We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise. We're going to sing in Psalm 27,
the Sing Psalms Version, page 32 of the psalm books. Psalm 27, the Sing Psalms Version, page 32.
We're going to sing from verse 7 down to the end of the psalm and the tune is Belmont.
Lord, hear me when I call to you, be merciful and speak. Come seek my face, you told my heart.
Your face, Lord, I will seek. We'll sing from verse 7 down to the end of the psalm to God's praise.
Come seek my face, you told my heart. Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Oh, do not hide your face from me.
Don't do not turn aside.
Your servant in your righteous wrath.
Oh, God, my Savior, leave me not.
Do not reject my plea.
My parents may forsake me, Lord,
But you will welcome me.
Teach me, O Lord, how I should live,
And lead me in your way.
Make straight my path, because my foes
Oppress me every day.
Give me not over to the will of the evil and enemy.
For liars' price to slander me,
And without cruel deeds.
Yet I am sure that in this life,
What goodness I will see.
Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart.
For him wait patiently.
Let's join together in prayer.
Let us pray.
O Lord, our gracious God, as we come to worship you today, we thank you to be able to come in the great invitation that you have given us.
The invitation that we have sung from your word here, come and seek my face you have told us.
And so we come, O Lord, seeking your blessing on our time together, on your word to us, and on all that we do.
May it be for your glory.
We thank you for your day.
We thank you that you have given us a day in the week to use for this very purpose, to come, to gather together as your people, to gather together, young and old alike, to come and give up our praise to you, offer our prayers to you, and to hear your word and what it says to us.
And we thank you for every opportunity we have.
We thank you for the freedom that we have and the peace that we have to enjoy these things.
We thank you that at this time of year we enjoy a time of holiday, and we thank you for the school holidays just now.
We pray for our children and the teachers.
We pray for everyone who hasn't had a busy year that they would enjoy a break now.
We thank you for the Sunday school and for all that was done in the last year as well with the prize giving last week.
We thank you for all the children who have attended so regularly.
And we pray that they will still come to church over the summer holidays to come and continue to hear your word.
We pray, Lord, that you will refresh both the schoolteachers and Sunday schoolteachers alike over the summer months, that you will be with them and watch over families who come and go on holiday times.
And who do different things over these summer weeks.
We pray, Lord, that you will protect us and keep us.
We pray above all, Lord, that we will know that you are with us, that no matter what day it is or what time it is or what time of year it is, that you have promised that you will be with us always.
And so we thank you for that.
And may we know it.
And may it continue to help us to live our lives day by day for you.
So continue with us in our worship now.
Guide us and keep us.
And pardon all our sins for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
It's good to see some of the young ones here today.
I know a lot will be away on holiday just now as well.
And I hope you do have a great summer holiday.
But I wonder if in the last few weeks anyone was at the circus.
I saw a headline in a paper, the Gazette, saying that the circus came to tongue.
And I know a lot of young people went along to the circus.
And I wonder what you saw at the circus.
Maybe you saw clowns.
Maybe you saw acts taking place that were quite funny and lots of different things.
But very often in a circus, when we think back, circuses often had animals that would come along as well.
So I don't know if there was any animals at the circus in tongue.
Tongue itself is full of enough wild animals without the circus bringing even more.
But I know in the past they used to take animals to circus.
And it reminds me of a story I heard about a minister who once took his child to the circus.
And during the circus they had the same kind of acts with clowns coming in and doing funny things.
But this circus also had animals that they brought in.
And one of the animals was an elephant.
A big elephant.
And as one of the clowns, the last act that was on, when he was doing his funny stuff,
he had this big hat on, on his head.
He was a wee clown but he had a really big hat on his head.
And at the end of his part, when he was finished his act, he bowed in front of the crowd.
And as he bowed, his hat fell off.
And what happened to the hat?
The elephant sat on his hat.
And it wouldn't move.
So he tried all kinds of different things to try and get his hat back.
He started making arm movements at the elephant to get up.
The elephant never budged.
He started shouting at the elephant to get up.
And it never budged.
And then what he did was he went round the back of the elephant and tried to kick it to see if it would move.
And he only hurt his foot.
The elephant still wouldn't move.
And so the clown came back round and just started shouting and bawling for the elephant to get up.
But the elephant just wouldn't move.
So the clown gave up.
He went to the side and he sat down.
And then he started to eat some peanuts.
And all of a sudden, the elephant got up and started walking towards the clown
because the elephant wanted some of his peanuts.
And the elephant sat in front of him and started making a movement to show that he wanted some peanuts.
And then it dawned on the clown and realized,
all I had to do was offer the elephant some peanuts and he would have got up.
But the minister who was there with his child realized there was a powerful lesson there for him as well.
When we are thinking about people all around us and we think about how we motivate people to do things,
how do we get people to do things?
Do we just shout and scream or kick out in anger at them?
That's not what's going to work.
The minister realized that we have something to offer people to make them realize the greatest gift of all
and to come and seek this gift themselves.
He realized our greatest motivation for others to come and know and enjoy what we have is to show them,
not shouting and bawling and screaming at them, but to show them love, to show them compassion,
to show them what we have to offer them.
This clown offered the elephant a peanut and he got up off his hat and he got his hat back.
And I think when we show that same love to people, when we show that same compassion to people,
when we show them the love of Christ and the wonder of the gospel that we have,
that is what will stir people up to come and put their trust in the Lord Jesus.
So, the clown learned a lesson, the minister learned a lesson,
and let us all learn a lesson too, that we would show a love for the people around us,
to make them interested in and long for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Well, may God bless these thoughts to us.
We're going to say the Lord's Prayer together now.
We'll say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Well, let's again sing to God's praise this time in Psalm 85 in the Singed Psalms.
Psalm 85.
We'll find this on page 113.
We're going to sing from verse 1 to verse 9 on the tune of Ebenezer.
In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
We'll sing from verse 1 to 9 to God's praise.
Amen.
In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
In times past, Lord, you showed favour to your own beloved land,
the prosperity of Jacob, you restored by your strong hand.
You restored by your strong hand.
You forgive your people's trespass,
you were pleased their sins to hide.
You were pleased their sins to hide.
You withdrew all your displeasure,
from your wrath you turned aside.
God our Saviour, now restore us.
From us turn away your rage.
Will your anger burn against us?
Will it last from age to age?
Will you not again revive us,
that we may rejoice in you?
Show us, Lord, your covenant mercy,
your salvation grant anew.
I will hear what God the Lord says,
to his saints he offers peace.
But his people must not wander,
and return to foolishness.
Surely for all those who fear him,
his salvation is at hand,
so that once again his glory,
may be seen within our hands.
Lord, your God, your God, your God, your God, your God.
We'll turn to read in God's word in the New Testament,
in 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians, reading in chapter 2.
We'll read from verse 1 down to verse 16.
1 Thessalonians chapter 2.
1 Thessalonians chapter 3.
2 Thessalonians chapter 3.
2 Thessalonians chapter 5.
3 Thessalonians chapter 4.
3 Thessalonians chapter 5.
4 Thessalonians chapter 5.
5 Thessalonians chapter 5.
we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God,
but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil.
We worked night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you,
while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and God also.
How holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct towards you believers.
For you know how, like a father with his children,
we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you,
and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God,
who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
We also thank God constantly for this,
that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us,
you accepted it not as the word of men,
but as what it really is, the word of God,
which is at work in you believers.
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus
that are in Judea.
For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen,
as they did from the Jews,
who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
and drove us out,
and displeased God and opposed all mankind,
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles,
that they might be saved.
So as always, to fill up the measure of their sins.
But God's wrath has come upon them at last.
And so on.
And may God bless that reading from his word.
We'll again come to God in prayer.
Let's bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Amen.
O Lord, our God, as we continue to seek your face,
we thank you for your word which speaks to us.
We thank you for what we have read,
and as we come to open it up together,
may you prepare our hearts to receive it.
May you prepare our hearts to understand it
and to be changed by it.
For we know that we can often outwardly hear the word,
and outwardly we can seek to do so many things for you.
But unless that comes from a sincere and a pure heart,
then we are lacking in so much.
And we thank you that you are the God
who is so able to transform us,
that we read in your word how you are the God
who is there to save his people.
And we thank you that you are the same God today
as always and ever will be,
the one who is able to save
and to save all who will come to you.
And we thank you that your word is a word
that continues to go out to people,
that the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ
is heard far and wide.
We may not see it received by all people,
but we thank you that it does go out
and that it has power, for it is your word,
and you are the power behind it.
And so we pray that even today,
as your word is proclaimed around the world,
that it will be heard and received
and received with great gladness.
We thank you that your word tells us
that in heaven there is rejoicing
over one sinner who repents.
And we pray that there be much rejoicing
in heaven today,
not just for one sinner, but for many,
many who would turn from their ways
and turn to Christ
and know that great joy of salvation.
And so we pray, Lord,
that your word, as it goes out today,
as it's preached, as it's received,
even here in our own midst,
that you would be behind it all,
that your spirit would be with us
to work in us and through us.
We thank you for one another, Lord.
We thank you for the words that we have read
that remind us of the great blessing
and privilege there is
in being gathered together as your church,
as your people.
We thank you that these are
such wonderful opportunities for us,
that they are opportunities
that we are to take with great joy
and gladness that we can come,
come together and worship you.
And we thank you for all
who are here in the building.
We pray your blessing on us, each one.
We thank you for all who tune in online
as well, those unable to come out
to be with us.
We pray, Lord, your blessing on them,
that they will know that they are part
of the body of Christ.
We pray for those who will maybe hear this
at some point in the future,
maybe even in all corners of the world
as we think of the way
that the internet has enabled us
to reach out with the gospel
in ways that we never imagined before.
We thank you, Lord, for these opportunities.
And we pray for people far and wide
in very different circumstances.
We come in here in peace,
but we know that throughout the world
there is much heartache and trouble and pain.
There is persecution that is rife
in so many parts of the world.
And yet we thank you
that the gospel still goes out.
And we pray, Lord, for your people far and wide,
those who suffer so much
at the hand of cruel rulers
or oppressors of different kinds.
We pray, Lord, that you will surround your people,
that you will hold them in their suffering,
that you will be near to them and remind them,
even as Paul and Silas,
who we have read of here,
as they were beaten for their faith,
yet they knew that God was with them
and they knew the gospel hope.
We pray that that might be the case
for your people far and wide today,
that they would know the God of all grace
and mercy with them.
We do thank you, Lord,
for every endeavor of our church
to reach out with the gospel.
We pray even for this week ahead
and for the summer season,
as we think of all the activities
that are going on.
We thank you that there is the free church camps
that have started already
and going on over the summer months.
We pray your blessing on them
upon all who gather there,
who travel for them,
who lead them,
and who attend them.
Give them safety.
Give them your presence.
Give them to know that you are with them,
that you will surround them at all times.
We pray for the camp
that we have been linked with,
the Kin Craig camp,
starting next Saturday.
We pray, Lord,
your blessing on it
upon all the leaders
and the campers who attend.
Surround them with your love
and with your grace.
We thank you too, Lord,
for the holiday club
that we look forward to,
God willing,
in the end of the month
and into August.
We pray for all the preparation
being made for that,
that you will be with
everyone who is helping with it
in all different kinds of ways.
And above all, Lord,
as we pray for it,
we pray to know your blessing on it,
to know the blessing
upon our young people
as they gather for it.
We pray too, Lord,
for the weekly activities,
the meetings for prayer.
Remember Muriel,
as we'll be able to meet with her on Tuesday.
We pray for her,
continue to remember her
and the work that she is involved in in Cambodia.
We commit her to your care
and to your keeping.
Remember the meetings for prayer
and worship throughout the week
and the Friday at the freeze
and all the different activities going on.
Help us to surround them all with prayer
and praise.
Much thanksgiving to you
for these opportunities
and these times
when we are able to serve you
in so many different ways.
We pray, Lord,
your encouragement in it
to see people coming,
not just to see a building here
or to see the people,
but to experience the wonder of God,
to experience a meeting with Jesus Christ,
to experience the Holy Spirit
and the power that there is with him.
So we pray, Lord,
that in all things
we will seek your face,
even as we have been instructed to,
asking your blessing on it.
Remember us in our homes
and in our families too.
We remember those
who have lost loved ones
even in this past week.
We continue to commit them
to your care
and to your keeping.
The families of Ian McKenzie
and Ian McFarlane
and Mary MacArthur,
we commit them to you, O Lord,
asking you to surround them,
to be near to them,
to uphold them at all times,
that they would know your grace
and your help
in times of need.
Remember those
who are unwell
as well in hospital,
in homes or at home.
We pray, Lord,
that you will help them
to know your hand
upon them for good.
Remember us, Lord,
we pray
as we commit ourselves
into your hands.
Lord, we thank you
that we can come
any time of day or night
knowing that you hear us,
knowing that you are there for us,
that you are with us.
So, Lord,
hear our prayers,
continue with us
as we commit
all these things to you,
asking in all things
forgiveness for all our sins
and shortcomings,
thankful for the forgiveness
that is found in Christ Jesus.
And may we know
what it is to seek him
and to know his blessing
and his peace with us.
For we ask all things
in Jesus' precious name,
for his sake and glory.
Amen.
We're going to sing again
to God's praise
in Psalm 122,
the Scottish Psalter version,
Psalm 122.
Find this on page 416
of the psalm books.
We'll sing from verse 1
to verse 6
in the tune of Jackson.
I joyed when to the house of God
go up,
they said to me,
Jerusalem within thy gates
our feet
shall standing be.
We'll sing from verse 1
to 6
to God's praise.
Amen.
I joyed when to the house of God
go up,
Jerusalem within thy gates
our feet shall standing be.
Jerusalem,
as a city is,
compactly built together,
unto that place
the tribes go up,
the tribes of God,
God with unless
to fall.
Jesus
To Israel,
can単 sin in to God
oıyor before,
there to God's name
thanks to pay.
For thrones of judgment
in the thrones of day,
of David's eyes
dare stay.
Pray that
Jerusalem
may have
peace and
felicity.
Let them
that love
thee and
thy peace
have still
prosperity.
Well we can
turn back to our passage
we read in 1 Thessalonians chapter
2. Our focus
is going to be on verse 1 to verse 8.
We can read again at verse
3.
But our appeal does not spring
from error or impurity or any
attempt to deceive.
But just as we have been approved
by God to be entrusted with
the gospel, so we speak
not to please man, but to
please God who
tests our hearts.
Our lives are
full of routines
of all the things that we do.
So much of our lives is full of
different routines.
But how often do we stop
and ask ourselves
why am I doing this?
What is the reason
behind what I am doing?
What is my motivation
in doing what I am doing?
Very often we can just
go on in life as it were
on automatic pilot.
Just going through all the different
routines without
without actually pausing for a moment
and asking ourselves
why am I doing this?
Just think of some of the things
that you do
on a regular basis.
Going to school.
Why do you do that?
I'm sure many of the young people
ask that question
every morning.
Why am I bothering
going to school?
What's the point?
What's our motivation
in doing it?
Is there a purpose
in it or is it just
because I have to do it?
I'm told
I have to do it.
But then it can be the same
when it comes to work.
When we're doing work
and going to work
we ask ourselves
what's the purpose
in my going?
Is there a purpose
behind it
or am I doing it
just because
I have to do it?
Then there's other activities
that we're involved in
maybe throughout
the week
different things we do.
Some are for pleasure
some are because
we have to as well
but what's our motivation
in it?
if we're working on sheep
if we're going fishing
if we're cooking a meal
if we're decorating the house
all these different things
the list goes on.
Why are we doing it?
What's our motivation?
Or what about
coming to church
or serving in the church?
Why are we doing it?
What's the purpose in it?
Is it more that
we see a purpose in it
that's a motivation for us
or is it more
that we just feel
that we have to do it?
What can make
all the difference
in all of these situations?
Our day-to-day lives
our worship of God
our serving God
what can make
all the difference
in these things?
a love
for what we are doing
and why we are doing it.
And as we turn
to the scriptures
we find
so often
throughout God's word
God's people
going through
different times
and experiences
where
their motivation
is maybe lost
and where they have to
again ask themselves
why are we doing
the things
that we are doing?
There are other times
in the scriptures
where you clearly see
the motivation
in doing what they are doing
is because of a love
for God
and it's that latter
experience
that we want to have
at all times.
If you were just
to go back
to the Old Testament
to the book of Malachi
there
in that book
you see God's people
who have
become stuck
in a rut
in so many ways.
their lives
and their worship
has become
a sense of just
going through
the motions
doing it
because
they have to
doing it
out
of a sense
of duty.
But if in all
that we are doing
we are just doing it
out of a sense
of duty
all we end up doing
is giving
the bare minimum.
But if we do it
out of a sense
of devotion
if we do it
in a sense
of delight
then that will
move us
from giving
the bare minimum
to giving
our all.
Doing all
as
to the Lord.
And here
in the book
of Thessalonians
as Paul
is writing
these letters
to the church
at Thessalonica
this first letter
he was writing
to them
to encourage them
to strengthen them
and to help them
go on in life
and serving
the Lord
not out of a sense
of duty
and the purpose
being well I've just
got to do this
but an encouragement
for them to carry on
and go on doing this
in delight.
Delighting
in knowing
what they are doing
why they are doing it
and who
they are doing it for.
Knowing that they are
doing it
for the Lord Jesus
who has done
all for them.
and so
he comes
to encourage them
to encourage the people
to live
as examples.
It's a letter
of encouragement
and he says
in chapter 1
as he is
introducing them
in chapter 1
he is saying
their faith
is a great example
to others.
He says in verse 7
of chapter 1
so that you became
an example
to all the believers
in Macedonia
and in Achaia
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.
They don't even
have to tell others
around this area
about their faith
because their example
how they have lived
has already gone
before them.
They are known
for their love
of God
and that is
a wonderful
example to us
as to what we
should aim
to be as well.
The people of God
who are examples
to others
all around us
that people
would speak
of our love
for Christ
and so that
in all the ways
that we serve God
we would do it
not just out of
a sense of duty
or to please
somebody else
but out of
devotion
for the Lord
and in a congregation
that can become
so busy
in different things
and as we think
of all the activities
going on
and that are
to go on
even over the
summer months
what we do
we do out of
devotion
and delight
and that would
make all
the difference
that people
would then speak
of the faith
and love
of the people
in this place
that they would
speak of Christ
who we are sharing
with others
that they would
see us
as an example
to be for others
and that is why
Paul was writing
to the Thessalonians
to encourage them
and in chapter 2
what he does
is he shows
his own
motivations
in what he has done
that it might
motivate them
and he says
in verse 1
that their coming
to them
was not in vain
for you yourselves
know brothers
that are coming
to you
was not
in vain
but
and so he goes on
and he explains
why it was not
in vain
and he explains
the kind of
motivations
that are behind
everything that he
is doing
and everything
that's behind
what they should
the motivations
that should be behind
what they are doing
as well
and even for ourselves
what our own
motivations
are
so there are
three motivations
here that Paul
outlines
three motivations
to take for ourselves
as well
the first one
is this
the gospel
motivates
the gospel
motivates
in verse 2
but though we had
already suffered
and been shamefully
treated at Philippi
as you know
we had boldness
in our God
to declare to you
the gospel
of God
the gospel
is the great
motivation
here
it is for Paul
it is for the church
of Thessalonica
it is for ourselves
the gospel
is the great
motivation
the gospel
of God
the gospel
of good news
the gospel
that comes
even in the midst
of great conflict
as Paul
says here
how do you
picture
Paul
and Silas
arriving
in Thessalonica
when you read
of the missionary
journeys
of Paul
in the gospels
how do you
picture him
what do you
see of him
we speak
about church
planters
today
those who are
starting new
churches
in different
parts
of our nation
in many ways
Paul
and Silas
and others
with them
they were the
church planters
of their day
they were going
out with the gospel
reaching across
new boundaries
going into
new places
and always taking
the gospel
with them
how do you
imagine
church planters
today
perhaps we can
often
think of
church planters
today as maybe
having it easy
in many ways
sitting in coffee
shops and just
meeting up with
people from
time to time
they're having
quite comfortable
lives
being at
peace
finding the
way
maybe easy
going
it's far
from it
far from
it
all you have
to do is
listen to
some of the
church planters
who are involved
in these works
and you hear
the reality of
it is so
different
how hard
it is
I was speaking
to a church
planter once
and he said
in the first
three years
of his ministry
he moved
home four
times
each
Lord's day
as we were
gathering to
worship
sometimes
they didn't
know where
they were
going to
be gathering
because
they didn't
have a
permanent
place to
meet
they had
to move
around
so that
maybe even
on a
Friday
they still
didn't know
where they
were going
to meet
on the
Sunday
they would
meet with
opposition
they would
meet with
people who
were against
them using
buildings
or even
coming into
their community
they would
face
opposition
and people
speaking out
against them
it is not
easy
the same as
it isn't
for ourselves
but what
was it
that motivates
what is it
that motivates
it's a
devotion
for God
a devotion
for the
gospel
a longing
that people
would hear
the gospel
and as you
look at Paul
and Silas
and how they
came into
places
especially maybe
Thessalonica
how did they
arrive
well they
arrived
beaten
and bloodied
with their
clothes
torn
we see
that
in the
book of
Acts
chapter 16
before they
came to
Thessalonica
they had
been
at
Philippi
it says
there
falls in
verse 2
as well
but though
we had
already
suffered
and been
shamefully
treated
at
Philippi
what
had
happened
well if
you go
to Acts
16
verse 20
they
they were
in
Philippi
and they
were brought
before the
magistrates
and they
said to
them
these men
are Jews
and they
are disturbing
our city
they advocate
customs
that are not
lawful
for us
as Romans
to accept
or practice
the crowd
joined in
attacking
them
and the
magistrates
tore their
garments
off them
and gave
orders
to beat
them
with rods
and when
they had
inflicted
many blows
upon them
they threw
them into
prison
ordering the
jailer to
keep them
safely
that is what
they experienced
before they
came to
Thessalonica
they were
beaten
with rods
and this is
just a few
days before
they came
to Thessalonica
now what do
we do when
we face
opposition
if we
knock on a
door and
someone says
to us
just go
away
I want
nothing to
do with
you
we take
that to
heart
we feel
hurt
perhaps we
don't go
back to
that door
again
it's going
to be
difficult
but here
is a
reminder
to us
to be
bold
for the
gospel
to be
seeing
our
greatest
motivation
is
the
gospel
and the
need that
people have
to hear
the gospel
you see
they were
entrusted
with this
message
in verse
four
but just
as we
have been
approved
by God
to be
entrusted
with the
gospel
so we
speak
not to
please man
but to
please
God
they were
entrusted
with the
gospel
and that
is what
the church
of God
is entrusted
with today
as well
entrusted
with this
gospel
that is
what we
are entrusted
with
that is
our greatest
motivation
in all
that we
do
or it
should
be
it is
the gospel
which is
the good
news
of Jesus
Christ
and they
were entrusted
with it
because they
were convinced
by it
themselves
and so
must
we be
too
in 2nd
Corinthians
chapter 5
verse 14
Paul
there
is
writing
to the
church
there
and what
he says
is
the love
of Christ
controls
us
or
constrains
us
as another
version
says
because
we have
concluded
this
they're
convinced
by this
that
one
has
died
for
all
therefore
all
have
died
and he
died
for
all
that
those
who
live
might
no
longer
live
for
themselves
but
for
him
who
for
their
sake
died
and
was
raised
there
is
the
motivation
there
is
the
heart
of
the
gospel
one
has
died
for
all
Christ
died
for
sinners
that
is
the
gospel
and
that
is
what
motivates
Paul
here
and
the
people
of
Thessalonica
and
that
is
what
should
motivate
ourselves
to
the
love
of
Christ
constrains
us
it
motivates
us
to
go
out
and
tell
others
that
Christ
died
for
their
sins
somebody
once
said
we do
what
we
do
because
we
love
what
we
love
we
do
what
we
do
because
we
love
what
we
love
and
so
it
is
to
be
bold
for
the
gospel
to
love
the
gospel
that
is
what
Paul
has
experienced
in
his
own
life
the
transforming
power
of
Christ
in
his
own
heart
who
brought
him
from
one
who
was
beating
Christians
to
being
beaten
himself
to
be
able
to
say
as
he
says
in
Philippians
for
me
to
live
is
Christ
they
no
longer
live
for
themselves
but
live
for
Christ
and
you
wonder
what
Paul
thought
even
as
he
was
beaten
in
Philippi
that
this
is
what
I
used
to
do
to
Christians
myself
and
I
would
wonder
how
it
is
they
could
accept
these
beatings
but
now
he
knows
because
he's
receiving
these
beatings
himself
convinced
of
God
convinced
of
God
who
is
with
him
no
matter
the
opposition
what
happens
is
boldness
results
when
we are
convinced
by the
gospel
ourselves
when
we are
convinced
by
Jesus
Christ
when
the
gospel
is
our
great
motivation
then
we are
bold
for
Christ
he
loved
the
gospel
he
loved
God
and
he
knew
God
with
him
and
that
is
what
we
should
long
for
and
be
motivated
by
ourselves
too
the
gospel
motivates
the
second
thing
we see
here
is
the
lies
that
motivate
we
see
this
in
verse
3
for
our
appeal
does
not
spring
from
error
or
impurity
or
any
attempt
to
deceive
what's
going
on
here
well
Paul
and
Silas
weren't
the
only
missionaries
in
town
there
were
others
who
had
come
as
well
but
their
motives
and
their
message
was
completely
different
many
came
with
selfish
motivation
and
suffered
nothing
for
telling
lies
but
Paul
and
Silas
they
came
motivated
by
God
to
share
the
gospel
to
tell
the
truth
and
they
suffered
so
much
and
so
why
keep
going
well
what
they
were
seeing
was
those
with
selfish
motives
those
who
were
preaching
a lie
to
those
in
Thessalonica
and other
places
as well
they were
leading
these
people
astray
they
were
leading
them
to
an
eternal
downfall
and
that
is
what
motivated
Paul
and
the
church
they
saw
that
people
needed
to
hear
the
true
gospel
and
that's
what
we
see
here
it
is
such
a
powerful
motivation
and
it
should
be
for
ourselves
as
well
because
even
as
we
look
around
today
we
see
a
people
who
are
being
swept
along
by
the
lies
of
this
world
the
lies
that
this
world
tells
us
will
make
all
the
difference
the
lies
that
are
leading
to
the
broad
road
that
leads
to
destruction
and
that
should
grieve
us
that
should
pain
us
so
our
motivation
is
to
show
what
these
lies
are
and
show
the
truth
in
the
midst
of
them
these
false
teachers
were
there
in
Thessalonica
with
flattery
with
greed
seeking
fame
for
themselves
and
Paul
highlights
just how
wrong
this
is
our
appeal
does
not
spring
from
error
or
impurity
or
any
attempt
to
deceive
but
just
as
we
have
been
approved
by
God
to be
entrusted
with
the
gospel
so
we
speak
not
to
please
man
but
to
please
God
who
tests
our
hearts
and
he
goes
on
to
speak
about
words
of
flattery
of
greed
of
the
lies
of
the
glory
self
glory
that
the
people
are
looking
for
there's
all
these
lists
of
things
that
you
see
here
we
didn't
see
glory
from
people
he
says
in
verse
6
you
go
through
these
verses
and
you
see
the
desires
of
those
who
came
with
lies
and
false
motives
was
all
for
self
but
Paul
and
Silas
came
to
please
God
and
so
it
makes
us
think
of
the
world
in
which
we
live
today
the
lies
that
are
being
told
and
can
you
think
of
anyone
who
has
these
motives
self
glory
praise
from
man
greed
even
when
it
comes
to
the
gospel
we
think
perhaps
of
people
on
television
evangelists
as they
call
themselves
who
are
saying
send
a
donation
and
we
will
pray
and
you
will
receive
a
blessing
all
they're
doing
it
for
is
to
get
money
for
themselves
to
get
glory
from
people
but
not
for
God
but
it
challenges
ourselves
too
are we
a
people
who
look
for
our
own
glory
or
for
God's
glory
that
in
whatever
we are
doing
as it
says
here
being
example
to
others
we have
to be
so
careful
in
that
we're
not
seeking
to be
examples
that
people
would
praise
us
and
give
glory
to
us
but
instead
that
they
would
give
glory
to
God
tests
your
heart
and
mine
today
to see
what is
our
motivation
in
this
life
are
we
caught
up
in
the
lies
of
this
world
or
are
we
caught
up
with
the
truth
of
the
gospel
it
gets
to
the
heart
of
what
the
Christian
faith
is
all
about
you
see
so
many
other
religions
and
philosophies
and
world
views
they
focus
on
outward
actions
on
our
works
that
you
can
be
accepted
by
God
in
a
certain
way
or
that
you
can
please
others
and
that
is
all
that
counts
but
we
see
here
the
gospel
gets
to
the
heart
that
God
searches
the
heart
he
tests
the
heart
so
the
gospel
isn't
about
making
us
nicer
neighbors
or
nicer
people
in our
communities
better
kids
it's
not
about
that
that's
something
that may
lead out
from it
but it's
about
the
heart
and what
motivates
us
in our
hearts
what do
we do
and why
are we
doing it
are we
doing it
in the
lives of
this world
for our
own
greed
our
own
gain
our
own
praise
or are
we doing
it
to
please
God
we
see
the
lives
of
this
world
sweeping
people
along
who
are
perishing
but
does
that
motivate
us
to be
different
and to
show
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
to
show
that
there
is
a
truth
that
people
need
a
truth
that
we
might
suffer
for
but
at
the
end
of
the
day
is
what
really
matters
a
truth
that
reaches
into
our
hearts
and
transforms
hearts
the
lies
that
the
others
came
for
were
destroying
people
and
places
just as
they are
today
but the
truth
of the
gospel
is what
makes
all
the
difference
so the
lies
that were
around
motivated
Paul
and should
motivate
us
to
guard
our
hearts
and to
stand up
against
the
lies
of
this
world
and
proclaim
the
gospel
the
final
thing
I
want
us
to
see
here
is
the
love
that
motivates
you
see
that
from
verse
6
down
to
verse
8
we
do
not
seek
glory
from
people
whether
from
you
or
from
others
though
we
could
have
made
demands
as
apostles
of
Christ
but
we
were
gentle
among
you
like
nursing
like a
nursing
mother
taking
care
of
our
own
children
so
being
affectionately
desirous
of
you
we
were
ready
to
share
with
you
not
only
the
gospel
of
God
but
also
ourselves
because
you
had
become
very
dear
to
us
how
does
he
seek
to
make
them
live
to
motivate
them
to
live
likewise
he
lives
out
the
gospel
in
their
midst
you
see
the
affection
that
Paul
had
for
the
people
there
at
the
end
of
verse
8
you
have
become
very
dear
to
us
you
might
think
that
having
been
severely
beaten
a bitterness
would have
creeped
into
his
heart
thinking
what's
the
point
in
all
of
this
but
no
all
it
does
is
encourage
it
makes
him
tender
he
had
a
love
for
his
people
when
a
minister
comes
to
a
congregation
one
of
the
questions
that
is
put
to
him
is
this
are
not
sealed
for
the
honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
desire
of
saving
souls
your
great
motives
and
chief
inducements
to
enter
into
the
function
of
the
holy
ministry
and
not
worldly
designs
and
interests
it's
a
great
question
and
it's
a
question
for
every
minister
myself
and
every
other
minister
to
keep
coming
back
to
what
is
our
motives
in
entering
into
holy
ministry
seal
for
the honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
a
desire
of
saving
souls
I
think
for
every
believer
that
should
be
a
question
put
to
us
that
would
be
all
our
motives
together
as
we
serve
God
seal
for
the honour
of
God
love
to
Jesus
Christ
and
a
desire
for
the
saving
of
souls
is
there
any
other
greater
motive
and
it's
grounded
in
a
love
for
God
and
a
love
for
one
another
a
minister
felt
God's
call
on
his
life
but
he
was
a
successful
businessman
but
he
began
taking
a
Bible
course
at
night
and
eventually
he
obtained
his
degree
in
theology
and
before
his
graduation
he
informed
his
boss
that
he
would
be
leaving
his
work
shortly
to
become
a
pastor
in
a
rural
church
his
boss
didn't
believe
him
and
the
owner
of
the
company
didn't
believe
him
why
was
this
man
so
successful
in
business
making
so
much
money
why
was
he
going
to
leave
that
and
go
into
the
ministry
they
just
didn't
think
he
would
do
it
but
the
minister
felt
the
call
I
told
him
look
you
need
to
find
a
replacement
for
me
I'm
going
to
be
leaving
soon
but
they
didn't
bother
and
eventually
it
came
to
the
day
when
he
told
his
boss
that
he
was
going
to
leave
and
that
he
needed
to
find
a
replacement
as
soon
as
possible
the
boss
called
the
owner
of
the
company
and
said
look
this
man
is
serious
he's
going
to
and
if he
takes
it
fire
him
on
the
spot
he
was
testing
his
motives
the
minister
didn't
take
it
money
didn't
matter
to
him
that
wasn't
his
motivation
he
had
been
called
by
God
to
serve
him
to
pastor
a
people
and
his
longing
was
to
see
a
people
coming
to
God
seal
for
the
honour
of
God
love
for
Jesus
Christ
and
a
desire
for
the
saving
of
souls
when
we
think
ourselves
what
is
our
motivation
in
life
what
do
people
say
of
us
as
a
congregation
do
they
see
us
as
an
example
of
the
love
of
Christ
I
pray
they
do
but
it's
something
that we
should
always
guard
ourselves
against
our
motivations
not
coming
to
just
do
things
out
of
a
sense
of
duty
but
out
of
a
sense
of
devotion
and
a
desire
for
the
saving
of
souls
and
the
love
of
God
that
we
would
come
closer
to
each
other
and
closer
to
God
and
then
from
there
that
we
would
show
that
love
of
Christ
to
all
around
us
so
that
we
would
live
in
the
midst
of
opposition
and
affliction
and all
kinds
that is
going on
around
us
in the
midst
of
all
the
lies
that
are
being
told
that
our
motivation
would
be
the
gospel
the
good
news
that
our
motivation
would
be
to
show
that
the
lies
that
the
world
is
telling
are
just
that
lies
that
lead
to
destruction
and
that
our
motivation
would
be
the
love
of
Christ
and
the
love
of
lost
souls
and
that
would
motivate
us
to
go
on
are
we
motivated
by
the
love
of
Christ
and
do
we
do
all
to
please
him
may
that
be
so
let
us
pray
our
father
in
heaven
we
thank
you
that
in
the
gospel
we
have
our
greatest
motivation
of
all
for
it
reminds
us
of
what
you
have
done
for
us
that
you
gave
your
son
Christ
Jesus
who
came
to
die
for
our
sins
but
who
rose
again
on
the
third
day
and
we
thank
you
that
the
gospel
is
good
news
good
news
in
the
midst
of
all
the
lies
that
this
world
offers
yet
we
have
the
gospel
that
leads
to
life
and
so
may
we
be
motivated
to
know
it
to
love
it
and
to
share
it
with
others
Lord
we
pray
these
things
asking
your
mercy
on
us
and
your
help
in
all
of
it
as
we
ask
it
with
the
forgiveness
of
our
sins
in
Jesus
name
Amen
we
are
going
to
conclude
by
singing
the
last
two
verses
of
Psalm
122
on
the
Scottish
Psalter
page
417
verse
7
to
9
the
tune
is
St
Paul
Psalm
122
at
verse
7
therefore
I
wish
that
peace
may
still
within
thy
walls
remain
and
ever
may
thy
palaces
prosperity
retain
we'll
sing
these
last
two
verses
to
God's
please
therefore
I
wish
that
peace
may
still
within
thy
walls
remain
and
peace
that
me
generous
day
For my friends and brethren's sake,
Peace be in me, I'll say,
And for the house of God our Lord,
I'll seek my good away.
After the benediction, I'll go to the door to my left
and close with a benediction.
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon
and abide with you all now and forevermore.
Amen.