1. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “what it really is…”

2. 1 Thessalonians 2v1-13: 1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not empty. 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 in the face of much opposition.

3. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive. 4 But, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a mask to cover up greed--God is witness.

4. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 Because we loved you so much, 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.

5. 9 For you remember, brothers and sisters, our labour 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. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

6. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 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.

7. 13 And 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 also works in you who believe.

8. The value of true identity? * “Mum” & Legs * Tragedy * Phishing & Scams * A book?

9. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD * The identity of the Bible as the Word of God cf 1 Thess 2:1-9, Acts 17:2-3, 2 Peter 3:15-16 * Not the word of men * What difference does it make? * The change in those who become Christians

10. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD 1 Th 2:2 “we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God” 1 Th 2:4 “as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak” 1 Th 2:8 “we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God…” 1 Th 2:9 “we proclaimed to you the gospel of God”

11. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD Acts 17:1-3 “…they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."”

12. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD 2 Peter 3:15-16 “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”

13. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD * The identity of the Bible as the Word of God cf 1 Thess 2:1-9, Acts 17:2-3, 2 Peter 3:15-16 * Not the word of men * What difference does it make? * The change in those who become Christians

14. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible is the WORD OF GOD * The identity of the Bible as the Word of God cf 1 Thess 2:1-9, Acts 17:2-3, 2 Peter 3:15-16 * Not the word of men * What difference does it make? * The change in those who become Christians

15. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! * Work = change/productivity * Cf 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1:9-10 * God’s work in those who become Christians * A pattern eg Gen 1, Isaiah 55:10-13 * Christmas and the coming of Jesus * Western civilization

16. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! 1 Th 2:14 “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…” 1 Th 1:9-10 “…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.”

17. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! * Work = change/productivity * Cf 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1:9-10 * God’s work in those who become Christians * A pattern eg Gen 1, Isaiah 55:10-13 * Christmas and the coming of Jesus * Western civilization

18. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! Gen 1:3 “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” Gen 1:3 “And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.” Ps 33:9 “For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”

19. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! Isaiah 55:10-13 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace…”

20. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) The Bible WORKS! * Work = change/productivity * Cf 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1:9-10 * God’s work in those who become Christians * A pattern eg Gen 1, Isaiah 55:10-13 * Christmas and the coming of Jesus * Western civilization

21. “And 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 also works in you who believe.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) How do you ACCEPT the Bible? * Submission & Prayer! * Reading/Study (= discipline/intentionality) * Preaching/Teaching * Thinking/Living * Connecticut shootings? … “the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)