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
In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul commends the Thessalonians for their remarkable response to the gospel. Despite facing hardship and persecution, they received the Word with joy, demonstrating the power of true faith. Their transformation was evident as they became imitators of Christ and examples to other believers, influencing not just their immediate community but regions far beyond. They lived out what they believed, and it was a powerful testimony to those around them.
In the final verses of chapter 1, Paul describes their conversion as having two essential elements: faith and repentance. The Thessalonians displayed both, abandoning their former ways and fully committing themselves to the truth of the gospel.
This transformation led to two key results in their lives: they lived lives characterized by service to others, and an expectant waiting for the return of Christ. Neither of these were passive, but active, filled with hope and perseverance, knowing that Christ would return to fulfill His promises. Their example serves as an encouragement for all believers today: to joyfully receive the Word, to live lives marked by faith and repentance, and to serve God wholeheartedly while looking forward to the return of Christ.
