Continuing to Give Thanks
1 Thessalonians 2:13-20
Pastor Jerry Koller

The first time Paul mentions giving thanks was in verse 2 of chapter 1.

“Continually: can mean without interruption.
It also means repetitively or regularly. This is how it is used in verse 13.

Based on everything he has said up to this point, what Paul was referring to was the Gospel.
· Generally speaking, the gospel certainly includes all of Scripture.
· More narrowly, it is the good news concerning Jesus Christ and the way to salvation.

Paul knew the gospel is working in them.
· By ...your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:3) The evidence was very clear.

Our calling sets the standard for our conduct.

Because the word of God was working in them, they became imitators—copies or reproductions—of God’s churches in Judea.

In chapter 1, Paul describes their suffering as being severe. Verse 6 reads:

Hatred seems to result in suffering of some kind. It has been that way for a very long time.

Paul mentions how the saints at Thessalonica suffer at the hands of their own countrymen.
· These “countrymen” is a reference to the native Greeks.
· It probably included Roman transplants, for Rome was the ruling power of the day.

To what degree would the Jews persecute the followers of Jesus? In verse 15, Paul seems to point out that this persecution could lead to death.

· Some actions may seem right, may be done with the best of intentions, or may be done from the heart and still be wrong and displeasing to God.
· As displeasing as their actions are, the bigger issue at stake, as far as displeasing God, is their rejection of Jesus.

In verse 16, Paul summarizes the consequences of their disbelief and displeasing actions.

· The phrase to the limit is simply a summary of a very long list of acts of rebellion against God that continue to pile up and up until the time comes when God will pour out his wrath against their sin.
· Paul was using a literary device called the dramatic present whereby one talks about the future as if it had already happened in order to make a point.

In verse 17, Paul returns to his initial point of continually thanking God for the saints.

When Paul and his team had to flee the city due to opposition that endangered their lives, it seems as though they were leaving the saints behind as orphans—as those without parents.

· This is not a negative comment on Silas and Timothy as if they didn’t desire to be reunited with the church.
· He is simply speaking on his behalf.

· Paul knows the saints will persevere until the end. It is his hope—his assurance.
· They are his joy. Joy is a supernatural delight in God and in his ways.
· The term crown is a reference to victory, such as the reward given to an athlete who has been victorious in an event.
· As a victorious athlete would take his crown and place it at the feet of the emperor out of honor and reverence, so Paul will figuratively lay his crown at the feet of Jesus. His crown, his glory, his joy are the saints.

· ​Dean & Linda Newell and their family upon the loss of Dean's mother, Marilyn Newell, on 11/8.
· Patrick Low continues to have issues related to kidney stones. He has a procedure scheduled on 11/12 to help reduce the size of the larger ones.
· Judy Jones (wife of Pastor Grady Jones/friend of Pastor Jerry) has been diagnosed with colon cancer. She has surgery schedule on 11/6 and will then make additional decisions once they know what stage of cancer she has.
· John Randell (friend of Bruce Ferguson) has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
· Bruce and Vasha Ferguson and their family who are mourning the loss of their 17 year-old great-grandson, Dontrell, following a car accident on 10/27. Dontrell was the son of Felicia who unexpectedly passed away in May.
· Bob & Camille Tate and their family, especially Bob's mother, Paula, in prayer as Bob's father passed away on 10/23.
· Tim Hendrix is recovering from successful shoulder replacement surgery.
· Sandi Starland is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
· Vasha Ferguson is recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel.
· Mary Buchert broke her wrist after a fall and continues to heal.
· Lennon McKamey (son of Kyle & Sarah) needs surgery on his shoulder. Please pray that preparing for surgery goes smoothly.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com