1Thes2:1-12 The Toil of Love
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# The Toil of Love
愛心的勞苦 ## 1 Thessalonians
帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:1-12 [Warsaw, Poland. FreeStocks](https://unsplash.com/photos/r_oV6smBBYk/info "caption") >>> + During pandemic, been easy to become **isolated** + Not just bc **social dist**, but so much **divis** + anger + Know many **hurting**, but don't know **how** to reach out + **We** ourselves are hurting, tired, and weak: + **doubts** about our faith, + **limited** in our love, + **struggling** in holy living --- # How do we **share** the gospel
when we are **weak**? # 當我們軟弱時
如何分享福音? >>> + 1Thes book of **encouragement**: + Today's passage: **blueprint** how **to** share gospel + and how **not** to share gospel! + We've **received** the new **life** of Christ, and now + We invite **others** to behold the **Lamb**: + Remind us Lord of Your **worth**: glory, majesty + That You sent **Son** to redeem us: You are **worthy** + That You **entrust** us with this gospel: it is **worth it** + Open our **ears**, eyes, hearts to receive Your exhortation + Equip us to **proclaim** Your gospel with our lives --- ## Growing Together, While Apart
當分開時一起成長 | *1* | Impact of **Faith** | 信心的影響 | |---|---|---| | *2a,b* | Toil of **Love** | 愛心的勞苦 | | *3* | Strength from **Hope** | 來自盼望的力量 | | *4* | Grow in Purity + **Love** | 在清潔和愛中成長 | | *5a* | **Hope** of Salvation | 救贖的盼望 | | *5b* | Acts of **Faith** | 信心的行為 | >>> + Theme: **FHL**. ch1: thxgv for Thes' **faith** + and **impact** it had on other believers + ch2: Paul reflects on his **ministry** amongst Thes + **motivations** + **actions** in sharing gospel + the **in-road** / manner amongst them + Not **boasting** about self! Repeat. 2 **witnesses**: + **God** exam. heart; **you** yourselves know + I feel **unworthy** to preach this passage, + since **far** from living up to it; + So let us treat it as **aspirational**: + **How** ought we to share the gospel? --- ## Toil of Love 愛心的勞苦 1. Clean **Heart** **清潔的心** [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. **Mother's** Gift **母親的禮物** [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. **Father's** Encouragement
**父親的鼓勵** [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + Only **scratch** surface: inspire you to study **deeply** + As HS reveals **richness** + **discuss** w/family, smgp, church + v3-6: mostly **negative**, how **not** do to missions + Some preach **false** gospel in name of Christ + or **true** gospel out of **impure** motives: personal gain + Underst. God **sees** through this very **clearly** + **Right** way and **wrong** way to preach gospel + 2 **triplets**: root + fruit + Own **beliefs** / motiv impact how share gospel --- For our appeal does not spring from
**error** or **impurity** or any attempt to **deceive**, 我們的勸勉不是出於錯誤,
不是出於污穢,也不是用詭詐。 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:3 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + Even Paul had **motives** questioned! (**Christ**, too) + *Error* : wandering, as opposed to the **truth** + Making stuff **up**, or unconsc. affec by **pop culture** + Antidote: deeply **immersed** in Scripture + *Impurity* : filthy, as opposed to **clean** + **Immoral**, unethical, covering secret sin + Antidote: remember God's **holiness** + *Deceive* : **bait**: appears beneficial but **traps** + **Feel-good** msg to **inflate** own numbers, or **control** + Anti: **whole** gosp, not just comfort promises + 2nd triplet: **fruit**: character as share gospel --- For we never came with
words of **flattery**, as you know,
nor with a pretext for **greed** -- God is witness.
Nor did we seek **glory** from people 因為我們從來沒有用過諂媚的話,
這是你們知道的;
也沒有藏著貪心,
這是神可以作見證的。 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:5 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + How we **were** / became, when among you + *Flattery*: vacuous / false enc for personal **gain** + Pretext for *greed*: excuse / cover for selfishness: + Hope to gain **money**, influence, security + *Glory* from people: **admiration**, approval: + that others say: "See what a **good** Chr he is!" + or **fear** others say: "not **spiritual** enough!" + We **do** seek a reward, but not from man, + but **God**, who examines our hearts: --- 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. 但神既然驗中了我們,把福音託付我們,
我們就照樣講,不是要討人喜歡,
乃是要討那察驗我們心的神喜歡 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:4 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + Gospel not **invented** by man, but **given** to us by God + As we put our **trust** in Him, + God deems us **trustworthy** of handling it accurately + So we **pass on** this message of life, + striving to be **worthy** of this trust --- ## (clean hearts) >>> + As I **prepare** to share gospel, **examine** own heart: + Do I **study** the Bible honestly + deeply? + Not only know God's grace, but have **exp** it? + Do I seek no **gain** for self? + No money, no thx, no admiration, but only + **reward** of sharing in Father's happiness? + What is my **motivation** for proclaim name of Christ? --- # Is my heart **clean**
as I share the gospel? # 當我分享福音時,
我的心是潔淨的嗎? --- ## Toil of Love 愛心的勞苦 1. Clean Heart 清潔的心 [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. **Mother's Gift 母親的禮物** [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. Father's Encouragement
父親的鼓勵 [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + Might feel **unworthy** + unready to preach gospel + But it is not our **eloquence** or holiness + that changes others' **hearts** + But the **life** of the risen Saviour --- But we were **gentle** among you,
like a nursing **mother**
taking care of her own children. 只在你們中間存心溫柔,
如同母親乳養自己的孩子 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:7 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + *Gentle* : older manuscripts: **babies** (diff one letter) + v11 **father**: analogy of **family** rl + "Church family": but in reality, too often + bring **trauma** from own families: + **hurt**, distrust, fear, bitterness + Or want **escape** own family: + consequently only dare have **shallow** church rl + Paul's care for Thess: **warm bond** mother to child + Investing **whole** heart + **Singles** can show motherly/fatherly love, too! --- So, being **affectionately** desirous of you,
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. 我們既是這樣愛你們,
不但願意將神的福音給你們,
連自己的性命也願意給你們,
因你們是我們所疼愛的 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:8 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + You became **beloved** to us, w/deep **yearning** + *Share* : give over, **transfer**: pour out life to you + (mom): sharing gospel not merely comm. of **knowledge** + but comm. of **life**: + life of **Christ**, from **my** life to **yours** + w/**vulnerability**, warmth, deep affection + and **hard work**: --- 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. 弟兄們,你們記念我們的
辛苦勞碌,晝夜做工,
傳神的福音給你們,
免得叫你們一人受累 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:9 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + **Tentmaking**: normal, honest work, not partic. "spiritual" + to pay own **bills** so church doesn't have to support + Two **extremes** in misunderstanding role of **work**: + (1) all work is **sinful**, materialistic, worldly + Serving God means full-time **pastor** / missionary + **Dichot** btwn "holy" church volunt. on weekends + and "real" work at M-F job --- ## Labour and Toil 做工跟辛勞 + "All work is **sinful**"
所有的工作是 **罪惡** 的 + "All work is **holy**"
所有的工作是 **聖潔** 的 >>> + (2) all work is **holy**: + Succ. in **job** means succ. in Chr walk + **Prayers** revolve around **my** acad./career goals + If job **doesn't** work out: must be **failure** + either of **my** spirituality or **God's** faithf. + Paul talks very little about his **tents**: + won any awards, **excel**, was biz good or not + Primary purpose: not to **burden** the church + Devoted self to hard **labour** + toil on 2 fronts: + not only to earn own **living**, but + to **proclaim** gospel of God --- ## (work hard, care deeply) >>> + Proclaim good news of Chr's salv. not just **wknd** work, + special **evangel** mtgs, or **STM**. + We must learn from those who have **mothered** us: + Mother's **gift** is her own **life** + As Christ poured out His **life** into our hearts, + we give completely of **ourselves** for others + that they may **grow** in the life of Christ + e.g., son's **env** primarily us @home: want to + struct. home life around God's **truth**, but + demonstr. **grace** + forgiveness daily + Extend **outward** to world **dying** for real love --- # Do I **work** hard
and **care** deeply
as I proclaim the gospel? # 當我傳揚福音時,
我是否努力工作又深切關心? --- ## Toil of Love 愛心的勞苦 1. Clean Heart 清潔的心 [(v3-6)](# "ref") 1. Mother's Gift 母親的禮物 [(v7-9)](# "ref") 1. **Father's Encouragement**
**父親的鼓勵** [(v10-12)](# "ref") >>> + Lastly, we share the gospel with + our **life** and our **words**: --- You are witnesses, and God also, how
**holy** and **righteous** and **blameless**
was our conduct toward you believers. 我們向你們信主的人,
是何等聖潔、公義、無可指摘,
有你們作見證,也有神作見證。 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:10 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + How we **were** toward you (adverbs): + way in which we **behaved** toward you + *Holy* : pious, devout, **reverent**: in light God's law + *Righteous* : acc. God's std of **justice** + not **own** std, nor that of **tradition** + *Blameless* : not free from **human** condemn, but + released from **God's** judg: under **Chr's** grace + So live **holy** bc **gratitude** for Chr forgive + But it is **hard** to live consistently holy: + **Grace** of God **strengthens** us + Benefit from **mentors** who **encourage** us: --- For you know how, like a **father** with his
children, [12](# "ref") 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. 你們也曉得我們怎樣勸勉你們,
安慰你們,囑咐你們各人,
好像父親待自己的兒女一樣, 要叫你們
行事對得起那召你們進他國、 得他榮耀的神。 [1 Thessalonians 帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:11-12 (ESV/CUV)](# "ref") >>> + Just as God gave first **commandments** to Adam, + and through him to his **family**, + So we **fathers** have respb. to **speak** God's Word + in fact, not just fathers, **all** of us! + *Exhort* : **encour**, call alongside: not give **orders**, + but **be** with as they stumble + learn + *Encourage* : **comfort**, console, soothe (alongside) + *Charge* : **testify**, share from own exp and + solemnly **affirm** God's way is the path of life --- ## (walk worthily) >>> + Not to bolster **self-esteem** or attain own **goals**, + But that their **walk** (daily habits) + may be **worthy** -- reflect the worth of God + and hence be a life that **worships** Him + He is **King** of glory: **called** us into His kingdom + He is **worthy** of all honour, + so it is **worth** it to proclaim His holiness + Through own **holy** conduct, and + through **encouragement**, comfort, and testimony + that others may be **equipped** to live in holiness --- # Will I **encourage**, **comfort**, and **testify**
that others may walk **worthy** of God's calling? # 我會勸勉,安慰,見證,好讓
其他人也可行事對得起神的呼召嗎? >>> + You've given us **good news**: + That You are **holy**, that we are **sinful**, + that You sent Christ to **die** + **resurrect** + that You are **coming** soon w/reward + We've **experienced** your grace, now + You've **entrusted** the gospel to us to share --- ## (prayer) >>> + **Search** our hearts for impure **motivations** + Keep us aligned with Your **truth**, + **clean** in heart, without **deceit** + **Open** our hearts to give of **ourselves** unreservedly + with the deep bond of **love** + and devoted, committed **toil** + **Strengthen** our hearts to live + as Your holy, redeemed people + to **encourage**, comfort, and testify to others + that they also Your holy, redeemed people