My Kind Of Church!

The church of the Thessalonians was my kind of church!

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 Paul recognized what kind of church they were:

They Were A Sincere Church! (1:1-3)

Work of faith (v3)

Labor of love (v3)

Patience of hope (v3)

They Were A Surrendered Church! (1:4-6)

They were chosen (v4)

They received the word (v6)

They repented (v9)

They followed the Lord (v6)

(They surrendered themselves to be like Christ!)

They Were A Sounding Out Church! (1:7-9)

Their LIVES sounded out and pointed people to Christ (v7)

Their WORDS sounded out and pointed people to Christ (v8)

"ensample" = pattern

"sounded out" = echo

They sounded out Christ (v8)

to the north (Macedonia)

to the south (Achaia)

"also in every place" (wherever they went!)

They Were A Second Coming Church! (verse10)

They were looking for Christ's return!

Jesus said "...I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2,3)

The Church of the Thessalonians knew that people needed to come to Jesus now, because Jesus would be coming back soon!

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

"He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus." (Rev 22:20)

A footnote about Flat Gap Baptist Church:

I am very grateful I get to serve in a church that is similar to that one at Thessalonica! There's always room for improvement, but WOW, what a church we have at Flat Gap Baptist!

A Sincere Church!

A Surrendered Church!

A Sounding Out Church!

A Second Coming Church!