In today’s passage it begins with a thanksgiving. Specifically, a thanksgiving expressed by Paul which details his conviction that the word of God worked in a mighty way in the lives of the Jesus-followers he’s writing to in Thessalonica. This “word of God” certainly includes scripture, but because the New Testament wasn’t complete in Paul’s day in the way we have it today, it also can encompass the message of the Good News itself as well as the God-given truths proclaimed and passed on by His prophets and preachers. The ability of the word to “go to work” among God’s people was not merely something the church in Thessalonica experienced and enjoyed, but something even today’s church can experience and enjoy!
In chapter 1 Paul talked about this church being “imitators” of him and his ministry companions (which is a theme he will revisit later in chapter 2). In between these discussions of imitation is a call to recall how Paul, Silas and Timothy were while they were in their midst. This all ties together because if this church or any church sought to take seriously the instruction to imitate, they must be shown what it is they ought to be imitating. Paul does a wonderful job of doing just that here, while ever encouraging his readers to remain fixed on Jesus.
This particular sermon, as is true of the others in this Christmas series, will be Christ-centered, but with a bit of a twist. The “Magi” or “wise men” as some translations render it, will take the stage so to speak and will focus specifically on what they say and do and then consider what that means regarding the baby before them.
Many debate whether we ought to say “Happy Holiday” or “Merry Christmas”, but such a debate misses what is most critical – to know and trust the Christ of Christmas. Matthew helps us know more about Christ and helps us see how we can trust Christ.
As is well known to most, this passage is the genealogy portion of Matthew. But it is more, much more, than just “so and so begat so and so …” Within this rich portion of scripture much is revealed regarding who this child really is and what He is able to do!
Isaiah is quoted quite a bit in the Gospel of Matthew. So, it makes sense to go to this Old Testament prophet first if we are going to spend the bulk of the Advent Season in Matthew. Here in Isaiah 7:13-14 is an old, very, very old pregnancy announcement. Specifically, a pregnancy annoucement of a baby boy who will be King. But Isaiah’s words do more than simply announce the birth of King Jesus.
This message is part 2 looking at the sustained thanksgiving by Paul found in 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 6-10.
This message is part 1 looking at the sustained thanksgiving by Paul found in 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 2-5.
Even though we will look at only one verse today, it is packed with deep theological truth. Paul lays out what a church really is. Certainly, it is what the church at Thessalonica was, but it is also what we ought to be.
This passage helps us understand a bit better why we even have the letters of 1&2 Thessalonians. Paul knew these people, he loved these people, and he ministered to these people. So, he sensed an urgency to write to them not once, but at least twice. Though we won’t get much into the text of 1 Thessalonians until the following week, this week’s message will help give some background to the letter as a whole.