Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 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. 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, 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. 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, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:1–10, ESV)Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I think it is fair to say, there is some conflict here. I’m not talking about the church at Thessalonica, I’m talking about the church at Grand Marais. I am not discouraged by it. It shows we are growing. By God’s design, we have strong personalities here with strong opinions. The topics of conflict, whether it is Closed Communion or whether we should have a full kitchen in our new church, or even how much the church will cost, are important. We care about them. Conflict over issues isn’t a problem, it is what we do with the conflict that is important.
Our problems may have seemed small to the Thessalonians, after all they were suffering under daily persecution. They were primarily a gentile church in the middle of a pagan community. They had members of their church who were martyred. They were mistreated by their own countrymen. How did they respond to their issues, Paul makes it clear. 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, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6–7, ESV)
They received the Word of God, in affliction, with joy. Their response carried to the other churches in the area, so that they became an example of faith in Christ. When Paul hears about it, he writes this letter offering comfort and support.
He talks about their history,
“turning from idols to serve the living and true God.” (9)Where once they served things of wood and stone, who were powerless, they now worshiped God, in Christ, who is able to comfort and sustain them even in persecution. In the power of the Holy Spirit,
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.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8, ESV)They fearlessly proclaimed the Word of God. And we shouldn’t imagine that that word was some generic word, but the instead the story of Jesus Christ, crucified, dead and buried, risen, and returning.
“…you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, ESV)Make no mistake, the message that was proclaimed to them, the one that gave them comfort in persecution was the message of Jesus. Paul said it to another church,
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV)Now Paul is very pastoral in this letter. He wants to encourage the congregation. He begins by reminding them who they are, where they came from. They were idol worshipers who heard the Word and came to faith in Jesus. Trouble came, but they remained full of joy in the Holy Spirit. So much so that the word about their joy spread to other congregations in the area. They were living out the truth from Scripture that Paul had taught. They were focused on Jesus and all that he had done for them. Paul makes it even stronger, building on the strength. (Ever wonder why we talk about strengths and weakness in our Strategic Planning? We take after Paul.)
In Chapter 4 he says,
“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, ESV)
“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,” (1 Thessalonians 4:9, ESV)The Gospel is indeed the power of God. They heard it regularly and they were walking the walk and talking the talk. They were treating each other with love and respect. Even in the face of great trials. When Jesus says,
“Love one another”They were doing it. And yet, Paul encourages them to continue. Continue in your sanctification. Abstain from sexual immorality, control your bodies, don’t transgress and wrong your brother.
For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7, ESV)
for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,” (1 Thessalonians 4:10–11, ESV)In other words, he was saying, “Continue to live in light of the forgiveness you have received from Jesus.”
So, how would I as your pastor, encourage you as St. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians? What is going well? What are we doing that is right? What are our strengths? It begins right here. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God’s word of forgiveness is spoken in Jesus’ stead. Sinners are confronted with sin, and his forgiveness from the cross is proclaimed as the solution. We have comfort in the fellowship that only comes from forgiven sinners loving each other as Christ has loved us.
Speaking directly to our church conflicts, they are covered with sin. Pride makes me think (and you) that my ideas and opinions are the only good ones. But continually hearing God’s word, allows me to see my neighbor as one for whom Jesus shed his precious blood. It helps me to temper my ideas and to see things from his perspective, and to compromise when appropriate. When I see sin in everything I do and hear that Jesus has indeed covered my sin with his blood, I can forgive my brother and sister in Christ when they sin against me, because I know that the same is true for them.
When you look at each other, do you see the Holy Spirit at work in their struggles with the word? You should. No one changes overnight. It is the continual showering of God’s mercy that does it, over time. The continual blessing of Holy Baptism and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit who uses the word to change our hearts. That’s what happens here in this place that God has provided. God showers us with love through the gifts of the word about Jesus. Jesus crucified for your sin and mine. Jesus raised from the dead to assure your future with him. Jesus admonishing us to do the right things. Jesus giving his body and blood in, with and under bread and wine, in the most intimate of ways, to strengthen your faith. The Holy Spirit prompting you to give your hard-earned gifts to the church, they are your tangible response to God’s gifts. You do it because you see the value of them, and you want these gifts to continue.
And think of this. Life in Christ is a unique church. Our location here in Grand Marais is by God’s design. He has already built on a strength. As he assures the Gospel is preached here in its truth and purity, as he provides the forgiveness of Jesus proclaimed into each ear. He provides a place for guests and visitors to receive it also. We have lots of visitors, most of them will never become members. But while they are here, God pours out his love in Jesus through you and me. He pours grace into their ears though his word, though song, through action. And all that we gain through God’s gifts are here for our visitors as well.
This, I think, is the answer to why we want to build a new church building. We are reacting to what God has provided. He provides benefits of membership, the proclamation of the word, fellowship, encouragement, and comfort in times of trouble. He provides these also for his children who visit this part of his beautiful creation. We want a place that shows how important all of this is.
Will our church conflicts end? I rather doubt it. Just look at us, who we are, where we come from. We are Norwegian, German, Irish, or just plain old self-confident Americans. We are all stubborn beyond belief, and me more than any. But we can survive. Not by ourselves, but by turning our attention to Jesus on the cross. By reflecting on his blood shed for you and especially for those you are in conflict with. When you lay your sin at Jesus’ feet, and it is really all you have to offer him, he takes it into death on the cross and destroys it. His forgiveness pours over you. You see things with new eyes, Jesus’ eyes. And his eyes see your adversary in love and forgiveness. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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