WHAT MAKES GOD HAPPY?
Leviticus 19:1–2 (ESV) – And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
THE PLEASURE OF GOD
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) – And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
STEWARDING THE GOSPEL
1 Thessalonians 2:1–5 (ESV) – For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) – And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God…
1 Thessalonians 2:13–14 (ESV) – And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea…
1 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (ESV) – For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
1 Thessalonians 2:3, 5–6 (ESV) – For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive… For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others…
ENDURING SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL
1 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (ESV) – For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 (ESV) – For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
Romans 8:18 (ESV) – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
SHARING OUR LIVES WITH OUR GOSPEL FAMILY
1 Thessalonians 2:8 (ESV) – So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV) – But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (ESV) – For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 (ESV) – For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
WHOSE PLEASURE ARE YOU LIVING FOR?