Gospel Gratitude

Gospel Gratitude | 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Christ Church East | A PCA Church in Jacksonville, Florida

Why is the gospel worthy of our gratitude? In the first sermon of our series through 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Keith Dickerson shows how Paul opens his letter with thanksgiving, and how the power and fruit of the gospel keep us from losing gratitude for what matters most.

SERMON RECAP

I. The Power of the Gospel

Paul traces the Thessalonians' faith, love, and hope back to one source: God chose them because he loved them. God set his love on us before the foundation of the world, before we could prove our worth, so his love is completely disconnected from our worthiness. In Jesus, he walked into this broken world to rescue us at great cost to himself. And the gospel isn't a theory or a coping mechanism. It's a true story in history that changes lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

II. The Fruit of the Gospel

The Thessalonians received the word "in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit," imitating Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. That joy comes from steadfast hope in Christ's return. Favorable circumstances can act like spiritual candy that masks our hunger, but affliction drives us to feast on Jesus and long for him. And a church that bears affliction with joy stands out: the Thessalonians turned from idols to the living and true God, and their faith became known everywhere.

Are you receiving affliction from your loving Heavenly Father with joy and gratitude, letting it cause you to feast on Jesus, long for Jesus, and radiate Jesus to those around you?

SCRIPTURE

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3

"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."

1 Thessalonians 1:4–6

"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."

1 Thessalonians 1:7–10

"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."

Ephesians 1:4

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him."

Deuteronomy 7:6–7

"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples."

Hebrews 12:2

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Philippians 1:29

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake."

Acts 5:41

"Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name."

1 Peter 4:13

"But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."

Also referenced: John 20:25

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway.