10/26/25 SERMON NOTES 1THESSALONIANS - WEEK2 |

Psalm 115:1 NLT “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory…”

1John 4:4 NLT “the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Joshua 1:9 NIV “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

1Thes.2:1-2 NIV “1You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition.  (NLT) - “God gave us the courage to declare His good news to you boldly” 

To be a bold Christians in the face of opposition takes courage. 

Courage comes from…

1.Spending time with Jesus

Acts 4:13 NLT “13The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”

2.Knowing Jesus has conquered sin, death, and every earthly power.

John 16:33b NLT “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

          ‘overcome’ - to conquer; to be victorious

          ‘world’ - cosmos; The world system and people associated with it 

3.Realizing death isn’t scary (for the Christ-follower)

Philippians 1:21 NLT “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”

4.Understanding God is sovereign

Matthew 10:28-31 NIV “28Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 

5.When our love for Jesus outweighs our fear of men

Revelation 12:10b-11 NLT “10For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth - the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. 

1Thes.2:3-9 NIV “3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed - God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children 8so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 

          Proverbs 27:17 NIV “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

9Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 

Our behavior proves we are Christ-followers … or not! 

Matt.7:16-18,20 NIV “16By their fruit you will recognize them (‘fruit’ - the natural result of what has been done) 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit … 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” 

1Peter 2:12 NIV “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

1Thes.2:11-12 NIV "11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.” 

‘discipleship’…encouraging, comforting and urging others to live lives worthy of God.

     ‘encourage’ - (def.) give support, hope to someone; help to develop. 

     ‘comfort’ - encourage by consoling.

     ‘urging’ - to insist

Discipleship is when we allow another person to assist us in becoming more like Christ. 

Luke 9:23 NIV “Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.”

Luke 14:27 NIV “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 

Matthew 4:19 NIV “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

The goal of View Church - To make you into a disciple of Christ … a soldier of Jesus.