of chaos. 572 01:00:37,600 --> 01:00:40,560 And the gospel gives us courage. 573 01:00:40,560 --> 01:00:44,560 There's probably all been times where we have been tired 574 01:00:44,560 --> 01:00:46,000 and we're worn out. 575 01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:49,020 And we just say, I don't think that I can do it anymore. 576 01:00:49,020 --> 01:00:50,220 I'm just going to give up. 577 01:00:50,220 --> 01:00:51,000 I'm going to find something else. 578 01:00:51,000 --> 01:00:52,060 I'm going to go take a nap. 579 01:00:52,060 --> 01:00:54,180 I need to rest. 580 01:00:54,180 --> 01:00:57,720 To Paul and Silas and Timothy. 581 01:00:57,720 --> 01:01:00,940 I want to read these last six verses. 582 01:01:00,940 --> 01:01:03,180 But the Jews were jealous. 583 01:01:03,180 --> 01:01:05,700 And taking some of the wicked men of the rabble, 584 01:01:05,700 --> 01:01:06,600 they formed a mob. 585 01:01:06,600 --> 01:01:08,200 They set the city in an uproar, 586 01:01:08,200 --> 01:01:09,720 attacked the house of Jason, 587 01:01:09,720 --> 01:01:12,080 seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 588 01:01:12,080 --> 01:01:13,260 And when they could not find them, 589 01:01:13,300 --> 01:01:16,880 They dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, 590 01:01:16,880 --> 01:01:19,940 These men have turned the world upside down. 591 01:01:19,940 --> 01:01:21,080 They have come here also. 592 01:01:21,080 --> 01:01:23,160 And Jason has received them. 593 01:01:23,160 --> 01:01:28,180 And they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king, Jesus. 594 01:01:28,180 --> 01:01:32,140 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 595 01:01:32,140 --> 01:01:35,520 They had taken money as security from Jason and the rest. 596 01:01:35,520 --> 01:01:36,460 They let them go. 597 01:01:36,460 --> 01:01:39,800 And the brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. 598 01:01:40,120 --> 01:01:44,540 And when they arrived, they went into the Jewish synagogue. 599 01:01:44,540 --> 01:01:47,240 So notice how this sort of escalates. 600 01:01:47,240 --> 01:01:51,080 It begins with this emotion, right? 601 01:01:51,080 --> 01:01:55,880 This emotion of jealousy as they see all these people coming to Jesus, right? 602 01:01:55,880 --> 01:01:58,880 So people are leaving the synagogue to join this new church. 603 01:01:58,880 --> 01:02:01,420 And these Greeks are leaving to join this new church. 604 01:02:01,420 --> 01:02:07,500 And these important women who likely brought a large number of resources are leaving to join this church. 605 01:02:07,680 --> 01:02:10,300 And the emotion of jealousy begins to build. 606 01:02:10,300 --> 01:02:14,480 And that emotion turns into a plot, which turns into spreading rumors, 607 01:02:14,480 --> 01:02:18,500 which ultimately turns into violence as this crowd storms a house, 608 01:02:18,500 --> 01:02:22,860 kicks down the door, drags Jason and the family out of the house 609 01:02:22,860 --> 01:02:26,360 and down to the town council. 610 01:02:26,360 --> 01:02:29,800 They begin to throw accusations at them. 611 01:02:29,800 --> 01:02:34,320 And eventually, even though they haven't found Paul and Silas and Timothy, 612 01:02:35,160 --> 01:02:37,320 They release Jason and his family on bond. 613 01:02:37,320 --> 01:02:39,180 Literally, these guys have to pay 614 01:02:39,180 --> 01:02:40,440 what little money they have 615 01:02:40,440 --> 01:02:42,140 to be able to be given their freedom. 616 01:02:42,140 --> 01:02:46,360 And Paul and Silas and Timothy 617 01:02:46,360 --> 01:02:49,220 are snuck away in the middle of the night. 618 01:02:49,220 --> 01:02:51,740 Three weeks in this town. 619 01:02:51,740 --> 01:02:54,120 Three weeks in the power of the gospel. 620 01:02:54,120 --> 01:02:56,080 Now, if you're Paul, Silas, Timothy, 621 01:02:56,080 --> 01:02:57,360 you say, you know what? 622 01:02:57,360 --> 01:02:59,140 We should go back to Thessalonica. 623 01:02:59,140 --> 01:03:00,200 It's not very long. 624 01:03:00,200 --> 01:03:02,040 Just a few weeks, maybe a month. 625 01:03:03,640 --> 01:03:05,480 And 1 Thessalonians 3 says this, 626 01:03:05,480 --> 01:03:07,100 Therefore we can bear it no longer. 627 01:03:07,100 --> 01:03:10,900 We were willing to be left behind at Athens alone. 628 01:03:10,900 --> 01:03:14,320 We sent Timothy, our brother, God's co-worker, 629 01:03:14,320 --> 01:03:17,900 in the gospel of Christ to establish and exhort you in their faith. 630 01:03:17,900 --> 01:03:21,660 So they get down the road, they go to Berea, they leave Berea, they go to Athens. 631 01:03:21,660 --> 01:03:24,400 In Athens they send Timothy back to Thessalonica. 632 01:03:24,400 --> 01:03:29,220 This young guy who at that point has been with Paul probably not even a year, 633 01:03:29,220 --> 01:03:33,400 and he sneaks back into town to encourage and strengthen the church. 634 01:03:33,640 --> 01:03:37,800 This very town with the angry mob full of rumors and violence. 635 01:03:37,800 --> 01:03:39,560 Seeking to destroy the church. 636 01:03:39,560 --> 01:03:40,760 And what happens? 637 01:03:40,760 --> 01:03:42,040 Timothy goes back. 638 01:03:42,040 --> 01:03:44,000 How would he go back? 639 01:03:44,000 --> 01:03:45,780 How would he have that courage to do so? 640 01:03:45,780 --> 01:03:49,820 He does so because he is strengthened by the power of the gospel. 641 01:03:49,820 --> 01:03:53,240 It's not because he's never of himself brave or good. 642 01:03:53,240 --> 01:03:56,720 It's because God is good and God is in control. 643 01:03:56,720 --> 01:04:00,220 And what you find is the gospel transforms. 644 01:04:02,220 --> 01:04:05,440 Notice their accusation. 645 01:04:05,440 --> 01:04:11,640 These men have turned the world upside down and have come here also. 646 01:04:11,640 --> 01:04:15,660 Jason has received him and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, 647 01:04:15,660 --> 01:04:19,300 saying there is another king, Jesus. 648 01:04:19,300 --> 01:04:24,720 It's interesting, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, and for part of the time, Luke, 649 01:04:24,720 --> 01:04:30,300 have only been on the continent of Europe just maybe a few weeks at this point. 650 01:04:31,200 --> 01:04:34,060 They've been to Philippi for a few Saturdays. 651 01:04:34,060 --> 01:04:36,620 They've been here for three Saturdays. 652 01:04:36,620 --> 01:04:40,140 And the power of God is so great. 653 01:04:40,140 --> 01:04:46,960 And the power of the gospel is so good that from the outside it looks like the world is being turned upside down. 654 01:04:46,960 --> 01:04:50,780 I want you to see this morning the power of the gospel. 655 01:04:50,780 --> 01:04:55,240 And the accusers, as they make this accusation, they don't have it quite right. 656 01:04:55,240 --> 01:04:58,340 Because the reality is God's not turning the world upside down. 657 01:04:58,340 --> 01:05:00,840 He's putting it back the way that it should be. 658 01:05:01,200 --> 01:05:03,900 He is bringing salvation from sin. 659 01:05:03,900 --> 01:05:05,760 He is bringing hope for the future. 660 01:05:05,760 --> 01:05:09,160 He is restoring relationships. 661 01:05:09,160 --> 01:05:15,000 He is bringing us to the ability to forgive and to love and to care for others. 662 01:05:15,000 --> 01:05:18,440 He is encouraging us in the midst of our struggles. 663 01:05:18,440 --> 01:05:20,880 God isn't turning it upside down. 664 01:05:20,880 --> 01:05:23,480 He is putting it back the way it is supposed to be. 665 01:05:23,480 --> 01:05:27,560 And ultimately, this comes through Jesus. 666 01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:30,900 Not because the church is so wonderful, 667 01:05:30,900 --> 01:05:32,220 but it's because Jesus is wonderful. 668 01:05:32,220 --> 01:05:33,860 Not because Timothy is brave, 669 01:05:33,860 --> 01:05:36,280 but because God is good. 670 01:05:36,280 --> 01:05:39,600 And the church in Thessalonica focuses us 671 01:05:39,600 --> 01:05:42,100 on the goodness of God and the greatness. 672 01:05:42,100 --> 01:05:45,440 And it encourages us to put our hope 673 01:05:45,440 --> 01:05:47,720 in that place that doesn't move. 674 01:05:47,720 --> 01:05:48,280 Let's pray. 675 01:05:48,280 --> 01:05:51,140 Father, give us hope. 676 01:05:51,140 --> 01:05:52,880 Give us strength. 677 01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:56,360 Maybe this morning we are struggling to forgive. 678 01:05:57,620 --> 01:05:59,920 Maybe we're struggling to let go of bitterness. 679 01:05:59,920 --> 01:06:01,920 May the good news of the Gospel 680 01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:03,960 that Jesus came and He died 681 01:06:03,960 --> 01:06:05,460 for His enemies 682 01:06:05,460 --> 01:06:08,080 move our hearts 683 01:06:08,080 --> 01:06:11,900 to allow us to forgive. 684 01:06:11,900 --> 01:06:13,760 Strengthen us through Your Spirit. 685 01:06:13,760 --> 01:06:17,400 Maybe this morning we're really good at dividing. 686 01:06:17,400 --> 01:06:19,840 And in our pride, we like to look down on others. 687 01:06:19,840 --> 01:06:22,120 May You, through the good news of the Gospel, 688 01:06:22,120 --> 01:06:24,320 help us to see that we are all broken by sin. 689 01:06:24,320 --> 01:06:26,600 And we are all saved by Your grace. 690 01:06:27,620 --> 01:06:29,300 not through our efforts or our goodness. 691 01:06:29,300 --> 01:06:31,680 Maybe this morning we're fearful. 692 01:06:31,680 --> 01:06:35,880 Encourage us with your power and your strength. 693 01:06:35,880 --> 01:06:38,880 Give us boldness for the good news of the gospel. 694 01:06:38,880 --> 01:06:41,860 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 695 01:06:41,860 --> 01:06:47,240 We're going to stand and sing about the solidness of our hope. 696 01:06:47,240 --> 01:06:49,180 We're going to sing the solid rock. 697 01:06:57,620 --> 01:07:05,220 Rock of ages, cleft for me 698 01:07:05,220 --> 01:07:11,000 Let me hide myself in thee 699 01:07:11,000 --> 01:07:15,980 Let the water and the blood 700 01:07:15,980 --> 01:07:21,020 From thy wounded side which flow 701 01:07:21,020 --> 01:07:26,320 Be of sin the double cure 702 01:07:26,320 --> 01:07:32,100 Save from wrath and make me pure 703 01:07:32,100 --> 01:07:40,140 Not the labors of my hands 704 01:07:40,140 --> 01:07:45,480 Can fulfill thy lost demands 705 01:07:45,480 --> 01:07:50,460 Could my zeal no respite know 706 01:07:50,460 --> 01:07:55,440 Could my tears forever flow 707 01:07:55,440 --> 01:08:00,800 All for sin could not atone 708 01:08:00,800 --> 01:08:06,540 Thou must save and Thou alone 709 01:08:06,540 --> 01:08:14,300 Nothing in my hand I bring 710 01:08:14,300 --> 01:08:19,580 Simply to the cross I cling 711 01:08:19,580 --> 01:08:25,180 Naked come to Thee for dress 712 01:08:25,180 --> 01:08:30,480 Helpless look to Thee for grace 713 01:08:30,480 --> 01:08:35,400 Foul I to the fountain fly 714 01:08:35,400 --> 01:08:41,100 Wash me, Savior, or I die 715 01:08:41,100 --> 01:08:49,040 While I draw this fleeting breath 716 01:08:49,040 --> 01:08:54,640 When mine eyes shall close in death 717 01:08:54,640 --> 01:09:04,780 When I soar to worlds unknown, I see Thee on Thy judgment throne. 718 01:09:04,780 --> 01:09:15,900 The rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee. 719 01:09:24,640 --> 01:09:32,340 I want to thank you all for joining us here this morning. 720 01:09:32,340 --> 01:09:36,260 Thank you for those of you who are, we're thankful for those of you who are joining us online. 721 01:09:36,260 --> 01:09:40,040 We are encouraged by your presence. 722 01:09:40,040 --> 01:09:46,220 Just a couple of announcements and then we'll pray, read a verse of Scripture and sing the doxology. 723 01:09:46,220 --> 01:09:50,940 We'll be this Wednesday night for Bible study, 7 p.m. here at the church. 724 01:09:50,940 --> 01:09:54,180 We're going through Paul's letter to the Thessalonians. 725 01:09:54,640 --> 01:09:59,180 We'll see a little bit more of this conflict that the Thessalonian church endured. 726 01:09:59,180 --> 01:10:04,920 A little bit more of this opposition as we walk into Thessalonians chapter 2. 727 01:10:04,920 --> 01:10:08,520 This week, that's Wednesday night at 7 p.m. 728 01:10:08,520 --> 01:10:15,580 Also, as you're getting ready to head home today, I would recommend maybe going out the bottom doors. 729 01:10:15,580 --> 01:10:21,840 These front steps are a little icy, or at least they were when I checked them right before communion. 730 01:10:22,040 --> 01:10:27,880 So we put a little salt on them, but just be careful and drive safely and watch out for ice. 731 01:10:27,880 --> 01:10:28,500 So I'm going to pray. 732 01:10:28,500 --> 01:10:32,980 I'll read from Romans, the 15th chapter, and then we will sing the doxology. 733 01:10:32,980 --> 01:10:39,200 Father in heaven, thank you for your church and for your word, for the good news of the gospel, 734 01:10:39,200 --> 01:10:46,740 for the power of your spirit, for how you have loved and cared for us when we were broken and far away from you. 735 01:10:46,740 --> 01:10:49,540 Thank you that you have welcomed us into your family. 736 01:10:50,240 --> 01:10:52,420 It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 737 01:10:52,420 --> 01:10:54,420 Paul writes this, 738 01:10:54,420 --> 01:10:56,680 May the God of endurance and encouragement 739 01:10:56,680 --> 01:10:59,300 grant you to live in harmony with one another 740 01:10:59,300 --> 01:11:00,640 in accord with Christ Jesus, 741 01:11:00,640 --> 01:11:03,160 that together you may with one voice 742 01:11:03,160 --> 01:11:07,440 glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 743 01:11:18,440 --> 01:11:22,840 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. 744 01:11:22,840 --> 01:11:27,940 Praise Him, all creatures here below. 745 01:11:27,940 --> 01:11:34,220 Praise Him, above ye heavenly hosts. 746 01:11:34,220 --> 01:11:39,220 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 747 01:11:48,440 --> 01:12:18,420 Thank you. 748 01:12:18,440 --> 01:12:24,260 Thank you.