QT 14/09/2026 Mon 1Thessalonians 1 Waiting for Jesus, Working for the Gospel! 等候耶稣，为福音劳苦！

QT 14/09/2026 Mon 1Thessalonians 1 Waiting for Jesus, Working for the Gospel!
READ https://www.esv.org/1+Thessalonians+1/

Jesus is coming back—but how should we live while we wait? In 1 Thessalonians 1, we discover a powerful pattern: turn to God, serve Christ, proclaim the Gospel, and keep waiting with faith, love, and hope. Are you ready for His return? Let’s dive in.

1 Thessalonians 1 gives us a powerful picture of a Christ-centred, gospel-shaped, and second-coming-focused church. The chapter begins with thanksgiving and ends with expectation: the Thessalonians turned to God, served the living God, and waited for His Son from heaven.

(1) A Faith That Works — “Your work of faith” (v. 3)

Paul remembers their work of faith. Genuine faith does not remain invisible. When people truly trust Christ, their faith begins to produce a changed life. Their faith moved them to action.

Faith believes Christ. Faith follows Christ. Faith works because of Christ.

(2) A Love That Labors — “Labor of love” (v. 3)

Christian love is not merely an emotion or a kind word. It costs something. Paul saw their labour of love—love that was willing to serve, sacrifice, endure, and bless others.

The Gospel produces people who don't merely ask, “What can Christ do for me?” They begin asking, “How can I serve Christ and others?”

(3) A Hope That Endures — “Steadfastness of hope” (v. 3)

Their hope was not wishful thinking. Their hope was anchored “in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Because Christ is coming again, believers can remain steadfast even when circumstances are painful. Their present suffering did not cancel their future hope.

The certainty of Christ's return gives strength for today's trials.

(4) A Gospel That Comes With Power (v. 5)

Verse 5 says: “Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

The Gospel is communicated through words, but it is not merely words. The Holy Spirit takes the proclaimed Gospel and brings conviction and transformation. That is why evangelism requires both faithful proclamation and dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

We cannot transform hearts. God does. Our responsibility is to faithfully proclaim Christ.

(5) A Life That Becomes an Example (v. 6)

The Thessalonians became imitators of Paul and of the Lord, even though they received the Word “in much affliction.” That is striking. Their suffering did not silence their testimony. Instead, their perseverance made their testimony more powerful. Verse 7 says they became “an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”

A transformed life becomes a living testimony. People may argue with our words, but it is difficult to ignore a life genuinely transformed by Christ.

(6) A Church That Sounds Forth the Word (v. 8)

Verse 8 is especially powerful: “The word of the Lord sounded forth from you…”

The Thessalonians did not keep the Gospel within the four walls of their church. Their faith went forth. They received the Gospel—and then the Gospel went out through them.

That gives us an important evangelistic principle: We are not merely recipients of the Gospel; we are messengers of the Gospel. God blesses us so that His message can go through us to others.

(7) A Life That Has Truly Turned to God (v. 9)

Verse 9 describes their conversion: “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”

Biblical conversion involves both turning from and turning to. They turned from idols. They turned to God. They turned from false worship to the living and true God.

The Gospel does not merely add Jesus to an already crowded life. Jesus becomes Lord.

(8) A Church That Is Waiting for Jesus (v. 10)

And finally, verse 10 gives us the great hope: “To wait for his Son from heaven…”

Notice the progression:
*They turned to God.
*They served God.
*They waited for Christ.

The Christian life is lived between conversion and Christ's return. We serve while we wait. We evangelize while we wait. We endure while we wait. We pursue holiness while we wait.

And we wait with confidence because Jesus was “raised from the dead” and “delivers us from the wrath to come.”

Takeaway

1 Thessalonians 1 therefore gives us a beautiful picture of what the Gospel produces:
*Faith that works.
*Love that labors.
*Hope that endures.
*A Gospel proclaimed in power.
*A life transformed by Christ.
*A testimony that reaches others.
*A heart turned from idols to God.
*And a church eagerly waiting for Jesus to return.

Prayer

Father, thank You for sending Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and coming King. Help us turn away from every idol, serve You faithfully, proclaim the Gospel boldly, and wait with joyful hope for Jesus’ return. Strengthen our faith, deepen our love, and keep our hearts ready for His coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 14/09/2026 星期一 帖撒罗尼迦前书 1 等候耶稣，为福音劳苦！
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/1ts/1/

耶稣即将再来——但在等待期间，我们应当如何生活？在《帖撒罗尼迦前书》第1章中，我们发现了一个有力的模式：归向神、服侍基督、传扬福音，并凭着信心、爱心和盼望持续等候。你准备好迎接祂的再来了吗？让我们一起深入探讨。

《帖撒罗尼迦前书》第1章为我们描绘了一幅以基督为中心、以福音为根基、并专注于基督再来的教会图景。这一章以感恩开篇，以期盼收尾：帖撒罗尼迦人归向神，事奉那活着的真神，并等候祂的儿子从天上降临。

(1) 付诸行动的信心——“你们信心的工作” (v. 3)

保罗记念他们因信所作的工。真正的信心不会停留在表面。当人们真正信靠基督时，他们的信心便开始带来生命的改变。他们的信心促使他们付诸行动。

信心相信基督。信心跟随基督。因着基督，信心才得以实践。

(2) 劳苦的爱——“爱心的劳苦” (v. 3)

基督徒的爱不仅仅是一种情感或一句善言。它需要付出代价。保罗看到了他们爱的劳苦——一种愿意服侍、牺牲、忍耐并祝福他人的爱。

福音所造就的人，不再仅仅问：“基督能为我做什么？”而是开始问：“我该如何服侍基督和他人？”

(3) 持之以恒的盼望——“盼望的坚定” (v. 3)

他们的盼望并非一厢情愿。他们的盼望是“在我们主耶稣基督里”扎根的。正因基督必将再来，信徒即使身处痛苦境地，也能坚定不移。他们眼前的苦难并未抹去他们未来的盼望。

基督再来的确据，为今日的试炼提供了力量。

(4) 充满大能的福音 (v. 5)

第5节说：“因为我们的福音传到你们那里，不单是借着言语，也是借着权能，借着圣灵和充足的信心。”

福音虽通过言语传讲，但绝非仅仅是言语。圣灵将所传讲的福音化为确信与改变。正因如此，传福音既需要忠心地传讲，也需要倚靠圣灵。

我们无法改变人心，唯有神能。我们的责任是忠实地传讲基督。

(5) 成为榜样的生命 (v. 6)

帖撒罗尼迦人虽然“在大患难中，带着圣灵的喜乐接受了真道”，却仍效法了保罗和主。这一点令人惊叹。他们的苦难并未使他们的见证沉默，相反，他们的坚忍使见证更具力量。第7节说，他们“成了马其顿和亚该亚所有信徒的榜样”。

被改变的生命便成为活生生的见证。人们或许会质疑我们的言语，但很难忽视一个被基督真正改变的生命。

(6) 传扬神的话语的教会 (v. 8）

第8节特别有力：“主的道从你们那里传遍了马其顿和亚该亚……”

帖撒罗尼迦人并没有将福音局限于教会的四面墙内。他们的信仰向外传扬。他们领受了福音——随后，福音便通过他们传了出去。

这给我们提供了一个重要的传福音原则：我们不仅是福音的接受者，更是福音的使者。神赐福给我们，是为了让祂的信息能通过我们传给他人。

(7) 真正归向神的生活  (v. 9)

第9节描述了他们的归信：“...离弃偶像归向　神...”

圣经所说的归信既包含“背离”，也包含“归向”。他们背离了偶像，归向了神；他们从虚假的敬拜转向了那活着、真实的上帝。

福音并非仅仅是在本已繁忙的生活中再添一个耶稣。耶稣要成为我们的主。

(8) 等候耶稣的教会 (v. 10)

最后，第10节给了我们伟大的盼望：“等候他的儿子从天降临。”

请注意这一发展进程：
*他们归向神。
*他们事奉神。
*他们等候基督。

基督徒的生命是在归信与基督再来之间度过的。我们在等候中事奉，在等候中传福音，在等候中忍耐，在等候中追求圣洁。

我们满怀信心等候，因为耶稣“从死人中复活”，并“救我们脱离将来的忿怒”。

要点

因此，《帖撒罗尼迦前书》第1章为我们描绘了一幅关于福音所结出果实的美丽图景：
*付诸行动的信心。
*辛勤付出的爱。
*坚忍不拔的盼望。
*以大能传扬的福音。
*被基督改变的生命。
*触动他人的见证。
*从偶像转向神的内心。
*以及热切等候耶稣再来的教会。

祷告

天父，感谢祢差遣耶稣基督——我们复活的主、将来的君王。求祢帮助我们远离一切偶像，忠心事奉祢，大胆传扬福音，并满怀喜乐的盼望等候耶稣再来。求祢坚固我们的信心，加深我们的爱，并保守我们的心随时预备好迎接祂的再来。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。