S2:"Delighting in one another"| 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 | Malcolm Cox - a podcast by Malcolm Cox

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ



Delighting in one another : Who or what do we delight in?



Let’s see what we can learn from this passage…..

'...distress (anankē) being basically ‘the choking, pressing care’, and persecution (thlipsis) ‘the crushing trouble’ (Lightfoot).' Tyndale

As if his life has been on hold until this news arrived. In a time without rapid communication it must have been hard to be in the dark for so long.

‘night and day’: He works night and day 1 Thessalonians 2:9 and he prays night and day. 

'...one gets the impression of a man struggling to put into words a feeling too deep for words.' Tyndale

‘come to you’: His heart is to be with them. He wants relationship, not just communication. Email and other messaging can never substitute for presence. Let us never be content with virtual presence. Timothy's visit has encouraged him, but it has not satiated his desire to be with them in person.

Faith, love - connection with holiness



QUESTION: What are some of the reasons we can and should delight in one another?

How delight in one another?



1. Speak of faith and love

We need faith and love - help each other with this

Faith - 5 mentions in chapter



'joy in the presence' - a powerful picture. Paul holds the Thessalonians in God's presence. Perhaps in memory, or prayer. Tells us something of Paul's relationship with God.



2. Pray for one another

Paul’s prayers make a difference

“May God - framed in God



Note:

'you' - plural 17 times in this section

‘we’, ‘us’ - 10

‘our - 3.



Conclusion

Jesus died for his friends, Jn 15:13 - people he delights in



Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 



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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 



God bless, Malcolm