1 Thessalonians 1 | Why Am I Here?

Setting:

• Ancient Thessalonica is in modern day Greece.
• It was strategically located because of its seaport combined with the Roman roads that intersected there.
• The birth of the church is detailed in Acts 17 and occurred during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey.

Introduction:

• Whether intentionally or unintentionally, everyone develops a world view. This world view becomes the lens that we view our life and the world around us.
• It has been proposed to establish a coherent world view you need to answer at minimum the following questions:

1. Origin: Where did I come from?
2. Meaning: Why am I here?
3. Morality: How do I establish right from wrong?
4. Destiny: What happens when I die?

OUTLINE:

          1.  Readers

• The is God’s plan.

Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. — Matthew 16:17-18 (CSB)

•  I am part of that .

As you come to him, a living stone ​— ​rejected by people but chosen and honored by God ​— you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. — 1 Peter 2:4-5 (CSB)

• Your “” is found in the truth that you are a living stone. God is building something, and you are part of it.

2.  Remembering

• Kingdom effort grounded in ,, and .

Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” “Because of your little faith,” he told them. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” — Matthew 17:19-20 (CSB)

If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. — 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (CSB)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing. — 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (CSB)

• Kingdom citizenship because of God’s and .

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” — Acts 9:15-16 (CSB)

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. — Ephesians 1:4-6 (CSB)

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. — 1 Corinthians 1:18 (CSB)

• We are to be a Kingdom .

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ and you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be rich, white clothes so that you may be dressed and your shameful nakedness not be exposed, and ointment to spread on your eyes so that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent. — Revelation 3:15-19 (CSB)

             3. Ringing

• The Word of LORD is to out from us.

“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. — Matthew 5:14-16 (CSB)

• God is ringing a bell, and you are that .

             4. Rescued

• My need is to have my sin forgiven.

Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. — Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB)

GROW GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. Are you involved in God’s plan?
2. What are things that can distract us from the plan God has for our life?
3. Give an example of how God used someone else to “ring” out the Word of God to you.
4. What are some practical things you could do so that you can “ring” out for Jesus?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9Cc6fRbadk