Sermon text

1 Thessalonians 1

[1] Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. [2] We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, [3] remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. [4] For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, [5] because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. [6] And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, [7] so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [8] For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. [9] For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, [10] and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (ESV)

Call to Worship

Psalm 52

[1] Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man?
The steadfast love of God endures all the day.
[2] Your tongue plots destruction,
like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.
[3] You love evil more than good,
and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah
[4] You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.
[5] But God will break you down forever;
he will snatch and tear you from your tent;
he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
[6] The righteous shall see and fear,
and shall laugh at him, saying,
[7] “See the man who would not make
God his refuge,
but trusted in the abundance of his riches
and sought refuge in his own destruction!”
[8] But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.
[9] I will thank you forever,
because you have done it.
I will wait for your name, for it is good,
in the presence of the godly. (ESV)

Prayer of Repentance

O God, we have no merit; let the merit of Jesus stand for us. We are undeserving, but we look to your tender mercy. We are full of sin; you are full of grace. You have given us your Son, Jesus, and now our hearts are turned towards holiness. Help us in all our doings to mortify our sin and pride. Save us from the love of the world and the pride of life, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let Christ's nature be seen in us day by day. We pray in Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen.

Benediction

Heavenly Father, You are faithful and have kept all Your promises in Christ. We praise You for the great salvation revealed in Christ, and that You sent him to die for our sins and that he was raised for our life We pray that by the work of Your Spirit, we would be equipped and sent out to share the gospel with our neighbors. We pray you would call them to faith in Christ and rescue them from their sin. It is in His name we pray. Amen

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