Series Summary

anticipation – noun /an-ti-sə-pā-shən/ – A feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen in the future; the visualization of a future event or state.

Paul’s visit to Thessalonica is described in Acts 17, but his stay there was short due to the jealousy of the Jewish leaders, who incited a mob. Paul moved on to Corinth, where he wrote a letter back to this church that he loved. Because of their persecution, they were looking forward expectantly to the return of Christ, with expectant anticipation for what the future held. This letter is filled with encouragement and insight about growing in godliness and faith, and how spiritual growth should be motivated by their hope in the ultimate return of Jesus Christ.

Although a brief letter, 1 Thessalonians is centered on Paul’s message of hope, encouragement, and preparation for the return of Christ. This epistle, one of Paul’s earliest letters, addresses a young church facing persecution and uncertainty. Paul commends their faith, love, and endurance, but also exhorts them to grow in holiness and remain steadfast as they await Christ’s return. The overarching theme of anticipation provides both a source of comfort and a call to action for believers as they navigate the tension between present challenges and future hope.

Paul begins the letter by expressing his gratitude for the Thessalonians’ vibrant faith, love, and hope in the gospel. He reminds them of how the gospel came to them not only in word but in power, and how they became examples to others in their faithfulness. This sets the stage for the theme of anticipation, as their faith points forward to the ultimate hope of Jesus’ return. Paul emphasizes that the promise of Christ’s return gives meaning to their perseverance and fuels their mission to live as witnesses of God’s transformative power.

The theme of Christ’s return is explicitly addressed in every chapter, culminating in Paul’s detailed description of the second coming in chapter 4. His words are encouraging, and issue a call to live as people of the light, avoiding complacency and spiritual lethargy, and to be watchful and self-controlled as we await the Day of the Lord.

To do so requires the pursuit of holiness and love in our everyday lives as we look for Christ’s return. Anticipation of the second coming is not an excuse for passivity but a motivation for active faith and obedience. Believers are to live with the awareness that their actions have eternal significance, striving to please God in all things.

Anticipation. We live with the same sense of expectancy. Paul’s letter of 1 Thessalonians challenges and encourages Christians to embrace a forward-looking faith that transforms the present while eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ.

Sermon Summary

The call to a Christian life is a call to purity. That’s what 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tells us: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

Paul uses a term that describes a broad range of activities that range from one end of the spectrum to the other, and all outside of the boundaries established by marriage. In a culture saturated with distorted views of love and sex – our own culture and the Thessalonian culture – this reminder is deeply freeing. God has a design for this area of our life, just as with every other area, and to pursue purity is to be within God’s will.

We pursue purity by fleeing from immorality. We are called to distance ourselves from anything that reeks of impurity. To do so is wisdom. To do so is to put Jesus first. To do so is to worship.

To do anything else is to reject his will and his authority for our lives. That should cause us to stop and think for a moment. Because God loves you. He wants what is best for you. He cares deeply about how you live and gives His Holy Spirit to help you live in a way that pleases Him.

So sexual purity is ultimately about love… Love for the one who made you and love for the one who saved you. You were made to be holy – set apart for God’s glory and filled with his Spirit. That’s the call that Jesus has placed upon your life.