Sermon Notes - Deep Friendship

Deep Friendship, 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Larry Parsley, Valley Ranch Baptist Church, attended December 6, 2009

If Christ is coming again, how should we live?

How would you live if you knew you weren’t going to be around much longer? Kelly Pruitt dug his own grave.

The theme from 1 Thessalonians 3:12 should give us a clue – love increases and overflows. [How can we love them the most? Warn them of the impending judgement!]

What does that look like? Look at what Paul has done with the Thessalonians. He had a brief ministry there, noted in Acts, but was run out of town before he could see the fruit of his labors. However, a connection [?] happened with that church and Paul models what abounding love looks like.

Paul sent Timothy to the city when they needed help and he was left alone. Paul sacrificed to send him on. [Did Paul really look at that as a sacrifice?]

1. Love abounds through sacrificing – The essence of Christ is sacrificial love. Paul anguished over the news in 1 Thessalonians 3:2,5 so we know he sacrificed. [?]

2. Love abounds through cheering others on – Supporting them. As firefighters rely on each other while fighting a fire so the “fire” of persecution caused the disciples to rely on each other. [I don’t follow this point.]

3. Love abounds through praying – The overflow of Paul’s feelings comes out in prayer. Prayer is often all we can do. [Prayer is the best thing we can do, not “all we can do”.] Romans 8:34.

We should live as though it is the night before an amazing family reunion in heaven..